S&W 66 no Dash stainless rear sights

[shouldazagged]

We've got to remember the value of the dollar in 1975. Due to inflation $157.50 is $732.67 in today's dollar. So to the younger folks that think this stuff was cheap back then, it wasn't. It's just seems cheap to us today.

I remember what my earnings were in those years, too. Laying down $157.50 for a gun was a serious decision for most of us.

As for that "old fart" label, I'm guilty as charged, and I hope the 51-year-old above (who is younger than my kids) lives long enough to achieve my rank: Old Fart Emeritus.

 

[ispcapt]

We've got to remember the value of the dollar in 1975. Due to inflation $157.50 is $732.67 in today's dollar. So to the younger folks that think this stuff was cheap back then, it wasn't. It's just seems cheap to us today.

Yup, and what will $732.67 in today's dollar be in another 40 years.

 

[k22fan]

I bought my first Model 66, a lightly used 4", in 1976. They were hard to come by and sold for a premium. I bought mine from a policeman who had bought it through a police supplier solely to turn a profit off a civilian sucker like me. I paid him $250. It had silver colored stainless sights. To put that in perspective in 1976 I also bought a 1973 Toyota Corolla with 21,000 miles on it for $2,100. Buying the Corolla new would have been about $2,700.

 

[BAM-BAM]

Bought my first new car in 79 a Datsun (Nissan) 200sx...... loaded for $7000..... Carter years inflation hit 14%

 

[llowry61]

Question for the 66 experts. I have 2 66's, one is no dash with SS rear and one is a - 1 w RR and blued rear. The -1 has a speed loader cutout and the other has footballs. Would both potentially be factory correct?

On another note, the no dash is serial #4k617XX and has SS front and rear. Would that gun fall into the proper range for factory SS?

The -1 rear is white outline - is that correct as well for blued rear ?

Thanks in advance,

L

 

[snw19_357]

...one is no dash with SS rear and one is a - 1 w RR and blued rear. The -1 has a speed loader cutout and the other has footballs. Would both potentially be factory correct?

Yes. speedloader targets showed up in the mid 40Ks so if it's above that they're probably correct. If it's below 50K it still could have shipped with football.

...the no dash is serial #4k617XX and has SS front and rear. Would that gun fall into the proper range for factory SS?

Absolutely.

The -1 rear is white outline - is that correct as well for blued rear ?

standard was a plain blued rear sight blade (even with a RR) but the WO was an option/upgrade.

 

[llowry61]

Thank you for the info SNW19 357. You guys know your S&W's. I really love both of these guns.

L

 

[Engine49guy]

snw19_357 is the expert in all things Combat Magnum,
As stated many original raw SS rear sites were swapped out to blackened SS rear units after visibility contrast complaints , dont forget those units were also being used on Model 67's as well.
The darkened SS units are marked underneath with the letter "S" for Stainless.

On a side note I have yet to see a 2.5" model 66 snub that shipped with a bright SS rear site , ( the snub site is a longer unit) my guess is snub production began after the order came down for the change to black Stainless rear sites.

 

[snw19_357]

On a side note I have yet to see a 2.5" model 66 snub that shipped with a bright SS rear site , ( the snub site is a longer unit) my guess is snub production began after the order came down for the change to black Stainless rear sites.

Looking for the 2.5" M66 introduction I came across "Changes in Stainless Models" In Vol 7, No 3 (1975) of the SWCA Journal and it basically says all Models 67 and 66 revolvers were shipped with blackened stainless rear sights and red ramp front sights beginning in July, 1975.

I have come across a snub 66 with a stainless rear sight but with it's RR front sight, I suspect they assumed it should have a stainless rear and took the finish off. The earliest 2.5" M66 didn't ship until October, 1975.

 

[coyote6974]

Quoting you Armedeagle because your post is thorough and brought up a lot of points.


It seems to be more like (late) 1974 and coincides with the gas ring being moved TO the yoke and introduction of the 2.5" version (but they didn't start shipping until October, 1975).


You have to remember that applies to all K-frames with target sights and what may be true for a Model 15 or 19 may not apply to a Model 66 or 67.
There are no Model 66's in the 1K and 3K range. The square butt (no dash) Model 66's are in the (K949xxx) 2K, 4K, 7K & 9K's with the (early) 2.5" version in the 6K and 8Ks's.


Very true and also in the other direction, many that originally shipped with a stainless rear sight had them changed to blued.
The front sight can be more of an indicator. The red insert did not become standard until they started shipping with blackened rear sights and although the ramp was pinned to the base and could be changed (or a red ramp could be added later), it wasn't as easy to do as swapping the rear sight.
The end of the stainless sights seems to have occurred in the mid-7K's and coincides with the movement of the gas ring. <7K18xxx should still have stainless sights and the gas ring on the cylinder; >7K47 should have a red ramp, blackened rear sight and the gas ring on the yoke.
Have yet to come across a Model 66 between 7K18xxx~7K47xxx so if you have or come across one, would love to hear about it.

I have a model 66 no dash SN 7K543XX. It has its gas ring on the yoke and a blackened rear sight. It also has a red ramp front sight. I don't have the shipping date for it.

 

[Armedeagle]

Quoting you Armedeagle because your post is thorough and brought up a lot of points.


It seems to be more like (late) 1974 and coincides with the gas ring being moved TO the yoke and introduction of the 2.5" version (but they didn't start shipping until October, 1975).


You have to remember that applies to all K-frames with target sights and what may be true for a Model 15 or 19 may not apply to a Model 66 or 67.
There are no Model 66's in the 1K and 3K range. The square butt (no dash) Model 66's are in the (K949xxx) 2K, 4K, 7K & 9K's with the (early) 2.5" version in the 6K and 8Ks's.


Very true and also in the other direction, many that originally shipped with a stainless rear sight had them changed to blued.
The front sight can be more of an indicator. The red insert did not become standard until they started shipping with blackened rear sights and although the ramp was pinned to the base and could be changed (or a red ramp could be added later), it wasn't as easy to do as swapping the rear sight.
The end of the stainless sights seems to have occurred in the mid-7K's and coincides with the movement of the gas ring. <7K18xxx should still have stainless sights and the gas ring on the cylinder; >7K47 should have a red ramp, blackened rear sight and the gas ring on the yoke.
Have yet to come across a Model 66 between 7K18xxx~7K47xxx so if you have or come across one, would love to hear about it.

Thank you snw19_357 for addressing each one of my questions as precisely as this. I've become an Addict to S&W Revolvers and trying to take in all the information I can about them. It's interesting how many answers & comments can be fielded on this question concerning "Model 66 Stainless Rear Sights?"!

I appreciate everyone's answers and comments!

 

[dant]

....and to really complicate things how about any and all the shops that serviced S&W that had changed, added to, or removed these 'silver' (stainless) rear blades back then, because the owners ( or the LE involved) wanted to better SEE their rear sight....we had our shop in the early 70's, I can recall doing this on many of the all stainless sight model 66's it was a pretty popular gun back then, sought after and even more so after many of the PDs traded in their revolvers for the semiauto 9mms, mostly after they went through the L framed revolvers, I remember seeing and going through LOTS of them traded in through our LE distributors......today it is Glocks and Sig...few years back the Berettas,,,sadly the S&W model 59s never caught on locally back in the early days we had our shops..........

Good info on the dates of 'factory' change for those early Model 66's.............and a "wise" move....