Which early Model 66 version to look for?

[TTSH]

A while back there was a thread I found very helpful asking (and answering) which Model 586/686 revolvers (i.e., which dash number) were the very best ones to acquire if you had a choice.

I'd like to ask the same question of the experts for the early (i.e., pre-IL) Model 66 revolvers. There are a few of them for sale near me and I might be interested in adding another one to the arsenal at the right price. But before I do, I'd like to get some opinions.

So what say the experts? Is there a very best version of the original Model 66? Or are they all equally good to go?

Thanks!

 

[andyo5]

I'd opt for a -2, because it has RR/WO sights, is still P&R, but has the smooth, wider trigger instead of the thin, serrated trigger.
I have a -1 with the serrated trigger, which I disliked. I had to buy a used smooth, wide trigger and swap them myself.

 

[Jeppo]

Who cares what Jeppo thinks?

I LOVE my 4” dash one.

 

[SAFireman]

I believe that the -1 was the last of the pinned and recessed.

If you are buying as a collector, the no dash would fit the bill.

If you are buying as a shooter/carry gun, then the -4 was the cream of the crop.

 

[TTSH]

I believe that the -1 was the last of the pinned and recessed.

If you are buying as a collector, the no dash would fit the bill.

If you are buying as a shooter/carry gun, then the -4 was the cream of the crop.

Not pinned and recessed doesn't particularly bother me. As long as it has the traditional thumbpiece... and frame lug... and no lock... I'm fine with it cosmetically speaking. So that leaves me with a -3 or something lower to consider.

But this is not just about cosmetics... and that's why I'm asking the Gurus which of the earlier versions... no dash, -1, -2 and -3... would be the best one to buy in terms of overall quality and long-term reliability. Is there any important difference between those four versions that I need to be aware of? Or are they all equally good?

 

[MetalMan]

I believe that the -1 was the last of the pinned and recessed.

If you are buying as a collector, the no dash would fit the bill.

If you are buying as a shooter/carry gun, then the -4 was the cream of the crop.

^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^

+1 for the -4 engineering change.......

Has the best trigger of all of my limited collection of S&W revolvers....mostly J’s and K’s.

 

[ladder13]

-1 someone added TT, TH
-2

Have a 3 inch -3 but no pic

 

[whitestang]

I have a 66-2 with a 2 1/2" barrel. It has good balance and shoots great. It is a former Louisiana State Police gun and I bought it from the retired trooper who had carried it.

 

[Fide686]

I have a 66nd. Had to change the trigger from the skinny serrated to the standard .312 smooth one also. They may be getting harder to find.

 

[MG34/bar]

I am certainly not an expert on the model 66, as I never owned one or carried one on duty. One of my brothers in about 1972 was a deputy with a California Sheriff’s office and they were all issued new 4” model 66 revolvers. They had some problems with them:
1. The sights were also SS and were hard to see in sunlight.
2. Many of the revolvers had fragile trigger/hammer interface and would have hammer “push off” problems. My understanding is that S&W solved that problem by making hammers and triggers out of carbon steel, flash chromed.
I don’t remember the dash number of those guns, but the time was very near the introduction of the model, so they were likely no-dash guns.
Hope this helps.

 

[Green Frog]

I owned and shot a Model 66 ND I bought as a police trade in back in the early to mid eighties. It was rebuilt twice and had a 6" barrel installed to replace the original 4". It was everything a revolver should be, but not being willing to leave well enough alone I used it as the donor gun for Project 616. I've never looked back because the 616 was and is a gun I really want. That said, if I needed another Model 66, I would grab up a nice 66-1 which I regard as the best of the litter with improvements to the small problems in the no dash, and retains the pinned and recessed features that I do like in my revolvers.

The foregoing is my personal opinion based on my own experience... your experiences and preferences may vary.

Froggie

 

[rincar]

I have a Model 66-4 ladysmith.I have never seen another. I got it at an Estate Auction. I wanted it but it cost me almost $700.00

 

[Glashaus]

My personal favorite would be a 3” M66-2 or -3. I lucked into a 3” M66-3 and they really are a fine revolver.

 

[srsmyth]

Is there any important difference between those four versions that I need to be aware of? Or are they all equally good?

Pricing may be different for sure, otherwise, I think they are pretty much alike. Mine anyway, I have a no-dash, dash-1, dash-2, dash-3. I have no dash-4 or higher.
Good hunting...

 

[sodacan]

Being an accumulator of no dash and pre-model number revolvers, I really like the original 66. Here's mine, which BTW is a really nice shooter. Can you guess which one it is? LOL

 

[4barrel]

I like the one on the bottom. It looks like a no-or early -1.

 

[srsmyth]

Here's mine, which BTW is a really nice shooter. Can you guess which one it is? LOL

I can't guess which one it is but I really like the smooth grips on the 686.

 

[rbmac52]

The no-dash and dash-1 Model 66 are my favorites, but I like the dash-2 version almost as much. But I'm an old timer.

 

[rubiranch]

66..................(1970) Introduced at K949100
66-1...............(1977) Move gas ring from yoke to cylinder
66-2...............(1982) Eliminate cylinder counterbore and pinned barrel
66-3...............(1986) New yoke screw, floating hand, and hammer nose bushing
66-4...............(1994) New rear leaf sight, drill and tap frame, change extractor, and Uncle Mike’s synthetic grips.
66-5...............(1998) Sep – Change to MIM hammer and floating firing pin
66-6...............(2002) Introduction of the Internal Lock
2005 Model 66 discontinued




I like my 1980 M66-1 with a smooth target trigger and factory trigger job.

 

[Nedroe]

Which 66?.......

I have this 4" No Dash

And this 3" -4

The No Dash has the best trigger/ lockup of any Smith that I own, but I made it that way. The -4 does have a very good trigger, with little help from me.

Ned