Smith & Wesson 66-5 3”

[JLove008]

Picked up a Smith & Wesson model 66-5 3” from a fellow collector at the local gun show today. It came with the original plastic case and paperwork. It goes along well with my model 66-2 with factory combat grips. I was tempted to add a set of factory combats to the 66-5, but the more I look at the current set, I may keep them. I’m hoping someone could shed some light on whether or not these are factory grips. The gentlemen I purchased it from wasn’t sure if he added the grips after purchasing the revolver.

Product Code: 102712 - FL RR Special 1988 and 1996 and 1999 for RSR

 

[Casual Smith Nut]

I believe the factory grips would have been round butt hogue rubber bantam grips.

Nice piece!

 

[LEO918]

Great pair of three inchers. I picked up this 66-4 not long ago.

 

[TheTinMan]

You dog! The 3” Model 66 is a bit of an obsession with me. I have 66-2, -3 and -4 but haven’t found the -5 yet.

 

[PeteC]

I believe the grips shown in the first post were made by Altamont, judging by the back side. Laminated rosewood or something like that.

 

[JLove008]

Thank you sir. I believe so as well.

I believe the grips shown in the first post were made by Altamont, judging by the back side. Laminated rosewood or something like that.

 

[PeteC]

Looking at the Altamont grips, I am wondering if they were made to resemble the rosewood laminate grips on the 65-5 Ladysmith which also has a 3"barrel. Both look very nice on the 3" model, IMO. (even if the 66-2 with the factory combats sort-of steals the show, )

 

[SAFireman]

Justin,

I have a 3" 66-5 with the fiber optic front sight (limited run of 300 IIRC?), and it came with rubber finger groove stocks from Hogue.

Your gun may have had the 'Bantam' or Uncle Mike's in that era.

I'll drag mine out and double check what's on it now.

Here is the flyer for the one that I have. It looks like Hogue Bantams?

Count me as a fan of the 3" model 66's. I have managed to track down the pre-lock series: 66-2, 66-3, 66-4, and 66-5.

 

[JLove008]

Thank you sir. I appreciate the information! I may switch over to a factory set of combats, seeing as these are not original to the revolver.

Justin,

I have a 3" 66-5 with the fiber optic front sight (limited run of 300 IIRC?), and it came with rubber finger groove stocks from Hogue.

Your gun may have had the 'Bantam' or Uncle Mike's in that era.

I'll drag mine out and double check what's on it now.

Here is the flyer for the one that I have. It looks like Hogue Bantams?

Count me as a fan of the 3" model 66's. I have managed to track down the pre-lock series: 66-2, 66-3, 66-4, and 66-5.

 

[PeteC]

.... Here is the flyer for the one that I have. It looks like Hogue Bantams?...

I believe so. If not I am sure someone else will speak up. Here is a pic of the same 65-5 LS I posted above, this time with Uncle Mike's grips. Slightly different shape, but same idea... Mine is not exactly collector grade, I have large hands, so I shoot it with the Uncle Mike's.

edit: The relief is shallower on the Uncle Mikes, and the groove for the middle finger is in a better place - that's just me obviously - you may feel differently. Both good grips, IMO.

 

[BAM-BAM]

Nice.................


Uncle Mike's are a licenced copy of Spegel's Boot Grips. Mine wear checkered wood Spegel Boot grips..... which I highly recommend!!

Nothing nicer than a 3" 66 I've got -3 and -4 versions. Got the -3s in the late 80s .... they couldn't give them away;It was all Wonder-9s.

Looks like someone changed out the front sight blade.

 

[Camster]

Nice.................


Uncle Mike's are a licenced copy of Spegel's Boot Grips. Mine wear checkered wood Spegel Boot grips..... which I highly recommend!!

Nothing nicer than a 3" 66 I've got -3 and -4 versions. Got the -3s in the late 80s .... they couldn't give them away;It was all Wonder-9s.

Looks like someone changed out the front sight blade.

I think the blade is original. The gun is indicated as having a red ramp.

 

[BAM-BAM]

I think the blade is original. The gun is indicated as having a red ramp.

See the S&W fliers in posts above.................. ???????

 

[SmithNut]

There's two different M66-5's shown here, note the different Product code on the OP's gun versus that of the one in SAfireman's post, which is a 3.2" M66-5 (Stocking Dealer gun).

The one above, which is the Stocking Dealer 3.2" version, now sports a Patridge, got rid of that #$%^& fiber optic sight...

All these are the last of the good ones as they don't have the latest safety enhancements (lock) that came about with the -6....

 

[PeteC]

There's two different M66-5's shown here, note the different Product code on the OP's gun versus that of the one in SAfireman's post, which is a 3.2" M66-5 (Stocking Dealer gun).
....

Yup.

102720 with the HiViz sight is listed as 2004
102712 with red ramp is listed as 1988, 1986 and 1999
(SCSW IV, page 271)

For even more fun:

In 1996, the Model 66 was listed with "Uncle Mike's Combat" grips, while the 686 was listed with Hogue's.
(from Smith & Wesson Handguns '96, page 9)

 

[WCCPHD]

I had a Model 66-5 three inch Lew Horton gun that came with white faux ivory grips from the factory. Mine had Uncle Mikes grips on when I got it, but they were not factory correct.

The gun below is a Model 66-2 Ashland but is wearing grips like the Lew Horton 66-5 was shipped with.

 

[JLove008]

Decided to switch out the grips with some combats.