I recently made a post about the Model 19-4 that I bought. The revolver looks almost brand new. It was wearing some very nice, aftermarket, finger-groove stocks. I had some proper (or to my knowledge, proper anyway) stocks, so I installed them. This gun breaks like glass in single-action mode at exactly two pounds. Also, the hammer block has been removed. So, someone did a little trigger work on this somewhere along the line. I took a few more pics of her with what I think are the correct stocks...just a little S&W eye candy.
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"New" Model 19-4 update
- Thread starter daveboy
- Start date
TJm15.38
Well-known member
It's a nice looking revolver. Why would the previous owner remove the hammer block?
I'm only guessing that it was to make the action a little smoother. I'm not sure that would do much in that regard. Maybe the thought process was that the less the trigger had to do the better. I wonder if possibly that was a common thing for gunsmiths to do at one time?
Aircrewman
SWCA Member
In all of my years of reading about Smith and Wesson revolvers, some 50 + years, I have never heard about removing the hammer block to improve the action of the gun to improve anything..... so if it were my gun, I would get a hammer block and install it ASAP.
Engine49guy
Well-known member
Your 19-4 has all the bells , wide tt/th, red ramp and guessing white outline rear sight, nice.
The 19-4 like it's twin counterpart 66-1 were introduced around 77ish IIRC and ran up until the 66-2/19-5 revision which deleted the P&R features.
I would expect an early 19-4 to have the older football cutout target stocks and a late production gun to have the speedloade cut stocks like yours where I would not expect to see a 19-5 to have football cut stocks.
Another interesting thing to look for is that while most 19-4's are found with a large Right side TM some are found with a small left side TM, I heard that in this era the small TM ones were made to leave the sideplate open for comemorative engraving.
The TM migrated permanently to the left side in the 19-5 so one with a large Right side TM would be an anomoly which is weird considering early Alpha serial prefix 586/686 and 581/681 guns can be found with large right side TM's.
The 19-4 like it's twin counterpart 66-1 were introduced around 77ish IIRC and ran up until the 66-2/19-5 revision which deleted the P&R features.
I would expect an early 19-4 to have the older football cutout target stocks and a late production gun to have the speedloade cut stocks like yours where I would not expect to see a 19-5 to have football cut stocks.
Another interesting thing to look for is that while most 19-4's are found with a large Right side TM some are found with a small left side TM, I heard that in this era the small TM ones were made to leave the sideplate open for comemorative engraving.
The TM migrated permanently to the left side in the 19-5 so one with a large Right side TM would be an anomoly which is weird considering early Alpha serial prefix 586/686 and 581/681 guns can be found with large right side TM's.
jimmyj
Well-known member
During the 1970s removing the hammer block was a common practice for kitchen table "Gunsmiths".
I totally agree with installing a hammer block ASAP.
Unfortunately, I HAVE firsthand knowledge of a "gunsmith" removing a hammer block to "smooth out the action".
A fellow police officer styled himself a 'smith and was doing an action job on another cop's M19. After he popped off the side plate, he reached inside, plucked out the hammer block and tossed it across his shop, saying, "First off, you don't need this!". The M19's owner went scrambling, trying to find his part, to no avail. He eventually bought one from Numrich Arms and I installed it for him.
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I sold my 4" 19-4 yesterday. A real nice example with football cut targets AND the sliding hammer block. I think I have a few hammer blocks down stairs. Someone, once upon a time was removing them. I suppose the K and N pieces are of different lengths, but I will have to look.
I'm sure you've read much more than me. However, I was watching some YouTube videos the other day and a guy was showing the disassembly of his Model 66 that he used strictly for competition. He pointed out that it had the hammerblock removed. But, to your point, I may very well replace mine.
It does have the white outline rear sight. I guess you are correct about the stocks. These actually came off a later Model 586. I'm not familiar with the "football cutout stocks" but I'm curious.
The sliding hammer block came about in WW II when a Victory model (without the block) was dropped from one deck to another on a war ship, killing a sailor. That gun had an early version of a block which was weak and totally inadequate. The hammer block is there for good reason.
Daveboy, shoot me a PM and I can send you a hammer block cheaper than you can buy one on the net.
Tom
Tom
ColumbusJBR
Well-known member
1st off, nice Model 19! I also have a 4" 19-4 (in this hastily cropped photo) that was my introduction to this S&W addiction a few years ago. I'll never sell it, despite numerous requests from friends/family. There's only one "first".
2nd, I've seen more than a few S&W "smithing" videos that mention removing the hammer block, in the name of a smoother action. Some cite that they don't like the "rattle" with it installed. Mularkey. As mentioned above, I'd get to installing one on short order. Not that your gun is a ticking time bomb without one, but I've accidently reassembled Smiths without the block and noticed ZERO difference in trigger pull. IMO having it installed is all upside and no downside.
Thanks for sharing!
2nd, I've seen more than a few S&W "smithing" videos that mention removing the hammer block, in the name of a smoother action. Some cite that they don't like the "rattle" with it installed. Mularkey. As mentioned above, I'd get to installing one on short order. Not that your gun is a ticking time bomb without one, but I've accidently reassembled Smiths without the block and noticed ZERO difference in trigger pull. IMO having it installed is all upside and no downside.
Thanks for sharing!
Attachments
Yes, I kinda figured that the block would make little difference on the trigger pull. I've never seen a revolver with a SA pull as nice as this one. It's actually lighter than I'd ever want in a gun that was used anywhere but the range. This is actually my fourth S&W revolver. My 586 was my first and she made me a fan. Nice looking Model 19 you have there.
For sure get the part back in there. Thanks for the eye candy. Great addition to your collection. My first Smith was the 19-4 blued 4 inch with all the bells and whistles, even the trigger stop. It looks like the day I bought it 44 years ago. Like someone said, you never forget your first one.
Probably posted this before, but in 1975 Amarillo Police Academy firearms class instructor was an FBI firearms instructor. We took our newly purchased model 58's and, under his instruction, tore them down and put back together several times. He stressed the importance of the hammer block and told us NOT to leave out of the revolver. He demonstrated the function of the hammer block by placing a pencil (eraser down, hammer cocked) into the barrel. Pulled the trigger and pencil would jump. He would then position the pencil and the barrel (hammer cocked) and lightly strike the trigger with a screw driver handle. The hammer would fall, but the pencil would not move. He also had us do this several times.
All this to say that during this time my brother was a New Mexico State Police officer and he told me that one of their officer had removed the hammer block from his revolver and as the officer bent over to turn on water to the bath tub, his revolver fell out of the holster and landed on the hammer. Round struck officer in the stomach, he did not survive.
