The end of a 10+ year chase!

[Jeep 1]

The quest for a Smith & Wesson model 66–4. 3 inch barrel, I have looked at gun stores, shows and made a lot of bids on GB and watched GI but could never quite bring myself to pay what the ending bids were! But finally and about $500-$1000 under their normal doing rates it happened! It had the wrong grips, but I was more than happy…
To me, it’s one of the meanest looking 357 magnums. I have several 2 1/2 inch gun and they’re just not the same.

 

[75Vette]

What a great gun to own. Well worth the long wait. Congrats!

 

[markeb]

That's a beauty. I'm a big fan of all 3" Smith and Wesson revolvers. Enjoy.

 

[Enzo Rules]

Wow, that’s a nice one, patience does pay off. It hasn’t worked for me yet.

 

[panamajack310]

That is a beautiful piece. They are super hard to find at a good price. All the ones I see used with a box have been fetching 2k

 

[bobsguns]

Super good score, sir!

 

[CH4]

Congrats and welcome to the club!

Here’s my -4 with a few custom touches. Picked it up last year at the Vegas Bass Pro for $675.

 

[hkcavalier]

Very nice! I love the end to long searches.

I thought I had been looking at a similar one at an auction site the other day, but it's actually a 65 3".

 

[ColumbusJBR]

Well done! I agree, meanest looking magnum out there. Everything is just… right.

I hope to one day have one to accompany it’s blind brother, the 65 3”

 

[JohnRippert]

While I think that 3inch K-frames are the best of the best, I also think the 2.5inch Model 19's look the meanest.

 

[LEO918]

Here is my 66-4 as acquired and after adding Keith Brown Combat Ropers.

 

[Jeep 1]

First of all, I want to thank you guys for all helping me get through this evening by keeping my mind on something positive!
And I have another confession while we are on the subject. I already had a model 66–2 with a 3 inch barrel however I believe it to be a Smith & Wesson parts bin gun, I know that it is all Smith & Wesson and came from the factory with a 3 inch barrel like the Lou Horton run of the Model 66-3 power port
I would say it was a leftover barrel and a leftover frame, but it’s still pretty friggin awesome!

 

[xtrtsqrt11]

That is a GREAT looking revolver! Congrats!!!

 

[colt_saa]

The quest for a Smith & Wesson model 66–4. 3 inch barrel, I have looked at gun stores, shows and made a lot of bids on GB and watched GI but could never quite bring myself to pay what the ending bids were! But finally and about $500-$1000 under their normal doing rates it happened! It had the wrong grips, but I was more than happy…

To me, it’s one of the meanest looking 357 magnums. I have several 2 1/2 inch gun and they’re just not the same.

Congratulations on a SWEET addition to the family

You may or may not be aware but your revolver was manufactured on May 22nd of 1996

My 3" Model 66 is a -3 engineering revision that was built in 1988. Unfortunatly I did not get a box with mine.It came to me wearing Pachmyrs

First of all, I want to thank you guys for all helping me get through this evening by keeping my mind on something positive!
And I have another confession while we are on the subject. I already had a model 66–2 with a 3 inch barrel however I believe it to be a Smith & Wesson parts bin gun, I know that it is all Smith & Wesson and came from the factory with a 3 inch barrel like the Lou Horton run of the Model 66-3 power port

I would say it was a leftover barrel and a leftover frame, but it’s still pretty friggin awesome!

The first run of F-Comps was 1993. Your -2 frame was manufactured between 1982 and 1986. Are you sure that yours left the Factory that way? I would think that frame is too old to have been left over to be a parts gun. Though with Smith & Wesson almost anything is possible

I really like my F-Comp and do carry it from time to time. The F-Comps came from the Factory with some nice looking non-medallion Combat grips

 

[BAM-BAM]

Found a 3" 66-4 about 20 years ago..... in a LGS used; priced like a used 2 1/2" gun........ $325. It's my EDC revolver with Spegel Boot Grips.

Got two 3" 66-3s back in 1989/90... w/ action jobs for $270 each, out the door... both are still NIB ...... both have Spegel grips . Story was they'd been sitting on a Distributor's [Harrisburg Pa.] shelf for about a year..... at the time if it didn't have 15rds up the butt you couldn't give it away!!

Had a 3" 65 from about 86 that was ported,action job, bobbed hammer and red ramp insert... which was my EDC evenings and weekends until the used 66-4 came along.

 

[Jeep 1]

The first run of F-Comps was 1993. Your -2 frame was manufactured between 1982 and 1986. Are you sure that yours left the Factory that way? I would think that frame is too old to have been left over to be a parts gun. Though with Smith & Wesson almost anything is possible

I really like my F-Comp and do carry it from time to time. The F-Comps came from the Factory with some nice looking non-medallion Combat grips

I have some pretty good information on the history of this particular firearm and how it came out of the factory
I believe that parts bin guns are far more common than we know. Here is another example that I own and it’s hard to dispute
Tom

686 Golden Bear limited edition

 

[1911haulic]

While I think that 3inch K-frames are the best of the best, I also think the 2.5inch Model 19's look the meanest.

I agree and with patience, I now have a blue one, a nickel one and the 66 to match.

 

[TheTinMan]

The first revolver I ever bought was a new 66-4 with a 3” barrel. I knew next to nothing about handguns, but this one just felt right. About 20 years later my daughter moved to LA and said something about maybe wanting a gun. “Which one would you like?” Ooooh ****. Yes, it lives in LA now.

 

[CALREB]

Jeep1, Way to go. You did it right. It may take longer, but if you look diligently and keep your money ready you will sooner or later score.
However, I can't argue with people that have ample funds and see the one they want and grab it. Let the enjoyment begin.

 

[Bill In Texas]

Congratulations! Must feel good to complete the hunt.