19-8 original Grips ?

steady · #1 10-21-2010, 10:36 AM

Hello everyone. I have had this 19-8 for several years in my safe along with several wonderful older Smiths. I recently brought some of them to the light of day so I may offer them up for sale to "thin out my stock" so to speak My question is "are these the original grips for this revolver and what is the revolver's value with or with out original grips ? Thank you All who responded are CORRECT IT IS A 19-3. MY OLD EYES ARE NOT WHAT THEY USED TO BE !

18DAI · #2 10-21-2010, 10:55 AM

I appears that your "19-8" is pinned & recessed. Could it be a 19-3?

The 19-8's were the last of the model 19's, made in the 1990's. They were not pinned & recessed. IIRC they had MIM hammers and triggers too. Your 19 has the better, and more attractive, forged case hardened hammer and trigger. The 19-8 came with Uncle Mike's rubber grips from the factory.

My guess is that yours is a 19-3. Perhaps with a sloppy roll-mark that appears to be an 8. It is also a round butt, which if factory original, adds to it's value.

The NIS ordered RB 19's, and the FBI SRT had them as well. Those banana grips themselves are uncommon and have gone in the classifieds here for $80 or more.

If yours is indeed a 19-3 factory RB, with original box and docs and those banana grips, it would bring $575 to $625 locally.

Very nice 19 you have. I'd keep it. They won't make them as nice as it again. Hope this helps! Regards 18DAI.

Edited to add: It appears your front sight insert is yellow. The NIS RB 19's had a yellow front sight insert. Do a search here for Naval Investigative Service model 19. You may be surprised by what you have there!

diamonback68 · #3 10-21-2010, 10:59 AM

After I looked at the gun more closely I deleted my original post. It can't be a -8 'cause it's pinned and reccessed. I'd bet it's a -3. The banana grips add a little, but I would put it at $450-550.

gunlovingirl · #4 10-21-2010, 01:35 PM

I think 18DAI might have it right. It's likely a 19-3, but with that yellow insert in the front sight, it's not a normal 19-3. Mine, and others I have seen, have the plain ramp with no insert. Hopefully someone will come along later and post as to what you really have.

Keith Brown · #5 10-21-2010, 06:00 PM

Hello steady, nice looking gun and I would say it's probably a 19-3 also, but it looks like someone along the way probably put a 4 inch barrel on a gun that was originally a 2 1/2 inch model. The contour of the top of the frame forward of the barrel pin is correct for the shorter length. Only a factory letter would tell for sure. Regardless, I think it's maybe the best of both worlds, when I finally come across a 4 inch 66 with a short enough serial number placed just right I'll turn it into the same configuration you have. Nice pics also.

Keith

steady · #6 10-21-2010, 06:02 PM

Is this what you are referring to ?
Naval Investigative Service used 4" model 19's.
They were round butt, with yellow front sight inserts. They still have a few. Most were transferred to the FBI vault.

Does this make the 19 even rarer ?

Thanks,

Steady

steady · #7 10-23-2010, 10:25 AM

more info related to me on this 19-3
you have a very rare revolver. this is what i found out.

Naval Investigative Service: In Feb 1966 the law enforcement and
counter-intelligence component of ONI was made into separate
agency, the Naval investigative service. An additional 200 of the 4"
round butt Model 19 revolver marked NIS with a yellow front ramp
insert, white outline rear sight and smooth combat triggers were
issued to NIS Special Agents. in 1972, approximately 450 revolvers
variously marked ONI,G2 or NIS were transferred to the FBI. A few
of these revolvers remained in service with the NIS and the FBI until
1990.

18DAI · #8 10-23-2010, 01:37 PM

That is the NIS and FBI model 19 RB I was referring to.

I think thats what you have there. Worth a bit more than the average model 19-3.

Let me know if you still want to sell it. Personally, I'd hang onto it. Regards 18DAI.

steady · #9 10-23-2010, 07:24 PM

I received more info about the 19-3 for those who are interested.you have a very rare revolver. this is what i found out.

Naval Investigative Service: In Feb 1966 the law enforcement and
counter-intelligence component of ONI was made into separate
agency, the Naval investigative service. An additional 200 of the 4"
round butt Model 19 revolver marked NIS with a yellow front ramp
insert, white outline rear sight and smooth combat triggers were
issued to NIS Special Agents. in 1972, approximately 450 revolvers
variously marked ONI,G2 or NIS were transferred to the FBI. A few
of these revolvers remained in service with the NIS and the FBI until
1990.