I recently acquired what appears to be an unfired NIB Model 19-4, serial number 66K57xx. The finish on this 4 inch Combat Magnum is the best I have ever personally seen on any P&R revolver. Like blue-black glass is the only way to describe it.

It has roll-marks on the right side of the barrel that say "1853-1978 U.S. Customs Patrol" where the caliber is normally embossed, and a U.S. Customs Patrol badge where the S&W logo is normally stamped on the right side plate. On the left side of the revolver, the barrel is marked "Smith & Wesson 357 Magnum" and there is a small S&W logo stamped on the left side plate just below the cylinder latch.

Were these markings ever gold-filled, or, were they simply stamped and the guns blued? On this piece is appears that the gun was only blued, but I have seen other similar commemoratives where the roll marks are gold-filled.

The revolver came with the well worn original presentation case and a beautiful set of smooth S&W target stocks. In the photo below I have replaced them with a set of mother of pearl grips.

Any information about this revolver and especially whether the roll-marks were ever gold-filled will be appreciated. As I say, to the best of my ability, it appears that this gun is unfired.

Thanks.


Bullseye

__________________
Five screws and 3-1/2 inches.

This sounds like a US Customs Patrol Commemorative. The USCP worked between the Ports of Entry, enforcing Title 19 (US Customs laws) and working along side the US Border Patrol. The USCP Inspectors were spread out more than the Border Patrol was. They were disbanded in the late 70's, maybe as late as 1980 only to be re-started in the late 80's for a brief period.

Sounds like you snagged a nice piece. I imagine it shipped to a distibutor rather than to a specific agent, but you can never tell.

__________________
Non illegitimae carborundum

It is a special edition model. The Customs Service actually used M19s (but they 2.5" models and in nickel, I have one shipped in 1970) so S&W saluted them with this commemorative model.

The stocks, of course, are not original. Probably came in a special box, too.

__________________
No life story has happy end.

Here's a similar commemorative for the NYS Department of Environmental Conservation. You can see how the roll marks on this revolver are gold (?) filled. That is why I am curious as to why the roll marks on my CPS Commemorative appear not to have been.

Thanks for the info MKT!



Bullseye

__________________
Five screws and 3-1/2 inches.

I would argue AGAINST S&W as initiating the issuanceof the guns to honor an agency. The Model 19 in particular, especially after the Texas Ranger Commeratives were used by Lord only knows how many departments to commemerate this, that or the other thing.

Some were simply issued with the department shield etc on them. Others were issued for the 100th or 50th or whatever anniverury of the agency.

I think all or nearly all were ordered through the wholesaler by the various departments directly and/or some "society" ala retired officers, wives of, etc. as long as the order met the minimum size S&W was more than happy to make them.

Back right after the re-introduction of the 24-3 a bunch of us on my department got together and were negotiating to have the 53 re-madeand roll marked for the agency. It really wasn't all that much as the minimum order was quoted as 500.

While I acquire/collect Combat Magnums-Model 19s, there have been so many "CommemerATIVE" 19S that it's hard just to keep track of all of them. Sort of like Ruger #1s there are many that were production guns that are in fact rarer than the "special" ones when you look at the actual numbers made.

I suppose given enough time and deep pockets a guy could track them all down. That being said they tend to be overpriced and are a very very small niche market.

I think that MOST of those that ended up with the gold fill were done by wholesalers or indidual officers with the stuff that came in the tube and rubbed on and stuck in the lettering. I know I'm guilty of doing more than one 19 and 27 that way over the years.

Since I've grown up I've removed it from all of mine.

The Agency Shield on the side plate and a small S&W on the off side under the extractor thund piece is pretty common among these "Commemeratives", including the Texas Ranger 19-3s


RWT

It's been over a year since you posted, but hopefully you'll check for an answer of your original question. I'm pretty sure that the Commemoratives all had gold in the roll marks. These guns were solicited by a Customs Patrol Officer, or possibly a Customs Security Officer (Sky Marshal.) When the Sky Marshal program was shut down in 1973, the CSOs were transferred to the Customs patrol. My brother and I were Sky Marshals. We bought four of these and they all had the gold on them. The finish on yours looks different from mine, so I wonder if someone had it totally refinished.

Thanks. I do check back on my old threads every once in a while, and I appreciate your taking the time to answer my question.


Bullseye

__________________
Five screws and 3-1/2 inches.

Your piece was refinished at some time in the past. The Customs Patrol Officer Shield and the inscrption on the barrel were gold filled. The original grips were Goncalo Alves wood. The box should also have a metal plate to engrave the name of the owner on.

Mind if I ask how much you paid for it?

I was in Class #2 which was conducted entirely in D.C. before the school moved to Ft. Belvoir, VA. I flew out of JFK with PAN-AM and out of Seattle with Northwest Orient. Did an occaisional flight with North Central when things were slow in Seattle. My home port was Philly.

I have a Customs Patrol S&W Mod 19 also that I'm trying to determine a value for insurance purposes. I was with U.S. Customs from 1969 to 1982, Mexican border. My piece is all stainless, has the Customs Patrol badge on the side plates in gold, in the original presentation box and the brass presentation plates have not been engraved. The weapon has never been fired. Any comments or suggestions where I could go to get a valuation?

If you ever decide to part with it, keep me in mind. I'd love to have a crack at prying it from your grasp!

The Model 19 U.S. Customs patrol commemorative was commissioned from S&W in 1978. There were 813 sold at the time, and the only people who were authorized to get them from S&W had to provide U.S. Customs Credentials to order the revolvers.

Several Customs employees purchased multiple revolvers and subsequently sold to the general public.

The choice of the Model 19 was curious, due to the fact that at the time, the U.S. Customs patrol issued a 4" Model 66 to it's officers. The Model 19 2 1/2" Model 19 nickel plated revolvers were issued to U.S. Customs Special agents only. These were referred to as the "Silver Shooters" by Customs Agents of the day.

Some Model 60 2" revolvers were issued to Partol officers, but were in very limited supply. These were mostly guns issued during the Sky Marshal Program. Most of the former Sky Marshals were brough over to the U.S. Customs Patrol, after the program ended.

All of the Patrol Commemorative revolvers I have seen (like mine) have all been gold filled from the factory.