Question about Model 66-5 with "3 inch" barrel **PHOTOS ADDED**

[vigil617]

I'm seeing different configurations of the Model 66-5 with the barrel that is about 3" long.

Were any of these true 3" barrels or were they all 3.25"?

One version has a red ramp front sight, adjustable rear, and rolled markings on the sides of the barrel.

Another version has a hi-viz front sight, adjustable rear, and the barrel is roll-marked on both sides. This is a Stocking Dealer model, I believe.

Yet another has the hi-viz front sight, adjustable rear, and etched markings on one side only of the barrel.

I won't even go into the different stocks among these as it's hard to tell sometimes whether they were original factory or replacements.

Any ideas as to relative quantity on the different ones and which might be more valuable than others? How many years was production on the 66-5?

Thanks!

 

[BAM-BAM]

I think you are talking about Performance Center guns..........some/most (?) had comp chambers forward of the front sight

 

[AlphaSig]

Been looking at those also ... going to be my next revolver purchase. Seem to be expensive if in good shape (imagine that).
Here's a description of the last one I was looking at: (I think this relates to your question)--

Hard To Find Smith & Wesson Model 66-5 that is Chambered in 357 Magnum. It is a Factory 3.25" Barrel.Stocking Dealer Exclusive With a Hi-Viz Front Sight. Custom wood grips and factory rubber grips. This is a late gun with out the roll marking on the gun, etched model.

Beautiful revolver! A bit exclusive w/the Hi-Viz and green sight (as opposed to red).
Vigil617 great question -- "on relative quantity on the different ones and which might be more valuable than others? How many years was production on the 66-5?" Hopefully somebody has the answers....

 

[vigil617]

I think you are talking about Performance Center guns..........some/most (?) had comp chambers forward of the front sight

Bam, I wasn't even including the PC guns or any with the compensator or magnaporting on 'em....just the ol' run-of-the-mill production guns...but thanks for throwing in on this...

 

[vigil617]

Been looking at those also ... going to be my next revolver purchase. Seem to be expensive if in good shape (imagine that).
Here's a description of the last one I was looking at: (I think this relates to your question)--

Hard To Find Smith & Wesson Model 66-5 that is Chambered in 357 Magnum. It is a Factory 3.25" Barrel.Stocking Dealer Exclusive With a Hi-Viz Front Sight. Custom wood grips and factory rubber grips. This is a late gun with out the roll marking on the gun, etched model.

Beautiful revolver! A bit exclusive w/the Hi-Viz and green sight (as opposed to red).
Vigil617 great question -- "on relative quantity on the different ones and which might be more valuable than others? How many years was production on the 66-5?" Hopefully somebody has the answers....

Found a red ramp one without the box for what seems a really good price (six bills)....picking it up tomorrow

 

[WCCPHD]

Model 66-5

The answer to your question of whether there were any actual three inch model 66-5's built is yes. There was a "run" done for Lew Horton with three inch barrels. They were shipped with faux ivory magna grips. I have one, below.

The first gun is the 66-5 with Pachmayer grips. The second is an Ashland 66-2 wearing the faux ivory grips. (I don't have photos available with the correct grips on the correct gun).





Here is a photo of the 66-5 with a different set of grips. You can see that the "-5" has a different sight rib, that does not run the length of the barrel as the "-2" does.

 

[gumpys]

As mentioned above yes there was a few different versions of the 3 inch 66-5. The true 3 inch 66-5's are more scarce and bring more money than the 3.25 inch version.

Sent from my SAMSUNG-SGH-I317 using Tapatalk

 

[vigil617]

Thanks, guys.

In the meantime, I was able to find a link to pages from the SCSW that describe the Model 66, and learned a lot about all the dash versions from what was there.

Standard Catalog of Smith & Wesson - Jim Supica, Richard Nahas - Google Books

I'll post pics of my new acquisition later today for comparison.

WCCPHD, I see from the photos of your 3" barrel guns that the ejector shroud's front taper extends to the muzzle, compared to stopping a bit short on the 3.25" guns. Guess that's how to readily see the barrel length difference. Hadn't noticed that before now, and it's good to know. Thanks.

 

[vigil617]

Well, here she is.



Model 66-5, with no rollmarks, and S&W and the caliber etched in what is a dark brown/gold color as shown. The S&W logo on the other side is also etched. Grips are rubber Hogue-style combats with the S&W logo. Serial is CFExxxx.



