Model 66 w/SS sights

[LittleAugieMo]

Was just surfing another forum an came across a post. Member had purchased no dash 66 4" w/ ss sights.....for $300! Looked to be in good shape w/ original grips. But had a metal plate on bottom of grips(potentially devalueing them) anyone seen/heard of this plate before? Purpose? Just rambling.

 

[colt_saa]

Ask if he wants to double his money

That plate was extremely common for Law Enforcement Officers to put on the bottom of their grips quite often it will be brass or bronze with the initials engraved in them. Other times it will be stainless steel to protect the grips should the Law Enforcement Officer need to use the firearm as a hammer

While you and perhaps some die hard collectors might think that butt plate devalues the grips, I have always felt that it added to the firearm as part of the history of how it was used and who used it especially if it is personalized with a name or initials

 

[Old cop]

I lucked into my 4" M66 for $600 from a former colleague who purchased it new in 1973, fired five .38 rounds and put it back in the box until I got my hands on it about five years ago. It came w/both the magna & factory combat grips.

 

[6GUNSONLY]

I remember my uncle, an Alabama State Trooper who was killed in the line of duty, having such a plate (brass, as I recall) on the butt of his Highway Patrolman.

 

[LittleAugieMo]

Colt saa...wouldn't bother me in the least especially @ that price point. But I'm sure a lot of folks would pass on it(but not @ that price lol) mostly curious about purpose. This one appears to be stainless or aluminum.

 

[stansdds]

For a truly collector piece, you would not want any modifications, including to the original stocks, but you would probably also want it in factory NIB condition. I expect the overwhelming majority of revolvers that had a metal plate added to the bottom of the stocks spent their lives riding in a duty holster and got shot at least twice a year, if not more often. That means they are not collector items for the purist. If the revolver was stamped so as to indicate which agency purchased it, it may have some extra value to someone who collects former law enforcement firearms.

Given that, unless it is shot to death and needs significant work to make it a good shooter, a Model 66 of any variant for $300 today is an incredibly great deal.

 

[murphydog]

Usually these metal butt plates were attached to the stock panels with four screws, which would leave unsightly holes in the wood. But correct era stocks are easily found and replaced, so a great deal at $300.

By the way, all model 66 sights of that time were stainless, but the silver ones were not very visible so were soon replaced with black.

 

[Muley Gil]

I remember my uncle, an Alabama State Trooper who was killed in the line of duty, having such a plate (brass, as I recall) on the butt of his Highway Patrolman.

Sorry for your loss.

Back in the '70s and '80s, I saw a lot of LE revolvers in Alabama wearing butt plates. The majority were brass and about 1/4" thick. I personally didn't like the way they changed the balance of the handgun.

 

[Club Gun Fan]

When we lost our magic wands (batons) we went to butt plates. Yes, we used them as hammers. I put up a few "signs" with mine.

 

[Truckman]

I put up a few "signs" with mine.

Like this one for instance?......Ben

 

[Club Gun Fan]

Like this one for instance?......Ben

Sorta. Lesson learned, never put you name or department shield on the plate!

 

[Ameshawki]

Saw that. Needs a serious cleaning but it was a bargain. I'd never seen a butt plate. Must have been a regional thing.

 

[pantannojack]

Other times it will be stainless steel to protect the grips should the Law Enforcement Officer need to use the firearm as a hammer

[/QUOTE]

Would that be for nailing wanted posters on the board and batt sheriff's office door?

 

[Truckman]

Sorta. Lesson learned, never put you name or department shield on the plate!

Now we know where you really got your username: "Club" Gun Fan......Ben

 

[cololab]

Saw that. Needs a serious cleaning but it was a bargain. I'd never seen a butt plate. Must have been a regional thing.

It was indeed a bargain. Well done!

I recall quite a few revolvers with those plates back in the day in the southwestern states; often with two attachment screws. A fair number of both the revolvers and the separate grips with screw holes ended up at gun shows after departments began to authorize and/or issue semi-autos.

 

[Hawg Rider]

The Model 66 with 4" bbl. was very popular with LEOs. As others have mentioned, special buttplates were added to revolvers for several reasons. I have a Model 27-2 with a nice pair of brass plates. This revolver supposedly has some LEO provenance, but I have no proof. Some folks may think that these buttplates detract from the appearance and value, but I think they're cool. They were nicely made and do not have those ugly woodscrews holding them onto the stocks.

 

[Club Gun Fan]

Saw that. Needs a serious cleaning but it was a bargain. I'd never seen a butt plate. Must have been a regional thing.

No, there were a number of companies who made them. I'll post pictures later.

 

[T44spl]

Regardless, a model 66 for $300 is a screaming deal. Doesn't take much to make it "correct", not hard at all. Plus I believe that there may be a slight premium for the early stainless steel or "white sights" versions?
In any event the presence of the metal butt cap is evidence of potential LE use for those of us who collect these things. If the gun were accompanied with a Sam Brown rig of that era it would make for a nice setup.

 

[RKmesa]

Not a 66, "butt" for illustration, here's a custom butt plate on a model 67...







It just happens that this one also has the Stainless Steel Rear Sight:

 

[colt_saa]

My model 66 with the stainless steel sights comes from 1973.

I do not recall what year I purchased this in. However I did get it from Smith and Wesson's chief metallurgist. He was the original owner

It came with its original box. At the time it was already wearing this lexan side plate

It did include the original stainless steel side plate and these presentation grips that are on it

However, for $300 I would have already bought that other one and had it sitting next to this one in the safe