The ultimate Model 19/66 Combat Magnum thread

[Col Defender]

Well, with a few 66's already in hand, this may be the year I add a 19. Love these K Frames.

Steve

[Cocked & Locked]

19-2 2.5" daily tote...without the sticker


66-no dash 2.5"


66-4 4" round butt

[Nard]

This is a 2.5" 66 I have that is marked 66-1 with a 2 over the -1.


J.B.

[Nard]

This is a 2.5" 66 I have that is marked 66-1 with a 2 over the -1.


J.B.

[wheelgun28]

Heres my new to me 66-1


I havent seen these stocks before, round but targets?
I dont think its been fired much if at all, buts its been played with.
Ive got the box, papers, cleaning tools.

[jjgi5150]

Hi all,

Well, the picture is nothing fancy, but I haven't had a lot of time for photos lately...




It is extremely clean, with very few rounds fired, and remarkably accurate for a 2.5" barrel. I am very pleased...and now I've found the exact right grips...

Take care,

JJ

[SmithNoob]

Here are a couple of quick photos of my 19-3. It shipped May of 1970 and was fired very little. It came in the box with all the goodies still in there as well. I added the Elk grips recently from our very own Executioner. Excuse the pictures. I took these in bright sunlight.

[snw19_357]

I still have a large gap between the last 19-3 and the first 19-4 serial number so if you have any in the 12K ~ 23K range I'd like to see them here.

[Andrew Quigley]

Dang this thread! Had to go get a towel to set over the keyboard to keep the drool from ruining it!! lOL!

[gunny4053]

Ok, my turn to provide input for this shindig. Per some of the questions posed by snw19_357 to me earlier, the hand is a standard as opposed to free floating, and the crane screw does not have the ball, it is a straight screw.
What follows are a few pictures of the markings, internal lock work, and a few purely gratuitous photos.













I've tried both the Pachs and the Hogue Bantams and find both to be great.

[jpdopes]

My 19-3 marked S.P.D.

66-2 3 inch barrel

[tocohillsguy]

One of the first 300 Combat Magnums...

[Cocked & Locked]

66-4.......

[james56]

My New Addition

[armaliter]

James thats one pretty gun there and I do like those grips very much. Those dark grips are a good contrast to that nickle. Been looking for a set of those for awile now for my 19 snubbie but they are hard to find with the S&W badges. Happy shooting

[james56]

Originally Posted by armaliter

James thats one pretty gun there and I do like those grips very much. Those dark grips are a good contrast to that nickle. Been looking for a set of those for awile now for my 19 snubbie but they are hard to find with the S&W badges. Happy shooting

armaliter'
Thanks,
Took these off my M-617 6" I didnt the feel of them for a target gun. But they are real nice on the M-19. They are Jim Badger Grips and come with or without medalions. Hope this helps

[ronnie gore]

here is a 19-2 that i have that was unfired until i got it. it has the sight screw directly over the barrel cylinder gap. ser. number K779xxx

[Catbird33]

My model 19 purchased NIB in the early 1970s and my model 66 purchased NIB in the early 1980s.

Sorry for the poor picture quality...

[redsfan2]

New to me 66-4 with 2 1/2" barrel. Odd ( I think ) serial number. BRS 40**. Doesn't seem to fit with info in SCSW. Any Ideas on when it was made ???
Will post pix ASAP.

[AEA]

Could anyone help me with a 66-1 2.5" serial number of 27K24XX? Date made or shipping? I have no books.

[model70hunter]

I have two 19-3's. One has a finish that looks like stainless. It too may be metalite like an earlier poster said about his. It looks fine, it is for using.
The action was slicked up and it has the Target hammer and trigger that look new and the white outline target sight by a previous owner. It goes in my suit case when we travel. I started with 27's and have grown to love the 19 as much as my 27-2 in 3.5".

[model70hunter]

Originally Posted by AEA

Could anyone help me with a 66-1 2.5" serial number of 27K24XX? Date made or shipping? I have no books.

Congrats on picking up a desired model and bbl size. It looks like a 1978 made gun. No information on ship date.
Pictures are aked for here. You would have to get a letter from Smith on the ship date.

[AEA]

Thanks for the info. In the Spirit of the thread, here is a Pic of the pistol which was NIB when I bought it a couple of days ago.

[Gary7]

Model 19-4 purchased new in the summer of 1980.



From earlier this week at the range:

[rimfired]

Here are two to help with your serialization endeavor.
19-3 (1972?) 3K833XX, P&R
66-2 (1982?) 216K0XX, non P&R
Both have the forward leaf screw location
Hope this helps.

[snw19_357]

rinfired, I love seeing those 200K serial numbers

Originally Posted by Hobie

Why was mention of them omitted from the SCSW?

