S&W Model 66 .357 Magnum
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- Опубліковано 6 вер 2024
- Shooting and showing a classic Model 66 Smith & Wesson .357 Magnum revolver.
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My paternal grandpa was a deputy sheriff in west Texas from the 70s until the early 90s, and he carried a blue steel model 19 the entire time, with 4 speed loaders on his belt.....even when nearly all the deputies switched over to the 9mm model 659. He was buried with his sidearm, that’s what he wanted. God rest your soul grandpa Pat.
I have a Model 66 with a 6" barrel. I 've had it since 1985.
I've heard they didn't work well, I wonder if he had a newer model
@@nokachi3339I belong to a Gunsmith Club with over 1700 members. Never heard that.
@@AFullNelson model 66 had issues when it first came out
Gave my dad a brand new Mod 66 snub-nose for Christmas 1981 and he loved it. Shot mostly Federal 125gr JHP thru it, loved the awesome fireball muzzle flash it created. The gun came back to me in 2000 when he passed away, and I still have it today. Took it out a few months ago & put a box thru it, still kicks like a mule and shoots like it's brand new. A wonderful weapon with lots of sentimental value that I will pass along to my grandkids some day.
Dave Howard - I can relate sorry about you Dad. Mine passed in 2014
Dave Howard my condolences on your loss. It’s the same situation for me too except it was my father in law who was like a dad to me. Still have his model 66 12 yrs later and carry it on occasion. It’s not going anywhere but to my daughter when time comes.
Jimmy Sapien Thanks for the kind words Jimmy, I'm sorry for you loss as well. Dads are irreplaceable, aren't they? 👍
Peter Norton Totally get what you're saying Peter. I always said I was lucky, I had 2 great dads, my own and my Father-in-law. He was a 30-year Army man, infantry veteran of WWII & Korea, and an Intelligence operator in Vietnam. That guy couldn't sneak up on anyone cuz his balls clanked so loud whenever he walked, lol. Sure miss him! 👍
RIP your old man, sounds like he’s raised a well rounded man.
0:30 tosses the shells into the dish LIKE A BOSS! This guy is my hero!
Carried my mod.66 for 20 yrs as a police officer..20 years later I own well over 150 firearms..still love my 66 as my go to 100% reliable and predictable handgun...
Revolvers are the heart and soul of the gun world.
It is up there now.
hickok45 when are you going to a UA-cam video on the cobra denali 380 ?
454pakr more like the heart and soul of AMERICA!
👍🏻👍🏻👍🏻
@@hickok45 you need one of these!!!! I know you have a 686 but you need a 4 inch 66 to go with your model 19
My father was an armed security officer at a city hospital for 19 years as well as a private detective and Army veteran. He purchased a S&W model 66-4 with a 4" barrel new, and used it as his service weapon. A sickness forced him into early retirement and he gave me it to me. It is in great condition, and is a pleasure to view, hold and shoot!
As a Trooper with the Iowa State Patrol, I was privileged to carry two issued Model 66s from 1977 to my departure in 1981...the second a 66-1. Fine weapon ! I was able to buy back both of them. They carry the Patrol's insignia and my badge no., ISP296.
Cool that you were able to acquire firearms that have so much history with you.
These old revolver videos are some of my favorites.
I carried a K frame .38 for many years and they’re easy for an eight hour shift. The round nose lead .38 was an inadequate fight stopper but that changed when we changed to the old FBI +P load in ‘74 following a gunfight w/armed robbery suspects. My Model 66 is a 1973 vintage four inch in perfect condition; box, tools & all.
25 Year retired CO from the NJDOC. In all those years on the range, the most accurate Off Duty gun I ever saw was a 3" S&W Model 66, round butt, shooting .38+P. We weren't authorized back in the day to carry .357 magnums. The department only used +P's, too. Ol' Sgt. Butch Lynch was doing steady 1 1/2" groups with that gun out to 25 yards. No fluke, either. He stood next to me again the next year for our requals and did a repeat performance. My OD was a S&W 686, which I still own today, 28 years later. :)
We moved up to .40 S&W semi-autos the next year and I never trained with him again, with me transferring out of Rahway.
Just bought a 66 (pinned barrel, non recessed cylinder - gas ring on the cylinder) from a fellow collector..m
It belonged to a Miami lady detective who had it engraved with a floral pattern..wanted one for a.LONG time..dad had a Model 19 with a 4 in barrel..love this and glad the owner trusted me to continue the conservation of it...
