New to this forum- model 19-2 question

[Scorpion1A]

Hello.
I wanted to start off by saying I am new to this forum.
I am seeking information on a K frame Model 19-2 that I purchased from the original owners son (original owner passed away). I was told that this pistol was purchased around 1967. I will include a few pictures.

Model 19-2
K frame
357 magnum
Pinned/ recessed
Round butt (original grips)

Any information will be greatly appreciated.
Thanks in advance,
Dave
GO BILLS !

 

[s3dcor]

Welcome to the forum, lot of good folks here.

The 19-2 was made from 1961 to 1967 Yours was made about 1966-1967. Round butt is nice, they seem to be available in both round and square butt. I just got a 19-3 4" in nickel for $700 and was happy about it.

 

[Scorpion1A]

Very nice pistol.
Back in 2009 I purchased this 19-2 for $300.
I did read somewhere that during the Vietnam war the Navy purchased several hundred of 19-2, 4 inch barrels with round butts just like mine.

 

[LostintheOzone]

Welcome.

Is that a 3'' or 4'' barrel?

 

[lowriderfxr]

While it being a Navy gun is certainly possible , it’s considerably more likely that someone did the square to round butt conversion that was very popular , especially with police officers in those times. What they’d do is take a round butt 2.5” 19 and a square butt 4” 19 and swap the barrels. Then you’d sell the 2.5” square butt for whatever you could get to offset your costs and keep the desirable 4” round butt. Round butt 4” guns were not offered at the time as someone speculated. The only way to know for sure if your gun is the unlikely event of being a USN gun, is to letter it. If it is , it’s collectible and valuable. I would thing most Navy guns would be marked as such, but not all were.

 

[Scorpion1A]

Welcome.

Is that a 3'' or 4'' barrel?

I purchased this pistol in 2009 from the son of the original owner (passed away) who bought it new in 1967.
This is what I was told by the family. It is a 4 inch barrel with original grips.

I totally understand that is could have been converted at sometime to a round butt or switched to a 4 inch barrel.

Question: does smith and Wesson have a site for serial number searches or some other search ?

 

[S&W Fan]

Welcome aboard! That's a very nice 19 regardless of how it came to be in that configuration. You can call S&W customer service and depending on who you get on the phone at the least you can get the year, sometimes more detailed date information.

Virtually everyone here consider the Standard Catalog of Smith & Wesson by Supica and Nahas as "the bible" when it comes to S&W, it has a section with serial numbers that can get one close to the year. The letter referenced in another response is the best way to get all the info the factory has about a firearm-date, where it was shipped originally, details about the order in most cases as well as the gun's original configuration.

 

[snw19_357]

1967 is very probably correct for a K709xxx Model 19-2.

That started as a square butt and the previous owner (had) round butted the frame and stocks. Round butt frames had a straight top strap and longer rear sight leaf to match up with the sight and rib of the 2.5" barrel. Putting a 4" barrel on a round butt frame wouldn't have that profile.
Round butt frames also didn't have the serial number stamped above the model marking.
What does the back strap look like? Did whomever round butt it do the serrations too or is only the top part of the back strap serrated?
The Navy Model 19's were in the K622 & K623's.

 

[MajorD]

The profile of the butt sure looks like a custom job and not factory based on the pictures the curvature of the round butt in the last picture looks a bit “off” compared to a factory produced one.
Pictures make it hard to tell if it is a possible refinish ( which would be required after round butt conversion)
An interesting gun either way and enjoy it.

 

[stansdds]

I agree, it looks like it was converted to a round butt configuration, which makes it a more concealable revolver.

 

[Retired W4]

Whoever did the RB modification on that 19-2 also did a very professional mod to the K target stocks. I like it, regardless of the fact that it is not original. I would like to see a picture of how the back strap (grip frame) was done. Very cool gun.

 

[Scorpion1A]

Here are more picture of the 19-2.

Thank you everyone for all the information I have received. I appreciate every word.

 

[Scorpion1A]

The orange paint on the front site was done by the previous owner.

 

[JP@AK]

Whoever did the RB modification on that 19-2 also did a very professional mod to the K target stocks.
Very cool gun.

I agree. Someone did excellent work on this. It is a unique Combat Magnum.

 

[Xfuzz]

Diggin those grips........
Someone did a great job on that Smith.

 

[RKmesa]

Welcome to the forum!!!

Your 19-2 is not in the configuration that it shipped from the factory... BUT the gun has very, very nice custom modifications to the grip frame and the grips. Great attention to detail and wonderful execution. I love it!!! For reference K716308 shipped from the factory in November 1967, K711267 shipped in December 1967, so I agree that your K708XXX most likely shipped in 1967, but only an Historical letter will tell you for sure.

Thanks for sharing,

 

[JP@AK]

I have seen many modified S&W revolvers that just make me wrinkle my nose (if not actually want to puke). BUT this one puts a smile on my face. So nicely done!