The S&W model 66 is an interesting model. I have been a little curious about the more detailed early history of the revolver, so I have a couple questions.
I have heard that some 66 no dash models switched to the black sights during the production run of the no dash because the stainless sights were easy to pickup visually. How late into the no dash timeline would the switch have been made from stainless to black sights?
In the history of the model 19 I have read that the -2 and early -3 guns (late 60’s early 70’s) had the gas ring on the cylinder but in the mid 70’s (1974?) the gas ring was moved to the yoke during later -3 production and then back to the cylinder on the 19-4 and 66-1. Did the model 66 start with the gas ring on the yoke in 1972 before the 19-3 received it in 1974? Could a very early model 66 have the gas ring on the cylinder like the 19-2 and very early model-3’s? Some histories I have see say the change to the gas ring was strictly when the -3 was introduced and some say it was a later running change in the production of the -3, so there may be some various points of view on this and how it relates to running changes in the model 66.
Model 66
66 (1971): Stamping of each model.
66-1 (1977): Changed the gas ring from the yoke to the cylinder.
66-2 (1982): Eliminated pinned and recessed, slightly lengthened cylinder.
66-3 (1986): New yoke retention system/radius stud package/hammer nose bushing/floating hand.
66-4 (1994): Change rear sight leaf, drill and tap frame, introduce Uncle Mike's grips, change extractor.
66-5 (1998): Change in frame design: eliminate cylinder stop stud/eliminate serrated tangs/change to MIM hammer with floating firing pin/change internal lockwork.
66-6 (2002): Introduced internal lock.
66-7 (?): Two piece barrel and internal lock,
(2005): Discontinued.
66-8 (2014): Reintroduced with 4.25" barrel in 2014 and later with a 2.75" barrel in 2017.
I have heard that some 66 no dash models switched to the black sights during the production run of the no dash because the stainless sights were easy to pickup visually. How late into the no dash timeline would the switch have been made from stainless to black sights?
In the history of the model 19 I have read that the -2 and early -3 guns (late 60’s early 70’s) had the gas ring on the cylinder but in the mid 70’s (1974?) the gas ring was moved to the yoke during later -3 production and then back to the cylinder on the 19-4 and 66-1. Did the model 66 start with the gas ring on the yoke in 1972 before the 19-3 received it in 1974? Could a very early model 66 have the gas ring on the cylinder like the 19-2 and very early model-3’s? Some histories I have see say the change to the gas ring was strictly when the -3 was introduced and some say it was a later running change in the production of the -3, so there may be some various points of view on this and how it relates to running changes in the model 66.
Model 66
66 (1971): Stamping of each model.
66-1 (1977): Changed the gas ring from the yoke to the cylinder.
66-2 (1982): Eliminated pinned and recessed, slightly lengthened cylinder.
66-3 (1986): New yoke retention system/radius stud package/hammer nose bushing/floating hand.
66-4 (1994): Change rear sight leaf, drill and tap frame, introduce Uncle Mike's grips, change extractor.
66-5 (1998): Change in frame design: eliminate cylinder stop stud/eliminate serrated tangs/change to MIM hammer with floating firing pin/change internal lockwork.
66-6 (2002): Introduced internal lock.
66-7 (?): Two piece barrel and internal lock,
(2005): Discontinued.
66-8 (2014): Reintroduced with 4.25" barrel in 2014 and later with a 2.75" barrel in 2017.
Last edited:
