Good morning, doing my daily routine checking scouting for 19's. I saw one that made me curious. 19-2 above average condition. The cylinder has the serial stamped on it. It also has a target hammer but not the trigger. I did not see any other stamping on the available pictures to indicate the factory repaired or reblued the revolver. I am only aware of Pre 19's having cylinder serial stamping. No pictures available without the grips at this time. I am thinking this one went back to the factory for repairs or modifications but wanted some more knowledgeable input. Also to the best of my recollection they always had the TT & TH option paired. Thanks guys For the help. Stu

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S&WCA #3012

Hi:
The shop I worked P/T in the 1970s received their S&Ws from a wholesaler "Gil Herbard" (sic?). The revolvers came with various options such as TS,TT, TT, or mixed options such as yours. As far as the serial numbered cylinder, possible the cylinder was a "Leftover"?

The Model 19-2 was made from 1961 to 1967. They usually were shipped, in 4 inch barrel guns, anyway, with walnut checkered Target stocks, plain black front sight ramped blade and plain black rear sight blade, standard hammer and trigger.

Available optional choices were rosewood Target stocks, smaller walnut Magna stocks, Target Hammers and Triggers, and colored inserts in the front sight blade and a white outline on the rear sight blade. Nickel finish was also an option.

Any of the above options could be installed at any S&W dealer that had a gunsmith.

I believe that the cylinder may have well been repaired or replaced if it has th4e gun's serial number on the rear face of it, and while it could have happened at the factory, S&W had several large gun dealers across the country that were authorized warranty repair stations. If they repaired or replaced or refinished your cylinder, some of those warranty stations may have stamped in the numbers.

When you can, remove the stocks and look for what may be stamped on the sides of the grip frames. Dates stamped there will indicate the gun was a guest at the service department at the factory for those repairs. Serial numbers were in the past were stamped on barrels and cylinders that were being replaced or removed, repaired and replaced back on the original gun. I don't know when this stamping ceased.

sbowenjr,

If the SN matches the gun, and is a bit irregular as though hand-stamped, then it is most likely because the gun went back to S&W for re-finish. The major components get separated during polishing and bluing so they stamp the cylinder, barrel, extractor, (I think that is all) with the SN to assure they can be properly mated again after bluing is complete. I have a 14-2 that I had re-finished as a Pinto in 1974, and these are all stamped! I had a couple more, but they were older guns that already had the SN everywhere!

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Gunsmithing since 1961

Just joined forum. Was searching forum to find information about serial number stamped on on a 6" nickel 19-3 cylinder I saw today that looked unusual. 6 digit stamping matched frame number. Cylinder stamping had 3 numbers on each side of chamber due to limited clearance between recessed chamber. No "N" stamp on cylinder. Didn't get to look under grips to see if markings show it was redo from S&W. Didn't get serial number on butt because it's wearing target grips. It is a pinned 19 with beautiful nickel finish. Interested in purchasing. Please share thoughts on possibly being a rare piece or steps I should take before buying. Thanks!

A serial number stamped on the rear surface of the cylinder (without the K) may also mean the revolver was reworked during manufacture. You find quite a few Model 29-2s manufactured up through 1969 stamped this way.

Bill