I've got a Model 66 thats about thirty years old and has been stored away for about twenty years in a closet. Got it out for its annual oiling and while I've got the grips off, should I take out the three screws on the side plate to check out the trigger assembly? Or should I just leave it alone? Is there more to it than just taking the screws and plate off? Bored, waiting for the Super-bowl to start. Thanks, Wayne
S&W Model 66 ?
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Becareful taking the side plate off. After removing the screws, keep the one holding the cylinder assembly separate. The end of that screw is fitted to remove play in the yoke. Also do not pry the side plate off, turn the frame so the plate is facing away from you, hold the gun by the barrel and tap the side of the frame by the bottom of the main spring with a plastic mallet. The side plate will move away from the frame and come off. Only one part should fall out, that's the safety bar, and it rides in a slot in the side plate.
Now you can give all the moving parts a good lube. A thin oil works best. I would advise against any further disassembly. S&W revolvers are tricky, you can take them apart a lot of different ways, but they can be put back together only one way. The parts have to go back in, one by one, in a specific order. HMB
Now you can give all the moving parts a good lube. A thin oil works best. I would advise against any further disassembly. S&W revolvers are tricky, you can take them apart a lot of different ways, but they can be put back together only one way. The parts have to go back in, one by one, in a specific order. HMB
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The surest way to screw up the cosmetic appearance of a S&W is to not take the side plate off properly. My recommendation for people who have never done this is to spray the insides with a good oil, then blow it out with compressed air.<br>
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But, if you really want to oipen it up, get a set of gunsmithing screwdrivers. These have hollow ground blades and won't bugger up the screw slots. Remove all the screws on the sideplate. Then, holding the gun by the barrel, strike the grip frame with something like the wooden handle of a hammer. Do this repeatedly until the side plate comes off. NEVER NEVER NEVER pry the sideplate up. This WILL, I repeat, this WILL raise a faint lip along the edge where the sideplate meets the frame and uglify your gun.<br>
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As for the guts, my advice it to not disassemble them unless you absolutely must. Some parts are tricky to get back in, because they are spring loaded. If you want to do this yourself, get a good book that shows the proper sequence.<br>
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Or, you could simply ask a local gunsmith what he charges for internal inspection, cleaning and lube on a S&W.
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But, if you really want to oipen it up, get a set of gunsmithing screwdrivers. These have hollow ground blades and won't bugger up the screw slots. Remove all the screws on the sideplate. Then, holding the gun by the barrel, strike the grip frame with something like the wooden handle of a hammer. Do this repeatedly until the side plate comes off. NEVER NEVER NEVER pry the sideplate up. This WILL, I repeat, this WILL raise a faint lip along the edge where the sideplate meets the frame and uglify your gun.<br>
<br>
As for the guts, my advice it to not disassemble them unless you absolutely must. Some parts are tricky to get back in, because they are spring loaded. If you want to do this yourself, get a good book that shows the proper sequence.<br>
<br>
Or, you could simply ask a local gunsmith what he charges for internal inspection, cleaning and lube on a S&W.
HMB, and Brian, Thanks for the fast and informative replies. I'm going to leave it alone. I've only put 200 rounds of .38 Special, and 50 rounds of .357 Mag through this gun in twenty years. I bought it from a police officer in 1981, it was his service revolver. It was spotless when I bought it, I've keep it clean since then. Thanks again, Wayne
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Curious, does it have blue or stainless steel sights....
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Big M, I have one with all stainless sights on it. You wouldn't believe how I acquired it. I sold another one that I had that was unfired, lotsa dough. RG
I have seen 3 in all my times around S&Ws
I have seen 3 in all my times around S&Ws
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My original one (which I sold looong ago) had stainless sights... all the ones I've seen since had blue sights....
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