"They will go through the paper I guarantee you" - cracks me up.
Even went thru the cardboard hahaha
I’m the proud owner of my great uncle Gary’s model 66-1 service revolver. He was fish and wildlife up here in Washington state. When he retired they sent it back to smith and gave it a refresher and sent it back. Beautiful pistols
My dad used a model 66 years ago while working armed security. It's just so nice. The trigger is so smooth it almost feels wrong, lol. He told me that the other guards he worked with always wanted his gun because "it felt better" than the ones they were carrying.
It's 3-24-17 and I've just got home from Tupelo, MS with my brand new S&W model 60 2" snub. My 686 big brother and little brother model 60 are together. I'm a happy man!!
S&W Revolvers, my preferred choice for carry while in remote areas.
I’ve watched this video 4-5 times now. I own two model 66 and I have to say I am quite impressed with the new version 66-8 with a 2 3/4 inch barrel. I didn’t like the thought of a sleeved or two piece barrel but this gun is very accurate. It’s quickly become my favorite carry gun. The mat finish is also nice. It has been redesigned. With a new cylinder lock up system that allows for a thicker forcing cone closer to that of a 686.
Fortunate enough to have just picked up a 66-1 with 6" barrel for only $250!! What a trigger! Doesn't appear to have been shot much. Love it.
That was a great deal.
Trigger on my old 66 is still the best out of any gun I own
I love my Model 66; I obtained it when a local police department went to the model 92S Beretta in 1980. It is still my go to gun for putting lead on a target! Thanks I enjoyed this very much; heading to the range right now!
The 66 is one of my favorites. Love magnums in .357 or .44...even .22.
Pinned, recessed, FP on hammer, no lock. The way a revolver ought to be. 4" 19-4 is my favorite revolver, hands down.
I owned an early model 66 back in the 90s, came from a a guy who had done the Smith & Wesson armourers course, smoothest trigger ever. Mine was much the same with the rubberised grips. Lovely gun.
A 3" version of the 66 is my favorite gun I have ever shot. The balance is perfect even with hot loads.
Proud owner of a model 66-1 ! My very first gun...and honestly, still my favorite!
You should be proud of that baby; nice firearm for a first one and a great firearm still today. And on top of all that, it's a nice collectible.
Yes sir!! Such a beauty to shoot ...or just sit and stare at! I have the original gorgeous wooden grips on it, but also use the same Hogue grips that are on yours in the video to shoot with sometimes. It's in great shape for its age and i take really good care of it. I bought it used in San Francisco decades ago and it was most likely a police officer's weapon at some point. I will NEVER sell it! Thanks for the video and response Hickok. You are the best.
I have a model 66-4
Does that mean it’s a 4”
Cuz I measure the barrel and it’s like 2 1/2”
Mine is all chrome with black rear sights
But a wood grain grip that’s smooth
I can’t find the exact one online anywhere
A friend gift it to me for 25 years of friendship
Haven’t been out or shoot yet
Just trying to learn the gun
Your aim is ridiculously good, sir.
Watch him shoot palm pistols. JEEZ!
@@rwsmith7638 cool episode
This old man is combat effective for sure.
He ought to be in a movie shooting like that
Its quite funny to hear people's reaction whenever I let my 66 ring out. It never fails to shut up the entire range, especially with 125gr rounds :) That sonic blast is pure sex.
Yes,yes it is. That's why I love it. Nothing is louder!
Just got my hands on a 66 4inch but I don't have 125gr yet. I have feeling at 1400fps 180gr will be quite exciting tho
Hi Hickok45,
My father recently passed and he was a huge gun fan. He reloaded and really loved both hunting and just fun shooting. I recently found your site and watch it constantly. I have introduced my daughters to the sport and they love it. Revolvers, semi-auto and shotguns, they love it all. They prefer my 9mm and 357 but had fun with the 44. Keep up with the great videos, fun and informative!
The first stainless handgun that Smith & Wesson made was the mod. 60 a J frame the was all stainless with a 1 7/8 " bbl. in 38 Spec. they reintroduced the mod. 60 about 10yrs ago with a 2" bbl in .357. I bought my first mod. 60 in 1970 at Abercrombie and Finch in NYC at that time they sold guns and were a full Safari outfitter. Times have changed a lot. I have two 66s a 2 1/2" bbl and 6" bbl that I carried for many years on duty.
