Hi,
I was curious how to tell on a model 19 if the barrel has been replaced or has been cut down to smaller size what to look for? Any advice is greatly appreciated.
Eric

You can get a letter from smith and wesson. I think it will tell you how it came from the factory and who it was shipped to. Someone else correct me if I am wrong on this. I think it costs $35 and I would like this info on all 4 that I own but I guess I am too cheap to pay it. Or at least I have been up to this point.

A replacement barrel is going to be very difficult to detect since it would be a factory part-unless you're willing to pay for a factory letter on the weapon and you then discover it left the factory with a different length barrel.

Shortened barrels are easier. The Smith & Wesson and caliber rollmarks are centered on the length of the barrel. If the barrel has been cut, the rollmarks generally won't be centered.

I once thought that maybe since the finish didn't match up on one of mine that meant it had the barrel replaced. But then I found they all looked like that. Heck, even the bluing doesn't always quite match up. I guess the alloy of the steel must have some influence on how the bluing wears or ages on the gun. So I fully agree with WR, if the barrel markings are centered then it was either a factory barrel replacement by a competent smith. The only other thing I could think of would be to research the exact model to make sure it is a barrel that would have ben factory on that model and engineering change designation. As in, I don't think they ever put a longer barrel than 3" on the round butt 19's. So if you find a square butt 19 with a 2.5" barrel or a 6" barrel on a square butt 19 then that shouldn't be factory. But then I'm also not sure when they went to all round butt frames. And finally, every time I think I'm comfortable with thinking I have either seen or heard of all the configurations that S&W has offered over the years... Then I see something I had no idea was ever made... They have done some special orders for overseas sales that are pretty rare to see here stateside but are common elsewhere. I wish the Standard Catalog had more pictures in it. Come to think of it, there has been a thread here something to the effect of "The Ultimate Combat Magnum" that was slam full of pics. That might help as well.

Found it:
The ultimate Model 19/66 Combat Magnum thread


Another edit: Post #65 in that thread is just what I'm talking about. Every time I think I'm set on what they made... This guy pops up with a factory lettered four inch round butt 19-3...

The letter from S&W runs $50. The other way to figure out if the barrel has been cut to a shorter length is if the caliber markings and the Smith & Wesson roll stamp on the barrel are not centered on the barrel length wise as that would indicate the barrel was cut down. A factory replacement barrel would be very hard to detect as stated above.

Don't forget that the "4 inch" model 19's and IIRC 66's made prior to 1974, are not true 4" barrels. They are just a bit shy of 4".

After some pending anti gun legislation was proposed, to eliminate "saturday night specials", S&W made them all true 4" barrels.

Played hell with all the fitted holsters that law enforcement was using at the time. Regards 18DAI.

thanks for the info guys, fyimo you are just referring to the barrel length being cut down correct? What if they replaced the barrel ?
Eric

If Smith replaced the barrel,there would probably be a date mark on the butt frame.