K frame..... why two different butt styles ?

[Jayb]

I just picked up a model 66-5, with a round butt. I'm curious as to why S&W made a square butt in addition to the round butt. Anyone know for sure ?

 

[Jayb]

I just picked up a model 66-5, with a round butt. I'm curious as to why S&W made a square butt in addition to the round butt. Anyone know for sure ?

 

[Raider]

Many people prefer the comfort of the square butt for target shooting/plinking and some folks carry SB guns for CC. Many other people find that the round butt guns are more easily concealed than SB.

 

[OFT]

The 4" and 6" model 66s came with the square butt and those with shorter barrels came with round butts. Now that I've said that someone will likely post pictures of a model 66 that is configured differently.

 

[Jayb]

My 4" 66-5 has a round butt. I really don't care, but I figured the factory must have had some serious motives to tool up for a different butt design...... that doesn't mean that my "figuring" is worth more than two cents either.

 

[deanodog]

I think it would all be about $$$$$$. Both sell good and some people want different.

 

[stevieboy]

My 66 no dash has a square butt. But, that gun was made back in '72. My understanding is that, after a certain point in time (I don't recall exactly when) Smith configured all of its revolvers as round butts. So, if your 66-5 was manufactured after that point then, of course, it would be a round butt 66.

 

[OKFC05]

Funny how time changes ideas.
When I started shooting S&W revolvers, square butt was considered practically mandatory for serious accuracy work.
Round butt was strictly to help concealment.

Some competitors still get the grips that fit a round butt and have the outside contous of a square butt. Sort of a round to square adapter. The idea is to force your hand high so recoil is more straight back and follw-up shots are easier. Look at the grip on the current 686 SSR.

 

[Bob Wright]

Among the early K-Frames was the K- series Masterpiece target revolvers. I personally preferred a muzzle heavy revolver, as I think most did at the time, I still do. The square butt allowed the beefy heel of the hand to better support weight out front in bullseye shooting, as well as for field shots with magnum revovlers.

The smaller round butt blends under a coat or jacket better without "printing" and giving away its presence.

I had some correspondence years ago with Smith & Wesson, and simply put, round butted guns sold better, so the decision was made to go to round butts on N-frames as well. And, stocks could be made to convert the round butt to a square butt configuration.

That's my take on it.

Bob Wright