God Bless you for teaching your kids proper gun love and proper gun respect/knowledge.
Thank you for another excellent video that brought back many memories; that was the first .357 magnum I ever fired, when it truly was THE most desired piece around.
You are my favorite gun guy, I feel I've shot guns that I will never be able to shoot in person!
Watched this video the other day, I'm one of the guys who had a Model 66 years ago & would like to have again, went to the gun store the next day & saw a Model 66. Bought it, it is in excellent condition, supposedly a one owner revolver, hits whatever the orange front sight is pointed at, & has a single action trigger that words can't explain, it can only be experienced!
Thanks Hickok 45
Hickok45 - your channel is phenomenal. You seem like a very down to earth guy and your reviews are no nonsense but kept very light and humorous. You’re a great shot but incredibly modest about your abilities. Keep up the great work and thanks for making great videos!
I wish things were easier in Canada... I just want to go hiking and have a revolver with me...
geryanus my sister in law is a wild boar who wears stilettos.
The problem with Canada is that it’s full of Canadians!
This Canadian (on paper) pledges allegiance to the flag of the United States of America, and to the Republic for which it stands, one nation under God, indivisible, with liberty and justice for all!
I know this comment is old old old, but Charter arms has a 6 inch 357 bulldog now, and it's super light weight for a 6 inch 357.might wanna give it a glance.
@@sentero1856 I believe he's referring to gun laws, and not the difficulty that comes with carrying a full size gun. It's not hard to carry a 6" revolver by the way. I do it everyday.
Im french and i love your videos i love gun ... but in french the gun is very restricted ... I licke Hickok45 The Grandpa gun
I have an older Mod 66 2 1/2 bbl that I use WW 180gr HP and I love it. When I started on the job in 1975 I carried a a Mod 19 Combat Magnum issued to me by my department a d I loved it. We were issued 357Mag HP’s.
Thanks for the video. I have my grandfathers old 66-2. It's nearly identical to the gun you are shooting. He taught me to shoot a handgun with it when I was 11. It is my favorite gun, and I'll never let it go. Maybe I'll go take it to the range tomorrow and enjoy some memories. Thanks again. MB
I love your videos, Hickok45!
I have an old model 66 with a 6" barrel that my dad gave me when I was a teenager. He bought it used from a local gun shop and it is still in like new condition.
He has since passed away but that gun is one of my most prized possessions. It shoots like a champ and I impress all my buddies with the 66's accuracy against their semi automatic pistols.
My dad recently have me his 66 that he used on duty until he went to a GLOCK. I love it. He also had a 686 with the full under lug. 'lost it' thru 'loaning' it out. 'Heartbroken'
Just found a S&W Model 66-2 in the gun shop on Saturday, bought it on the spot! It's barely been fired, and the stainless finish is just beautiful. I've been in the market for a good double action revolver, so glad I found this one. Sweet, sweet shooter..
My grandad was a police chief back in the day and gave me his mod. 66 .357 like yours but with a wood grip and she shoots great
HEY! That looks like the one I had held to my head in 1976 when I was robbed at the U-Totem in Anaheim. That was 20 minutes I'll never forget. You sure brought back some memories.
avlisk thug had good taste in weapons
I don't have a S&W, but my 4" Ruger GP100 has served me very well. It has some orange acrylic paint added to the ramp of the front sight for extra visibility. Having two speed loaders to play with is fun too.
The model 60 was the first mass produced stainless revolver, starting life in 1965. The 36/60 & 19/66 are the greats. I’d love to have a 100 of each.
Yes, I should be ashamed of myself for never having owned a Model 60, and we've never reviewed one either. I need to get that one on the list.
hickok45 I’d love to see you shooting an old model 60! Thanks.
My first sidearm when I joined the Louisiana State Police was a 4" Model 66 - great gun; still have it and shoot it every now again (changed to a 2 1/5" model 66 when I went to plain clothes. Also a great firearm.
Love .357 revolvers! Nothing like em!
I love the sound of .357 magnum. It gives me a nice warm chill when it goes off.
Also, .38 Special is a very underrated round these days. Might not be so great in a North Hollywood shootout situation but it'll drop an unarmored person like a brick in a shoe box.
I go my first revolver because of this video. S&W Model 66.
if you ever watch Lupin the 3rd its Jigen Daisuke's signature gun
I just purchased the Taurus model 66 stainless steel with 4” barrel chambered in 357 magnum. It’s a medium size K frame revolver very similar to the S&W model 66 as well. It was 506.00 dollars total and I am very pleased with it. It’s a nice little pistol for a Taurus brand.
