S&W Model 66-2

R

rangeman17

Inactive
I have been reading your serial number info for S&W firearms and I did purchase the 3rd edition of the Standard Catalog of Smith&Wesson but I am either stupid or it's another case of "Oh you've got one of those". I have been working this issue off and on for about 6 months and I will finally admit I need help/advice. What I have is Smith&Wesson model 66-2 that I bought new from a sporting goods store in 1988. My problem is with the serial number which is BAP9xxx. I cannot find, after 3 readings, any serial number that even comes close to that number being referenced in the Standard Catalog and I have read every reference they list for the Model 66. If anyone out there can give me a clue before I spend $50 for the history from S&W I would greatly appreciate it, and if you do find it in the "book" please direct me to the correct location/page and you can call me anything but wise. I do have some pictures if that would be a help.

Thank in advance,
Rangeman17
 
I'll be curious to hear the answer to this one also. In the mean time...

S&W revolvers went to a three letter prefix starting with the L-frame 586/686 in 1980, but it certainly sounds odd to me that a K-frame/Model 66 would have a three letter prefix.

The SCSW says that the 66-2 ran from 1982 to 1986, so it appears as though your revolver was somewhat old stock if you bought it in '88 as S&W may have been shipping the 66-3 by that time.

The blurb under the Model 66 discussion in the book speaks of many different 66's that were made specifically for different organizations, many (most?) of which got a three letter prefix that was associated with their organization, but it doesn't mention anything with a "BAP" reference. My SCSW is the 2nd Edition.

I really, really wish Supica & Nahas would write a 4th Edition. The 3rd Edition came out in 2007. That seems like a lifetime ago. It's time for an update to this fine book.
 
Sometimes a S&W revolver made shortly after the introduction of an engineering change will have a mix of features between two dash numbers and/or an odd serial number. This is because S&W has been known to use up existing stocks of parts prior to fully implementing the newest engineering change. This is why you occasionally come across anomalies like a magnum-caliber revolver with recessed chambers and a crush-fit barrel or a pinned barrel and non-recessed chambers.

You might inspect your revolver to see if it has any of the -1 or -3 features because, if it does, that could possibly be a clue as to the serial number anomaly. -1 features are easy to spot as the 66-1 and 66-2 differed in that the earlier model was pinned and recessed while the latter was not. Features from the -3 engineering change, however, are more subtle as they include the new yoke retention system, radius stud package, hammer nose bushing, and floating hand. If your revolver has any -1 or -3 features, then it's likely what some would refer to as a "transitional model".
 
SW forum was thew ticket for getting an answer. Here is what they posted:

The 3 letter "Alpha " prefix replaced the K series serial between 1980 and 1983 starting at AAA 0001 then AAB, AAC etc etc,

Your BAP prefix is correct for a 1987-88 gun IMO.

I really need to get on these forum more often, as I belong to a number of them and only when I have questions do I ever login. Shooting, reloading, reading all the gun magazines, and firearms books I buy keeps me too busy to even enjoy retirement (ha ha)
 
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