Local Gun Show Delivers a 66-2 2.5

[gr8smiles]

I picked up a nice nickel 19-4 2 1/2" a couple of months back, but am struggling with wanting to shoot it and also wanting to preserve it for posterity.

I had an issue with a phony box with the 19, it became the subject of a thread on here at the time. It was resolved and I got the gun at a good price, but it has now put me on a bit of a mini-crusade against phony or non-matching boxes. I'm no expert on this stuff, but am doing my utmost to educate myself. When I spot an obvious but not admitted mis-match between gun and box I'm going to call it out. There is no reason for it other than to scam someone, pure greed and deception, no nice way of putting it in my humble opinion.

I totally agree with you. I would suggest you be wary of the Colt forum as fake boxes, hang tags, papers, etc are as rampant there as the little horse.

 

[mag318]

The 2.5 and 3" 66s not only tend to hold their value but actually increase in value over time. And the reason is simple, they are great revolvers very much in demand. If I could own only one revolver this would be it.

 

[DAdams]

One of the 66-2 I was looking at (gun show, private seller) had some really nice S&W combat grips, was 99.5% condition and supposedly the matching SN box. The guy was asking $700 and if all would have been in order I may have gone for it..yeah, yeah I know...
But the box didn't match, he said he must have left it at home...I offered him $600 and told him I would even send him a check for $50 if he sent me the right box...he wouldn't bite on that offer. The grips were worth at least $85 IMO.

One of the other 66s was nice but somthing was definitely wrong with it...when you rotated the cylinder to a certain position, it wouldn't close...yet nothing was said as they observed me checking it out..as I said thanks and walked. Someone was going to get a bum deal if they didn't know what to check.

Bring a magnifying glass and feeler gauges and run the checks.

On another recent S&W Experience...and off track.

I recently had a used M60 that went back to S&W (timing) and they said they wouldn't fix it for free since it was pre-1989. They quoted $85 to make it right. Apparently warranty for life isn't warranty for life anymore.

 

[snw19_357]

I recently had a used M60 that went back to S&W (timing) and they said they wouldn't fix it for free since it was pre-1989. They quoted $85 to make it right. Apparently warranty for life isn't warranty for life anymore.

I guess SWHC isn't fond of Bangor Punta or LSI.
But, I don't think I could find a gunsmith locally to fix it for that.

...anyone ever hear of a model 661 in .357?

NO, but I have a Model 192.