With several recent threads on the Texas Ranger commemorative 19-3, I thought I'd post a photo spread on TR 140 - One of 50 engraved Deluxe Sets. I would love to see photos of any other Deluxe Engraved TR's (I wonder how many of the 50 we can account for here on the forum?).

This one was engraved by Tom Freyburger and has his TF mark on the cylinder retention stud. I love the Texas Ranger guns and I find this one's well-executed style somewhat unique and aesthetically pleasing...





























All in all a fun package. Thanks for letting me share,

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Richard
Engraved S&W fan

Very nice.
A friend has a standard TR set,but the gun has a lot of holster wear from a few months of armored car duty.

Beautiful

did all the TR have the trigger guard work done ?

Whenever I see something that beautiful I find I must repeat over and over to myself, "I don't need that or anything like it."
After a few minutes I'm able to refocus go about my business.
John
Scoundrel and Ne'er-Do-Well in Training

I'm not big on commemoratives, but that is gorgeous. Splendid engraving.

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Oh well, what the hell.

Beautiful, thank you for sharing.

drool

Gorgeous gun

Richard
I've never had the fascination for engraved guns that has bitten some of us, so I doubt I will ever own one. But I have to say that is one fine looking revolver! Very tastefully engraved and wonderfully preserved. Thanks for showing it to us.

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Jack
SWCA #2475, SWHF #318

All of the TR Commemorative 19-3s had the narrowed trigger guard. See Colt_SAA's post of the promotional flyer (detailing all of the special features of the TRC) in post #6 of this recent thread:

19-3 Texas Rangers

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Richard
Engraved S&W fan

I first laid eyes on a Deluxe Texas Ranger Commemorative in the early 70s. We were in Lou Horton's gun shop in Massachusetts.

At the time, I was too young to buy a handgun and I did not have enough money anyway. I was new to shooting and not very knowledgeable yet. The salesman told me not to worry that S&W made 10,000 of the revolver and I would have no problem finding one.

Once I was old enough and began doing research, I learned that there were not 10,000 of the revolver I had looked at, just 50. I spent the next 15 years looking for one for sale. Back in those olden times we did not have the Internet like it exists today. I looked in the classifieds in my local paper every weekend and subscribed to Shotgun News.



I should shoot some new pictures as I only have the one view. I was really impressed with the look of the back strap on mine



Each of the Deluxe models has it's own personality depending on who engraved it. They are all works of art and I am thrilled that I was able to find the one that has been sitting on the desk in my study for the last couple of decades

That, my dear friends is a properly ungraved gun.

This one was engraved by Tom Freyburger and has his TF mark on the cylinder retention stud. I love the Texas Ranger guns and I find this one's well-executed style somewhat unique and aesthetically pleasing...

If that means it looks good, I agree. Beautiful!!

I agree!!! Some close ups of the side and barrel carving would be much appreciated. I also need to take some more photos of my other deluxe TRC and it's backstrap is much nicer than the one on TR 140.

I too really like the backstrap on your TRC.

Just a note. I know that Tom Freyburger engraved a bunch of the TRC's as he told me that when I talked to him a while back. I know that at that time that RJ Smith was still engraving at the factory, so I would imagine that he too engraved his fair share of the TRC's.

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Richard
Engraved S&W fan

I had never seen one before.
What a beauty, and I'm not a big fan of engraved guns.
Thanks for the pics.

I never liked engraving, I have changed my mind. Nice.

That is an awesome Model 19 and, being a born-and-raised Texan, I am overwhelmed to see it! I never knew they produced them.

I certainly wish I had one of the other 49 sets !! Sadly, I also realize I could not afford one, now or back when they were produced! You are a lucky fellow to have found one!

It's bee-yoo-tee-full.

I especially like the engraving on the cylinder.

I buy gorgeous guns to shoot. It seems forever that I've wanted a really nice custom engraved gun. But it goes against rule number one, I want to shoot it. It's tearing me in halve. What do I do. Engraved guns are cream of the crop.

The engraving on the cylinder and the barrel is what really attracted me to this revolver. I am not sure that I have ever seen another with a similar pattern.

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Richard
Engraved S&W fan

I am surprised that after several days, we have only been able to account for 2 of the 50 Deluxe sets. Here are a few photos of one more:

TR 210







I would sure love to see one or two more sets...

