S&W 19-3 2.5 Stubby Revolver finish?

precab · #1 10-10-2020, 10:11 AM

I am hoping a few resident experts can help with some history on a revolver. It is model 19-3 serial number 3K49035. The thing that throws me off on this is that it is stainless steel. I thought the 19 was only blued or nickel. The 66 was the stainless. Can you anyone share more information on this if you have any.

I did see one reference to armoloy doing my own research, but I'm far from an expert. The goal is to understand if this is unique or was simply special order at the time (1968?) as I'm interested in selling the stubby.

What stands out the most is the trigger pull is impressive.

Thank you in advance,

JR

bamabiker · #2 10-10-2020, 10:20 AM

Welcome to the forum. Your model 19 has some type of an after market hard chrome finish on it. It is not SS.
Most of these finishes are very durable and that should make a great carry gun.
Let me add, that serial number should come from 1972.

UncleEd · #3 10-10-2020, 10:35 AM

Looks like your adjustable rear
sight is also "chromed."

I find that odd.

bamabiker · #4 10-10-2020, 10:39 AM

Looks like they chromed everything, sites, hammer, trigger...

jdlii · #5 10-10-2020, 10:45 AM

Definitely refinished but, it looks great! With the exception of some early no dash models, the rear sight assembly on stainless steel models, is blued. The same is true of models that are nickeled.

A local auction company recently sold a Mod. 29-3 that had the Armoloy (sp) finish applied. It looked really nice and sold for a price that was virtually the same as a blued model.

stansdds · #6 10-11-2020, 02:07 PM

Looks like someone had that 19-3 plated with hard chrome. Hard chrome is the most durable finish you can put on a firearm, but it destroys collector value. What you now have is a great carry revolver, just don't beat it death with full power 125 grain magnum loads.

pawncop · #7 10-11-2020, 08:17 PM

My contribution is my 4 inch model 57 with a Ni-Tex finish. At first glance, it certainly appears to be stainless steel.

saemetric · #8 10-11-2020, 08:40 PM

And mine is a hard chrome Metalife finish done about 1985.

precab · #9 10-12-2020, 10:57 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by stansdds

Looks like someone had that 19-3 plated with hard chrome. Hard chrome is the most durable finish you can put on a firearm, but it destroys collector value. What you now have is a great carry revolver, just don't beat it death with full power 125 grain magnum loads.

Appreciate the feedback

Murdock · #10 10-12-2020, 11:10 AM

Recently I cruised a local shop, and saw a S&W .44 Magnum with a silver finish. What caught my eye was that the cylinder finish did not quite match the rest of the gun. With it in hand I saw that it was a M29-2. The shop guys could not figure the gun out; they stated that they thought all stainless S&W revolvers were "6" series items.

During the 1970s, when all stainless Smiths were hard to get, the various chrome finishes were hot items. Most were so well done that you had to open them up to see the model designation to determine what they actually were. During that era a M29-2 was hard enough to get, with prices well above MSRP being asked and paid more often than not. A stainess .44 Mag was a unicorn. Hard chrome was the way to go.

Why the cylinder on the gun I saw recently did not match the rest of the gun I don't know.

GerSan69 · #11 10-13-2020, 01:25 AM

I had several guns refinished by Armoloy back in the late 70s-early 80s. It was popular back then as a way of having the stainless look without searching for the real thing. (One of my favorites was a 2" Model 15, cut to a round butt, and Armoloyed. The double-takes by gun owners were priceless!)
Yours is a very nice example, I hope you'll keep it. If not, let me know by PM.