Guns & Outdoors Forum

An elderly gentleman who has volunteered at the department for practically forever had this from a relative back when. He decided that (A.) it was too much gun for him, and (B.) he wants more than six chances to solve his problem. Sooo, short story shorter, he gave this to me today. We'll go formalize the paperwork next week:
A 66-1 with a production date of 1977-78. Probably a little desirable in that with the 66-2 model change, they got rid of the pinned barrel and recessed cylinder. I tore it down and cooked it in my ultrasonic cleaner to dissolve the goo of the last 40 years.

Suffice to say, low mileage:
The only visual strike is that my man decided to electric pencil his name on the left side of the frame and the cylinder back in the 1990's, but WTH: I'm rather fond of the guy, so having his name on it is OK, and also WTH: the price was RIGHT!

I really like the older stainless Smiths in that they hard-chromed the carbon steel hammer and trigger, and as you can see, the number of time's they've been cycled is probably pretty low. This one locks up really tight - clearly does not suffer from the K-frame ailment of too many .357 Magnums through a nominally .38 Special gun. I'm largely moving to .38-level loads in .357 brass, so HEY! Perfect launch platform!

I raised the rear sight elevation so the ultrasonic juice could work its magic underneath, then got a quicky zero reestablished with some ball .38. Not sure it needs more of a range report than that, but we'll see how it goes. Not really a fan of the big Target grips, so I'll probably hunt down a set of late-productions Magnas on Fleabay this weekend.

I've been conspicuously lacking a K-38. Problem solved - HAPPY DANCE!

SWEET

Love it, congrats. I had an early P&R 66 3" that I really loved. Foolishly let a friend talk me out of it a long time ago.

What a wonderful gift! That will be fun at the range.

Slug, you are surely living right! congrats on a new K!!

Well that’s awesome!!!!

What’s this, “paperwork” you speak of?

It's good to have friends in high places. It also speaks well of you.

Great Revolver, looks in fantastic shape

That is awesome! Congrats

jwv2023 wrote: ↑Fri Jun 13, 2025 2:33 pm It's good to have friends in high places. It also speaks well of you.

Either that, or I'm the only guy he associates with on a daily basis who's never seen a need to slap five shot extensions on mags that already hold 17 rounds.

Nah. It's a princely gift and I'm honored.

Main decision I'm laboring on right now is with the replacement Magna panels for this cute square butt:

Rounded bottom edged (which seems like what they put on most of the "combat" K's), or sharp edge (which appears to have been the grip of choice for certain offerings of the K-22 and maybe duty carry of the K-38's)?

My cousin's husband back east has a K-22/17 with a set of ugly-ass Pachmayr's on it, and that's probably where the target grips will end up, so that'll work out well.

Nice.

Pc or modified magnas were generally fixed sight
Regular magnas normally target sight guns .
Nice S&W

Very nice Bigslug, I agree, says alot about you.

JunkCollector wrote: ↑Fri Jun 13, 2025 10:00 pm Pc or modified magnas were generally fixed sight
Regular magnas normally target sight guns .
Nice S&W

Found a peach of a flat-bottomed set on Fleabay, which I think fits better. The dings on the originals seem to bear out the story of "uniformed open carry". The replacement Magnas will preserve that look and have a much better feel.

Slight correction - production date is in the '78-'79 block. Most likely '78. Pretty much the earliest dawn of autoloaders showing up in police duty holsters, but stainless, so past the era of Andy, Barney, and Opie. Definitely fits in a pretty specific "window" right before the advent of the wondernines. Basically the era of the guys who were starting to retire and turn in their guns at the point I was starting to wrench on them. It's a nice piece of the past.

Great score! Super cool gift from what I assume is a very good friend.

Sooo, funny enough, I just scored a 66-2 in the box through one of my favorite enablers, actually a team enable. It’s not free but let’s say about a no-brainer decision. Should be here next week! We now have twins

Wambli Ska wrote: ↑Sat Jun 14, 2025 7:22 pm Sooo, funny enough, I just scored a 66-2 in the box through one of my favorite enablers, actually a team enable. It’s not free but let’s say about a no-brainer decision. Should be here next week! We now have twins

Nice! We can cue up our favorite versions of Route 66, get our kicks, and compare notes.

Bigslug wrote: ↑Sat Jun 14, 2025 10:06 pm

Wambli Ska wrote: ↑Sat Jun 14, 2025 7:22 pm Sooo, funny enough, I just scored a 66-2 in the box through one of my favorite enablers, actually a team enable. It’s not free but let’s say about a no-brainer decision. Should be here next week! We now have twins

Nice! We can cue up our favorite versions of Route 66, get our kicks, and compare notes.

Damn right brother

The Magnas landed today!

MMMMMMMM. . . Magnas. . .ahhhhhhhh. . . No markings on the inside like dates or serial numbers. Just a clearly stamped "K" and a smaller, barely visible, maybe "L" on each panel.
I'm no great student of the supposed goncalo alves wood, but these have a very walnut vibe to them.

They look great!

Bigslug wrote: ↑Sat Jun 14, 2025 10:06 pm

Wambli Ska wrote: ↑Sat Jun 14, 2025 7:22 pm Sooo, funny enough, I just scored a 66-2 in the box through one of my favorite enablers, actually a team enable. It’s not free but let’s say about a no-brainer decision. Should be here next week! We now have twins

Nice! We can cue up our favorite versions of Route 66, get our kicks, and compare notes.

This should work:

https://youtu.be/OZJ60nBlxKQ

Took my wife to see Asleep at the Wheel earlier this year for a evening of cultural awareness. (my culture, her awareness)

Japhy wrote: ↑Sun Jun 22, 2025 2:45 am Nice! We can cue up our favorite versions of Route 66, get our kicks, and compare notes.

This should work:

https://youtu.be/OZJ60nBlxKQ
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Country doesn't work. Country NEVER works. Except maybe as a method to distract you from the fact you're having a tooth drilled without Lidocaine.

Targets off. Magnas on. MUCH HAPPIER!
It'll probably be next weekend before I can give it and the Ruglins a proper shakedown. Started PT on the cranky shoulder and making headway - I think, but the left wing is not particularly happy.

Per my earlier observation on the screws. . .the slot of the flat-headed one that lives under the grips is not timed to be parallel to the barrel when bottomed out like the other two sideplate screws, but rather remarkably, the slot on the mainspring strain screw is as well. Coincidence? I dunno, but it is pretty cool.

Per Wambli's comments on his copy: No, the single action trigger on this one is not the sexiest one I've ever handled. It is definitely decent, but it does have the slightest bit of creep before letoff. I can therefore ignore its existence with a clean conscience.