The Model 66-1 - the best of the best...

[PALADIN85020]

I got to musing lately that if I could keep just ONE S&W revolver that would be extremely versatile, durable, accurate and practical, it would be my 4-inch Model 66-1, shipped in 1978. I won it at an on-line auction - paid too much for it back in 2006 - unfired and in the box with all the papers. I gave it a primo action job from Nelson Ford, fired a couple of cylinders of ammo from it, and tucked it away. Today it's one of my "most prized" firearms. The "dash 1" was the very last of the elegant pinned and recessed Model 66s. Later, I also acquired a 66-1 snubby as a companion piece.

In my opinion, the Model 66 had the nicest combination of features - everything you needed and nothing you didn't. Sad to say, quality took a hit after the dash one, and the modern iteration with its politically correct hole, screwed up frame, floating firing pin in the frame and sleeved barrel is the poorest representation of the breed. It's a camel that was designed by a committee.

I took some pics of this great revolver recently, and am showing them here.

John

 

[A10]

I had one for a while, stupidly sold it. I'm looking for a snubby version for my EDC. There is something just "right" about the Kframe .357s.....

 

[DocB]

Yup, I would have to agree. It is likely the best Smith and the last one to get rid of. Mine is a -2 I picked up two months ago for $550. Dates around 1983 without P&R, but still one of my favorites. It is a shame that they are still in production. . .wouldn't even consider buying a new one.

 

[Sixgun100]

Agree!

No argument here. Agree with your opinion on if you had to have only one handgun. Don't currently have one, but have owned a couple in the past. Carried one on-duty in the late 1980's, early 1990's stoked with Winchester 145 grain Silvertips. Congrats on a beautiful revolver!

 

[les.b]

John:

My two 66s are of the no dash configuration, and were issued to me as a police officer back in the 70s...the 4" when I joined up in October 1975, and the 2 1/2" when I was assigned to plainclothes duties a couple of years later. Both were brand new when issued to me. I carried them until we switched to the Glock in the early 1990s, and we were permitted to purchase them for what Glock was offering on trade in. Naturally I bought both of mine...by some folks opinion, they were well worn, and should probably at least be refurbished, but to me they are priceless, and will go to my boys when I pass. I always used a Tyler T Grip when I was carrying these, but they are on loan to a couple of othe K frames right now, and some day I'll reunite them for a photo shoot.

Here's my 4"...I put those model 10 stocks on when I first was issued the gun, and still have the target stocks which came with it, and they have never been on it since... I preferred the feel of the magna with a grip adaptor:



And here's the snubby. Both of these guns are still in perfect mechanical shape, and are fantastic shooters:



I agree with your assessment that if one were limited to only one handgun, that the 66 would make an excellent choice. By the way, although the -1 was supposed to cure some of the alleged faults of the no dash, we never had any malfunctions or problems with any of our plain 66s. Eventually we switched, as that was what Smith and Wesson were making at the time, but never had any issues with any of the iterations of the 66. I served as armorer and I assure you that most of the time I felt like the famous Maytag repairman from the old TV commercial, as there was very little to do!!

By the way...that is an absolutely spectacular model 66-1 that you have there!!! Don't be afraid to shoot it though, even though it is georgeous...shooting will never hurt that beauty, especially if you adhere to the philosophy that the 19 and 66s were designed around: train with 38 specials, and carry the .357 magnum, with a few fired from time to time for familiarization.

Best Regards, Les

 

[153]

I got my 66-1 in 1979, and carried it as an LEO. While a nice revolver, I never really warmed up to it. I guess that I am not a fan of stainless firearms. They don't show wear as nicely as an old blued gun. If I had it to do over, I would have bought a Model 15. We never carried anything other than +P. Back then "magnum" had a cache.

Still wouldn't sell it ...

 

[armorer951]

I'll have to confess, this is my favorite K-frame. Still looking for one.

