I recently acquired this S&W and I am sure what exactly I got here. I have included pictures of model and serials(which don't match so I assume I have a Frankenstein). If anyone can help please identify what exactly this is.


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Welcome! You didn't post a photo of the frame just under the cylinder, but given the unpinned barrel and non-recessed cylinder I'd guess this is a 19-5. The number on the bottom of the grip frame (99K....) is the official serial number; the other numbers elsewhere are factory internal codes. Here is a post for general ID information:

To IDENTIFY your Gun >

Hope this is helpful.

__________________
Alan
SWCA LM 2023, SWHF 220

Only number that matters is the one under the grip. That's the s#. The 19-5 is the model # all other# are just S&W internal # that have nothing to do with being a Frankenstein gun

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I can add picture. But why the -4 over stamped a 5 did smith do that. Is it a mistake. I was told by an old timey gun smith that it started out a 4 was there long enough to get up graded to a 5 and smith did that. I was wondering if that was possible


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The serial number says it was made in 81 according to the the tech on the phone making it a -4 but all of the other marking and features says -5


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Yes Murphy thank you it's all helpful, and thanks Arik. Either you know about it being -4 over stamped 5.


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Could just be a screwup. To me it seems to be a -4 originally because of how uniformed it looks.

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A -4 version should have the pinned barrel and recessed cylinder, yours has neither. So I'm assuming it's a version 5. It has also been refinished, as the M-19's were offered in either a blued or nickel finish. Over strikes, such as yours, are not uncommon with Smith and Wesson products, and don't add any value.

Looks as if you got yourself a nice carry/shooter revolver, be sure to enjoy.

I had a 19-4 with a dash 5 over strike slightly higher in serial at 211K prefix and IIRC they are not uncommon.

AS stated above a dash 4 would have been P&R,
We just used that snub as a donor for a K32 project and upon removing the barrel noticed it is cut for a set pin,

My assumption here is that the snub 19 barrels were in stock and cross cut already when the dash 5 revision change order came down,
Since the frames were already stamped 19-4 the most likely scenario would be to continue making the dash 4 with recessed cylinders until the cylinders were out of stock but with non pinned barrel as transitionals,

Once the supply of counterbored cylinders was gone those marked 19-4 K serial frames would be made using the new non recessed cylinder and so would be true 19-5 and over struck as such.
Dont forget the older recessed cylinder was slightly longer than the dash 5 non recessed cylinder but the barrel forcing cone did not change lengths because the cylinder was shortened at the rear .

If your gun is nickel and has the letter N stamped on the cylinder face and on the frame under the left grip panel its original but your hammer and trigger should be case colored like the blued guns but appear to be flash chromed (Maybe its from your flash ?) ,

If not case colored either they were polished or the hammer trigger have been swapped or could be the whole gun has been hard chromed if no N stamps.

Yes thank you very much. I don't have to much into it. Shoots like a dream. Now to find a model 66 lol. I like older smiths I got a 25-5 I adore. Any rate looking forward to the forum. Thanks everyone for the info.


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A true "Transitional model" !!!!!!

I'll check for the n stamp and post it when I do


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Well actually the OP's gun is best described as a 19-5 overstamp.

a "Transitional Model" is one made having features of two different revisions and the OP's gun is all 19-5,

A good example of a transitional model would be the ones found with a non pinned barrel and recessed cylinder
in this case the old recessed cylinder would mandate the old revision,

One with a pinned barrel and new non recessed cylinder would warrent the new revision because the new cylinder doesnt interchange between revisions.

In the OP's case of a 19-4 the part that changed in the 19-5 was specifically the cylinder but his gun is not pinned and therefore not a transitional gun.

No n stamp


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Probably began life as a blued gun and was hard chromed by the pics.
IMO a hard chromed 19 will hold up better to corrosion than a blued or nickel gun so as a shooter your fine,

If you desire an original condition P&R SS look for a 66 or 66-1 .
The 66-2 was the revision that changed to non P&R.

I have a 66-2 that started out as a 66-1. It has neither the pinned barrel nor recessed cylinder and the "1" was over-stamped with the "2".

The 66-1 was equivalent to the 19-4 so your 66-2 overstamp was probably made around the same time as the OP's 19-5 overstamp gun.

Engineguy........just an attempt at humor that obviously missed the mark........LOL

Looks like a sweet carry gun. Especially if it is a tack driver. Ed.