S&W 19 & 66

[Hair Trigger]

Does the Model 19 barrel length look longer than 6" to anyone else?

I thought that, too, but I think it's more about the scale of the smaller K-frame that makes a 6" barrel look longer than it does on an N frame gun.

Two really nice revolvers, OP. You did well on the combined price, either of those would bring $900 USD or better, especially the early M66.

I once had a 4" M66-1, which I traded a 6" M19-2 for(which had the Patridge front sight). That was back when the guns were still fairly new, late 1970's. Wish I still had them, but I do have a really nice 4" M19-3 that I love to shoot. It's my only K frame, a "little brother" to my N frame guns. Here it is with my M28-2

 

[lppd4]

I have a similar pair a 19-4 and a 66-1. Great guns and I think you got a very good deal Enjoy

 

[Early Bird Dave]

Let go of my 66 - 1 years ago with box and tools. Stupid! Did not know box and tools were valuable.
Current are the 19 no dash 4 inch that does have initials engraved on the weapon. 59 - 60.
Also have a 19-5 snub nose.
19's are rare in my area. Early 19's are extremely rare.

 

[truckerdave397]

I have a 4 inch model 66 no dash that I bought new in about 1975. I paid between $225-$250 for it. I still have it and enjoy it. Enjoy yours.

 

[Buzzzer]

That 66 looks super nice, even has the cutout cylinder for moon clips! Sure wish I could find "finds" like that here, jealous!

 

[Old cop]

I lucked into a LNIB four inch, pinned & recessed M66 w/stainless sights & football factory grips, plus magna factory grips, for $600. The previous owner (retired cop I worked with) purchased it new in 1973, fired one cylinder to ensure function, cleaned it and put it in his safe.

 

[Hoosierville IRN]

Two great looking revolvers. Congrats!

 

[km101]

Great guns and a very nice find! And the price is really good too.
I have a 19-1 in 4" nickel and a 66 no dash that's NIB. The 19- was my first duty weapon and I will never part with it. It's a great shooter and shoots better than I can hold. I love K frames and those are a couple of nice ones.
Congrats, you made a great find!

 

[michael1000]

currency conversion, on my iphone, says $1654.75 USD. damn good deal

 

[Hair Trigger]

That 66 looks super nice, even has the cutout cylinder for moon clips! Sure wish I could find "finds" like that here, jealous!

The "cutouts" aren't for moon clips. S&W magnums prior to 1982 have chamber recesses in the cylinder to fully enclose the base and rim of the case. They were deleted in models after 1982 because it was deemed an unnecessary feature and was more expensive to produce. However, they remain a desired trait to many collectors, along with the pinned barrels.

 

[Buzzzer]

Weird, I knew it was pinned/recessed. I've seen other p/r Smith's, including my 629, which don't have the cutout's for the cartridges all the way to the "ratchet" area. Must have been something they did way back when on "K" frames?

 

[Deceasedeye]

Ah yes, I guess it is, thank you.

And welcome to the forum!

I thought 7, ate, nine.

 

[Deceasedeye]

I haven't seen it mentioned but the 66 and the 19 are the same gun. The 66 is the SS version of the 19.

 

[leonardocarrillo]

Are you paying in CH francs or Euros? Just curious. Why is a price tag in US dollars?


Leonardo-

Are guns like that hard to find in Argentina? Or is the price a matter of currency differences?

Answering your question, weapons like this are obtained in Argentina, what happens is that in my country everything is much more expensive than in the United States, perhaps due to import costs, abusive taxes and merchants who want to earn a lot.

 

[Hair Trigger]

Weird, I knew it was pinned/recessed. I've seen other p/r Smith's, including my 629, which don't have the cutout's for the cartridges all the way to the "ratchet" area. Must have been something they did way back when on "K" frames?

If the magnum revolver has a pinned barrel, it generally has the recessed cylinder. Both features were dropped around 1982; however, there are quite a few guns made during the 1981-82 period which are "transitional", having one feature but not both. This applies to both K frame and N frame guns. The L frame didn't appear until after the P&R guns were gone.

 

[Buzzzer]

If the magnum revolver has a pinned barrel, it generally has the recessed cylinder. Both features were dropped around 1982; however, there are quite a few guns made during the 1981-82 period which are "transitional", having one feature but not both. This applies to both K frame and N frame guns. The L frame didn't appear until after the P&R guns were gone.

Just strange looking at the pics again. The recesses on the 629 are perfectly round for the cartridge head, including the extractor. The pics here show that the recesses are machined round for the cartridge heads but there is extra metal machined away on both the cylinder and extractor. Hence my question on if they did this for the "K" frame in 357/38. Smaller cylinder thickness maybe? My K22 also has recesses that are perfectly round that don't have extra metal machined away. Always looking to learn...

After looking at a bunch of pics of these older "K" frames looks like all of them are the same. Interesting that they are machined this way. You learn something new everyday!

 

[CH4]

Great find!
Yin and yang, ebony and ivory. It's all about balance.

 

[Art66]

Great find and discounted purchase! I love the grain on the Model 19 stocks! It is very unique. I also am a fan of P&R revolvers and have a M19-4 4" nickel and a M66 no dash 4". (both P&R) I believe the dash 4 was the last of the M19 to have the pinned barrel & recessed cylinder. Mine is circa 1978.
1st two photos are the M19. Photos taken by the seller-thanks!
2nd two photos are the M66.

 

[Retired W4]

Beautiful. The stocks on the 19 look like the black & white ebony Kim Ahrends used to use. I have a set of his for the N-Frame.

 

[Hair Trigger]

Just strange looking at the pics again. The recesses on the 629 are perfectly round for the cartridge head, including the extractor. The pics here show that the recesses are machined round for the cartridge heads but there is extra metal machined away on both the cylinder and extractor. Hence my question on if they did this for the "K" frame in 357/38. Smaller cylinder thickness maybe? My K22 also has recesses that are perfectly round that don't have extra metal machined away. Always looking to learn...

After looking at a bunch of pics of these older "K" frames looks like all of them are the same. Interesting that they are machined this way. You learn something new everyday!

The 66

I took another look at the cylinder breech face on your M66; I now see what you're talking about; there is an "extra" ring of metal around the rear rim of the cylinder, and then the chamber recesses. My M19-3 is the same way, but my other three magnums are N-frames, and they don't have the "extra" bit of metal. I can only surmise it is a K-frame magnum characteristic, but I don't know whether it carries over to the non-recessed cylinders. I don't think it does. Please excuse the nasty condition of my M19, I had just brought it home from purchasing it and took pictures before I cleaned it. Compare the M19-3's cylinder with a M28-2, M57, and M29-2, all P&R.