I know that Smith made the 66 in 3". I have read in Roy Jink's book that the factory made the 19 in 3" and 2.5". Then settled on the 2.5 length barrel. Has anyone ever seen the original 3" 19 model? Bob in Texas

Here's a trio:

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.............SmithNut

Smithnut -
Do you have any of the fixed sight versions? I'm always envious of the one Swissman has, definately my "grail gun".

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Jeff
S&WCA #2132

Smithnut, thanks for the reply and pictures. I wonder how many are out there. I have always thought the 3" 66 was one of the most well balanced revolvers ever. Kind of like the 5" 29. Thanks again, Bob in Texas

- Those are beautiful 3"ers.

- Other than the fact that collectors want what they can't have, I don't see the appeal of a Model 19 with fixed sights. I'd rather save A LOT of money and buy a Model 13 or PC13. It's the Clark Kent/Superman effect with an ejector rod shroud. I guess I just don't get the point unless someone is filling a hole in a serious collection like SmithNut's.

Oh WOW!! Very nice 3 inchers.

A fixed sight gun would be a Mod.13 (65 in stainless).

Probably more of those out there with 3in tubes , but still hard to find.

I always liked the 3in. Doesn't give up anything in packability , but ya get that all-important full ejector stroke!

My 'grail gun' is a 3in nickeled 19. Only ever saw 1.

My guess is about three

Brian~

winchester1,

No, I've not had the opportunity to find one of those models yet. There are several that I know of, but there have only been a couple that were available that I've missed, one locally and one that was offered from someone in Switzerland a few years back. One day I'll find one and add it to my 3" collection, in the mean time I'll just keep looking (that's the fun anyway.)

There needs to be a point?
Don't get all logical on us there jeremyws1, afterall we're all pretty well past the "need" checkpoint, and must have is just as good as any other excuse I can come up with...

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.............SmithNut

mkk41,
There were some interesting fixed sight M19's made, most notable are the Mod19P units made for export to Peru, in both 2 1/2" and 4" barrel lengths.
The one being discussed here is a 3" fixed sight gun, with proper shrouded ejector rod and fixed sights made for export to France (reportedly used by their elite police force the GIGN) back in the late 60's/early 70's. There were approx 50 over-run guns made and distributed in the US. Here is a very good multipage post describing Swissman's example:
http://smith-wessonforum.com/e...904/m/5611022803/p/1

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.............SmithNut

OK .I'm sure there are specials of any combination I've never seen. I recently saw something similar , a 3in HB , round butt Model 10 with ejector shroud. I went back to the shop to check it again , but of course it was gone.

yessir, that happens....
That M10-10 you are referring to is one that was made for export to Brazil and is unique in another way - it has a full length .357 Mag cylinder drilled shorter for the 38 special cartridge.
Neat and special version.

Here's a pic.


When it comes to S&W's, never say never...

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.............SmithNut

I believe Forum member KKG has a fixed sight 3 inch M19.

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Sure you did

Back in the late 1970's, I knew a couple of FBI agents who owned 3" Model 19's. The guns were very well balanced, and they shot very well.

These guys ordered the Model 19's to carry in lieu of their issue Model 13's. Both were nickel-finished.

Nice 3" collection sir!

This has really been informative. Thanks for providing the pictures all. I got to know some FBI agents in Dallas back in the 70s and early 80s. A few of them carried 4" round butt 19s. According to the agents, Ofc of Naval Intelligence had originally ordered them from S&W. For some reason ONI did not take them. The FBI did. Of course, I wanted one. Had a gun smit friend make up one for me. Alas, I don't have it now. Don't even remember if I shot it. It has been 30 yrs ago since mine was made up. Bob in Texas

I just aquired (as a gift) a 3" Model 66 with adjustable sights! It has never been shot, at least not yet. Can anyone tell me anything about the gun and the run of these that S&W made? Thanks for the help!

