S&W 66 combat master Stainless Stell 4 inch
I bought this gun in 1981 and put it away /never shot or used it.
recently friends of mine want me to start going to the range with them
but they all have automatics( mostly 45acp) so they have been telling me to sell it and buy a 45 but the range guys say dont fire it save it.its rare to find an older s&w in perfect condition and the old ones were made better. so I dont dont what its worth in $ it may be worth more in fun to just use it. Ive been told its one of the best reliable revolvers made. can anyone tell me what they think its worth
or should I just forget it and enjoy it. at the range. I can afford to keep it and still buy another gun. origanally i wqs thinking of useing the money to buy a nother pistol but $ is not that big an issue. THOUGHTS????????????????
recently friends of mine want me to start going to the range with them
but they all have automatics( mostly 45acp) so they have been telling me to sell it and buy a 45 but the range guys say dont fire it save it.its rare to find an older s&w in perfect condition and the old ones were made better. so I dont dont what its worth in $ it may be worth more in fun to just use it. Ive been told its one of the best reliable revolvers made. can anyone tell me what they think its worth
or should I just forget it and enjoy it. at the range. I can afford to keep it and still buy another gun. origanally i wqs thinking of useing the money to buy a nother pistol but $ is not that big an issue. THOUGHTS????????????????
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eggnog..... Keep it as a collector piece or shoot it and enjoy it.
It sounds like it is worth about $375.00 to $425.00 or so.
I have a 4" model 66 I carried before my dept switched to autos. Mine has the early all stainless sights on it. If money is not a big deal I would keep the Smith and buy yourself an auto to shoot with your friends.
Welcome to the forum!
"Never let school interfere with your education"0 -
The current Blue Book of Gun Values lists it at $375.00 in 100% condition.-- The Standard Catalog of Firearms lists it at $350.00 new in box and $300.00 in excellent condition.--They have not been made since 1993.I doubt you will ever see any real collector dollar value in your life time as they are great guns but thats why there are so many of them around and most have the 4" barrel.There is a slight premium for the 3" barrel as there were few of those made.-- It would perhaps make a nice hand down piece to a family member someday unless they are like some of my family and would trade it in your estate sale for a CD player or a Sony Play Station (one of my worst nightmares!).--I personally would enjoy it myself and buy another pistol....just my two cents....Good Luck.........[8D] 0 -
I would be tempted to keep it as is and buy something else to shoot. But temblor may have it right about its future, I don't really know. A man I knew a few years ago had bought a brand new 67 Plymouth, the best coupe they made that year with all the whistles and bells. He brought it home , put it in his drive under garage and only took it out twice a year to wash, wax and change the oil. He would run the engine just enough to warm it up and then pull it back into the garage, a distance of about 25 to 30 feet each way. He died at about 93 and the first thing his grandson(whom he had left the car to) did was to sell it and run down to the dealership and buy one of those new little japanese cars. Its your call but I wouldn't count too much a the younger ones putting as much value on it as you. Admire it or shoot it but whichever way you go, enjoy it. Good Luck. 0 -
Blue book and Cat. of Firearms are both super reference books, but their pricing tends to be conservative. More toward dealer valuations -vs- end buyer.
I recently sold one of my former off-duty pieces, a M-66 (no dash) w/ 2 and 1/2 inch barrel that shortly after I bought it in late-72 underwent a top notch action/trigger job. I was asking $500 with the custom grip (for my big paws) and $450 w/ the original factory grip. It went for $430 after some serious "jawing". This revolver had a lot of rounds through it, but was well maintained and in excellent shape.
I believe that the 3 inch barrel brings the top prices, followed by the 2 and 1/2. Several times I thought about trading the revolver in for a 3 inch version so I would have a full extractor stroke, but just never could up and do it.
If you've been preserving this revolver for the past 23 years, and you don't need to sell it then why not preserve it a few more years. If for what ever reason you want to sell, don't go to a dealer because they will offer below book. If you have the box and all the papers, etc. then start at $600 via private sale route
As for what my family might do w/ my guns or any of my other "treasures" ... I don't care I'll be dead.
