Howdy all
Looking to find out year of manufacture of S&W 19-3 . 357 MAG 2.5" barrel S/N SK725XX.

Did this gun come from the factory with round butt grip or square butt? If round butt will it accept square butt grips? The gun came with after market grips and I did not take them off to see the grip profile prior to shipping it back to S&W to be re-blued. I'm wanting to put wood grips back on it which is the reason for the question as to what grips it originally came with . Thanks GN

SK725XX from the butt of the gun? Does not ring true. OH, take the grips off.

__________________
Mike 2796
SoFo Bunch member

A lot of the 19-3 models shipped with square butt they also did make in round butt too, so no telling without looking or a letter. I think what your looking for is round to square butt conversion grips if it indeed has round butt. Lot of makers with many styles of the round to square conversion grips. You can get a general idea by looking at Altamont grips online or ebay also has lots- just type in k frame target grips and you will get many pages of grips styles to fit that frame in the search.

A 19-3 with an original 2 1/2" barrel would have had a round butt.

Altamont is the site that I have been looking at for the replacement grips. I do prefer the square grip so it looks like I will have to wait until I receive the revolver back from S&W to look at the grip before I order any.

The S/N is on the butt of the revolver this I am positive of. As I stated in my first post I did not remove the grips prior to shipping to S&W.

OP;

Are you sure about that first "digit" or letter of the serial number? My 19-3 serial number starts with a number 9 K followed by 5 numerical digits. Mine shipped circa 1976. I am not where I can review SCSW 4th at this time but I was not aware that the 19-3 had a letter like S prefix to the K 5 digits.

__________________
Charlie B
SWCA#3083, SWHF#570

sorry..........forgot to add some pics of my 1976 Model 19-3

Attached Images

	M19-3F.jpg (52.5 KB, 30 views)
	M19-3H.jpg (48.0 KB, 30 views)
	M19-3L.jpg (52.5 KB, 25 views)

__________________
Charlie B
SWCA#3083, SWHF#570

cmansguns The first digit / letter could be a number "5" and may have appeared as a letter "S" to me. It would make sense then that it is a number "5" if S&W did not use any letter designation on revolver S/N'S.

You're 19-3 is a beauty, thanks for sharing the picture.

I will be away from my computer for a little while. If anyone has a site that I can look up the S/N please post it.

I have been doing a search on Google for the S/N but must not be using the correct Google fue.

If your serial number is 5K725XX, which I strongly suspect it is, then your gun is listed as being made during the year 1973. To my knowledge, there were no square butt Model 19's made with a 2.5" barrel. My knowledge is limited and gets updated all the time! Your revolver almost certainly came from the factory with a round butt.

Some grip manufacturers have made conversion grips that are square butt overall configuration but are made to fit properly on a round butt K Frame. I would suspect that Altamont does indeed make this type of grip but I have not researched that question. I recall J Frame grips that came OEM that were made in this fashion. J Frames were made in both square butt and round butt, and this type of conversion grip allowed a round butted revolver to appear and feel like a square butt. I can't specifically say that I have ever seen a set of this type of OEM grip on a K Frame, but it is certainly possible. I am pretty certain that Herretts grip maker does make a conversion grip from round butt frame to square butt grip (I personally like Herrett's grips). I believe you can find this type of grip for your K Frame made by aftermarket suppliers if not as an original S&W issued grip. Mine came from the factory with the checkered magna style grips to fit the round butt, and that's likely what came on yours from the factory.

You have a dandy fine revolver there. I have one just like it made in 1975. It is also a dash 3. Good luck in your search for the grips you are looking for!

Edit: Gunnut, take a look in the classified section under the Accessories thread. H. Richard has listed there a fine looking set of Altamont grips that are of the type you are searching for. Might be just what you need and want!

__________________
So long ... Ken

kthom, Thank you for the date of manufacture much appreciated.

I do prefer the square butt grip but I need to go to the store or gun show and handle a round butt too. Just want to make sure on my choice before I buy.

It will be probably 4 to six weeks before I have my revolver back as I received an e-mail from S&W two weeks ago and they said at the time that it would be a few weeks before they got to my gun. The bluing wasn't bad but I would like the gun to be 100%.

Thank you to all of you who responded to my post I appreciate your response.

Since no one has said it, Welcome to the Forum!

There is always the chance that a 2 1/2" barrel was swapped onto a square butt frame.

__________________
John 3:16
WAR EAGLE!

Thank you for the welcome Muley.

I purchased a smith and Wesson model 60 engraved 38 special new in box with paperwork and cleaning tools serial number R2843xx. Can any one tell me what yeafitwas produced 1969 thru 1972can anyone look up serial number. I would greatly appreciate it. Mike

According to the SCSW 4th edition 1980 to 1981. That is unless you have one less X in the serial number. Just remember. I am an amateur. If it has one less digit or X in the serial number then it would be 1969. The first year of production