History of this Model 19-3 .357 Revolver

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ziphead65

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Looking for the history, if any, of my SW Model 19-3, .357 Magnum. Serial number K890214. Purchased around 1985 from a fellow USAF Fighter pilot in my squadron for $150. I will attach several pics. Interested in date of manufacture and any history if that info is available. I suspect it was a former state trooper's issued weapon at some time. It has a 4 inch barrel.

Thanks in advance for any help, assistance or opinions. No, it's not for sale, but curious what any of you think it is worth. I will probably pass it on to one of my descendants.
 

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If it’s a former LE service revolver it sure doesn’t have much holster wear.
 
According to the SCSW book, p489, K848782-K946391 corresponds to 1969. K890214 is in the middle of that range.

Model number 19-3 started in 1967, and had diamond center grips until sometime in 1968, so that fits. Some guns were stamped with the name of the law enforcement agency or police department that issued them. (There are two pages of those references in the book) If you find a stamp of initials like that, someone may be able to tell you more.

Or pay for a "letter" that would tell you exactly when and to what agency the gun was sold.
 
19-3

Hey Pete one question......you said diamond center grips discontinued in 1968, but what do you call the grips on my handgun?? Those are not diamond center??? Little confused......thanks again!!
 
It is most likely NOT a former police weapon.

That was my profession for decades, and I can tell you this.....

I have NEVER seen a police weapon with a target hammer and target trigger.

The triggers in particular are lousy for double action shooting.

Now, I am sure someone will come along and question my sanity but if the existed at all, they were rare in police work.

Police revolver shooting was mostly centered on double action fire.
 
That's a very nice M 19. Your football target stocks are likely original, since the diamond center was discontinued about 1968. Your dash 3 has recessed charge holes in the cylinder and a pinned barrel, considered a plus for collectors. Newer guns have neither. The M 19 was developed on the slightly smaller and lighter K frame than the heavier N frame M 27 & 28. Many people will say to shoot primarily .38's with occasional magnums, and to stay away from the hot 125 grain jacketed magnums. There are reports of cracked frames from that combination. You should be able to shoot all the 158 grain bullets your hands and wallet can survive. This is not a universal opinion and is endlessly debated here. It was originally named the Combat Magnum before model numbers were assigned about 1958. Still carries that designation, but the model number is most frequently used. Looks like it needs some exercise, which won't hurt value if care is taken.
 
banger said:
It is most likely NOT a former police weapon.

That was my profession for decades, and I can tell you this.....

I have NEVER seen a police weapon with a target hammer and target trigger.

The triggers in particular are lousy for double action shooting.

Now, I am sure someone will come along and question my sanity but if the existed at all, they were rare in police work.

Police revolver shooting was mostly centered on double action fire.
Click to expand...

I would never question your sanity (glass houses, you know), but I did encounter some and actually carried a 2" Colt Lawman MK III that came from the factory with a target hammer and smooth trigger. It shredded sport coat linings something awful. One of my colleagues carried his bull barreled pin gun on duty. It was a S&W in an approved caliber and barrel length, after all. Those grooved triggers were less than ideal for DA work, though.

I would concur that it is not ex-LEO on the basis of condition. Virtually no holster wear on a gun carried daily? I doubt it.
 
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ziphead65 said:
you said diamond center grips discontinued in 1968, but what do you call the grips on my handgun?? Those are not diamond center??? Little confused
Click to expand...
I suspect you are confusing "diamond" with the checking. Yes, the effect of checking is to create tiny diamond shaped points within the checking border. But that isn't "diamond stocks." The latter term refers to stocks that have a smooth diamond shape in the middle of the checked pattern, around the screw hole. I have observed newcomers to S&W make this mistake before. It is just a matter of learning to understand the terminology.
 
Buford57 said:
I would never question your sanity (glass houses, you know), but I did encounter some and actually carried a 2" Colt Lawman MK III that came from the factory with a target hammer and smooth trigger. It shredded sport coat linings something awful. One of my colleagues carried his bull barreled pin gun on duty. It was a S&W in an approved caliber and barrel length, after all. Those grooved triggers were less than ideal for DA work, though.

