Did S&W ever make 38 Special "Model 19"?

I just noticed xray's post above. The .38 CHP gun is indeed the model 68. These guns were made in the late 70's and I think they came about because the CHP didn't want to look like a bunch of cowboys by arming up with an evil Magnum. They also wouldn't allow the use of expanding bullets, issuing round nose and then semi wad cutters. In case a Chippy had to shoot someone, they wanted to be sure that they didn't hurt them too badly. It took a couple of shootings where things went bad for the good guy before things started to change. And they didn't change much. It's still a defendant friendly state when it comes to police work. A lot like it is here in the North East.

As a side note: About a year ago one of the over stamps had made its way East and into my hands at the local gun shop. The price was right but I didn't pull the trigger fast enough (pun intended) and it now lives with someone else.
 
Gary7 said:
I just checked the S&W web site and I don't see a Model 15 listed in the Classic line. :confused:
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Correct. It is not yet on the S&W web site, but one other person saw the same thing:

From a post on this Forum:

New Model 15 In Catalog

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Picked up the Smith catalog from a gunshop this weekend. IN the classic's section was a new model 15. But. It has an underlug. Looks like a 19. Check it out.

http://smith-wessonforum.com/s-w-revolvers-1980-present/139382-new-model-15-catalog.html

http://www.smith-wesson.com/wcsstore/SmWesson2/upload/other/2010_S&W_Catalog_3.pdf
 
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hsguy said:
Here is a 19-8 that is marked "38 Special" but will chamber a 357 mag. I understand that many of the 19's will chamber the 357. I have not yet heard a definitive explaination for these guns but it is speculated that these guns were left over from an overseas order and rechambered by the factory for the American market.

DSC00007.jpg

DSC00011.jpg

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May be it was a prior owner who re-chamber it to .357. If the S&W factory was done it they would change the .38 Special marks too.

Just remember that many .38/44 Outdoorsman and Heavy Duty were converted to .357 Magnum for their owners.

I would´t do it this whit a model 19 .38 Special only because I would prefer to have a special edition model 19 .38 than te more common .357.
 
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Hannibal Barca said:
May be it was a prior owner who re-chamber it to .357. If the S&W factory was done it they would change the .38 Special marks too.

Just remember that many .38/44 Outdoorsman and Heavy Duty were converted to .357 Magnum for their owners.

I would´t do it this whit a model 19 .38 Special only because I would prefer to have a special edition model 19 .38 than te more common .357.
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Hannibal-

Can you even own a .357 in Mexico? Brazil limits civilians to a .38, unless they buy an expensive collectors' license.

Come to think of it, I believe one of our other members there owns an old .357 Magnum that was carried by a famous Marine officer and FBI agent. He's actually Canadian, but has lived in Mexico for years.
 
Jim I think that was CalMex (?) who has the R.M. If I remember his comments correctly the gun is illegal in Mexico do the .357 Magnum caliber, and he was trying to find a way to get out of the country or find an old 38/44 barrel to swap out with the .357 Magnum barrel.
 
I recently saw a "S&W model 66 38 special" listed for sale on a guns-for-sale website that kinda raised my eyebrow. Thought that the seller probably didn't know what he was taking about, but after reading this thread maybe it was the real deal.
 
Hannibal Barca said:
May be it was a prior owner who re-chamber it to .357. If the S&W factory was done it they would change the .38 Special marks too.

Just remember that many .38/44 Outdoorsman and Heavy Duty were converted to .357 Magnum for their owners.

I would´t do it this whit a model 19 .38 Special only because I would prefer to have a special edition model 19 .38 than te more common .357.
Click to expand...

Hannibal, I believe this gun left the factory as a .357 Mag rather than being converted later, I should send for a letter to confirm this. As near as I have have been able determine the gun was originally built for a Brazil order but was either left over or not shipped and the cylinder reamed to allow 357 Mag to be used as it would make it more marketable in the US. I suspect the gun was already built and it was easier to leave the roll markings intact rather than to change the barrel to one with proper markings. I have been told that these guns shipped to RSR Distributors in 2000 with product code 148926.
 
