Year of production for 3" model 66-4 ?

bvd1

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I have a 3" model 66-4 that I bought in 1996 and am curious of the year of production. SN# CAA4117. Thanks for any help dating it.
 
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PRE '94 ?

I'm sure someone on this forum will be more helpful, but I was advised my 66-4 3" (CCM) was built in 1994.

Hank M.
 
If it helps, I have a 66-4, 2-1/2" with "CBK" prefix serial number that S&W dated as May, 1997.
 
I have a 3" model 66-4 that I bought in 1996 and am curious of the year of production. SN# CAA4117....
It would of left Springfield, Mass., in.....
October - December of 1994.​
Product code was 102712, and was probably part of a special order made for the distributor RSR.
 
It would of left Springfield, Mass., in.....
October - December of 1994.​
Product code was 102712, and was probably part of a special order made for the distributor RSR.

I have the box with the label that shows the SN, product code and special order 4297 with the number 0508 after, any idea on these numbers.
It has the Uncle Mikes rubber grips and have been told before they are not correct so I did some searching and read these grips were introduced on the 66-4.
Thanks for the date.
 
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I have the box with the label that shows the SN, product code and special order 4297 with the number 0508 after......
The Spec. Ord. number indicates the precise ship date is....
October 24, 1994.​
I have theories, but I don't know for sure what the second 4-digit number signifies, if anything. About one in thirty S&W box labels will have these various "extra" numbers after the Spec. Ord. number.

It's possible the Uncle Mikes are original. S&W was routinely putting them on Combat Magnums in the 1994 era on. But not exclusively. They also were still sending them out with traditional wood Magna service stocks. Flip a coin. Had it shipped before 1994 I'd say the UM's were unlikely to be original.
 
Thank you for the information Kernel. I just did a search here on how to read the Spec. Ord. number for the ship date.
Bill
 
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Thank you for the information Kernel. I just did a search here on how to read the Spec. Ord. number for the ship date.
Bill
Once you understand the concept of a Julian calendar its not hard. The only "trick" is determining the decade when it's not obvious.

Occasionally, you will find Spec. Ord. numbers that are not dates. Some are actually larger than 365. Maybe one label in 80. Almost always the gun will have unusual features.

In those cases I believe the number is in fact some kind of special code. The exact meaning of which only S&W knows.
 
One feature that i have seen on 3" 66-4s is longer cylinder fluting. I have seen that feature on only one other 66, and it was a 4". Haven't seen it on any other models. Can only wonder if it was ordered that way?...or maybe a fluke?



A 3" 66-4 cylinder compared to a 66-2 snub cylinder....


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