19-3 : 19-4

[DV0]

19-3 6” 1969
19-4 4” 1979

The recent details mentioned by engine49guy had me dissecting these two in recent days. Hopefully he will chime in.

The finish differences are the most pronounced to me, very polished on the early one to almost a clear coat look. The 79 has a high quality finish too, just as nice but more opaque. It’s like less EPA with the -3
The dash 4 has the triple t, not sure what the option on the dash 3 is specifically the front sight. Same hammer and triggers.

The 6” has the smoothest DA action, but the 4” is overall my favorite. It’s my forest carry.

 

[DV0]

Having trouble with photos.
I’ll try to get the other side shot.
-3 has the football cut out
-4 has the complete notch

 

[S&W Fan]

That 4” would be my favorite as well! Nice pair good sir.

 

[boykinlp]

Having trouble with photos.
I’ll try to get the other side shot.
-3 has the football cut out
-4 has the complete notch

The case colors on the hammer and trigger of the 4” -4 are spectacular!
Larry

 

[got2hav1]

I have a 19-3 on the radar myself. Will have it in hand soon. The photos I have seen are spectacular, especially the bright blue finish. OP, you have two fine pieces there. Congrats.

 

[Rodan]

I have 4 19-3s... 2 1/2", 4", 6" and one that became a Smolt. The finish is exceptional on all of them, as it is on most Smiths of that era.

It's my understanding that S&W used a proprietary 'Carbonia' bluing process prior to 1978, although the results were dependent on the polish level on the gun before the bluing process. Model 28s, for example, had a satin finish.

Here's an old thread on the subject: S&W Bluing Methods

 

[Engine49guy]

The posted Pic is a bit blurry so a few things I normally look for are hard to see like the barrel rollstamp, can't tell if its the old or new style that changed right about that time, I do see your 69 has the large frame ampersand, that changed in the esrly 70's as shown by the fact it's different on your dash 4, blueing differences are very hard to perceive from a picture unless your a good photographer with a good camera and a light box etc, you really get a good idea of blueing with the gun in hand in good lighting being able to hold and view it at different angles.

Kinda neat when you see changes made in the same decade,
1960 they are still 4 screw guns, 1962 we see the dash 1, 1963 the dash 2, 1967 the dash 3, 1970 the new barrel and the Model 66, 1975ish the gas ring change, 1977 the dash 4, by 1980 the barrel pin, the non recessed cylinder, speed loader cut stocks, yours re in the middle of that era.

if you post a few clear pics and your observations of what other things you see that are different between your two examples as its what makes this so fun.

 

[daveboy]

I've owned my first Model 19 for only about six months. It's a -4, pinned and recessed. Although I've only fired about fifty rounds thru it, it is one of my favorite guns.

 

[dsk]

My 1971 6" 19-3 has a very bright, glossy finish. It's actually better than my 1971 Colt Python.

Below that is my 1991 4" 19-6. Note the bluing is noticeably more dull.

 

[DV0]

how do i print screen

 

[Engine49guy]

Very nice pics,
Your 1969 gun has the old right side barrel rollstamp with two dots or periods between the W and the 3, the dash 4 has one.
Notice the 1971 six inch gun posted just above yours has only one, seems to have changed by 1970 but I was surprised that 71 has the new modern frame ampersand instead of the large or " big butt" ampersand like the one on your 1969.

Btw your 6" does have the fs ramp pinned to the barrel rib as evidenced by the two flush polished cross pins but I'm sure you knew that by looking at it from above.
The 6" from 1971 posted above it has the integral ramp.

 

[DV0]

Very nice pics,
Your 1969 gun has the old right side barrel rollstamp with two dots or periods between the W and the 3, the dash 4 has one.
Notice the 1971 six inch gun posted just above yours has only one, seems to have changed by 1970 but I was surprised that 71 has the new modern frame ampersand instead of the large or " big butt" ampersand like the one on your 1969.

Btw your 6" does have the fs ramp pinned to the barrel rib as evidenced by the two flush polished cross pins but I'm sure you knew that by looking at it from above.
The 6" from 1971 posted above it has the integral ramp.

I noticed the pinned font sight after you mentioned it in the other thread and the text size.
The -3 has arguably the nicest DA and is really easy to shoot because of the balance of the 6” barrel. The stock fitment is a little better imo on the -3.
The hammer knurling on the -4 is very coarse and sharp, unlike the -3.
Both are extremely accurate and I feel lucky to have them.

 

[Engine49guy]

Just wanna clarify the front site ramp and front site blade are two different things, the ramp was pinned to the barrel rib with two pins through the rib until late 1969 to early 1970 but the blade is also pinned to the ramp with one pin, most 19-3's I have seen were almost impossible to detect but some you can see evidence of the front sight pin.

 

[dsk]

I never knew my 19-3 had a pinned front sight until it was mentioned in another thread. Even then I had a hard time seeing where the pin was.