I have come upon a beautiful 2 1/2" Model 19-2 & i'm really curious about it's history.
Serial No. is 8K48586 so I was hoping for a production date if possible.
It also has some unusal proof marks on it. as pictured if anyone can shed some light.
I recently bought a 1978 Colt Govt. model in 9mm from the same seller and it had some of the same marks.
(ie: the '76' sheild, and the pineapple type thing)
According to SCSW it is a 1975 production model, which would also mean that it should be a 19-3, and not a 19-2. If you swing the cylinder out it will be marked on the yoke/crane as a 19-?. The proof marks look to be something of a personal addition, as I have not seen them on any other Smiths, but I am very, very far from being any kind of expert. Just a guess. For a fairly detailed history you can pay $50, send some pics and the serial number along with the appropriate form to Roy Jinks and he can give you some insight on your pistol. Nice shooter!
The proof stamps indicate the revolver was sold in Germany.
The Germans seemed to take a hellish delight in stamping proof stamps on the sides of fine American revolvers right where they'd be most glaringly apparent.
The "pineapple" Shield stamp is, I think, the Munich Germany proof stamp, used since 1968.
The German Federal Eagle with "N" is the proof stamp for Ulm Germany used since 1952.
Last edited by dfariswheel; 08-12-2013 at 08:10 PM.
That Eagle/N is Nitro/Smokeless proof from any of the post war West German Proof Houses.
(In 1971 the 'harsh' Eagle image was officialy softened to a simple outline to appease the PC crowd but not all proof houses used the new marking. I've rarely seen it used actually.)
This one happens to have been proofed at Munich Proof House indicated by it's Logo mark,,though the stamping is a bit different from what I recall seeing normally.
It's usually just a plain simple shield with cross hatched lines. This one appears to have an oakleaf in the upper right corner. Maybe I'm just not seeing it right.
The shield/76 is the year of proof,1976.
That can sometimes also have a month along with it. Stamped atop or underneath it in a smaller stamping. Not on this one.
Proofing of a revolver was one proof round in each of the chambers of the firearm.
Proof law required that on a foreign made firearm imported into W.Germany,,that the importers name or registered trademark be stamped onto the gun in plain sight.
The small 'FWW' on the right side is the importer and probably the seller. They would have had to submit the revolver for Gov't demanded proof before selling it in W. Germany.
The 'FWW' stands for -Frankonia Waffen Wurzburg- I believe.
Last edited by 2152hq; 08-12-2013 at 08:59 PM.
Reason: spelling,,again