19-2 Four inch round butt

[desertdweller]

A guy has a 19-2 4" round butt. He states it was a 1965 Navy Seals issue.
He's asking $1200 and quite frankly I don't have a clue what it is worth.
IF AND Only IF this is true what do you think it's worth?
Regards John
Also would Roy be able to validate it's authenticity if I had it lettered??

 

[Buffalo Nichols]

3rd edition Standard Catalog of SW lists 1200 4 inch round butts going to the Office of Naval Intelligence. Serial number range falls in K544000 - K624000. I bet it will letter.

 

[old bear]

Google was my/our friend this time. Navy SEALS established 1961. So a 1956 "Combat Magnum" would have been unlikely. It May have been an O.N.I purchase revolver. Or an SEAL team member who was allowed to carry private purchase weapon, who knows? "Believe the gun not the story."

Without written proof I'd stay away from that revolver and the seller.

 

[Buffalo Nichols]

Google was my/our friend this time. Navy SEALS established 1961. So a 1956 "Combat Magnum" would have been unlikely. It May have been an O.N.I purchase revolver. Or an SEAL team member who was allowed to carry private purchase weapon, who knows? "Believe the gun not the story."

Without written proof I'd stay away from that revolver and the seller.

Original post states a 1965 gun which would be correct for a Model 19-2. Not a 1956 in fact in 1956 it would not have had the Model 19 designation , that started in 1957 with the Model 19 (no dash).

 

[Doc44]

Mr. Jinks should be able to letter the revolver as being for the ONI.

Bill

 

[murphydog]

One hint suggesting it may be an original NIS issue 19-2 is some came with yellow front sight inserts, unusual for a factory gun. These sell very infrequently but I'd guess $1200 for a high condition gun is fair, however...

In this situation, I have suggested the buyer and seller agree on one sales price both if the gun letters as authentic, and a lower price if not. I have no idea if anyone has ever done this .

 

[JoeM19]

I had one.....issued.

Between June 1969 and March 1971, I served as a Special Agent with the Navel Investigative Service, Bldg. 200, Washington Navy Yard. They had just changed the name from ONI. My diploma from the basic investigators school says ONI. My issue weapon was a round butt, 4" Model 19, Smith. Everyone had one.

My supervisor had just returned from Vietnam and he said that they had the same M-19s but they were parkerized. It was a neat piece.

In January 1971, the intelligence community country wide took a budget hit from Congress because they said we were spying on Americans. The Naval Intelligence Command received a 125% reduction in funds. They dropped that reduction on Naval Investigative Service.

As a result, at the end of our basic school, 150 Special Agents were RIFd. Having a good bit of service time, I was last off. But off never the less. - 'ole joe.

 

[Lee's Landing Billy]

Google was my/our friend this time. Navy SEALS established 1961. So a 1956 "Combat Magnum" would have been unlikely. It May have been an O.N.I purchase revolver. Or an SEAL team member who was allowed to carry private purchase weapon, who knows? "Believe the gun not the story."

Without written proof I'd stay away from that revolver and the seller.

Ya ever wish sometime you had stayed outta something?

 

[Buffalo Nichols]

Ya ever wish sometime you had stayed outta something?

Hey dude he made a mistake is that any reason to hang him out. This should be a brotherhood of SW collectors not a neighborhood to attack others. OK rant off but just saying.