Model 66 3-inch availability

[stiab]

stiab,
your pictures are great.

Thanks twomoons! That old Army blanket makes a good backdrop to reduce glare. The M65 you mentioned is a Model 64. Lawman's in Raleigh had a bunch of them at $395, and I picked out the best one, then put the Ajax faux ivory on it. Came out looking pretty nice I thought.

 

[twomoons]

jughead
i have to apologize,i did not mean to hi jack your thread.sorry sir.as far you finding guns jughead,one of the most important things is the feedback.when you see a seller with a couple hundred sales,and 100 % positive,and the seller communicates ,and has a ton of pictures,and will give a inspection period,then your good to go.the free market bidding drives some of these prices up.and market hype.
finding one is nice,finding a nice one is sweet.finding a nice one at a good price is a home run.good luck in your search friend

 

[bbuell]

Model 66-3 3" barrel

I have a 66-3 with 3" barrel that I plan to take to the gun show in Austin this next weekend and possibly sell it. It has the S&W knurled wooden grips, and has had only 2 boxes of ammo fired through it.

I'm expecting to get about $700 for it. Does that seem reasonable?

 

[S&W forever]

I had a deal off thru on a 66-3 3" with no box and found a 66-2 3" with matching box in the same condition of just few dollars more. You just have to look for them, but they're out there.

bbuell $700 with no matching box is a little high, you can find them for less on the internet


Rick

 

[18DAI]

$700 for a 3" 66-3 is a fair price, IMO.

I just took a quick scan of the auction boards and only found a 3" 66-2 with no box or docs. Opening bid was $875.

Isn't $700 around what they are asking for those current production S&W's?

I'd buy every 3" 66-3 I could find for less than that. YMMV. Regards 18DAI

 

[feralmerril]

I am going to be a wet blanket here. I own many fine revolvers, a 3" 66-3 ported lew horton amoung them. Also a 2 1/2" python and just about every barrel length in many other colts and smiths. The 3" 66 is not a pocket gun, you have to have a holster. Since your packing a 3", were it a 4" model 19 or other K frame, I doubt you would notice much differance!
People want whats rare and therefore "special". Guess it`s our nature. I like my 3" 66-3, however I am not going to tell you it far outshines my pythons and troopers in both 2 1/2" and 4" barrels. Lets carry this another 1/2 step. Even in my .357s I often carry .38s in them. Now when I do that, at some point it dawned on me why not carry my old M&P or .38 trooper? They dont cost a 1/4 what my fine 2 1/2" nickle python does or my exspendsive lew horton one of 300 3" ported with titanium sights and all the bells and whistles cost. And rideing the quad I dont mind getting dust and grit on them. I will go one more step here. I also own a fine old 3" model 36 with the tapered barrel. It shoots the same .38s just fine. Yet that gun with it`s holster just seems to weigh about 1/2 what the others do, and there again, it has the same ballistics with its 3" barrel with the same 38 ammo I use in my 3" 66-3, and it`s about a 1/4 to a 1/5 th as valuable to carry and dirty.

 

[SAFireman]

I am going to be a wet blanket here. I own many fine revolvers, a 3" 66-3 ported lew horton amoung them. Also a 2 1/2" python and just about every barrel length in many other colts and smiths. The 3" 66 is not a pocket gun, you have to have a holster. Since your packing a 3", were it a 4" model 19 or other K frame, I doubt you would notice much differance!
People want whats rare and therefore "special". Guess it`s our nature. I like my 3" 66-3, however I am not going to tell you it far outshines my pythons and troopers in both 2 1/2" and 4" barrels. Lets carry this another 1/2 step. Even in my .357s I often carry .38s in them. Now when I do that, at some point it dawned on me why not carry my old M&P or .38 trooper? They dont cost a 1/4 what my fine 2 1/2" nickle python does or my exspendsive lew horton one of 300 3" ported with titanium sights and all the bells and whistles cost. And rideing the quad I dont mind getting dust and grit on them. I will go one more step here. I also own a fine old 3" model 36 with the tapered barrel. It shoots the same .38s just fine. Yet that gun with it`s holster just seems to weigh about 1/2 what the others do, and there again, it has the same ballistics with its 3" barrel with the same 38 ammo I use in my 3" 66-3, and it`s about a 1/4 to a 1/5 th as valuable to carry and dirty.

Yup......wet blankie fer certain.....

 

[ladder13]

I have a 66-3 with 3" barrel that I plan to take to the gun show in Austin this next weekend and possibly sell it. It has the S&W knurled wooden grips, and has had only 2 boxes of ammo fired through it.

I'm expecting to get about $700 for it. Does that seem reasonable?

