Opinions please--66-3 4" for $550? (Better) After pics added

[olivehead1]

Sorry I don't have pics, but suffice to say there's a newly put out 66-3 4" at a local pawn shop that's in what I'd say is mostly very good condition with the exception of a series of small scratches around the plate screw that retains the yoke, and two 3/4 - 1" deeper scratches along the same area. The side plate doesn't seem to have been removed and in any case the action seems fine although the thumbpiece feels a bit "gummy." I figure about 25 years of crud buildup is the cause. Hasn't been dropped on the front or rear sight.

I'm already thinking about how to sand out then polish and fake-brush the area of those 2 deeper scratches.

No box or original grips (fitted with Hogues at the moment).

Priced at $599, offered for $550 OTD.

Any thoughts on whether it's worth picking up under these circumstances?

Thanks in advance.

 

[Arquebus357]

Unless I was sure that I could remove those scratches with a little sanding, I would not go for that one. For $550 I think you could get one in much better shape. Just my opinion.

 

[Eddietruett]

I don't think $550 OTD is a bad price if mechanically ok. At least not in my neck of the woods. If it were me and I wanted a shooter the scratches wouldn't matter. If scratches are a problem, amazing things can be done with scotchbrite pads. There have been several posts recently of recommended procedures. Take the guy 5 $100 bills. Amazing what the sight of cash will do

 

[Joe4d]

looks like former owner wasnt smart enough to use a correct screw driver. I disagree about the side plate. Why else would it be scracthed up there ? Id be concerned about what else got monkeyed with and wouldnt buy it at all unless I could test fire it and inspect its internals.

 

[ken158]

Too much $$$ for a marginal gun. You can do better.

 

[StakeOut]

If it was at one time a police duty gun then the scratches on the right side would be normal with unbuggered side plate screws..

I'd surely buy it for 5 Benjamins OTD.

 

[kaaskop49]

Too many unknowns here. Above posters have already said it better than I could. Pass it up. I'm not spending $500 on a project.

Kaaskop49
Shield #5103

 

[olivehead1]

Too many unknowns here. Above posters have already said it better than I could. Pass it up. I'm not spending $500 on a project.

Kaaskop49
Shield #5103

As the Fantastic Mr. Fox said to his lawyer, "I understand what you're saying, and your comments are valuable, but I'm gonna ignore your advice."

So I left the pawn shop with this gun in exchange for my Ruger P89 and $350 cash. I'd been thinking of selling off or trading the Ruger for a couple years but had held onto it until today.

The last 2 pics show the only two offensive spots on the gun. I'll be working on those tonight I imagine. Only the screw retaining the yoke is buggered, not the other two, so perhaps this occurred from whatever caused those scratches. I find it hard to believe that anyone so inept with a screwdriver could have managed to get the other two screws out without buggering them and the sideplate up, too. Again, all function seem good. I took off the Hogues before buying and there were no telltale ugly spots. I will be introducing those to the bottom of my trashcan shortly.

The BPK serial number indicates December 1993 production.

Thanks for everyone's input.

 

[wood714]

As the Fantastic Mr. Fox said to his lawyer, "I understand what you're saying, and your comments are valuable, but I'm gonna ignore your advice."

So I left the pawn shop with this gun in exchange for my Ruger P89 and $350 cash. I'd been thinking of selling off or trading the Ruger for a couple years but had held onto it until today.

The last 2 pics show the only two offensive spots on the gun. I'll be working on those tonight I imagine. Only the screw retaining the yoke is buggered, not the other two, so perhaps this occurred from whatever caused those scratches. I find it hard to believe that anyone so inept with a screwdriver could have managed to get the other two screws out without buggering them and the sideplate up, too. Again, all function seem good. I took off the Hogues before buying and there were no telltale ugly spots. I will be introducing those to the bottom of my trashcan shortly.

Thanks for everyone's input.

1000 grit sandpaper with a few drops of oil on it will take those scratches out fast, but you'll probably need to polish the gun with some mothers to make it match. Kinda looks polished already anyhow.

 

[olivehead1]

Kinda looks polished already anyhow.

I can see how you'd think so from these pics, but in person it looks like pretty much all the other brushed stainless Smiths I have.

 

[RGVshooter]

My first impressions are, that looks like a duty gun at one point in its life based on the holster wear. Looks like a keeper to me!

 

[olivehead1]

Here she is after a couple hours work. I could probably do a little better on that right side area around the side plate screw, but frankly, I ran out of steam, and it needed cleaning attention elsewhere. Took off the side plate, and there was no indication anyone had tinkered around in there. Gave it a brushing and wipe off, a touch of lube, and the action got noticeably better, and the "gumminess" in the cylinder release is gone. Threw some Pachs on it that I had lying around. Worst case, I'll hang onto it until a nicer 66 comes along and then sell or trade. I don't see many of these locally; in fact, the only other 4" pre-lock I've seen is at the periodic local gun show, a 66-5 (pre-lock but with floating firing pin) for $675. Thought about making an offer on that one but if I'm going pre-lock I want the firing pin on the hammer as well.

p.s. I'd like to think an iPhone 7 would take better pictures, but these are a pretty fair representation. Might have been the light.

 

[olivehead1]

Better pics.

 

[StakeOut]

Was A Diamond In The Rough

Looks good to me.

Lots of luck with it and shoot it often.

 

[robertc1024]

Looks good. I've got one of those that was a Purto Rican police trade in that's a lot uglier than that - but it shoots great.


Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

 

[CajunBass]

It wouldn't lasted more than a couple of day at my LGS.

Looks good. Congratulations.

 

[Zipdog]

You did good. Glad you ignored some those don't buy comments. Probably everyone of those guys own guns that looked worse than yours before someone cleaned them up and sold them to them fake boxes and all.

 

[Hasbeen1945]

I've had worse scratches on my eyes. I would buy that one in a heartbeat. Good snag. Those run 700. To 750. In my area.

 

[les.b]

My guess is that the sideplate has never been off. The front sideplate screw has been removed numerous times to remove the cylinder and yoke, probably just for cleaning. I have known many guys who routinely do just that. It doesn't have to make sense to us in order to have been a common practice.

I think that you did well, and have a nice shooter, for a pretty decent price. With any revolver that old, I would go ahead and open it up and scrub out all the old congealed gunk, and then lightly relube it with a quality modern gun lubricant...I'll bet you will be surprised at the stuff that accumulates in older revolvers, and how slick it will be when you finish.

Best Regards, Les

 

[olivehead1]

I would buy that one in a heartbeat. Good snag. Those run 700. To 750. In my area.

I definitely value the comments I get on this forum, from folks who in most cases are more experienced and smarter in these matters than I am. I do think that prices all over the country must vary significantly, since I often see opinions regarding "fair" prices and wonder where these guys are finding these deals. I've snagged a couple solid revolvers for below what I would consider FMV, but those I think were flukes. I generally see 4" pre-lock Model 66s going for an average of about $700 for what many consider "shooter" condition (which I guess is any condition not considered "collectible"). The LNIBs with box and papers all seem to go for around $1,000 give or take. Too rich for my blood but would certainly be nice to have.

p.s. I constantly wonder where all those original target grips have gotten off to. Probably sitting in the bottom of some drawer somewhere a number of steps removed from the ownership of the gun, held by a person who doesn't realize they're sitting on $100-150 worth of wood.