Early Navy Arms '66

[Grapevine Jimmy]

I picked up a Navy Arms '66 carbine at a recent gunshow. The serial # 43XX and the barrel stamp xx7 lead me to beleive that this is a pretty early one. It appears to have been used very little. I shot it at a SASS local match and everything works fine. I'm very happy with the purchase. Is there anything that I need to be awareof since it's an early edition?

Thanks,

Grapevine Jimmy

[Fox Creek Kid]

The earliest Uberti 66´s had a lever safety engagement like all Uberti ´73´s. 

[pistol1911]

I have 66 made in 1967.It is my understanding that some of the screws currently available will not fit the early models.

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[Flint]

I also have an early (1989) Navy Arms 66, and they are different in a few places.  The bolt is shorter, there is a step in the frame opening that is not there in later models.

As Fox Creek Kid mentioned, it has a lever safety.  However, it is not the same as the 73 as far as parts are concerned, the spring and the internal parts are different, and no longer made, and 73 parts will not fit.

My lever safety spring broke some years ago, and as parts were no longer made for that early 66, I milled a step in the frame bottom and put in a Henry/66 trigger spring and one piece trigger.

[Joe Lansing]

    I have an early Navy Arms '66 in 38 spl. that I bought back in '68. It was the only center fire caliber available at the time (the other option was 22LR). The serial number is 5XX. I promptly removed the lever safety and replaced the hammer. The original hammer was "hollowed out" and an original Winchester '73 hammer dropped right in. The chambers on these early yellowboy 38's were oversized and cases bulged conspicuously, so Navy Arms produced their own 38 ammo with oversized cases. A simple solution was to neck size only when reloading. In my case, I changed the barrel (for a wopping $20) at a later date. I was concerned about interchangeability with my 38 Great Western SAA and frequent full length sizing severely bulged cases tend to shorten case life.

                                                                         J.L.

[Joe Lansing]

    I recently acquired a real early Navy Arms/ Uberti Yellowboy....serial number 2X, in 22LR. Most folks don't know how the repro Yellowboy got here in the first place, so here it is.
    In the early '60s, someone at Winchester was wondering what they could do for the Winchester centennial and the idea of bringing back the '66 was conceived. Winchester was afraid to tool up for it, so they went to Navy Arms and Uberti who had been successful in bringing back cap and ball revolvers and the Zouave rifle.
    On verbal agreement, Uberti started work and began tooling up for a 22 cal. Yellowboy. As Uberti progressed, Winchester got cold feet.... they didn't think thy could possibly sell enough to be worth while...and they backed out. Uberti and Navy Arms had a lot invested in the project and decided to continue rather than suffer the loss. All of the associated intrigue and politics caused them to fall way behind their original schedule.
    As 1966 drew near, Winchester realized its mistake and tried to do something, but  between time lost and bad feeling, it was too late. Navy Arms and Uberti eventually introduced the Yellowboy in 1967.... a year after Winchester introduced its '66 .... a 94 with a brass plated receiver in 30-30 (in 1966). This began their string of "collector's and commemerative models.
    My low number Yellowboy, one might say, came from the first litter.

[Hoof Hearted]

Hey Joe!

I'd really like to buy that 38 special barrel you took out...........

I am contemplating a 41 Colt conversion on a 66 and need a 38 calibre barrel to bore and rerifle.

Let me know what you think, OK?

Regards
HH

[Joe Lansing]

    H.H.: I still have the barrel. The rear end was banged on with a hammer  by my son, but I'm sure it can be useable with a little TLC. I am willing to send it to you to inspect for your approval. We can talk about $ later.

                                                                   J.L.

[Hoof Hearted]

    H.H.: I still have the barrel. The rear end was banged on with a hammer  by my son, but I'm sure it can be useable with a little TLC. I am willing to send it to you to inspect for your approval. We can talk about $ later.

                                                                   J.L.

Joe

Sounds great!
PM sent

[Beaver City Kid]

Here is my early Uberti .22 Carbine serial #4xx pics for ya'll from a newbie.

[Fox Creek Kid]

...In the early '60s, someone at Winchester was wondering what they could do for the Winchester centennial and the idea of bringing back the '66 was conceived. Winchester was afraid to tool up for it, so they went to Navy Arms and Uberti who had been successful in bringing back cap and ball revolvers and the Zouave rifle.
    On verbal agreement, Uberti started work and began tooling up for a 22 cal. Yellowboy. As Uberti progressed, Winchester got cold feet.... they didn't think thy could possibly sell enough to be worth while...and they backed out. Uberti and Navy Arms had a lot invested in the project and decided to continue rather than suffer the loss. All of the associated intrigue and politics caused them to fall way behind their original schedule.
    As 1966 drew near, Winchester realized its mistake and tried to do something, but  between time lost and bad feeling, it was too late. Navy Arms and Uberti eventually introduced the Yellowboy in 1967.... a year after Winchester introduced its '66 .... a 94 with a brass plated receiver in 30-30 (in 1966). This began their string of "collector's and commemerative models.
    My low number Yellowboy, one might say, came from the first litter.

The story I heard from an industry insider was that Winchester & Uberti merely met to discuss terms and the meeting ended over money.