The Model 66 3" impossible question.

Does yours have the pinned ramp like WardenRoss'?

Seems the BBT's had one piece and the BEE's I have seen are pinned.

Yes, it is pinned. Oddly enough I have a 19-3 2 1/2" (1974), a 66-1 2 1/2" (1980), a 66-3 2 1/2" (1989) and a 686-1 2 1/2" (1987) and the only pinned ramp is on the 3" 66-3 (1989). Go figure! I have no idea why...
 
Last edited:
My (old) 3" 66-3 is BBT00xx too.:)


I hadn't seen one in that range before either.:)

Been tryin to read this thread but all these letters are giving me a headache. ;)
Please, feel free to PM me some numbers to go with them.:D I'll happily add them to my growing list of 3" 66's

Here's the ranges I have seen the 3" 66's in and I know I have missed a few. bold means bunch of them

66-2 - ADH, AFK, AFZ, AHJ, AHL, ANA, ANB, and ALU
66-3 - BBN, BBT, BBU, BBZ, BEE, BFK, BPR, and PCP
66-4 - BPZ, BRS, BSM, BSN, BUH, CAA, CAL, CAT, CAU, CBB, CBC, CCF, and CCN
66-5 - CDB, CDR, CEC .......... 3.25" - CEF, CEL, CFB
66-6 - FCP
Chris I have BBT 18xx 3" 66-3 for your records.
101_7108.jpg

Box in background is for a model 15


chuck
 
sw19_357 that is some fabulous information! Thank you for sharing it with us!! :) Regards 18DAI
 
Serial numbers and such...

Since we are talking about 3" and serial numbers, has anyone collected any info on how these guns left the factory. I am wondering if these grips are custom add ons, or were put on at the factory?? It is a bad picture but the logo is S&W.
Again as always thank you for your time and knowledge!

Jack

rsbox.jpg
 
Reconjack, when I bought mine used it had the same grips as yours but mine were rosewood. I have not noticed if the grips are stamped with anything on the inside. When I get home I will take a look. My guess is they were add ons.
 
i am with 18 dai.for some reason,i like the 66-4 guns the best.i know there are some visual diffrences,like the inletted rear sight,but of the 20 or so model 66 3 inch guns i have handled,i would take a 66-4.they feel and sound better to me.i know thats pretty mundane,and not very factual,as far as a good reason,i just like them the best of the 66 3 inch guns.but they bring a couple hundred less on the auction sites
 
Reconjack, when I bought mine used it had the same grips as yours but mine were rosewood. I have not noticed if the grips are stamped with anything on the inside. When I get home I will take a look. My guess is they were add ons.

Yes, I guess they are pretty large, I wish I had the original, grips...
 
Since we are talking about 3" and serial numbers, has anyone collected any info on how these guns left the factory. I am wondering if these grips are custom add ons, or were put on at the factory?? It is a bad picture but the logo is S&W.
Again as always thank you for your time and knowledge!

Jack

rsbox.jpg

Sorry to bring this one out again, my 3" Model 66 (no dash) I found/bought a couple of years ago came with the same type of factory combat grips your gun has. I have since replaced the grips with special Keith Brown hideout grips. This is in the 6K33XXX serial number range (1974 MFG) I have not been able to find out much information on this gun, so it remains a mystery. But it is what it it is.
halloween001.jpg
 
Yes, it is pinned. Oddly enough I have a 19-3 2 1/2" (1974), a 66-1 2 1/2" (1980), a 66-3 2 1/2" (1989) and a 686-1 2 1/2" (1987) and the only pinned ramp is on the 3" 66-3 (1989). Go figure! I have no idea why...
I know, it'll drive you nuts.:) Just wait until you see a 1966 2.5" M19-2 with a one piece front sight and a 1971 4" M19-3 with a pinned ramp.;)
 
...has anyone collected any info on how these guns left the factory.
Jack, I try to document as many things as possible. Just ask any member that's endured my questions.;)

I am wondering if these grips are custom add ons, or were put on at the factory??
It is hard to say for certain without a historical letter from Mr. Roy Jinks but...
If the product code is 102712 and you can't read the serial number without removing the stocks, they may have been added after it left S&W.