Got to believe this is a 3.25" barrel, but I'm a little confused because length from muzzle to back side of the front of the frame is exactly 3", and only by including the length of the forcing cone does it come up to 3.25". Whatever the length, it definitely has the heavy-barrel, and should be a great shooter.



Range, here I come!

 

[vigil617]

Anybody have one of these with a box containing a product code? Nothing in the SCSW listing matches this one...

 

[BAM-BAM]

Sweet gun....... barrel length is generally measured from the face of the cylinder to the muzzle....

WCCPHD.... guns above..... look at where the ejector rod housing ends....... right at the muzzle. (Edit: I see you caught that in a earlier post)

You will love it ...I've had a 3" 66 since about 1988 (when, LOL they couldn't give them away) and they are my favorite k-frames..... at one point I had traded off or sold all my 2.5 and 4 inch 19/66s as the only one that got carried was a 3"....... range guns were L-frames.

 

[vigil617]

Sweet gun....... barrel length is generally measured from the face of the cylinder to the muzzle....

WCCPHD.... guns above..... look at where the ejector rod housing ends....... right at the muzzle. (Edit: I see you caught that in a earlier post)

You will love it ...I've had a 3" 66 since about 1988 (when, LOL they couldn't give them away) and they are my favorite k-frames..... at one point I had traded off or sold all my 2.5 and 4 inch 19/66s as the only one that got carried was a 3"....... range guns were L-frames.

Face of the cylinder....got it....thanks Bam

 

[SmithNut]

Unless they were scrimping on the ink with the brochure, I believe these were only 3.2", not 3.25". The only 3.2" guns I've seen were the Stocking Dealer version that had the Hi-Viz front sight:

There were also standard 3" M66-5 guns, as noted above, here's mine (changed the ramp front sight to a Patridge, much better )

It's interesting to note that my barrel looks to have a longer sight base than the one higher up, they must have had to make some new barrels, they look different.

 

[vigil617]

That's really interesting, SmithNut, about a true 3" 66-5. First I've seen that I know of. Those smooth stocks are gorgeous! Do you know what wood they are, and were they factory or from one of the makers?

Thanks for posting the flyer, too! I hope this thread will be a good reference for anyone looking for good info on the 66-5.

 

[BAM-BAM]

That's really interesting, SmithNut, about a true 3" 66-5. First I've seen that I know of. Those smooth stocks are gorgeous! Do you know what wood they are, and were they factory or from one of the makers?

Thanks for posting the flyer, too! I hope this thread will be a good reference for anyone looking for good info on the 66-5.

Not good with wood ...... but they are Spegel Boot Grips. I've been using them on my 3" guns since the late 80s!!!!!!!

 

[vigil617]

I can already see I'm going to need to find some nice wood stocks to dress mine up! For shooting, though, the Hogue bantams fit my hand perfectly and are some of the most comfortable I've ever "shaken hands with."

Thanks for the tip on the Spegels, Bam. I'm already looking!

 

[SmithNut]

That's really interesting, SmithNut, about a true 3" 66-5. First I've seen that I know of. Those smooth stocks are gorgeous! Do you know what wood they are, and were they factory or from one of the makers?

Thanks for posting the flyer, too! I hope this thread will be a good reference for anyone looking for good info on the 66-5.

The grips are Spegel (who else??? ), the wood is Macassar Ebony.

 

[SmithNut]

I can already see I'm going to need to find some nice wood stocks to dress mine up! For shooting, though, the Hogue bantams fit my hand perfectly and are some of the most comfortable I've ever "shaken hands with."

Thanks for the tip on the Spegels, Bam. I'm already looking!

Craig does top notch work, and he offers a selection of wood types, you can't beat them for comfort, looks and overall function. Only issue these days is that I hear his lead times are out due to the popularity of his work.

Here's a few examples:

 

[vigil617]

. . . Only issue these days is that I hear his lead times are out due to the popularity of his work. . .

Gorgeous!

I saw on his website about the lead times, but I liked what he said on there:

"The part that takes the longest is already done -- growing the tree!"

I think I'm gonna get in line....

 

[BAM-BAM]

Folks thought I was loaded w/ Spegel's at the NE Ohio Bunching......SmithNut makes me look like a slacker.

and then he flaunts that 19 w/ birdseye maple ...........................damn that is sweeeeeeet!!!!!!!

the only thing prettier is my 4" 586-4 factory round butt with Spegel birdseye extended boot grips.......bottom of page 3 on the NE Bunching thread ......