You could easily get 700 right here in the classifieds

 

[Double-O-Dave]

I've looked at the 686+ with 3.0" barrel and just wasn't impressed. Not just because of the lock, it was just that it looked "crude" compared to a K frame. Also, I have lots of leather and speedloaders for my K frames, not so much for an L frame. I searched for years for a 3.0" barreled Model 13 or Model 65 without success. Last Christmas I found a used Model 64-3 with a 3.0" barrel for about $350.00. I bought it and am very happy with it. A few months ago, I found a pristine Model 13-3 with 3.0" barrel without box, docs or tools for $499.99. A little high, except he gave me $400.00 trade in on my Model 4006 (previously, I was offered $200-250 for the 4006). I'm keeping both of my 3.0" barreled K frames and still looking for a 3.0" barreled Model 65. They don't call 'em "grail guns" for nothing! By the way, I'd be sorely tempted to get a Model 66 with 3.0" barrel for $700.00.

Best of luck,

Dave

 

[Allen-frame]

I have a few Model 66s. The model 65 3" will do the same darn thing
all day long for 1/2 the money$. Especially with the Laser grips on it,
which is how I carry it.

The 3" model 66 is a cult gun, count me as a cult leader.

You could get one of mine from me for $700. As long as I was dead.

Merrill,, definitely a wet blankie.

We don't have Quad runners down here in Miami. We have trouble.


Regards
Allen Frame

 

[FranklinD]

I picked up a Model 66-5 in MA last week for $600 with the tax.
Pre-lock K-frames go fast here.
Technically, it's not a 3". Barrel is 3 1/4".
The action is good, but it needs to be cleaned.
I got it as a project gun, and I'm taking photos as I go.
Hopefully, I can post them , when I finish.

 

[WardenRoss]

I have a few Model 66s. The model 65 3" will do the same darn thing
all day long for 1/2 the money$. Especially with the Laser grips on it,
which is how I carry it.

The 3" model 66 is a cult gun, count me as a cult leader.

You could get one of mine from me for $700. As long as I was dead.

Merrill,, definitely a wet blankie.

We don't have Quad runners down here in Miami. We have trouble.


Regards
Allen Frame

Dude!

I thought I was doing well with two 3" model 66's.

You are truly blessed, my child!

 

[Sportsterguy]

I have a few Model 66s. The model 65 3" will do the same darn thing
all day long for 1/2 the money$. Especially with the Laser grips on it,
which is how I carry it.

The 3" model 66 is a cult gun, count me as a cult leader.

You could get one of mine from me for $700. As long as I was dead.

Merrill,, definitely a wet blankie.

We don't have Quad runners down here in Miami. We have trouble.


Regards
Allen Frame

Allen,

Them 66's always amaze me! Great collection and I'm green with envy.

We moved from Sitka, Alaska to Miami back in 1993. What a culture shock for our entire family. I was stationed at Opa Locka (BAD area) and lived in Sunrise off of Flamingo and about 1.5 miles from the Sawgrass Mills Mall in a nice neighborhood. That is when I started packing my Springer 1911 24/7 and invested in our 1st alarm system. You couldn't pay me 500K to move back to that area! Rude people, terrible traffic and the crime was terrible. Had my car broken into the 1st month there. Left in 96 and will never return!

Calward. Any 3" 66 in decent condition will sell for $700.00. IMO it's one of the best S&W's to ever leave the factory! Packed mine for a few years but didn't want it in the evidence vault rusting away if I ever had to use it as thay do go for big bucks.

For your needs a fixed sighted 3" would be the way to go. Plenty to be had and an excellent SD revolver.

 

[S&W-Keeper]

I think that you will have better luck finding the 3" 686.I never see a 3" 66, and I look at a ton of S&W's.

 

[Buick]

I just picked up this 3" m66. As you can see it needs some sprucing up. Any recommendationrecommendation? Will smith and Wesson do it? Thanks.

 

[MattJames]

Nice! What kind of sprucing up are you talking about? I'd try taking off the stocks and spending some time getting to know your revolver with some Mothers Mag Polish...

 

[Buick]

Yep I just want to get it polished by someone who knows what they are doing. It is a 66-2 "ANA" prefix.

 

[Triathloncoach]

Good ideas, thanks to all! It sounds as though I might need to set aside a few more shekels than I thought. About a year and a half ago, I saw a used 2 1/2 " 686+ in a local shop for $500. I was not at that time really looking for one, and did not have the money set aside, so I passed it up. I don't think I have seen a deal that good since.

If it's at all possible I would suggest being patient and maybe setting aside another $20 a week in a jar until you have a bit more flexibility just in case. A little more $ would give you a lot more options.

 

[Goblin]

It's fun to revisit these old threads and compare prices now vs. then.

 

[Triathloncoach]

I have a few Model 66s. The model 65 3" will do the same darn thing
all day long for 1/2 the money$. Especially with the Laser grips on it,
which is how I carry it.

The 3" model 66 is a cult gun, count me as a cult leader.

You could get one of mine from me for $700. As long as I was dead.

Merrill,, definitely a wet blankie.

We don't have Quad runners down here in Miami. We have trouble.


Regards
Allen Frame

Sir, you have serious issues. And I'm seriously jealous. Yikes!