19-3 Round But

[ekraus]

I have an S&W Model 19-3 4" Round But with a pinned barrel and recessed cylinder. Serated ramp front adjustable rear. SN 4K3xxxx.
its in ok shape looks like it was carried by a cop, got seat belt marks on it.
I am trying to figure if its one of the rare ones. And maybe how old it is.

 

[BAM-BAM]

Maybe..... pictures?

Is the backstrap have grooves or smooth?

 

[murphydog]

Welcome! The SN is from 1973. It may have been a barrel swap onto an originally 2.5" RB model 19. Agree with the photo request....

 

[gmborkovic]

I have a 19-3 RB 21/2", 1K 88526, shipped Jan. 1976. I traded for it.
Story goes it belonged to a Miami DEA Agent. Down here in SoFo see them sell at $500-$600. Is it rare? I have not a clue. Great carry piece. The Mod-19 guys will be along with more info.

 

[Patmcclat]

What is the significance of the backstrap with grooves, or a smooth backstrap?

 

[BAM-BAM]

What is the significance of the backstrap with grooves, or a smooth backstrap?

If a square butt gun was round-butted and reblued..... the backstrap would be partially or all smooth.......

 

[OFT II]

Post a photo showing where the top front of the frame joins the barrel. The frame on the 2 1/2" barreled guns is different from the longer barreled frames.

 

[CH4]

If a square butt gun was round-butted and reblued..... the backstrap would be partially or all smooth.......

Only if the person doing the work is too lazy to re-groove the lower blackstrap. All the coversions I've seen were properly finished.

 

[BAM-BAM]

Only if the person doing the work is too lazy to re-groove the lower blackstrap. All the coversions I've seen were properly finished.

The one's I've seen (not many) were working guns...... and the cops didn't want to pay the extra....... often just soothed out the top third.

I think/guessing that most done " in the day" just swapped barrels.....which you could get back then and no need to refinish....... actually "round-butting" in my (limited) experience was done to stainless 66s and 68x's

 

[19leben]

Smith did make a round butt 4" Model 19, can't recall the time frame or dash version but they are out there.

 

[old bear]

I have an S&W Model 19-3 4" Round But

Smith and Wesson did make a number of 4" round butt M-19's for N.I.S. I understand that some of these ended up with the Marine security guards, assigned to our embassies. If I remember correctly they had a yellow front sight insert.
Rare no, but not common either.

 

[ekraus]

The back strap has groves.

 

[ekraus]

Here are the images
http://kosher-pork.net/images/GUNS/19_3_a.jpg
http://kosher-pork.net/images/GUNS/19_3_b.jpg
http://kosher-pork.net/images/GUNS/19_3_c.jpg

 

[19leben]

The 4" round butt 19s are -2 versions from 1965/66, made for ONI, Office of Naval Intelligence & FBI. Also, in 1966, for the NIS as stated previous post.
These started SN @ K544000 and would be earlier than your 19-3 so yours must have been modified.
Still looks cool though.

 

[jd67]

I have a round butt as well but mine is only 2.5 BBL

 

[ekraus]

The guy i bought it from said that it was converted to a round but.
Not sure about that. The SN is stamped on the bottom of the but and it doesn't look like it was modified. So I am puzzled about it.
I don't think a cop would have had that kind of work done and even if it was modified you cant tell with the grips off. Plus I thought the 19-3's weren't pinned and recessed.

 

[BAM-BAM]

Sweet..... that baby's been through the wars...........

Cops have been modifying their guns since the "1830somthings"........My Dad sent his Colt New Service to Kings in Calf. in 1938 to get the .357 he wanted...... I round butted a 4" 686-nothin...... in 1986 .... cus that's what I wanted..........handguns are pretty personal things..........

 

[DMSC]

Either way, that's a nice 19.

I love my 4" RB's (586-3, 686-4 & 66-4).

Sent from my VK810 4G using Tapatalk

 

[Engine49guy]

Your gun has the correct frame step at the barrel for a 4" frame but before I would vote one way or the other need pics of the tangs,

Would you mind posting pics of the backstrap and forestrap with the grips off showing the grooves,
Also does the right grip panel have the guns serial stamped inside it as this would be a BIG clue that it left the factory a RB...

Lastly does your gun have the serial number stamped inside the yoke cut also or does it just say 19-3 there ?

 

[CH4]

The one's I've seen (not many) were working guns...... and the cops didn't want to pay the extra....... often just soothed out the top third.

I think/guessing that most done " in the day" just swapped barrels.....which you could get back then and no need to refinish....... actually "round-butting" in my (limited) experience was done to stainless 66s and 68x's

Bam Bam, that makes sense. I have only seen a handful of conversions, most of which I wouldn't have done, especially on a 6" gun. In another thread I mentioned that a good friend snagged a pristine 6" 67 at a gun show, and before the sun set that day, it was a RB. Though I didn't agree with the conversion, his hobbiest gunsmithing talents really shined. He's done several.