66-5 Buy or not

[Dariaki92x]

Hi guys, real simple: would you buy this 66-5 without box and papers for 600$?
Actually i’d like to hear your opinion because I’m not sure how good the rifling is on this S&W and how good of a shape in general the gun is.
This particular model seems transitional since the barrel is the same that usually the 66-4 mounts.

 

[nick22]

I would absolutely pay $600 for that revolver as long as the cylinder didn't have a bunch of endshake and it locked up tight at full cock in single action. I love the 66's The forcing cone looked good some of them had trouble when shooting a diet of full house magnums.

 

[trackskippy]

I'd be all over that for $600. Guns like that around here the past year or so were $900-1000+ easy.

 

[Dariaki92x]

Great. The rifling looks good?

 

[Jonny2guns]

I'd buy it, looks to be in great shape and it's pre-lock.

 

[wcwhitey]

2 1/2” inch guns command a premium. Good price don’t let it get away!

 

[Dariaki92x]

Thank you guys, thank for talking me into it!

 

[ontarget]

If everything checks out, that would be a great price here.
There is a revolver check out sticky at the top of this page that is very helpful.

 

[Armored farmer]

Yes that's a definite buy.
Check the usual revolver weaknesses plus the forcing cone.
I gave more than that for my 66-3 five years ago.
It is my favorite handgun BTW.

 

[Tallball]

YES!

 

[MrBorland]

IIRC, the -5 variant was unique in that it incorporated a frame-mounted firing pin and a new style ejector latch, but didn't yet incorporate The Lock. Those are my favorite variants.

 

[Dariaki92x]

You all really convinced me. I should go and pick it up tomorrow after my shift. Will post pictures as soon as I grab it

 

[bannockburn]

Dariaki92x

Hi guys, real simple: would you buy this 66-5 without box and papers for 600$?

Real simple answer... In a heartbeat!

 

[Y-T71]

Yeah, $600 is a good deal these days.

I bought a 4" 66 no dash from a guy I installed carpet for, for $200.

I bought a 4" 66-1 complete with box, papers and tools, from a police chief who bought it, qualified with it (he said 12 rds) and put it back in the box for nearly 4 decades before he sold it to me for $200.

I sold both 6-7 years ago for $600-$700 (I had to pay for my wife's medical bills; Life-Flight and 3 months in ICU aren't cheap!)

 

[Riomouse911]

Hopefully that gun is still there when you go back!

As they said unanimously above, $600 is a great price for a short barrel Model 66 pre-lock in the (visual) shape that one is in.

Here in So Cal, that gun in the shape it is in would have a $1,150 asking price on a consignment shelf easy. (Seller may not get it quickly, but they ultimately do sell very high.)

Small sample of a consignment list from the largest local gun store chain;



When you shoot it let us know how it shoots!

Stay safe.

 

[Speedo66]

Any flame cutting on the top strap?

Does the new latch mean there are MIM parts?

In today’s market that seems to be a good price.

 

[MrBorland]

there are MIM parts?

MIM was introduced with the -5. You can tell in one of those pics because the back of the hammer is hollow.

 

[.38 Special]

I agree with everyone. Assuming there is not some hidden defect, the gun is well worth the price in today's market.

 

[Dariaki92x]

MIM was introduced with the -5. You can tell in one of those pics because the back of the hammer is hollow.

As far as I know the MIM was introduced with the -4, the last one with the hammer mounted firing pin…

 

[Dariaki92x]

Any flame cutting on the top strap?

Does the new latch mean there are MIM parts?

In today’s market that seems to be a good price.

I’m trying to look up carefully the top strap right above the forcing cone…but with these pictures I can’t tell.

 

[Dariaki92x]

If everything checks out, that would be a great price here.
There is a revolver check out sticky at the top of this page that is very helpful.

Thanks for the tip!

 

[bluetopper]

You bet I would. I paid $650 for a 2 1/2" 66-2 a few years ago and I felt like a stole it. The value will do nothing but go up.

 

[earlthegoat2]

I paid $800 for a 66-1 2 1/2” 5 years ago.

I think $600 is a pretty smokin deal.

 

[rperyam]

I said yes before I read any further than 66-5 for $600.00. I would love to find that gun for any price under $1100 in Northern California. Hope you got it and share more with us.

 

[MrBorland]

As far as I know the MIM was introduced with the -4, the last one with the hammer mounted firing pin…

I stand corrected. Thanks. According to the Standard Catalog, the 66-5s (MIM hammer & trigger) were introduced in 1998, but the year before, the 1997 66-4s were outfitted with a MIM trigger.