I would concur that it is not ex-LEO on the basis of condition. Virtually no holster wear on a gun carried daily? I doubt it.
Click to expand...


I suppose I could have been more articulate.

I should have said that I have never seen a department issued revolver with the target hammer and target trigger.

Personal carry, anything went.

I actually knew a guy who used a Luger off duty.

BUT, he was kind of a flashy guy.
 
JP@AK said:
...stocks that have a smooth diamond shape in the middle of the checked pattern, around the screw hole...
Click to expand...
That was what I meant, yes.

Can't comment on the trigger and its use in law enforcement, but currently the wider target trigger and target hammer are worth a premium when found on some guns. Grips are easily swapped, hammers and triggers, not so much, so those are probably original.

Nice looking gun, in any case. I would be happy to own it.
 
Beautiful revolver, I, too have a M19-3 a few years newer than yours (1973-74). You may hear the term "3-T" referring to how your revolver is equipped: Target hammer, Target trigger, Target stocks. Very desirable combo. I've never seen one of these crack the forcing cone on a long diet of 125 grain magnum loads, but I suppose it might happen. Mine is my second M19, the first one was a dash 2 with a 6" barrel. In both guns, my preferred load is 125 grain JHP magnums, never had any issue. I also had a M66-1 (the stainless steel version of the M19) for a long time, and shot 125 grain magnums from it as well with no issues. You tend to get a bit less felt recoil with those loads (lighter bullet) and a great deal more velocity. The ballistics say they have more energy out to 25 yards than the 158 grain loads. I pretty much keep my loads in this gun limited to .38Spl +P now, I have a N frame .357 that I feed the heavy stuff.
 
Not to question your eyesight (but maybe my own), the O.P. revolver has a Combat (semi-target .375) hammer and narrow (.265) service trigger. Most service revolvers that I recall in the 70's & 80's were in this configuration. Fixed-sight (10's, 13's, ect) had narrow service hammer & trigger. Later on the smooth Combat trigger (.312) became prevalent.
My personal preference is the .375 hammer with smooth .312 trigger. I found this best for both DA/SA work. Your mileage may vary though.
 
My Model 19-3 shipped in May 1972. I have the original box which confirms that it was shipped with the Service Trigger, Semi-Target Hammer and Target Stocks, but has the plain black Baughman ramp front sight and plain rear sight blade.
I guess someone wanted more hand filling stocks than the standard Magnas but didn't care for a full 3T/RRWO configuration.
 

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CHARLIE699 said:
Not to question your eyesight
Click to expand...
Go ahead, I question it all the time. :D Bifocals can be fun that way.

I thought the OP had said that's what he had, my mistake. My M19-3 is a 3T, I have the original box.

Later on the smooth Combat trigger (.312) became prevalent.
My personal preference is the .375 hammer with smooth .312 trigger. I found this best for both DA/SA work. Your mileage may vary though.
Click to expand...
My M28-2 is equipped with the smooth trigger and "3/4" target hammer. I really have no preference of hammer, between the target and .375 version, but I absolutely LOVE the smooth trigger, my favorite of all my revolvers, which have the wide target version.
 
banger said:
It is most likely NOT a former police weapon.

That was my profession for decades, and I can tell you this.....

I have NEVER seen a police weapon with a target hammer and target trigger.

The triggers in particular are lousy for double action shooting.

Now, I am sure someone will come along and question my sanity but if the existed at all, they were rare in police work.

Police revolver shooting was mostly centered on double action fire.
Click to expand...

+1. The trigger on my issued 28-2 (6” bbl) is just about the worst of all my S&W revolvers. I got used to it though, shot Master with it in the Academy (when they made us shoot with our gas masks on, no less). I never saw a target trigger, smooth trigger, or target hammer on an issued Model 28.

When we were given the opportunity to carry our personal revolvers, I carried my 19-4 (4” bbl w/ smooth trigger) for a few months but I could never warm up to it so I went back to my issued Highway Patrolman.

BTW, to this day I fire my S&W revolvers double action (& I CCW my Centennials).
 
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