I think it was just an oversight. The authors did an incredible job putting all that information together. A couple things could have slipped through.

Originally Posted by Hobie

Were these made only to fill agency contracts at the time that the switch to the 686 was being made? What else might I have missed about these revolvers?

The 66-7s were made in 2004 (using the Spec Ord #) before the 66 was discontinued. They show up in the 2003 catalog, with the two piece barrel and lock. I don't have a 2004 catalog to see if they are in there too but I do remember them being shown on S&W's website back then.

I don't think they were made only for law enforcement. It could just be that the ones that have been showing up are trade-ins. The others that bought them back then are just keeping them.

Oh yeah Hobie, is yours also a CJL or CJN prefix?

[BIG DOG]

I picked up this 66-1 Friday.
Very nice looking and handling 6 shooter. It came with a Galco holster and 3 speed loaders, matching blue cardboard box and the bag of unused tools.Its both pinned and recessed.The serial number is 85K3XXX. I have been told by a fellow member it was from 1980.
G
Here it is when I bought it


Here is is wearing some new shoes?



This is one I wish I would have kept......Model 19-5

[l2a3]

For your chart:

Mod 19/4in/sq butt/blue/SR # K3172XX
Mid 66/4in/ sq butt now rounded/stainless/stainless front & rear sights/Sr #7K160XX

[snw19_357]

Thanks. Welcome to the forum!

K3172xx is a model marked 19, not a 'pre-19'?

[l2a3]

Correct; frame is stamped "Model 19" below the serial number.

[WPWarhawk]

Originally Posted by katanski

I just bought this 19-3 at Cabelas. The salesman said it had a Metallite finish. It looks kind of like stainless steel. The other gun in the picture is a 66 with a 4" barrel and it's also Magna Ported. Has anyone heard of this finish?

Hard Chrome Plating & Electroless Nickel Plating, Armalloy & Gun Bluing by Mahovsky's Metalife

[rfo1]

Here's mine. M66 no dash, serial # 13K2120,circa 1977.

[586L-Frame]

My S&W 66-2 4" Combat Magnum.
586L-Frame

DLC’s S&W Mdl 66-2




x

[docbrazos]

I'll throw in my numbers, but pic's will have to wait. Don't remember last time I dug out my 19-3 Serial number KB92xxx. ($200.00) Years ago I converted it from service trigger and hammer to target trigger and hammer. Don't have a clue where the parts are or came from.
Second is a 66-2 that sports a bobbed hammer. The original DAO long before the factory's did it. Serial number on the 66 is 239Kxxx.
($225.00).
Don't know where that original hammer is either. They're probably to gether and long gone.
The 19 was retired in favor of the 686's and all the N Frames sold off 'cause after the L frames came out you could't give the N frames away.

[celticfisherman]

I've posted mine on the forum before but never on this thread.

Model 66 no dash with Ahrends grips on it. I have the original grips as well.



My 4" Model 19-3 with original grips (although I have Ahrends coming for it too).



I hope to find a 4" 66 no dash soon to add to this collection.

[Model39]

My two trusty work companions I was lucky enough to buy before they changed the law/outlawed the practice of allowing cops to by their service weapons here in New York.

Brace set 3" Model 66's

2 Model 19-3's 4" and 6"

[big50_1]

This is 66 no dash (bottom gun): 9K236XX circa 1976.

[Gary7]

My 19-4 in nickel. Purchased new in June, 1980.

[roaddog28]

Here is my 19-4 6 inch. This is my bargain combat magnum. I paid $269 out the door about three months ago.

Enjoy,
roaddog28

[Model_60]

Neither pinned, nor recessed, this Model 19 comes near the end of the model run. An "AJU" series serial number puts it somewhere in 1985 in terms of production date.

The pistol belonged to my uncle, and was sold to me by his son, my cousin who is a "Glock Guy," at a very advantageous price. I changed out the really chunky target grips with a nicely book-matched contemporary "targets" from Smith & Wesson; the new grips fit my hands much better. The revolver was shot very little and is in nearly new condition.

Enjoy.

[backer]

Is there a reason for so few six inch pistols being displayed? Were there less of them or were they just not as popular as the shorter barreled versions.

[chp]

Originally Posted by Gary7

My 19-4 in nickel. Purchased new in June, 1980.

Very nice Gary7. Mine's a 19-3, but not in as good of shape. However, it's the smoothest, most accurate, easiest to shoot revo I own.

[S&W Oldtimer]

Model 66-2

Model 66

Model 19-3

[Sailormilan2]

Originally Posted by snw19_357

Inspired by Allen-frames iconic Ultimate Highway Patrolman thread and the wealth of information we have all gained from it, I would like to see if we can learn a little more about the Combat Magnum and the changes made to it over the years.

