Age and value of S&W 66-1?

M

mrstang01

New member
Trying to determine the age and value of my new acquisition. It's a Smith 66-1. Stainless, 4 inch barrel, in Very Good condition. Serial number is 519xx. Does anybody have any idea?

Thanks,

Michael
 
The number you have given is not the serial number. It sounds like the assembly number used to track fitted parts in the factory. The serial number will have a K in or in front of it. and will always be found on the bottom of the grip frame, sometimes duplicated on the frame under the cylinder hinge. Post the serial number and we will give you the year. The 66-1 was produced from 1977 to 1988. If there is a pin in the frame holding the barrel in place then it was produced in 1982 or earlier.
 
The S&W M66 was introduced in 1971. The 66-1 was produced from 71 to 82. The -1 moved the gas ring from yoke to cylinder. It is pinned and recessed. In 1982 the -2 eliminated the cylinder counterbore (recessed).

A 4" 66-1 in 98% can run $450 and up depending on what part of the country your in. Does it have box and papers? What grips? This all effects price.
 
I have one too

I know it has been a while since this has been posted on but I have one that I am trying to sell too. Mine is a 66-1 with serial no. 39k2979. I think it is an early production. Anyone have an Idea of it's value. I want to know how much I can fairly sell it for. From what I've been reading it's a 70's police issue weapon. This one is located in GA. Any thoughts? photo-3.JPG

SSgt Jeremy Foster
USAF
 
Elvishead said:
S&W-Keeper

Quote:
The pinned barrel makes it worth a little more.
Really, why is that?
Click to expand...

The pinned and recessed revolvers are more desirable to most collectors. These operations were dropped to reduce labor and machine costs.
 
madcratebuilder

The pinned and recessed revolvers are more desirable to most collectors. These operations were dropped to reduce labor and machine costs.
Click to expand...

Are you saying a pinned barrel is better? I'm not sure what you mean by recessed revolvers.
 
S&W-Keeper


Quote:
The pinned barrel makes it worth a little more.

Really, why is that?
Click to expand...

The pinned barrel and recessed chambers were dropped in 1982 with the introduction of the 66-2. Doing so was a cost saving measure as both features were determine to be unnecessary by S&W. Collectors typically prefer P&R guns as, since they are no longer made, they are more difficult to find. Also, some say that the overall quality of S&W product declined when the P&R features were eliminated (of course, the same has been said of nearly every change S&W has ever made). Having owned both pre-1982 and post-1982 S&W revolvers, I myself cannot detect any discernable difference in quality of finish, trigger, or accuracy.
 
Manufacture date of my new purchase

I recently bought a "New in Box" S&W 3913 and would like to know when it was manufactured. I know they discontinued this model several years ago, and it is old enough that it's box is cardboard, so pre-plastic storage case anyway. The serial number is VCE8xxx. Any help would be appreciated :)
 
I just bought a S&W 66-1 myself. It's x-police but I could not find out what department. I should have it in hand in about a week. I've been looking for a 66 or 66-1 off and on since 2002 or so.

Contact Smith and Wesson if you have any serial number questions, they will answer those.
 
Not to bust your chops (well, maybe just a little) but this thread is from 2010 and some of the folk, like the one right before your post, haven't been back since then...but some are still around so take my comment with a grain of salt.
 
The more desirable is the no dash and the -1. The -2 is also of higher desirability as others have stated. You will often see the shorter barrels, 2 1/2", bringing a higher price. There was also a small run of 3" barreled in the early guns that are highly valued if my memory serves me well.

As always condition is a key factor in value.
 
One of the great stupid moves by S&W was the elimination of the 66 from production, the current replacement is not even close to the quality of the original. I will be shooting mine when Gabriel stops by to direct me to the after life.
 
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