---

I never grow tired of that 3" M66, Model39!!
 
tbird - What state and which agency issued the 3 inch 66-4, if you know? I had another thread going trying to determine/confirm which agencies ordered these revolvers. There is some indications that more then one LE agency ordered quite a few.

Would those of you who still have your 3 inch 66 boxes, please post your special order number (julian date code) so we have more of an idea as to when these guns were produced, than is provided by the SCSW. Please include the dash and serial too, if you would. Thanks! Regards 18DAI
 
Sorry to bring this one out again, my 3" Model 66 (no dash)...

I have since replaced the grips with special Keith Brown hideout grips. This is in the 6K33XXX serial number range (1974 MFG) I have not been able to find out much information on this gun...

No need to be sorry about that - except you didn't show us a pic with the KB stocks in place. ;)

I have a friend who has long since mustered out and gone on to other things. He went to the S&W armorer's classes and was a fair hand with the minor revolver work that he did for his department. I used to bug him to get a 3-inch barrel for my Model 66, on the theory that a square-butt gun would suit me better. He was never able to get S&W to ship him a barrel, and he always told me it was silly to change a barrel just to get one 1-inch shorter. :D

I suppose that is about how your gun came to pass, don't you? Probably started life as a 2.5-inch gun and someone added the barrel and the target parts to make just what they wanted. In any case, it is a great looking gun and certainly something I have never seen before. :)
 
Would those of you who still have your 3 inch 66 boxes, please post your special order number (julian date code) so we have more of an idea as to when these guns were produced, than is provided by the SCSW. Please include the dash and serial too, if you would. Thanks! Regards 18DAI
18DAI,

Here's (some of) the ones I have found on auction sites, etc. [not owned by members (at that time ;))]:

66-2..AFZ34xx..5113
66-2..AFZ4585..5120
66-2..AHJ13xx..5113
66-2..AHL3268..5119
66-2..AHL3655..5120
66-2..AHL8898..5108
66-2..ANA7994..6080

66-3..BBN8836..8300
66-3..BBN8868..8293
66-3..BBN9284..8295
66-3..BEE0636..9271
66-3..BEE0637..9269
66-3..BEF31xx..0167
66-3..BFK0836..0181
66-3..BNE2521..2168

66-4..CBB9607..6142
66-4..CCN14xx..8040
66-4..CCN4213..8043
 
Last edited:
Thank you snw19_357!! Much appreciated! :) Regards 18DAI
 
18DAI,
It was ordered on offical letterhead by former AR state trooper who traded it to local PD office at Pine Bluff whom i got it from. Sorry no box it was not a safe queen.
Hope that helps.
tbird
 
18DAI ,
Sorry forgot to add AR troopers at the were issued 66's and allowed to order at LEO prices on letterhead at time.
tbird
 
My (old) 3" 66-3 is BBT00xx too.:)


I hadn't seen one in that range before either.:)

Been tryin to read this thread but all these letters are giving me a headache. ;)
Please, feel free to PM me some numbers to go with them.:D I'll happily add them to my growing list of 3" 66's

Here's the ranges I have seen the 3" 66's in and I know I have missed a few. bold means bunch of them

66-2 - ADH, AFK, AFZ, AHJ, AHL, ANA, ANB, and ALU
66-3 - BBN, BBT, BBU, BBZ, BEE, BFK, BPR, and PCP
66-4 - BPZ, BRS, BSM, BSN, BUH, CAA, CAL, CAT, CAU, CBB, CBC, CCF, and CCN
66-5 - CDB, CDR, CEC .......... 3.25" - CEF, CEL, CFB
66-6 - FCP

Let me add to your list with the serials from my two examples that I bought new in Nov 1988 and Mar 1989. M66-3 BBN9106, and M66-3 BBT0027. At the time I thought that I needed a spare in case one wears out, but it hasn't happened yet.
Timbo
 
Back
Top