19-5 "Special"

[Retired W4]

I ran into something today that is a little unusual, and I have a chance to buy it. It's a 19-5 with box, tools and paper, but it has a matte finish like a Model 28, and the box is marked "Special" under Features, with a product code of 100701. It is just as described under Product Codes and Features By Year for 100701, but it does not have a full lug barrel (2 1/2"). It is chambered for .357 magnum and there are no import marks.

Does anyone know what this is and what it's worth?

 

[gunrunner1]

can you show some pics?

 

[Retired W4]

I don't have pictures or have the gun in my possession. I have never seen one like it before. It's high condition, with a very faint turn line.

Serial number prefix is ANR which, I think, is around 1986-1987. That puts in in the same range as the 100701 as mentioned in SCSW.

Maybe I should just roll the dice and buy it.

 

[JAREDSHS]

get the dice out real quick.

 

[Vern]

I don't know about the special issue, but my 19-7 doesn't have a full length under lug like you see on the 586 or 686 guns. I think all the snub nose 19's look like this.

Vern

 

[Retired W4]

That's what this one looks like but with a matte finish (like a 28) and Compacs. The seller is now stuck on $600, which I believe is too much. Oh well. I did get a really nice shooter grade 27-2, 4" for a good price. Pics to follow. I also looked at a 6" 58 no dash, with a Lee Jerrett conection. I'll post that separately. Sorry if i misspelled the name.

 

[snw19_357]

Product Code 100701 was for the ported 3" matte blue 19-7 that the Performance Center made for Lew Horton but they had an LHA prefix.

There was a run of 2.5" matte ones made for the US Dept of State in the ANN range. I haven't seen any with the boxes so don't know what product code they used for them.

 

[Vern]

That is different. I've never seen a M19 with an underlug like that.

Vern

 

[colt_saa]

Very interesting. The revolver has a Perfromance Center logo, but that is a standard product code. The PC product codes all start with 170xxx

 

[Retired W4]

19-5 matte

I finally got the gun in my hands and I can now post a couple pictures. The original owner tells me he bought it around 1990 while working as a civilian for the Army in the D.C. area. He also told me it did not come with any tools or manual, just the box. He bought it and put it away, unfired, with his collection, mostly .41 magnums, until today. He obviously handled the gun over the years, and it has a slight turn line on the matte finish.

 

[WickedSharp]

GREAT looking gun right there!

I'm interested in the 6" Model 58 you mentioned earlier though...

 

[Retired W4]

My friend who sold me the matte 19-5 also gave me a list of his 57/58's. Among them is a 4" NICKEL 58. Hmmmm. It would look good with my minty 4" nickel 57 no dash.

But for now, I'm enjoying the "special" 19-5. Is it odd that the product code is the same as the one on snw19_357's gun?

 

[Retired W4]

GREAT looking gun right there!

I'm interested in the 6" Model 58 you mentioned earlier though...

I have not seen the fellow with that gun after last weekend. Hopefully Lee will come on board to tell us about it.

 

[geoff40]

First dibs should you ever decide to part ways with that swamp creature.
Anyway, thats really nice! I have no info for you, but I am thinking US Government, over run....that sort of thing. Treasury, Customs, SS maybe, or ?

 

[snw19_357]

But for now, I'm enjoying the "special" 19-5. Is it odd that the product code is the same as the one on snw19_357's gun?

Congrats on that "Special" 19-5! Thanks for sharing it with us.

The fact that they share the same product code has peaked my interest.

 

[Retired W4]

I got my S&W letter this weekend and snw19_357, you were correct. The gun was part of a 615 gun buy for the U.S Department of State back in 1987. It was shipped to the State Department at that time. They call the finish a glass bead blue finish. This one is staying with me.

 

[LAS&W4me]

I got my S&W letter this weekend and snw19_357, you were correct. The gun was part of a 615 gun buy for the U.S Department of State back in 1987. It was shipped to the State Department at that time. They call the finish a glass bead blue finish. This one is staying with me.

Congrats on a fine model 19

Sent from my HTC Sensation 4G using Tapatalk 2

 

[Florida Guy]

Nice looking gun.
Wouldn't mind adding one that nice to my collection.

 

[elm_creek_smith]

Sa-weet! Needs magnas and a T-Grip!

ECS

 

[H Richard]

The finish looks just like the finish on my 36-6, which is a 1989 vintage gun, back when they were in the "New gun a week mode". Lots of short run variations.