As with the threads on the Highway Patrolman, there are many threads on this forum containing info on the Model 19 and 66 Combat Magnums. Trying to find the bits of information hidden within them all would be very time consuming and might still lack some bit of information that could shed some light on these for the rest of us. So, the more information pertaining to the engineering changes we put here, the clearer the picture may become.

It has been well published that the engineering changes are as follows:

“pre”...............(1955) Thanks to S&W and Bill Jordan, introduced at K260001
19..................(1957) Stamping of model number
19-1...............(1959) Change extractor rod, right to left hand thread
19-2...............(1961) Delete trigger guard screw, change cylinder stop
.....................(1963) 50 made with 2-1/2” barrel; K544672-K544721
.....................(1966) 2-1/2” barrel introduced as standard
19-3...............(1967) Relocate rear sight leaf screw
66..................(1970) Introduced at K949100
19-4 (66-1)......(1977) Move gas ring from yoke to cylinder
19-5 (66-2)......(1982) Eliminate cylinder counterbore and pinned barrel
66-3...............(1986) New yoke screw, floating hand, and hammer nose bushing
19-6...............(1988) New yoke screw, floating hand, and hammer nose bushing
19-7 (66-4)......(1994) New rear leaf sight, drill and tap frame, change extractor, and Uncle Mike’s synthetic grips.
.....................(1995) Delete square butt
.....................(1997) Change to MIM thumbpiece and trigger
19-8 (66-5).....(1998) Sep – Change to MIM hammer and floating firing pin
.....................(1999) Discontinue 2-1/2” barrel
.....................(1999) Nov – Model 19 discontinued
66-6...............(2002) Introduction of the Internal Lock
.....................(2005) Model 66 discontinued

If you were to go back and look at some of my old threads, you’d see I was quite confused about the Model 19, and it was the reason I joined this forum.

For example, the change from the -2 to the -3 was the relocation of the rear leaf screw. At the time I had a -2 (K7952xx) that not only did it ship in late 1968 (-3 announced in 1967), I could see no difference in the sight screw between it and the later ones I had. No wonder I was confused.



It wasn’t until recently when I picked up an earlier -2 (not much, Jun-68) that I noticed that its rear leaf screw was located further back, right over the barrel/cylinder gap.



So, they are both “-2” but K7952xx appears to have the “-3” engineering change. My hope with this thread is that we can narrow down where that and some of the other changes occurred.

As I am sure we have all noticed, serial numbers vs. time frame seldom matter with S&W. Although I have seen non-model marked Combat Magnums in the K38xxxx range, here’s a 4-screw Model (marked) 19, K3166xx.


It’s not like we need an excuse for a picture thread here but maybe a closer examination of the Combat Magnums we own can bring some interesting and informative facts about them to light.
---
1/1/10
Here's a second version of the chart I am working on showing which model and serial number range. It is a work in progress! I will update it as I go and let you know if something significant changes.

Click on the picture for the full size image

Now, after reading your post, I am a bit confused. I have two Model 19s. One a 6", Model 19-2, serial #K620XXX which has the screw position like the revolver in the 2nd(bottom) picture.
My other Combat Magnum is a 4" Model 19-5, Serial #AUB5XXX, and it has the screw position like the 1st revolver(upper picture).
So when you say, "relocation" of the screw, was it moved towards the front, or the rear?

[Sailormilan2]

My two Combat Magnums. Top one was my dad's(Model 19-2, Serial Number K620XXX) that he used on the Departmental pistol team. The bottom was my issued Duty revolver(Model 19-5, Serial number AUB5XXX that I got to buy when we switched to Glocks.

[slowburninsteve]

Here's a couple of my 19's.
Steve

[Larry from Bend]

This is a 66-2 with target trigger and hammer (and it came with target stocks which are too pretty to be carried around the farm).

[BravermnArms]

I have a S&W mdl 66 4" with ss sights and was wondering if anybody could tell me an approminte price it could be worth? I understand condition is the most important but was hoping for a min to a max?

[armaliter]

Hi Braver welcome to the forum! Im no expert but I think I stole one about 6 months ago at $600 (previous owner said he shot six rnds thru it) with matching box and all the goodies but I would gestimate $475 to $700 in my neck of the woods.

[Samuel Adams]

Here is my IDPA workhorse. I bought a Model 19-3 police turn in. The bluing is a bit rough but it is a sweet revolver. I put on a new rear sight, had the cylinder chamfered, the DA trigger is 6 lbs and the SA trigger is less than 1 lb. I had to put the fiber optic front sight on because my eyes aren't what they used to be.