I admit when I shoot my double action revolvers I like cooking the hammer. In my case the time it takes me to cook the hammer to get a nice well placed shot is probably the same amount of time I use to steady a double action shot squeezing the trigger slowly feeling the sear reaching it's breaking point. I don't own any Smiths as I am a Ruger man but I will eventually have to get me a Smith and Colt as I love revolvers over semi autos. I like watching subsonic ammo being shot at your gong. You can actually see the bullets trajectory before it hits. Great vid.
hickok45 you realize that when you were shooting hot loads at the gong the 2 and 3rd shot were touching or damn near it. good shooting!
Another great post. This one of the first arms i wanted when i was younger. I settled for a 686 6" for a woods/ hunting sidearm. Still want one of these and a levergun in 357
Definitely a jewel 💎!! My favorite revolver of all time, it’s the perfect gun in many ways!
I was able to shoot for the first time this week, after watching all the time, I tried the 1911 .45 ACP, glock 43 9mm and a smith and Wesson model 60 .357, it was a great time. Thanks for the background information.
Awesome!!
Not that looks matter, but that's a good looking gun.
its a true beauty
Looks do matter!
Gun looks do matter! Lol
Hands down I can hit whatever I mean to with a model 66. Even after years of not shooting, a 4" 66 just works for me. That makes it my favorite pistol.
You can see the 38s fly. That 66 is the best 357 out there
Some of these videos I watch 2 or 3 times from time to time kinda like a old western movie i keep learning from this one in a million man 👨 😅 hahaha
I have a Smith model 66. It's a great firearm, very smooth but very heavy. In California the .357 round is getting hard to find and is expensive ( $40 for a box of 50 ) so I don't shoot it much.
For practice anyway id shoot .38sp... and even for home defense id use some home-made FBI loads. Only outdoors id carry factory .357mag ammo. Not so much of a need of .357magnums to enjoy or actually use the gun ;-)
I have a 66-2 2.5 inch barrel, I love it! It was my dad's service weapon for years.
just got a model 66 for my first handgun. absolutely beautiful gun
I have my father's Model 66-0 service revolver. He carried that thing from his beat cop days of the 70s, on through his detective days of the 80s and 90s, until finally retiring as a deputy sheriff in rural Virginia in the early 00s. Today it has the same Hogue grips as this one, with the service and target grips stored away in the box along with the original bill of sale. He paid $160.92 for it back in 1976, but his has the black rear sight and the front sight has the red insert.
nice!you can actually see the 38s flying to the gong!
Thanks for the video. GREAT comparison of the .38 target loads vs. the full .357 Magnum in the same tool. You can SEE the difference in time to target and energy at impact on the GONG.
Nice shot on the chicken by the way!
I’ve got a 6in. model 19-4 that I bought back in 1982, this was the revolver that got me hooked on shooting.
A few years back I found me a 1985 2 1/2 inch 66-2. It also has the white outline rear site and orange tip on the front. Personally I really prefer this setup over black on black like my 19-4.
I carry the 66 everyday, man it’s sweet..
Just when I thought I was over my revolver obsession, you bring put out another video that makes me want one even more. Watching this video is gonna cost me some $$. Sigh...
We need a Model 66 Chapter 2!!!
i want him to shoot a 80s or 90s taurus model 66
Renegade 357 agreed I've had my 66 for 20 years now I'm 70 and prefer plus p.
@@4406bbldb I have had my 66-1 since the early eighties. Ist handgun I every bought. She is the queen of my firearms.
With those 38 s, I could actually see the bullets enter the frame just before impact on the gong. I used to use my 66 at 100 yds on a 9x12 steel plate with the +p loads. Had to actually aim above the plate to hit it. I consider mine the star of my small collection. My wife purchased it for me new in 1975.
Boy is that ever true! Back in the 70s .357 was the cal. to have and revolvers were the handgun. Kind of reminds me of all those detective shows back in the early sixties. Back then .38 snub-nosed was all the plainclothes men carried. Thanks to Mr. Hickok for his very informative-instructive videos. Keep 'em coming sir!
