Manufacture date of Smith Wesson model 65-1 serial number 66153?

Answer 1

First of all, the number 66153 I don't think is the serial no. The serial no. should be 2 or 3 letters followed by 3 or 4 numbers. Something like IBI1234. The Model 65 was introduced in 1974 and the -1 says it the first series with next change (-2) in 1977. So by that, I assume its a 74, 75 or 76.

By the way, I know very little about hand guns, just caught me doing research on another Smith & Wesson 65-1.

Ignore the previous part about the letters in the serial number. I just bought a 65-1 myself, serial number is 1035xxx so obviously the 65-1 did use strictly numbers. While I'm not sure when mine was manufactured, given the difference in our serial numbers I'd have to guess yours was made in the first year of manufacture - 1974.