S&W Model 66 - To buy or not to buy?

Sevens said:
BillCA, please tell me about the grips on the 19-5 you show in that picture. Not original to that revolver, are they? What's the Smith & Wesson "name" for those stocks and where did you get them?
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You are correct. That M19 came with oversized checkered target grips with the thumb cut-out on the left side to allow speedloader clearance. These are older, smooth oversize "Presentation" grips by S&W. That's the name I've always heard them referred to as they are most often seen on guns in the wooden presentation boxes and commemorative pieces. They also happen to fit my hand best of all the S&W grips.

Here's the reverse side of those grips...


Both the target grips and the smooth presentation grips were made for all the frame sizes except the antique "M" frame (.22 ladysmith). It seems few people have actually seen or ordered the J-Frame grips though.


J-Frame smooth presentation grips on a Model 31-1


Oversize target grips on a J-Frame Model 63 - click to enlarge

And of course, we can't forget the N-Frame grips either.

Smooth N-frame presentation grips, shown on a nickel Model 58

Most of the wood on these grips is Goncolo Alves which I like better than most others. It's also known as Zebrawood or Tigerwood because the darker grain contrasts with the lighter color of the wood. Wood color varies from a dark, reddish color to almost orange. The grips on the M19 are closer to orange but the photos were taken indoors so they look darker. Here are the same grips installed on my Model 67 taken in better lighting.


Goncolo Alves can look spectacular with the right lighting whether they are smooth or checkered. These checkered target grips on a nickel Model 57 are spectacularly well grained, I think.


For anyone looking for the oversize style of grip and without the patience to wait for some to be available on E-bay or an auction site, check out Eagle's Heritage grips on their website (the link goes to S&W K&L frame grips. N-frame also available). Eagle grips lack the S&W logo, but otherwise look pretty good.

--Bill
 
RodTheWrench said:
I wonder where I could find someone that has a K frame Smith&Wesson with a 4" barrel that could use it? Any righties out there?
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Who's got two thumbs, is right handed, and just PM'd you a cash offer?

This guy! :D
 
Thanks for the rundown and great pictures, Bill!
I've got the same (well, almost the same...) grips on my Texas Rangers Commemorative Model 19-3. I say "almost" the same because IIRC, mine have a tiny little Texas Rangers "badge" (star, shield?) where the S&W logo is located.

My 17-6 and 686-3 both came with the checkered target grips. Though I do like the look, they simply aren't the fit or "feel" I like. However the Presentation Grips (glad to finally have a name for them! ;)) sure feel great on my 19-3.
 
Just don't shoot that K frame with those original grips and that 158 Grain 357. It'll sandpaper your palms off. Use Pachmayrs for shootin' and originals for lookin'.
 
Its not a problem to every shooter Airman..../ I shoot my K frames a lot - with the standard checkered wood target grips on them ..almost exclusively with full power 158gr .357 mag loads.....( I have a lot of K frames - model 19's and 66's ) ..and L and N frames ....but I put at least 5,000 rds a year thru my K frames / and many more than that thru my L and especially my N frame model 27's ....all of them with the wood checkered target grips ...some of them with the S&W wood finger groove grips as well.

In my opinion, if the gun is moving hardly at all in your hands when you're firing it ....the grips don't fit your hands properly / or there might be a change that could be recommended with the way you grip the revolver !
 
Original stocks are not a problem for me either for .38 or 357. I actually prefer them to a rubber grips... I do mostly shoot .38, but whenever I put a box or two of 357 I do not notice any discomfort either.
 
In my opinion, if the gun is moving hardly at all in your hands when you're firing it ....the grips don't fit your hands properly / or there might be a change that could be recommended with the way you grip the revolver !
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BigJim - I think the way you wanted to say that was if the gun moves in your hand, then you need grips that fit your hand better or learn a different way to hold the gun.

Airman basic - back in my day (70's) if we got a new revolver or new checkered grips that felt too sharp, there was an old trick we used. Lay a quarter flat on the checkering and rub it around using your thumb. Just enough pressure to keep the coin flat. About five or six passes would flatten the tips of the checkering enough to prevent a bit or irritated hands.

Sevens- A Texas Ranger revolver? Is that one of the ones in .44-40? I'll be the first to agree that the Pachmayr Presentation grips do work well. Lots of police officers used them through the 60's and 70's (especially good in the rain when you've got slick hands).

Here's a real oddball type of K-frame grip you've probably never seen though.

These are Bianchi's "Lightning" grips, made for 2-2.5" K-frame revolvers. The grips include a metal insert that arcs up to shroud the hammer in the style of the S&W Bodyguard revolvers. It was supposed to ease the draw of the gun from under clothing. They didn't sell that well although some people did like the idea. The grips themselves feel very solid and stable in the hand and aid in getting on target quickly.
 
Whew, those are a bit hard on the eyes! :eek: But I can definitely see their usefulness. Bianchi did such tremendous business (and to a heap of LE) that they could afford to market a product that might otherwise get widely panned. I couldn't bring myself to put those on a Smith & Wesson, but I could definitely see how they might benefit someone who carried that revolver.

My 19-3 is a 1974 production "150 years of the Texas Rangers" commemorative. It's a blued, 4-inch .357 Magnum with a red ramp front sight and a trigger guard that has half it's width shaved along the forward half of it's arc. All of the stamping/lettering on the revolver is in gold and there is a 5-point star/shield of the Texas Rangers logo on the right side.

Smith & Wesson made something like 8 or 12,000 of these (IIRC?) and many came in the fancy wooden presentation case along with a large, heacy, gaudy knife that had a serial number matching the revolver. (they also sold the revolvers and knives separately as well) I do have the box and knife.

I got an extremely good deal on it and pretty much had no desire for any commemorative... I just wanted a nice Model 19, and this one absolutely qualifies.

If you look, you can find the revolver/knife/box set running anywhere from $600-$900. I do see them on Gunbroker and at shows on occasion.
 
Airman Basic - I'm with you on the Pachmayr grips. In my younger days when I bought more handguns almost every gun that came my way resulted in a check to the Pachmayr catalog and an order. (I WAS smart enough though to keep the original grips around just in case I ever decided to sell something.)
 
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