No matter how many thousands of times he still chuckles each time he blows up a 2-liter. 😊
In my original ensemble I very nearly ended up with a S&W 686 rather than the Ruger GP-100. It was a Memphis gun show and there was a competition between the two dealers. The Ruger won but if it had gone the other way would I now be a S&W man rather than Ruger? Hmm..
a real classic piece,quintessential what a 357 should look and feel and shoot like,early 66's are the nicest revovers Smith ever made imo
The model 19 in the 2 1/2 inch configuration was the standard issue weapon for the Secret Service for many years up until they switched to semi-autos.
In the Reagan assassination attempt you can see one of his Secret Service agents pull out his Model 66 during the shooting.
Way back, when I was a police officer in central Illinois, all the officers on our shift (3rd) decided to all get the same revolvers so we could all look the same - gun wise at least. We ordered Model 66's. We had them about two nights before the Chief split us all up and the 'unity' was gone. However, I still have that Model 66 - No Dash revolver. Love it.
You've sold it to me LOL, you would make an excellent salesman :-) I am generally an automatic guy, he says living in the UK where carrying a sharpened pencil could get me locked up, but I do have a small liking for revolvers, and this one sure is a beauty!
That 158 grain 357 shot at night very hard to recover light on second round. Flame coming out of the barrel 19 to 20 inches.
Mr. Hickock that Revolver was my first Revolver, and what a Gun it is , everything you said about that gun is spot on. The trigger is like melted butter, mine is a 1996 model with all the updates, orange insert front sight , black rear sight, heat treated hammer and trigger. One of the most accurate guns i ever shot.
Watching your video makes me want to get it out of the safe , clean it up and carry it for a few days.
Guns will come guns will go. The first hand gun I bought was a 21/2 inch I'm 1995. My first any maybe my favorite. Had other 357s but she's special
Gave my dad a first run 66 way back then, he carried it on duty for 20 plus years. Fortunately, he never had to fire it other than on the range. He passed in 97 and my mom gave it back to me at his passing. Funny anecdote, he only actually fired it on the range 6 times in 20 years. The department furnished the weapons if the officer wanted. So, on requal days he used the department's 66s. I didn't know that until some years after his passing. I ran into his Asst. Chief and we were just rehashing days gone by. That's when he started chuckling and told me what dad did. He said that when they finally caught dad doing that, he said that it was the first new weapon he had ever owned in the department and he didn't want it to get dirty or worn out LOL.
Oh my gosh those 2 first gong shots at 9:35 blew me away. You are unbelievable.
Wow, Federal is really hooking you up there Hickok!
It's neat to go down memory lane with some of these great firearms. Back in the eighties I had a 686 and my buddy had the 66 and we would frequent our local range with those. I was stupid and sold my 686, a move I have since regretted. To this day I still want another one. Those were great revolvers.
Thanks for the video.
Anybody else go "D'oh!" when Hickok tossed the .38 casings in the .357 pan at the end there? :P
7:25 I love that you can actually see the bullet curve down and slap the target without even having to slow it down.
I've got the Taurus titanium 357 and it's got a hell of a kick to it. Every time you fire it you can feel the pressure in your face
Thats like mine 66-4 , im alittle jealous of how you fire it without much barrel flip. I'm over 70 now and just about think i should use 38 +P because of control. Great videos.
my father had one and gave it to my older brother. He still has it to this day. I always wanted one like this and ended up getting the ruger match champion.
I have the S&W Model 65 .38 Special +P. But the 66 is the ultimate hand CANNON. Thanks for the video.
I dunno if a .357 magnum is the ultimate hand CANNON, especially compared to a .44 magnum...or .454 Casull...or .460 S&W Magnum...or .500 S&W Magnum.
I have owned a Model 66 since the 1970's. I own several handguns; however, If I KNEW that i had a gunfight in my future. You can bet I would carry the Modell 66 to the gunfight.
In my opinion this is the one of the most dependable and reliable firearm made!!!
I actually started a female friend out on shooting with some light .44 Special loads in my 6 inch 629 which has like no recoil in that gun at all, and she loved it.
Hickok I have been to the range twice this week with my Mod 19! I enjoy shooting it more than all my other guns! It's a twin to the one I bought back in 1980 so it brings back good times! As always I enjoy your videos and outstanding shooting!
Hickok45, because of this video I bought a model 66. It is a great revolver. Thank you!
I traded in my first 1911 (real Colt) which I thought was ridiculously difficult to put back together after cleaning, on a Model 66-4 in the early '90's. Easier clean, I fell in love. Many guns later, including another Colt 1911 XSE, I still have that Sweet Little 66. I have recently rediscovered it, and it shoots so well, that it is my most accurate handgun. LOVE this thing!
