I dont quite know where I heard this but I rememeber either hearing or reading that smith and wesson started to use the 686's L frame for the model 19 sometime in the 80's

and my question is, is there any truth to this and if so what dash/year did they start doing it?

Nope.

The model 19 has always been a K frame.

There are no silly questions, only silly answers.

Good luck
Allen Frame

__________________
NRA cert.instructor&R.S.O.

No truth to that. Like Allen-frame said, the 19 was always a K-frame.

The very last 19's, the 19-8's, were slightly different from all the other previous model 19's. The 19-8 had the integral frame bolster, frame mounted firing pin, MIM parts and a slightly different contour to the frame around the hammer.

IIRC the 19-8's also had a smooth backstrap on the grip too. They were all round butts as well.

One nice thing about the 19-8's is that they were produced with a 3 inch barrel. These 3" 19-8's were matt blue and made for Walther who sold them as R99 La Chasse revolvers. Neat rubber grips on them too. They were also available in stainless (66-5) as well.

I've yet to find one in the states for sale. If I did I'd snap it up! Regards 18DAI

Yeah that's why I asked its like, okay that doesnt sound right, why am I thinking this, although what's this frame booster thing about though? and what does it do?

and R99 La Chasse revolvers? that sounds oddly familiar actually, wonder if I came across one at some point although looking at the photo that came up well I think if I came across it i'd probably snap it up too so I probably would have had one by now if I did!

You might be thinking of the Smith & Wesson Models 619 and 620 which were L-Frame "replacements" for the Models 65 and 66. They had the same barrel profiles as the K-Frame guns on the L-Frame but were 7 shot revolvers like the 686+ guns. They came out in 2003/2004 IIRC. I haven't seen one in years.

ECS

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CPT, Armor (Ret)
Luke 22:36

yeah that does fit and I do remember looking at the 66 trying to figure out what the gun was that had that problem with the lockup, which turned out to be an earily 686

and I think I may have also looked at those two while trying to find an L frame that looked like a K frame as I really like the look of the model 19, its just that well it is infact a hotrodded K frame that can shoot magnums, but while it can its not really set up for a steady diet of them sadly.

Just get yourself a model 19 and shoot as many 158 grain 357's as you can stand or afford. Kept clean of carbon and lead build up, that 19 will out live you.

There are no substitutions for a model 19, period, the end. Last of the everything you need in a revolver and nothing you don't S&W's. Good luck! Regards 18DAI

I just bought my first S&W; it is a 19-4, serial 47k1xxx, can anyone tell me about when this was made???? It is in the old reinforced cardboard box so I know a bit old? Thanks for any help??

yeah your right, I just cant wrap my idea around going for an L frame instead of the K frame, even when its cut to look like the early ones like someone did up on here.

and I never liked the look of the 686 period, first time I saw it I was just like, well to put it nicely eh not for me, ditto with the latter 629's as well

plus the whole M modification thing that you guys already know about.

I guess the best way to look at it is to get the best one I can, IE the earliest and best condition, take care of it and use preimium gas in it (the 158 grain's of both .38 special and 357 and use nothing else) and it should be fine.


sounds like mid to late 1980's