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Texas Star said:
Hannibal-

Can you even own a .357 in Mexico? Brazil limits civilians to a .38, unless they buy an expensive collectors' license.

Come to think of it, I believe one of our other members there owns an old .357 Magnum that was carried by a famous Marine officer and FBI agent. He's actually Canadian, but has lived in Mexico for years.
Click to expand...

You are right, .357 Magnum are ban to civilian in Mexico, except for two cases. One that you mentioned that you were a collector with a license or if you are member of a "Charro" (Mexican Cowboy) association.
But I was thinking if I was the prior American owner wouldn´t change the chamber to .357 Magnum (I was talking figurative). In the case that the revolver were re-chamber to .357 like some .38/44s Heavy Duty and Outdoorsman.
And yes like Old Bear said, it was Calmex who have that registered magnum you said. I don´t know Calmex in person, but he is a good friend of mine in the Mexican gun forums.
 
hsguy said:
Hannibal, I believe this gun left the factory as a .357 Mag rather than being converted later, I should send for a letter to confirm this. As near as I have have been able determine the gun was originally built for a Brazil order but was either left over or not shipped and the cylinder reamed to allow 357 Mag to be used as it would make it more marketable in the US. I suspect the gun was already built and it was easier to leave the roll markings intact rather than to change the barrel to one with proper markings. I have been told that these guns shipped to RSR Distributors in 2000 with product code 148926.
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I would like to know what really happened to this revolver. I didn´t know until recently that some model 19s were made for the Brazilian Police in .38 Special. I always have knew that some models 586 and 686 were made for the Brazilian Police in .38 Special too, but in the 686 and 586 case they were chamber for the .38 Special only and they don´t allowed use .357 magnum in them.
 
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Alk8944 said:
10 responses and only Big Lou got it right. Obviously later posters didn't read his response.

From SCSW3, p187:

Model 19-3, 2"Barrel: Round butt in .38 Special caliber without barrel shroud.

Model 19-8,Chambered in .38 Special: 2-1/2" or 4" barrel, square butt, product code 148926; special order 0055 or 0056. 2000.

Not only .38 Special, but 9mm too! From SCSW 1st Edition, p116:

Model 19 9mm: Model 19 variations exist chambered in 9mm-a forerunner of the Model 547 for European export.

References are wonderful.

So the answer is YES. Not a 15, or 13, but a Model 19 in .38 Special, just like was asked. At least 2 acknowledged having seen one.
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This information is correct. I would merely add that the end label on SKU 148926, Special Order 0056 is also marked **SPECIAL**.
 
I know the question you are asking about non .357 model 19's, but the short answer is ALL of them are chambered for .38 special.
 
The current classic series model 15 looks identical to the model 19 except for being .38 only because it has the heavy barrel and a shrouded ejector rod.
 
fwiw, I have a 19-4 that, when I got it many years ago, would not chamber any .357 cartridge I could find. They stopped about 1/10" from seating in the recessed cylinder. Otherwise the gun is a standard 19-4, 4", marked .357 cal. I had a gunsmith with the correct reamers cut the cylinder to accept .357. I've fired it a little over the years withour problems, but it's such a pretty example I tend to leave it in the safe. Probably just an error at the factory.
 
Years ago in a conversation with a former in law. Back in the good ol'days when a Gi could still buy a handgun from a military PX. He claimed he purchased a Model 19, barrel was marked 357 but it would only chamber 38's. The PX would not allow him to exchange or return it and told him to send it to Smith and Wesson. He sent it to S&W and got it back with a 357 cylinder. He claimed the only correspondence he got with the returned revolver. Was a form letter saying something about immediate cleaning with modern ammunition was not necessary after test firing. No explanation about the mix up.
 
Sorry about bringing back a dead thread, but I saw one of these 19-8's at a gun show today and had to research it a bit.
4" adj. sights w/rubber grips. No box or papers, very good condition.
Did I pass up something I shouldn't have for $600?:confused:
 
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