Thanks for sharing. Back in the day I had a 66 2 1/2". It cracked the forcing cone with about 350 rounds of 125 jhp Remington as loaded back in the early 80's. I sent it back to S & W and they replaced the barrel, cylinder and retimed it on their dime. They told me to shoot .38's and carry magnums as the guns were not designed for a steady diet of full house magnums, especially the 125 gr.
I can't believe I actuallly found a Hickok 45 video that I hadn't seen. It's an absolute winner in my book. My first S&W was a model 19 and my second was a model 66. My 66 is the round but with the 2 1/2 barrel. Crimson trace makes the small round butt grips with a laser and its my carry gun. A bit heavy but it has 6 rounds of 124 grain 357 hollow points., I own several ruger revolvers that I really enjoy but there is something about the feel and trigger pull of a Smith & Wesson double action that says "this is what a revolver is supposed to be". That is a beauty you are shooting in the video. I saw one at the local shop not long ago. It was a 4 inch barrel square butt however it wasn't financially smart to buy it right them. I am still kicking myself. Anyway, your revolver videos always get my blood going. Thanks Again Hickok, I really enjoy your presentations.
My first handgun was a Model 66 No dash (?) about twenty years ago. Stupidly sold it. Have stupidly sold alot of nice guns. Now my approach is to never sell a problem free handgun.
If I had the money I would buy every model 19,66,29,629, and 586 I could find. The old ones of course. I like the new, but I'd love to collect the old. I have a 19-4 4 in barrel and a 629 no dash. My father has a 19-4 with a 2 or 2.5 in barrel and my mother a 66 no dash with a 4 in. I am a young guy, but if my parents were ever thinking of selling them I would buy them immediately.
The model Sw 66 was my favorite revolver back in mid 1980s
Yess. Yeess! It's 3:48am and I'm still up watching your videos.
Every time I decide I can't shoot worth anything, I borrow a 66 and feel like I can do no wrong. It looks like even Hickock 45 gets the 66 boost. Seeing his bullets almost stack up on the gong is just a testament to how easy this gun is to shoot well. His marksmanship is always good, but even he doesn't shoot that well with rifles.
I have the new release of the 66 it is the 66-8 with the 4.25" bull barrel, I hope to see it on here sometime!! Gotta love a fine Smith & Wesson!
I have several vintage M66's and M19's. I just picked up the new 66-8 as a shooter and it's different enough for a second look. Gone is the flat cut forcing cone and a ball detent lockup on the yoke added. They also added a 2 piece barrel that should relieve tension where it screws in. People seem to not like MIM probably from the inferior 1911 parts breakages, but the S&M process seems to be top quality. Everything that was so good about the handy magnum K frame still exists today and it's not a brick like so many other .357's.
__Ordered a 4 inch Model 66 in early 1976 and finally received it in the fall of 1977. I was ecstatic. Fired nothing but .38 Spl. for quite awhile then finally decided to try a cylinder of .357 magnums. They were factory loaded Remington 125 grain JHP, nothing out of the ordinary. The very first round didn't feel or sound right so I stopped and inspected the revolver. The top strap had bowed up about a quarter of an inch and the cylinder latch would not move, preventing me from unloading the gun.
__Took the M-66 to the shop where it was purchased trying to understand and hopefully resolve this issue with them and/or S&W. S&W said to send it back to them but it would need to be unloaded first. My shop finally got the cylinder opened and sent the revolver back to the factory.
__S&W eventually got back to me, and listen to this. They accused me of firing over pressured hand loads as the reason for the malfunction, told me I was the one responsible for the damage and sent the 66 back to me as is and get this, postage due. I was livid.
__As time went by I've read in several publications that the first run of the Model 66 Combat Magnum revolvers did have top straps that were weak, too thin and the design was modified to correct this issue in later marks.
__I am now 66 years old and to this day I have never purchased a new S&W of 'any' kind. Have owned several but they were either bought used or traded for. My advice, if interested in one of the early Model 66 revolvers, walk away from it and look for something, anything else.
Hickock, I have the model 67 38 Special with the stainless rear sites The original Stainless was a softer alloy and scratched easier. The sear and trigger were hard chromed . When the plating wears off, parts then have to be replaced. Dad had both the 19, and 66. The 66 had two hammers replaced, but the 19 is all original.