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Richard
Engraved S&W fan

Oh my! I wish that I had bitten the bullet and bought one when they were more readily available..... I remember when they came out. I saw one, unengraved, in a LGS. Wish I had, at least, bought THAT one.....maybe someday....

Great gun, beautiful engraving. Very, very nice. Be prideful in owning it. They just don't make 'em like that anymore....!

I like it all, but especially the way he went around the S&W logo. I'm not a huge fan of engraved work, but this one flicks my bick. "I don't need this..."

Beautiful guns. Someone needs to schedule a Barbeque!!

What as fantastic looking revolver and the photo's of it are also excellent.

Plus production overruns which were sold as 19-3 according to SCSW.

That is such a beautiful thing to look at and to take in. I once worked as an engraver, but it was a totally different type of engraving. I have watched videos of how this type of engraving is done and I must say that I am in awe of that type of talent. I have always wondered why S&W discontinued the model 19's. If they can make a J-Frame .357, then why not a K-Frame .357? I would think that with todays metallurgy that it could be safely done. And yes, I do realize that the K-Frames would get and be shot a great deal more than anyone could possibly put through a J-Frame, I just thought that it should be doable.

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LarryC213

A local gunshop began selling the collection of the original owner of the store. He is trying to retire and turn the business over to his sons, and thus divest himself of a lot of new-in-the-box old S&W revolvers. A friend of mine has purchased 10 or so in various models. One of the ones that I picked up is one of the "normal" TR models. I even got to open the original shipping carton that it came in from S&W. I must say that it is my favorite S&W revolver. It has the smoothest lockwork of any factory Smith I have ever felt. There was absolutely no need to do anything to the factory action other than to clean and re-lube it since it had been in storage for so long. It shoots like a dream. I have installed a set of Herrett Jordan Trooper stocks on it and keep the originals aside with the case and Bowie Knife. Here is a photo of it as currently configured:
20140502_S&W Mdl 19 Tx Ranger Comm-for posting.jpg

Just a guess but could be blue 19s just did not sell well enough. They do still offer the k frame 66

Two consecutive and well deserved threads of the week. I'd sure like to visit the Museum on a short trip to the East sometime!

I had a standard TR with the knife and box. It had been fired so I did too.
I loved that trigger and Steve Nastoff installed one in my 4" M66 that I used for IPSC.
I traded it off for a ??? and wish now I had kept it.

Many thanks for posting this. Great way to start the day. I was wondering... I have a stainless Taurus .357 that I would be willing to trade. Interested?
Thanks again - I can only dream of owning such a fine revolver.

Many thanks. There was once a 19-3 4" blued revolver that was fully engraved. Some of those engraving characteristics looked the same on this NON- TR Model 19-3. Now I wonder if one of those two engravers could have engraved that gun....
If they saw pics of the gun, maybe they might remember. Wonder if that would be possible? Anyone know of more 19-3 revolvers being engraved by those two gentlemen? Mine more resembles TR-140.

Absolutely stunning. I love the 19's and might have an engraved one of my own one day. Thanks for sharing that beauty!

Bud:

Post a few photos and maybe we can help you out.

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Richard
Engraved S&W fan

Thank you for that. I'll take a few tomorrow. Thank you for showing that gun!!

Bud:

First off - what a beautiful engraved 19! I would be very pleased to have that one in my collection. Second, it is probably not factory engraved (the large monogram on the right side is usually a give away, as the vast majority of the factory engraved guns had the small monogram on the left side). With that in mind and after looking at your great photos, my initial reaction on the engraver is Angelo Bee. Take a look at this post: 19-3 ??Factory?? engraved with gold inlay??? (UPDATE W/ PICS)

With the gold-filled "S&W" and the boldness and depth of the engraving, along with the pattern there are a lot of similarities. Angelo usually marks his work with an "AB" somewhere. Did you happen to find any marks?

If I recall correctly, Mr. Bee's or former wife (Denise Therion) was also an engraver.

Please post your great photos in a new Thread with the title something like "Help me with the Engraver on this Beautiful 19-3". If you do this, you will get more thoughts from a broader group of readers.

All the best,

Richard

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Richard
Engraved S&W fan

Richard,
Thank you for the link and the help. New thread started and we'll see what happens.