If you only have time to do two things so-so, or one thing well ... do the one thing!0 -
The standard catalog of firearms is put out by the people who put out the Gunlist and base their prices on what the market is based on the many of each type that is for sale in their listings.Thats why they vary from the blue book.You may have gotten good money for your gun,but it may have just been the right buyer or the area you live in.I'm sure they see more guns for sale than you or I do.......[8D]--- Ps = I'll try to be at you estate sale and trade some junk for some of your guns,then sell them in the gun list for what the market dictates............[:D] 0 -
I carried one of these for several years, and I believe that there is no finer revolver. Those who have said that it will probably never have collector value are correct, as there were indeed many of them made, and they continue in production today in a slightly altered form. It is true, though, that one new in the box is worth more than a used one. In the end, you must make the decision on whether to use it or not. If you do, you will not be destroying the Mona Lisa; but on the other hand, once you do use it, it will never be new again. If you think you need a semi-auto to shoot with your friends, then you will derive the greatest value by not shooting it. If the Mod.66 is what you want to shoot (and it is a very good choice) then by all means--shoot it! Your call.[:)] 0 -
temblor -
To a point you are right and I agree that Gun List gives a good picture of recent market trends.
Blue Book and Standard Catalog are good references, but beyond that it has to do with the popularity. Colt revolvers are a reasonable example ... look at Blue Book and Std. Catalog for the "snake" models and compare that to gun list and the asking/selling prices at gun shows that you attend. Significant differences exist.
Also region of the country has a lot to do with it. I've seen prices change by 20-30% from one part of the country to the other.
As for my estate sale ... bring cash ... mamma and the mutt don't take credit cards or trade for tin pots [:D] [:D]
If you only have time to do two things so-so, or one thing well ... do the one thing!0 -
quote:Originally posted by Contender Man
temblor -
To a point you are right and I agree that Gun List gives a good picture of recent market trends.
Blue Book and Standard Catalog are good references, but beyond that it has to do with the popularity. Colt revolvers are a reasonable example ... look at Blue Book and Std. Catalog for the "snake" models and compare that to gun list and the asking/selling prices at gun shows that you attend. Significant differences exist.
Also region of the country has a lot to do with it. I've seen prices change by 20-30% from one part of the country to the other.
As for my estate sale ... bring cash ... mamma and the mutt don't take credit cards or trade for tin pots [:D] [:D]
Contenderman: Anything you sell,you have to start somewhere with.That is all that started this thread.The man just wanted to now about what it was worth.Not what he could get for it if he searched until he found the right buyer. You brought that into the discussion. Your not comparing apples to apples.A model 66 is never going to be in the same league with highly collectible colts,etc.There is always someone who values a particular piece more than someone else or an area that they go for more in.There is also always what the current market is going for.Thats all I tried to convey,and was just trying to help someone with what they asked,not get in a debate.I know how to sell guns too,but thats not what I was trying to.--Hold off on the estate sale.It will give you time to sell more very common guns at inflated prices.......[:D][:D]
If you only have time to do two things so-so, or one thing well ... do the one thing!0 -
The 66 is the second finest revolver made - the finest being the Model 19, which is the blue steel ancestor and brother to the 66.
I'd shoot it with your friends - their eyes will get big when they first hear a full-house Magnum shot next to them.
God Bless America and...
NEVER Forget WACO
NEVER, EVER Forget 9110 -
Blue book dosen't mean anything to me as I get at least 300 to400 percent out of resale. The main thing is noing the resale of what you are saling in your area. My 21 cents worth. 0 -
Is the front sight Blue or stainless with the Red insert? Is the Rear sighth Blue or Stainless? There was a recall with early model 66's, it had to do with the tempering of the surface steel on the trigger and hammer. If I recall correctly the original early model trigger and hammers were made of stainless but with tempering problems leading to execessive wear and mis-fires.
Later models used carbon steel trigger and hammers which have been FLASH CHROMED.
If you have not fired it by now, why fired it now? If you were to sell it: A) book values mean NADA, NUTT'N, HOG-WASH! Those books are a guideline which are MONTHS OLD by the time they get on the market.
I collected them for 10 years, 10 years ago and pristine Pinned and Recessed models -in stainless- will bring a premium. The market for Premium stainless 63's,66's, 629's and others is narrowly defined so don't -if you got a brain- sell them to jo-schmo...
There is NO dealer on the face of the Earth who will pay you the true and fair market value for your 66. But there are collectors -dig deep, look long and hard- and don't be impatient....just cause ya wanng go shoot'n with the guy's!
If I was you I'd put it back where ya been store'n it and leave it...got any kids...
If'n you were to sell it and you sold it for LESS THAN $450 or MORE then you'd need to have your head examined and your butt kicked with a big heavy steel toe'd RedWing work boot!
I'd contact S&W and find out about that recall...I had to send back a few 66's so I know first hand about that recall...but that was years ago...there might be a old codger out here reading your posting who might be able to refing me recollection of that recall...
Don't be an idiot about selling your exquisite 66!0
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