Can anyone educate me on proper front sights on the model 19?
I see that the red ramps dominate the model 66 but notice that most of the earlier dash 19's do not have the red ramp insert but are solid black. Then all of the sudden I see a model 19-2 claimed to be a 60's vintage with a red ramp front sight! Perhaps I am not paying enough attention and am confusing the front sights on the model 27 with the 19?

I am in the market for an early model 19 and am trying to learn all I can before I buy. Thanks for any clarification.

The red ramp was an option that could be ordered on the Combat Magnum. Most were shipped with plain (Baughman) ramps, but some will letter with original red ramps. I have a 19-2, shipped in 1965, that letters with target hammer and trigger, red ramp front sight and white outline rear sight. Nearly all of the Model 19s with a 6-inch barrel were shipped with a Patridge front sight.

Bill

Thanks much for the enlightenment. Although I have had a 66-1 for 20 years my interest in k frames has gathered momentum in the last couple of years. One thing I have learned is that almost anything is possible when it comes to revolver configurations from S&W! Sounds like you have what I am looking for so wish me luck...the hunt continues for the early 19 in 2 1/2"...

Back in the 1970's I owned a small gun & police supply shop. I purchased several front sight kits from Brownells. I could file a dovetail in the front sight and mix up a colored glue and put it into the dovetail. When it dried I would file it smooth on the sides and top and it would look like a factory red ramp sight. My after market sights, were very popular with the police of that era.

Occasionally you do see red ramps on the 6 inchers, I have an original 6 inch with red ramp, and just seen another one at my dealers with a red ramp. But like Doc mentioned most you see have the partridge type front sight.

This is an old post but still relevant.
Is it just the 6" Model 19's (no dash to -4) that had the red ramp sight if ordered that way or could any barrel length come that way? Maybe a stupid question but I also haven't even seen a 19 with the red ramp? Was there a time frame when they produced them standard that way?
Mike

__________________
John 1:17
NRA Life Benefactor

Keep in mind that sight modifications, including red ramps and white outlines, were easy adaptations by a competent gunsmith to any Baughman Ramp equipped S&W, as jm4151 mentioned.

A factory option red ramp/white outline shipped on an early 19 was a very rare item to see. However, gunsmith installed sights became fairly common on K frames, especially after model 66's began to appear as standard with them. Many very early no-dash, all stainless sighted 66's, as a consequence, are no longer "factory correct" as many owners had their front sights converted to a red ramp.

Another misperception involving red ramps was mentioned on this thread. Many believe all the premium presentation cased guns had a red ramp and white outline. The vast majority of Mod 27's and Mod 25's were shipped with Baughman's on the shorter barreled 27's (the 3.5, 4 and 5 inch guns) and Patridges (on the 6 and 8 3/8 27's and 6 and 6.5 Mod 25's.) From my recollection and experience none of those models shipped with a red ramp or other configuration unless specially ordered.

An early, original, full target 19 with stocks, hammer, trigger and a RR with WO -- that letters like Doc44's 19, is an remarkably rare and highly collectible item IMHO... I've seen a matching pair of assembled 19s with all the features, one in blue and the other in nickle... They were very handsome handguns!

JMHO

__________________
Terry

The red ramp and white outline could be ordered on any barrel length.
A 6" barrel came standard with a Patridge front sight but was available with a red insert (on a Baughman ramp) with a white ouitline rear sight blade.

Although they were never "standard" on a Model 19, they were available during their entire production and were a cataloged item for the 2.5", 4", and 6" barrels in blued and nickel.

I saw a yellow ramp front sight on a 19-2 in the past. It looked sharp. I heard some gov department had some done in an older thread.

snw 19_357 is the "go to" expert on the Combat Magnums, IMO.. Maybe he can clue some of us in on the number of Red Ramp/WO guns that are "letter-able" that have shown up with his research. I'm sure they're out there but for some unexplainable reason not very many....

If anyone has pictures of an early all target, RR with WO Combat Magnum that was a factory ordered gun I'll bet a lot of us would love to see pictures of it... I would....

__________________
Terry

Model 19-2, rare 5-inch barrel, shipped in 1965. Made for Bob Loveless, the well known knife maker. RR, WO, TT, TH, TS.

Bill

there is some discussion at this thread also.
M19 ramp vs partridge sight

Not without lettering them.

Seriously, the easiest way to verify them is by the product codes on the boxes.

I think you'd be surprised how many came with the RR/WO. To me it looks like a full 20% of the 6" alone had RR/WO instead of a Patridge front sight.

I've owned three 6" barrel Model 19-5's. One blue, two nickel. All had red ramp / White outline sights / Target Trigger / Target hammer. Bought all of them new.

Couldn't help but show off my latest again. This is a full target factory original 19-4 built in 1979. Bob

Well.... Just goes to show ya what I've seen and what "is" are two different things. I should have differentiated between the early guns and the latter 19s...

__________________
Terry

My vague recollection is that later production 4" 19s were all equipped with the red ramp/white outline combo. Not sure when - late 80's perhaps?

A standard Model 19 came with a blued front sight.

The RR/WO were an option even before the Combat Magnum was introduced.

It could be that because of the RR becoming standard on a Model 66 around 1974 that they show up more on M19s in the 19-4 and 19-5 range but up until they were discontinued in 1999, the standard Model 19 came with a blued front sight.

Oddly enough, the RR/WO seem to have been as common for the 19-6~19-8s as they were for the CM~19-3s.

Thanks to the product codes that appeared around 1980 (and are still used today), whether the RR/WO on post-’80 Model 19s are factory or not is easily verified. Revolvers made prior to that can only be confirmed factory by a letter.

My 4" 19-6 has the RR, much to my chagrin... guess I just prefer blued/black front sight.