S&W 66-1 follow up

[quallsmastiff]

A couple of weeks ago I asked for some info on a S&W 66-1 I had picked up for $500. I was very impressed with the response from everyone who helped. Thank you.
Here are some before/after pics showing the results of my effort to clean it up a bit. The first photo is the “before”.

 

[okiebertt]

Sweet!

 

[RickN]

Beautiful revolver.

 

[Glock 'em down]

IMHO, the Smith and Wesson model 66, was always the epitome of what a service revolver should be.

When I first took an oath and donned a badge 33 years ago, the .357 Magnum revolver was king. The uniformed officer had not fully transferred to the semi-autos of today.

There were a few Colt Pythons and King Cobras and the Ruger GP100 was just getting popular, along with their Security Six. But the S&W K frame model 19/66 was probably in more cop's holsters than any other.

For some strange reason, I chose the model 681 for my sidearm. I really don't know why. I think I had heard some war story about the K frame not being able to handle a steady diet of magnum rounds. I dunno. I always wished I had one nevertheless.

Beautiful iron ya got there, bubba.

 

[Aries]

Looks great!

 

[diggler1833]

Looks very good, great job! My routine for restoring a factory stainless S&W finish is 2000 grit paper (400 first if the gouges are deep), then a good polishing with a compound to remove any irregularities in the sanding, and finally some finesse with 0000 steel wool.

I've saved several beaters and made them look near as new. One of them is my personal favorite; a 629 no dash. I love this gun, but it needed a lot of work when I bought it. Had to correct the cylinder and yoke endshake, as well as the timing too.

 

[gerhard1]

IMHO, the Smith and Wesson model 66, was always the epitome of what a service revolver should be.

When I first took an oath and donned a badge 33 years ago, the .357 Magnum revolver was king. The uniformed officer had not fully transferred to the semi-autos of today.

There were a few Colt Pythons and King Cobras and the Ruger GP100 was just getting popular, along with their Security Six. But the S&W K frame model 19/66 was probably in more cop's holsters than any other.

For some strange reason, I chose the model 681 for my sidearm. I really don't know why. I think I had heard some war story about the K frame not being able to handle a steady diet of magnum rounds. I dunno. I always wished I had one nevertheless.

Beautiful iron ya got there, bubba.

I don't believe it was a 'war story'. I believe there is something to it, otherwise, it seems to me that there was no real point in producing the L-frame.

Not saying that you are wrong for a fact, but I do wonder.

 

[RickN]

I don't believe it was a 'war story'. I believe there is something to it, otherwise, it seems to me that there was no real point in producing the L-frame.

Not saying that you are wrong for a fact, but I do wonder.

There was a lot of frame cutting with the 125 gr +P loads. My personal favorite is the Ruger Security Six but the 66 is right behind it.

 

[gerhard1]

There was a lot of frame cutting with the 125 gr +P loads. My personal favorite is the Ruger Security Six but the 66 is right behind it.

What I heard was frame-stretching.

 

[diggler1833]

Forcing cone cracking on the thin, flat spot on the bottom from the lighter bullets pushed fast.