The ultimate Model 19/66 Combat Magnum thread

[scooterfiend]

grateful to have found this thread

There are some beautiful guns pictured here. No wonder there seems to be a shortage of these fine pieces these days. I'm keeping my eyes peeled for any more that I might be able to find. Here's a few I've accumulated over the past little while. They're all shooters and good ones at that.
Thanks to you folks at this forum I get to see some fine examples of what I think is the finest revolver manufactured. (I guess w/ the exception of a MDL 27, which I've never handled)
From top left clockwise:
19-3 4" BBL
66 no dash 6" BBL
66 no dash 4" BBL
66-2 4" BBL
66-1 2 1/2" BBL

 

[SuperMan]

My first centerfire handgun was a 19-3 blue 4". Put 10K rounds through the gun and brought it back to S&W for a tuneup and had it nickel plated and had them leave the front sight blade blue. Put 10K more rounds through it and sold it in 1980...

Since then I have had one other 19 just like it and a 66-2 3" that one of the members here talked me out of... Then a few years ago one popped up on the Classified and I happened to be first in line...

A couple of years ago I bought an extra cylinder off eBay and sent it to TK Custom to be rechambered for .38 Super... It now is a 4-caliber gun taking .357/.38 Special/.38 Super/9mm...

I think the 3" round butt is the best combination for a K-frame .357....perfect balance and full length ejector rod...

Picture #1 is first shots fired with .38 Special at 10 yards... Picture #2 9mm at 7 yards...

Bob

 

[Leatherhead23]

I'll be adding something to this thread in a day or so that is quite interesting....Here's a teaser...

 

[Leatherhead23]

Combat Magnum in Nickel

Shipped April 1957

 

[sbowenjr]

Leatherhead23 these cannot compete with your Pre 19 combat magnum but here is my pair of 19 no dash.
I am still on the hunt for a earlier serial number pre 19 blued and pre 19 nickel. My Pre 19 / non marked 19 falls in the 3xxxxx serial range.

 

[Leatherhead23]

Nice pair, sbowenjr! Love the nickel/blued sets!

Thanks for sharing!

 

[saujaeger]

M66 no Dash, stainless sights, from `74

 

[sbowenjr]

Nice pair, sbowenjr! Love the nickel/blued sets!

Thanks for sharing!

No problem. I like them as well. However I would trade both of the in a second for a Pre 19 nickel like yours and 4 screws. Those are both rare in my opinion and stand above the rest.

 

[GunarSailors]

Some old new shoes for my model 19-3... Advertised as Pachmayr grips (because they were in a Pachmayr box) on eBay for $37.00

 

[Leatherhead23]

No problem. I like them as well. However I would trade both of the in a second for a Pre 19 nickel like yours and 4 screws. Those are both rare in my opinion and stand above the rest.

I agree...love the 4 screw frames. I believe everything in my safe right now is a 4 screw....except for one 5 screw Pre15.

 

[Leatherhead23]

Nice group, Doc!

 

[sbowenjr]

GA 1911 really nice collection. I have been trying to pick one up in each dash for the 4" barrel length pinned and recessed . I am missing the the following Pre 19 nickel, 19-1 nickle, 19-3 blue and nickle and last 19-4 nickle. Its hard not to like a 19. So as you can see I have along way to go.

 

[Leatherhead23]

Model 66-2....my current EDC for a while. Mexican style, apendix carry.

 

[19leben]

Mike,
Nice Model 66 K-frame. I found this locally from a member here. It's a 19-4 from around 1978 and my carry at times. I used this stock set-up from a Model 14-3 that I bought from another member here. I only change around non-matching parts (but still like period correct swaps). It's a good one:

Loving your -4 snubby.
What's your serial? I have one identical to yours, but I recently removed the Tyler adapter.
Mines 33K0979 BTW. Just curious to know how close ours might be.

 

[Leatherhead23]

Mike,
Nice Model 66 K-frame. I found this locally from a member here. It's a 19-4 from around 1978 and my carry at times. I used this stock set-up from a Model 14-3 that I bought from another member here. I only change around non-matching parts (but still like period correct swaps). It's a good one:

Nice one, Doc! That bluing looks deep enough to swim in!

 

[VAPA]

I feel like a blind dog that found a bone. A few weeks ago I picked up a very nice 66-3, at the time I did not know much about them. Yesterday on another trade deal I got a no dash Model 19, I researched it enough prior to the trade to be comfortable with the deal. Both guns are in similar condition, not being fired very much, and original boxes. Since then folks on this site have provided lots of real good info on these 2 guns. It appears that I stumbled onto a couple of real jewels.

 

[bruner1981]

I feel like a blind dog that found a bone. A few weeks ago I picked up a very nice 66-3, at the time I did not know much about them. Yesterday on another trade deal I got a no dash Model 19, I researched it enough prior to the trade to be comfortable with the deal. Both guns are in similar condition, not being fired very much, and original boxes. Since then folks on this site have provided lots of real good info on these 2 guns. It appears that I stumbled onto a couple of real jewels.

You did great on those trades. What did you trade to get them?

 

[snubbyfan]

 

[sbowenjr]

Does anyone know roughly how many pre 19 nickle combat magnums were manufactured? I have been reading up on it but still can't find the answer.

 

[sbowenjr]

I have no numbers. I doubt anyone can tell you this. They are rare and expensive.

The .357 Combat Magnum (a pre-19) are hard to find. It was made two years. I would guess that a nice one in nickel is almost impossible to find.

Do you have one?

No sir. I was trying to do a little research on them. I also wonder if there were any with 6 grove back strap?