Gary7
Member
Did S&W ever make a model that was identical to the Model 19 except chambered in 38 Special?
Edit: I should have posted this in the 61 to 80 forum.
Edit: I should have posted this in the 61 to 80 forum.
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Did S&W ever make 38 Special "Model 19"?
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gerald mcdonald
Member
I saw a new one about 12 or so years ago. Shop guy told me it was part of an over run for some police department. Cylinder was a standard model 15 size stuck in the 19 frame window.
Be interested to hear if he was correct.
Be interested to hear if he was correct.
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andyL8
Member
And S&W did make the Model 15, which is more or less identical to the 19. The Model 15 had a more tapered barrel, an un-shrouded ejector rod and a slightly shorter cylinder, but even side by side, you have to look twice. I don't know if that answers your question
Andy
Andy
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Gary7
Member
Not really. I'm wondering if they made a revolver that was identical to the Model 19 (bull barrel with rib, ejector rod shroud, etc.) but chambered in 38 Special.
Big Lou
Member
SCSW mentions the following;
Model 19-3, 2" Barrel, RB in .38spl without barrel shroud.
Model 19-8, chambered in.38spl, 2.5" or 4" barrel, SB, product code 148926. special order 0055 or 0056...2000
It would be kinda neat if a member had one of these and could post a pic.
Model 19-3, 2" Barrel, RB in .38spl without barrel shroud.
Model 19-8, chambered in.38spl, 2.5" or 4" barrel, SB, product code 148926. special order 0055 or 0056...2000
It would be kinda neat if a member had one of these and could post a pic.
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Yes, the Thailand Police ordered the 13-4, quantities not mentioned, per the SCSW. Regarding the original question, I recall seeing a .38 Special model 19 for sale sometime in the last year or two, but can't recall the price or even if it sold. Seems the term "Magnum" just scares some people...
Grog
Member
....and I seem to remember some 38spl 586s out there....
SFCHAINLEY
Member
Model 19
I bought a 4 in. blued gun last year off gb, inside the yoke it said mod.19-7 on the barrel it said .38 special. the cyl was a .357. I sold it to one of my friends that just had to have it.
I bought a 4 in. blued gun last year off gb, inside the yoke it said mod.19-7 on the barrel it said .38 special. the cyl was a .357. I sold it to one of my friends that just had to have it.
gerald mcdonald
Member
The one I saw was brand new from the factory around 97 or 98, full size 4" model 19 with the shorter 38 spec cylinder mounted to a 19 frame. It had the barrel shroud and was in every way a regular model 19 with a 38 spec cylinder.
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Gary7
Member
Was it a Model 19 chambered in 38, or did it have a different model number?
Alk8944
US Veteran
10 responses and only Big Lou got it right. Obviously later posters didn't read his response.
From SCSW3, p187:
Model 19-3, 2"Barrel: Round butt in .38 Special caliber without barrel shroud.
Model 19-8,Chambered in .38 Special: 2-1/2" or 4" barrel, square butt, product code 148926; special order 0055 or 0056. 2000.
Not only .38 Special, but 9mm too! From SCSW 1st Edition, p116:
Model 19 9mm: Model 19 variations exist chambered in 9mm-a forerunner of the Model 547 for European export.
References are wonderful.
So the answer is YES. Not a 15, or 13, but a Model 19 in .38 Special, just like was asked. At least 2 acknowledged having seen one.
From SCSW3, p187:
Model 19-3, 2"Barrel: Round butt in .38 Special caliber without barrel shroud.
Model 19-8,Chambered in .38 Special: 2-1/2" or 4" barrel, square butt, product code 148926; special order 0055 or 0056. 2000.
Not only .38 Special, but 9mm too! From SCSW 1st Edition, p116:
Model 19 9mm: Model 19 variations exist chambered in 9mm-a forerunner of the Model 547 for European export.
References are wonderful.
So the answer is YES. Not a 15, or 13, but a Model 19 in .38 Special, just like was asked. At least 2 acknowledged having seen one.
gerald mcdonald
Member
I read it, I was just trying to clarify that what I saw had a shorter 38 spec cylinder in a 19.
Gary, it was labeled a 19.
Here is a 19-8 that is marked "38 Special" but will chamber a 357 mag. I understand that many of the 19's will chamber the 357. I have not yet heard a definitive explaination for these guns but it is speculated that these guns were left over from an overseas order and rechambered by the factory for the American market.
gerald mcdonald
Member
The one I saw was a short cylinder, there were obviously some made with the 357 cylinder and barrels marked 38 spec. makes me wonder if S&W didnt clean out the parts bin assembling revovlers to move the inventory out.
kscardsfan
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Lets not forget the model 586 built for the South American PD market.
Mod 19s
Here's a pair of the 38 SPL marked guns that are overrun guns for Brazil.
Both of these guns will chamber a 357 round but are marked 38Spl.
Here are the 586s for Brazil that ARE 38Spl only!
jcelect
Here's a pair of the 38 SPL marked guns that are overrun guns for Brazil.
Both of these guns will chamber a 357 round but are marked 38Spl.
