Dept of State DSS Model 19-5

[JohnRippert]

A couple years back I picked up a 4in RB Model 19-5 off Gunbroker. I was the only bidder and I got it for right around $500. It was the grips that really grabbed me. I had wondered if it was a legit 4in RB from the factory ever since I got it but was not in any hurry to get a letter. Fast forward to a couple weeks ago. I posted a pic of that gun in one of the many Model 19 threads and was contacted by member snw19_357 and he informed me that it could very well be a original 4in RB and if the serial was in the AYY range it might even be a DSS .gov weapon. I passed him the serial number and it was in his database as a known 4in RB. I promptly sent out for a letter after thanking him. Guess what came in the mail today?


The relevant passage.

So it looks like my impulse buy was a right nice impulse. I now have a second handgun that rode the hip of a Marine out in the world, as I believe the 4inch M19-5's were issued to the uniformed guards at embassies from the late '80s to the early '90s. I do still wonder if the grips that are on it now are the original wooden grips they talk about in the letter. If anyone has any info or pics of that time period that could shed some light on that I would appreciate it.

It has been a good couple weeks lately. First I get the K22 Combat Masterpiece, then last night I won a nice 4inch Model 29 and today this letter. Looks like my three goods in a row have happened.


For those that would like to see the whole letter here are the pics.

 

[OldChief]

That's one beautiful Model 19, congratulations.

 

[S&W ucla]

WOW! When we go fishin' we never know what we'll reel in!

 

[shawn mccarver]

Very nice revolver. I wonder if those are the grips that shipped with it, or if they all shipped with round butt magnas. I am guessing round butt magnas, but the grips are nice and the revolver itself is original. Excellent!

 

[damienph]

Original grips or not, that is one or the best looking model 19s that I have ever seen.

Thanks for posting the picture. I am definitely envious!!

 

[colt_saa]

Congratulations on a GREAT find

 

[Kernel Crittenden]

The Jink's letter doesn't mention it, but the product code for the 4-inch DSB gun was 100704. The 2.5-inch version was 100701.

I've seen the 100704 in it's factory box and all the label says is....

S RB **SPECIAL**​

Nothing specific about the grips. That gun, however, did wear plain checkered Magna stocks.

 

[JohnRippert]

That gun, however, did wear plain checkered Magna stocks.

That is what I figured it would have. Mine also came with a action job done to it. Both the strain screw and the mainspring were shaved. The screw was shortened and polished and the mainspring had both the side edges taken down a bit. Made for a almost scary good trigger though. I put it back to stock and saved the parts.

 

[rwt1405]

What a great find!

Congrats and enjoy that beautiful revolver!

 

[Florida Guy]

You gambled and won... congrats on a nice gun.

 

[Absalom]

That is a phantastic find. As somewhat of an agency revolver aficionado, happening upon guns associated with agencies which don't stamp their service guns is always a particularly happy occasion.

.....

.... I now have a second handgun that rode the hip of a Marine out in the world, as I believe the 4inch M19-5's were issued to the uniformed guards at embassies from the late '80s to the early '90s.....

I don't know how much you've researched this, but the DSS is a federal law enforcement agency, attached to the Department of State, that has nothing to do with the military or the Marine Corps. The DSS agents perform a variety of security duties abroad, such as protecting diplomatic personnel, investigating threats to embassies, and actually sometimes hunting terrorists. This gun would have been carried by one of their agents.

I recommend the book "Relentless Pursuit" by Samuel Katz about the DSS and its role in the hunt for the 1993 World Trade Center bombers and others during that era:

[ame]https://www.amazon.com/gp/aw/d/B008MYX6NY/ref=mp_s_a_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1502813785&sr=8-1&pi=AC_SX236_SY340_QL65&keywords=relentless+pursuit+samuel+katz[/ame]

PS: Learned something new. Just out of curiosity I scrounged around some military forums, and it does appear that at least back then (but not any more), the MSG detachments (Marine guards) at the embassies did carry State Dept.-provided weapons, and .357 revolvers were specifically mentioned, so either Marine or DSS agent are a possibility on your gun.

 

[KEN L]

Retired W4 has a 2 1/2" version in a matte black finish, that is also a State Dept gun. It's wearing the same stocks as the OP's gun. I just saw it this past weekend. Beautiful!

 

[JohnRippert]

PS: Learned something new. Just out of curiosity I scrounged around some military forums, and it does appear that at least back then (but not any more), the MSG detachments (Marine guards) at the embassies did carry State Dept.-provided weapons, and .357 revolvers were specifically mentioned, so either Marine or DSS agent are a possibility on your gun.

I can't remember if it was a post on this forum or somewhere else I saw it said that the 2.5in guns were carried by the plainclothes DSS guards and the 4in guns were for uniformed Marine guards. Makes sense to me but as we all know with S&W's, there are no absolutes.

Retired W4 has a 2 1/2" version in a matte black finish, that is also a State Dept gun. It's wearing the same stocks as the OP's gun. I just saw it this past weekend. Beautiful!

Oh man, you're killing me here.

Most of the pics I have seen of the 2.5in guns show Pachs on them.

 

[Dennismn]

Now that is one beautiful Model 19.

I've had a love affair with that model for about 30 years.

Great find, excellent price!