New to me Model 66 no dash?

[ageingstudent]

I was excited and blessed to Pick up a 66 yesterday. I have been looking for a shiny S&W for about a year and finally came across one that I had to have.

So since I am a S&W revolver novice I have questions of course...

The serial is 9K75172 and the model # is just 66. How do I tell 66 1 from 66 4 etc.? Lol I'm clueless. I've been looking around and doing searches but perhaps a couple of you guys will be kind enough to enlighten me.

The gun itself seems very solid. Doesn't appear to be much endshake or slop in the cylinder and the forcing cone looks good. There is a slight gas cutting mark but it doesn't look like it got a steady diet of hot .357. The action is tight and crisp and the trigger feels outstanding. It's no safe queen but I like that about it.

It used to belong to a county mounted posse officer (search and rescue guy) and came with his leather duty holster. I feel honored to have it in my care.

I'm looking forward to working up some handloads and getting to know this fine shooter at the range!

 

[BudMan5]

In the yoke, where the model number is, yours says "M66" if it was a -1 or later it would say that "M66-1"

From the serial, yours was made in 1976. (Page 398 of the Standard catalog of Smith & Wesson) The -1 was not introduced until 1977 so you got one of the last of the originals. The -1 change was changing the gas ring from the yoke to cylinder.

You did good, it will only grow in value over the years. if you can some kind of document to show who the posse member was and how this gun was linked to him, even better.

 

[ageingstudent]

Thanks Bud! I haven't been this stoked over a gun in awhile. Feel like a kid again haha.

 

[kennyb]

you really picked a nice one!

 

[Seven High]

In the photos it appears that the rear sight is black. The first ones had a stainless steel rear sight which is silver in color.

 

[Engine49guy]

Actually the rear site on the early Model 66 (no dash) were plain SS,
IIRC complaints emerged the SS front and rear site did not offer enough contrast and many were swapped out with black SS rear sites before this became standard on the next incarnation the 66-1.

One more observation is your late Model 66 is wearing "speed loader cut" target grips which are more commonly observed with guns made after 1980 (ish).

Proper era grips would most likely be "Football relieved" Goncalo Alves target grips like the ones pictured below (top).

 

[ageingstudent]

Actually the rear site on the early Model 66 (no dash) were plain SS,
IIRC complaints emerged the SS front and rear site did not offer enough contrast and many were swapped out with black SS rear sites before this became standard on the next incarnation the 66-1.

One more observation is your late Model 66 is wearing "speed loader cut" target grips which are more commonly observed with guns made after 1980 (ish).

Proper era grips would most likely be "Football relieved" Goncalo Alves target grips like the ones pictured below (top).

Yes I was wondering about the grips. They cover the whole grip frame except for the back strap. I was wondering if there was a style that weren't as big. It appears that there is.

 

[ageingstudent]

In the photos it appears that the rear sight is black. The first ones had a silver rear sight.

I had actually read about earlier models having stainless sights and LE complaints about the sight picture. I like the blued set this one has. My eyes aren't as good as they used to be.

 

[Seven High]

What does the front sight look like? Does it have a red insert?

 

[P&R Fan]

You asked about the important changes. The most important one to collectors came with the Dash 2 in 1982. That is when they stopped pinning the barrel and the cylinder was no longer recessed.At least for me, the P&R Fan, that was a big deal.
Jim

 

[bananaman]

Yes I was wondering about the grips. They cover the whole grip frame except for the back strap. I was wondering if there was a style that weren't as big. It appears that there is.

Another option on grips would be Herrett Shooting Stars. They are target grips, but not as bulky as S&W. Can pick up decent grips up on ebay. My 586 with worn Herretts. (off of a N.Y. Police officer's gun) Bob

 

[dcopper]

Nice score! Enjoy

 

[ageingstudent]

What does the front sight look like? Does it have a red insert?

Yes it has the insert. Went and shot it yesterday. Just a couple clicks to get it where I like it and it's good now. Really enjoyed shooting it. What a great wheelgun.

 

[Isis1200L]

Really enjoyed shooting it. What a great wheelgun.

And there you have it folks! One of the reasons we're here!
Very cool find, ageingstudent.