Model 66 No Dash Model

[WMages]

I recently purchased a Model 66 (no dash) from a late friend's daughter who's out of state, so I'm having her ship it from a dealer to a local dealer where I live.

Could someone tell me with S&W switched from the all stainless to sights to the red ramp and blue steel rear sight?

 

[Retired W4]

The good book says the first year and a half for the stainless rear sight.

 

[jakerudy]

Mine dates to 1974.

 

[snw19_357]

Mine dates to 1974.

With a red ramp and blackened rear sight?

S&W made the change in July, 1975, same time as the introduction of the 2.5" M66

 

[Bastogne71]

My M66 was shipped with the stainless steel sights in December 1974. S&W would have shipped them with stainless steel sights until their inventory ran out.

 

[jakerudy]

With a red ramp and blackened rear sight?

S&W made the change in July, 1975, same time as the introduction of the 2.5" M66

No, it has SS front & rear sights. 4K86xxx serial #. I wasn't aware of the timing of the change and was just trying to provide info.

 

[WMages]

Sorry so late getting back. Thanks for the informative replies.

 

[Engine49guy]

As others have stated the stainless rear target sight faded out by 1975, It is unique to the early Model 66 and 67.
On a side note:
I've never seen a 66 snub or a 6" with a raw stainless rear site, it should be noted that the Model 66/67 went to a Blackened Stainless rear site, If you remove a black rear site leaf on a 66, 66-1 or 67/67-1 you should find the letter "S" stamped underneath indicating it is blackened SS.
Another thing is that reportedly many PD armorers were sent replacement Black rear leafs to be swapped out after complaints of difficult visibility so don't be surprised if you find a pre 75 version with a black rear site.

 

[Rakkasan13F]

I have examples of both a 66 and a 67 with stainless sights.

 

[AudieMurphy]

I recently purchased a Model 66 (no dash) from a late friend's daughter who's out of state, so I'm having her ship it from a dealer to a local dealer where I live.

Could someone tell me with S&W switched from the all stainless to sights to the red ramp and blue steel rear sight?

they switched from stainless to the red ramp and blackened rear sight because of sunlight reflecting off,,,at least thats what I heard on here from another post awhile back

 

[AudieMurphy]

With a red ramp and blackened rear sight?

S&W made the change in July, 1975, same time as the introduction of the 2.5" M66

HHmmmm...I have a no dash round butt snub all stainless...serial number takes it to 1971....

 

[snw19_357]

Would love to see pictures of it and hear a partial serial number.

The 4" didn't start shipping until 1972.

 

[Rock185]

I sent my model 66, manufactured in '72, 2K serial prefix, back to S&W for a complete overhaul in '80. Most everything was replaced, and Smith sent all the replaced parts back with the gun. It came back with a blackened stainless rear and a red ramp front. I changed the red ramp to black, and reinstalled the original stainless rear. Those stainless sights were not the best in the bright Arizona Sun, but having a black front worked adequately. I suspect the all stainless sights being phased out by sometime in '75 is correct. I never paid much attention to such things back then, but it didn't seem like the stainless rear sights were around all that long. I switched to an L-Frame soon after the 66 was returned from overhaul, and have only shot the 66 a few times since, LEOSA, etc..