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Cheryl

NRA
Second Ammendment Sisters

cheryld,
We need a bit more info, the 3" M66's have been made on and off for over a dozen years, in several engineering changes. Give us some additional info, the dash number (Mod 66-2,3,4?) and the serial prefix (ABCxxxx) and we can try to get some info to you. Most of the 3" M66's made over the years were made for either Ashland Shooters Supply, or RSR, both S&W distributors. There are some made for Lew Horton as well.
Describe your gun for us, ported or not, matte or standard stainless finish, etc., and someone here can provide additional info.

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.............SmithNut

The gun is a 66-4. The srial number is BPZ86xx. it is stainless and is not ported. Red ramp insert with white marking on rear sight. Hope this helps. Any info appreciated. BTW, what were the original grips on this gun and can you still find them? At present, there is a set of Pachmyers on it.

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Cheryl

NRA
Second Ammendment Sisters

cherlyd,
The M66-4 is the best of best with regards to the 3" M66's made, in my opinion. The 3" barrel on M66's was first offered on the M66-2 engineering change, in 1985. The first run was for Ashland Shooters Supply, 5000 were made.
During the 1990's, there were several runs made for RSR and later for Lew Horton Distributing.
The 3" barrel was made in engineering changes from the -2 through the -5 IIRC, with some 3.2" barrel units made in the M66-6 engineering change (lock config).
I have no quantity info for the various runs mentioned above, but these were all uncataloged production runs (special order).
The Performance Center made several runs using 3" ported barrels as well.

Here is some info on various versions, and some obligatory pics as well :

M66-2:


M66-3 (no photo, I don't have one... )

M66-4:


M66-5:


M66-3 PC F-Comp:


M66-4 PC F-Comp:


M66-4 PC "Super K"

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.............SmithNut

Thanks for aall the info and the pics too! Where can I find the original grips that went on that gun?

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Cheryl

NRA
Second Ammendment Sisters

For a gun that late, it's likely that it came with rubber grips, possibly Pachmeyers, but more likely Uncle Mike's boot grips or their extended style that covered the backstrap.
I'd suggest Spegel Boot grips (as in the pics I posted) or something else that would do the gun better than rubber from a looks perspective.

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.............SmithNut

Hi,
I'm new here and just want to say to mkk41 that the 19-3 in 3" with fixed sight exist but very rare. In france in the 70's the police make un order to s&w for a 19-3 3" with fixed sight. It's call 19-3 "RS" model (Raymond Sasia the police man who make this special order for the DGSE). I think that there is only 200 units. I put 2 pics here of this gun.
(Sorry for my poor english...)
Regards.
Yan.
19-3 with old grips.JPG

19-3 with new grips.jpg

This is an interesting thread indeed. Those 3" M19s really make so much sense I'm surprised they weren't regular production guns, both with fixed and adjustable sights. I really like the 2.5" M19 but the 3" would definitely be more practical. An M19 with fixed sights is way cool too.

3" is just so sweet from an aesthetic standpoint, I always love a 3-inch gun. Been looking for a 3-inch 586 for years. Seen photos of a few in the 1980+ forum, and always wanted one. But the half-shroud of those 3-inch 19s might look even better.

I couldn't agree with you more regarding the shroud on the M19.

Actually, there have been fixed sight 19s.

Why would Brazil import S&Ws when they have all those wonderful domestically produced Taurus?

I don't know why Smith does'nt make thoes for us, man I want one of thoes!!!!!!!!

That is Sweet!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Good question, maybe because they're Smith & Wesson. Maybe it then goes to the perceived quality of Taurus vs Smith & Wesson. I'm sure some with have insights. In fact I've seen comments on here that the Taurus internals are nothing like Smith & Wesson.

Back in 75 I acquired a 3" M19 adjustable sights in nickle, don't remember where it got to but I still have the SN in my records, something tells me that it would be worth some $ today.