S&W 66-1 Project Gun

[DeafSmith]

At a pawn shop they had this S&W 66-1, 4 inch, just awful rusted revolver.

Even the cylinder latch was rusted to where what was left of the latch screw was rusted to the latch!

S&W target grips rotted to pieces (literally!)

But it functioned 100 percent. $400, tax included... Yep bought it.

Gun functioned 100 percent, bore fine, cylinder chambers fine.. but looked so awful!

Now, the back sight was smashed, front red insert 1/2 gone.

Took it to pieces...

Thankfully all the screws came of easily, no messed up screws.

I've cleaned lots of the parts off.

Used screw penetration oil and it helped some. Just tried Flitz polish and tooth brush. Not bad... Still have lots of little parts to go.

I have new thumbpiece and screw coming (it was so rusted it fell to pieces.)

I have a rear sight that matches so that's that.

I also have a flash chrome hammer and trigger if I need to replace them.

I can maybe make my own red insert using epoxy and red paint.

Gun looks like this.. last pict is what it looked like before the cleaning.

Question gang... the side plate of a S&W revolver... I see them on Ebay.. are they hand fitted to each revolver? That is can I buy a K frame side plate and it just slips in to this revolver?

Also, bead blasting... how much does that kind of service cost?

 

[tennexplorer]

Each sideplate is fitted to the revolver. They are not interchangeable. Some may fit fairly close and others not.

 

[dvanncvann]

Bead blast would be the way to go on that one.

 

[Baxter6551]

Bead blast for sure. They come out great. This 67 had a lot of finish issues.

 

[stansdds]

That is a really poor condition Model 66, what a shame. You really want to keep the original side plate as these are final machined and finished as a part of each revolver. Finding one that fits right would be a pure stroke of luck. Don't know how much it costs, but a bead blasted finish would be good for that near basket case.

 

[DeafSmith]

Got a line on a smith that bead blast guns... will check with him Monday.

I don't want to spend a bunch of money on this... If I did I would have just bought one off the net (and a 2 1/2 Combat Magnum at that.)

 

[Smolt Smython]

email those pics to Ron:

[email protected]
(814) 436-7747

See what he thinks about a re-finish. Ron is a good person and does excellent work, he won't try to take advantage of you.

It might not cost a lot more than the bead blast you are looking for, most of the cost is in the the time (labor) to disassemble and re-assemble and that's exactly the same if you just have it "blasted" or actually re-finish it.

Firearm Plating -Mahovsky's Metalife

 

[minconrevo]

I see potential. First off soak that thing, every part, in some automatic transmission fluid for a few days. Some add a little acetone to the ATF. Seal the container if you add something that will evaporate. Every day or so fish it out and go after it gently with a fine brass brush. At the end of that see what you have. It may need a careful blasting by someone who understands how it works and that it's a quality, close tolerance piece of machinery. A professional in gun refinishing would know what to blast, what to mask/plug and so forth.

 

[DeafSmith]

Phase 1 complete... on to Phase 2!

Phase 2 is bead blast, swap hammer and trigger (I have flash chrome S&W hammer and trigger.)

Phase 3. Redo the front sight, reblue (touch up) the rear sight.

But this week I shall shoot for accuracy and see what it does.

 

[Rudi]

Looking good!

 

[DeafSmith]

Project gun shoots perfect... low but centered! Bead blast is next!

 

[minconrevo]

Keep moving slowly forward. If there isn't sufficient elevation in the existing rear sight blade you might need to rebuild rear with a different blade height. Definitely read the how-to's on that before proceeding.

 

[kaaskop49]

Attn: OP

And despite its terrible condition, "the gun functioned 100%." I guess that was the reason why a NYPD service revolver NEVER failed to fire when called upon, despite varying conditions of neglect, in over 60 years. An 'attaboy' to the OP for rescuing this fine firearm.

Kaaskop49
Shield #5103