When is $800 for a 66 NOT too much??

FLChinook

New member
I've been looking at 66s lately and see three basic price ranges: $400ish for guns with lots of use; $550ish for "cleaner" guns but maybe with burring on the screws indicating past work; $800ish for really clean specimens.

A number of posters here have said that $800 is way to much to pay for a 66. Are there exceptions to that rule? Thanks
 
Hello FLChinook,,,

Every book I own places a maximum value of a Model 66,,,
$500 to $550 for New In Box condition guns.

I suppose it depends on how bad you want the gun,,,
But $800 is way to much for that model.

The only way it could be worth $800,,,
Is if there was some documented historical significance to it.

Aarond

.
 
When is $800 for a 66 NOT too much??

When it comes with a model 10.

A lot of folks will tell you that at that price "you didn't pay too much, you just bought too early".

I, personally, think that if you are patient and look around you can do much better.

$800 is the norm for a 3" 66

I bought a 3" 65 (fixed sight version) about 1 1/2 years ago for $359.
 
It's a 66 no dash...

Sorry, I should have mentioned I'm looking at 66 no dash guns; pinned, recessed and stainless steel rear sight. Maybe that makes a difference ???
 
In my area, the only way that even a 66 no-dash would be able to command an $800 price tag would be if it were ANIB. That being said, prices can be highly dependant upon your area and in a place like California, I could belive that $800 might not be unreasonable for a very clean M66.
 
I should have mentioned I'm looking at 66 no dash guns; pinned, recessed and stainless steel rear sight. Maybe that makes a difference ???

Yes, that would make some difference. What barrel length? Four inch barrels were very common. Six inch barrels also common, but not as much so as the four inchers. Two and one-half inchers, IMO, are the most desirable for collector's purposes.

If I were in the market for a collectable and came upon a 66 no dash with 2 1/2 inch barrel, virtually unfired (i.e., no carbon deposits, etc) original box with paperwork, tools, etc, I could see someone asking $800. Would I pay $800? Probably not, because I shoot my guns and a P&R snub 66 can be had for much less.

The only way I could see someone paying that much for that gun would be in the case of a pure collector.

But what are you looking at, specifically? You said "specimans", plural. So, you've seen more than one 66 no dash for $800? Give us more details re condition of gun, barrel length, box, etc.
 
It's not too much for YOU if YOU wanted it and had the spare $$$ to pay for it. YOU get to decide the worth of things to YOU.
 
I don't think there is any question, the 3" 66s are the most sought after and pricey. That would not be out of line for an excellent condition 3". But I'd say it's $200-300 to high for any other length.
 
Give us more details re condition of gun, barrel length, box, etc.

Yes, I should have given more details. I'm looking for a 4" in good enough condition that I can shoot it (mostly at the range but some carrying around my property) without ever having to worry about it giving problems. Obviously, any 66-0 is about 35 years old and there's a wide range in ones well-used and ones not well-used. So I would expect a wide range in price/value.

I've seen some highly polished guns at a higher cost but I'm not so interested in the exterior look so long as the gun locks up tight and has good, crisp rifling. It's hard to assess that from a distance without paying for a gun promised to be "little used".

Theres one on GunBroker now in a display box (which I do not want) that looks very clean but is $755. This gun has been offered for awhile and started at $820...

PS. I recently asked my local gun dealer (The Gun Doctor, Longview, TX). He had nothing and had not had a 66 in a long time. He looked it up in his computer network of other dealers and could not find one anywhere in whatever range he was using.
 
Easy for me to say ....because I have all the model 66's in 4" I want...but I'd say be a little more patient until you find one locally.

In my opinion - a presentation box and papers ...is a waste of money / I'd never pay more for a gun in a box, any kind of a box, and because I'm going to keep anything I buy ...papers are irrelevent too / but not trying to start an argument ...if they're worth something to you - then many sellers will expect you to pay more for the gun...I just don't get it.

There is some difference....but nothing practical between a no dash and a dash 1 - except that stainless rear sight ..../ I have a pair of 4" model 66 guns - a dash 1 and a dash 2 and a dash 1 in 2 1/2" ...and there is nothing wrong with any of them. In fact all the way up thru dash 4 - they're fine guns / the dash 5 is where MIM parts start to show up - and the dash 6 in this model is where the Internal frame locks show up.... But you should buy whatever you want...

I paid about $ 350 - $400 or so / 3 or 4 yrs ago for my 4" model 66's ...but its about being in the right place at the right time.../ as soon as you buy one - you'll see half a dozen of them around.

I also wouldn't rule out finding a good model 19 ...especially in Nickel ..in 4" ...there are a lot of them around too.

Be patient ...I'd let the one of gunbroker go ...even in that condition / I think its $100 to $150 too much to pay for it.
 
Be patient ...I'd let the one of gunbroker go ...

Good advice; thanks.

There is another on GB at $570 that has some burring in one screw but otherwise seems to meet my criteria. That still might be overpriced (it has to bidders yet) but perhaps not so much. If you were paying $400 4 years ago then $500 might be about right today...:confused:
 
Over 5000 3" 66s were produced. Not real rare, but very desirable and seldom for sale at a cheap price.

3" 19s...200 maybe?? Forget trying to find one of them unless you have serious money to part with, or get REALLLL lucky. One has been posted for sale for a few months, asking $4695. No takers yet.

Is 3" the same as 2 1/2"? I see lots of 2 1/2" but no 3"...

2 1/2", 3" (w. full length ejector rod), 4"....

sw66x3897289.JPG
 
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It would be interesting to know how many of those 5,000 are still in use today. That's still a fairly low production number. They made 11,000 38-44 Heavy Duties and you almost never see them.
 
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