Thanks Badlands: your 66 indicates that the first variants in .38 were made in the period 1966/67 (XXIII = 1967).
Long Johns Wolf
This is really interesting - I have a strong memory of staring open mouthed at a beautiful hand engraved Brass frame repro model 66 on one of my many trips with a good mate of mine - we were chasing winchesters at the time (old 92's) and it had to be in this time frame from 1969 to 1972 - not earlier or later. Price was a tad over AU$300 and about half or a bit less for the plain version from memory - dont know that we even looked at the manufacturer (proly have assumed since, that it was a Uberti) and I always thought it was a 44/40 (I think 38 special woulda stuck in my craw some at that point in life) This either took place in the time frame I stated here or ALL of it is my imagination
I have a 66 carbine in 22RF .....XX7 date mark , It has "Westerner's Arms" stamped in the prominent space on the top of the barrel and the Uberti barrel markings left side of barrel between the forend wood and the back sight , Cal 22LR on the top tang , Serial No, "Made in Italy" and the Uberti logo are on the underside of the action just behind the cartridge elevator opening
Had a 66 in 22magnum similar age I thought, but we sold it, have seen a couple others in 22 .
Have a 66 rifle in 44/40 ..... AA date mark Uberti markings on the barrel much more prominent , serial number is near the end of the bottom tang
Price quoted above
pre inflation days !!! When our Aussie dollar floated in 1966 the US$ to AU$ was about the reverse of where it is now - one aussie now buys .76U$ -- back then one U$ bought about .74 AU$ ----- that $150 or so was a big heap of money = four to five weeks gross wages for me at the time