Here are the 586s for Brazil that ARE 38Spl only!
jcelect
cmj8591
Member
Smith never made a model "66" in 38 spl. (At least that they ever told anyone about!). They did make a model, the number of which escapes me, for the California Highway Patrol which was the same as the 66 but was chambered in 38. The gun was stainless and had a 6" barrel with ejector shroud. It was marked "CHP" on the left side of the frame under the cylinder. CHP sold the guns at some point but before they did they over stamped the "CHP" marking so that it read "OHB". The gun had a red insert front sight and a white outline rear and was fitted with target stocks. I think that they marked the yoke model 78 or 74 or something like that. I will have to do some research when I am near my library.
I have one of those CHP revolvers. It is not overstamped. It is indeed a 6" SS model 68. The box it came in is marked "special". It has the red ramp but no white outline rear. It has hogue grips but the box says SB under "stock". Is that the designation for target grips or is "stock" on the box for something else?
The CHP did tests that indicated to them (so they said) that the +P+ .38 was just as good as the .357 so they went with the .38. I think it was because there were several women and smaller stature men coming onto the force at that time and it was easier for them to control. If you did not qualify, you did not graduate from the academy. There was a lot of time and money invested to get them trained thus far and they wanted to have the most people qualify. It was also thought that all members carrying .38 would simplify ammo purchase and using others ammo in an emergency. The CHP has a lot of officers and the amount of ammo they use every month is a big investment.
Of course now it is all changed, to .40 automatics.
The CHP did tests that indicated to them (so they said) that the +P+ .38 was just as good as the .357 so they went with the .38. I think it was because there were several women and smaller stature men coming onto the force at that time and it was easier for them to control. If you did not qualify, you did not graduate from the academy. There was a lot of time and money invested to get them trained thus far and they wanted to have the most people qualify. It was also thought that all members carrying .38 would simplify ammo purchase and using others ammo in an emergency. The CHP has a lot of officers and the amount of ammo they use every month is a big investment.
Of course now it is all changed, to .40 automatics.
cmj8591
Member
I just noticed xray's post above. The .38 CHP gun is indeed the model 68. These guns were made in the late 70's and I think they came about because the CHP didn't want to look like a bunch of cowboys by arming up with an evil Magnum. They also wouldn't allow the use of expanding bullets, issuing round nose and then semi wad cutters. In case a Chippy had to shoot someone, they wanted to be sure that they didn't hurt them too badly. It took a couple of shootings where things went bad for the good guy before things started to change. And they didn't change much. It's still a defendant friendly state when it comes to police work. A lot like it is here in the North East.
As a side note: About a year ago one of the over stamps had made its way East and into my hands at the local gun shop. The price was right but I didn't pull the trigger fast enough (pun intended) and it now lives with someone else.
As a side note: About a year ago one of the over stamps had made its way East and into my hands at the local gun shop. The price was right but I didn't pull the trigger fast enough (pun intended) and it now lives with someone else.
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Gary7
Member
The Model 15 doesn't have the barrel underlug.
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It does this time. Check out the new Classic Model 15.
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Gary7
Member
I just checked the S&W web site and I don't see a Model 15 listed in the Classic line.
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I just checked the S&W web site and I don't see a Model 15 listed in the Classic line.
Correct. It is not yet on the S&W web site, but one other person saw the same thing:
From a post on this Forum:
New Model 15 In Catalog
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Picked up the Smith catalog from a gunshop this weekend. IN the classic's section was a new model 15. But. It has an underlug. Looks like a 19. Check it out.
http://smith-wessonforum.com/s-w-revolvers-1980-present/139382-new-model-15-catalog.html
http://www.smith-wesson.com/wcsstore/SmWesson2/upload/other/2010_S&W_Catalog_3.pdf
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Hannibal Barca
Member
Here is a 19-8 that is marked "38 Special" but will chamber a 357 mag. I understand that many of the 19's will chamber the 357. I have not yet heard a definitive explaination for these guns but it is speculated that these guns were left over from an overseas order and rechambered by the factory for the American market.
May be it was a prior owner who re-chamber it to .357. If the S&W factory was done it they would change the .38 Special marks too.
Just remember that many .38/44 Outdoorsman and Heavy Duty were converted to .357 Magnum for their owners.
I would´t do it this whit a model 19 .38 Special only because I would prefer to have a special edition model 19 .38 than te more common .357.
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Texas Star
US Veteran
Hannibal-
Can you even own a .357 in Mexico? Brazil limits civilians to a .38, unless they buy an expensive collectors' license.
Come to think of it, I believe one of our other members there owns an old .357 Magnum that was carried by a famous Marine officer and FBI agent. He's actually Canadian, but has lived in Mexico for years.
Jim I think that was CalMex (?) who has the R.M. If I remember his comments correctly the gun is illegal in Mexico do the .357 Magnum caliber, and he was trying to find a way to get out of the country or find an old 38/44 barrel to swap out with the .357 Magnum barrel.
hotrod150
Member
I recently saw a "S&W model 66 38 special" listed for sale on a guns-for-sale website that kinda raised my eyebrow. Thought that the seller probably didn't know what he was taking about, but after reading this thread maybe it was the real deal.
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