 

[max]

John, 15 or 20 years ago there was a large number of 66's on the market that were stamped LASD for Los Angeles Sheriff's Department. I bought a snub from the LGS and it had a great trigger. I did not keep it and can't remember why. I now have a nickel 19 snub and will hang on to it. A very nice 66 you have there.

 

[ISCS Yoda]

I would have SOOOO much trouble if I had to keep just one gun. I'm a huge K frame snub fan and my EDC is generally one of those - A Model 10 or a customized Model 64. I'm partial to blued guns so my Model 19 2.5 inch would be screaming "KEEP ME KEEP ME!!!" but my Model 19 4" would likely have to be the one solely because its sole drawback is difficulty of concealment. So I understand your fondness for the similar 66 indeed I do!!!

 

[diggler1833]

I own a 6" 66-1. It is one of the revolvers that I can shoot the best, literally making pistol marksmanship look easy.

 

[SPEEDGUNNER]

My 4" 66-1 was my first S&W stainless revolver purchase. It has been hiking, canoeing, kayaking and out to sea with me. I love it for its size, versatility, reliability and general overall cool factor. When not in use it wears the targets it came with, otherwise it wears a set of Pachy grippers. It would definitely be the last revolver I would part with come the time..."Pinned barrel with bullet bedrooms". Gotta love it!

 

[mrchuck]

My 66 is a bedroom gun with a 6" bbl.
The barrel is a beat down baton if needed, while the long barrel gives excellent longer range accuracy outside the home on my property.
The grip is a HOGUE, and the wood is "Tulip wood"which lists at 250 Dollars for the grips.The mounting screw is on the bottom of the grip.

 

[GF]

I like the fact that the Mod 66 has been getting some Page 1 time as of late!

I have a pic of one back when I took pictures of all my revolvers. Cocked & Locked and Dryheat always had the best shots on the forum and I tried to be "artistic" too.

66-1

Stainless & wood makes for a good photographic subject!

GF

 

[vigil617]

Good fortune smiled on me when this 66-1 Combat Magnum engraved with the emblem of the North Carolina State Highway Patrol showed up on Armslist last year. I wasn't even in the market for a revolver, much less a .357 magnum, but something about owning one from my home state's agency spoke to me. It's become one of the never-to-be-sold ones in my small collection, and it gets regular range time for the pure fun of the shooting.

Having learned more about the Model 66 in general and the two pinned-and-recessed versions in particular, I'm grateful for that whatever-it-was that made me buy this one.

 

[flagman1776]

My 4" M66-1 was my duty gun... so I am attached to it... still wears the duty nylon Hogues. I never liked rubber grips... but there's something sophisticated about the Hogue shape, most noticeable with stiff service loads. The Comp loaders still carry the Silvertips it did before I went to the M645.
I bought a 3" M13 which I gave to then GF/financee... just felt right in the hand & were FBI issue at the time. When we split, she declined to sell it back to me.
I consoled myself by buying a 3" M66-2 which became my OD & trail gun. If I could keep just one, It would be the 3".
My gun when I drew desk duty, was a 3" blue M36-1 in a Bianchi IWB.

 

[LEO918]

I once had the three gun set - 2 1/2", 4" and 6", all 66 no dash.
I'm down to the 4" now and like seems to be the consensus it would be the last handgun to go.

 

[bearman49709]

I own a 2 1/2" and 4" 66 ND, My 2 1/2" is my EDC.
For everything but IWB carry nothing beats a 6" 686.

 

[CajunBass]

I too have owned several 66's over the years, including a couple of "no dash" models.

I've only got one now, a -4, "Lady Smith" that I gather isn't real common.

 

[S&W Fan]

I just had a heart attack opening this thread! I'm soon to be on the hunt for a 1978 66-1!!! That example is amazing. It'll probably be the last revolver I'll buy. Thanks to you all for these photos, can't wait to add one.

 

[boykinlp]

Great revolver, John. My first gun purchase, when I became of age, was a 66-2 with 6 inch barrel. It, too, would be one of the last to go. Your grips look amazing!