Question for those that may have expertise with this model. All of the 66-1 revolvers that I have seen in my 13 years of collecting have been pinned and recessed. Today I saw a snub that was recessed but not pinned. Would this be transitional, and if so, could I assume it is fairly rare? The gun also had what appeared to be MOP grips on black backing plates, with larger S&W emblems. S&W logo was gold with black backgrounds. Apologies' it was in a box store, and I could not take a photo of it.
, new versions take a while to start appearing as the old parts get used up. Depending on the model, it could be that pinned barrels ran out before recessed cylinders, or vice-versa. I think it would have to be a gun made sometime in 1982 or early 83 to start showing transitions, I'm not sure exactly when in 1982 the order came to eliminate the pin and recesses, which occurred on all magnum revolvers that same year, regardless of the series number. (Pinned barrels disappeared on all models, but only magnums and .22 rimfire ever had recessed chambers) My own M66-1 2-1/2" Round butt has both the pinned barrel and recessed cylinder, and the SN puts it in 1980 production.
