Factory Nickel & Proud Pins?

[flundertaker]

Acquired this one recently. Seller wasn't particularly helpful with pics but I took the chance anyways. I know factory nickel guns have the N stamped on the butt and cylinder face. Not exactly sure this one is. It has an N on the butt but not on the cylinder face, rather under the star and the font is both smaller and different than what Ive seen before in both places. Can anyone confirm this is a factory nickel gun? Also the proud pins on the front sight. I was under the impression the proud pins were something from the 50's. The lazy & and pins make me wonder if the barrel has been swapped. This gun dates to 1965 (K630729) if I am not mistaken. I dont have much into this piece so my feelings wont be hurt either way but I am wondering what exactly I am dealing with besides a nasty, uncared for model 19 that in need of some lovin'. That I can and will provide.

 

[DoubleNickel]

I have a nickel 29 no dash from early 60s which has the small N under the extractor star, like your 19, rather than the cylinder face. I believe that's the way it was done at the time.
I can't speak about the pins without it in front of me. I can check tomorrow

 

[snw19_357]

From the pics posted, it looks like a factory nickel.

That ampersand is quite common on Model 19's in the K623 ~ K654 range.

Since the front sight is blued and the barrel is nickel, the proud pins are quite common. Usually the front sight would be installed on the barrel, the pins polished flush and then finished. That's not possible in this situation.

 

[stansdds]

Looks like factory nickel to me.

 

[RKmesa]

Looks righteous to me.

 

[Marksman]

With the barrel roll mark appearing to be off center I believe the barrel to have been shortened. When the front sight was re-attached the pins were left proud so as not to require refinishing.

 

[Retired W4]

Factory nickel.

 

[flundertaker]

Thank you for the affirmation of factory nickel finish. I pulled the side plate and gave the internals a good cleaning and used some Mothers on the nickel. It cleaned up pretty well considering what I started with. Stocks are being refinished with tru-oil. Barrel pic included for input regarding roll mark being off center and possibility of barrel being cut down. It currently measures almost a perfect 4"

 

[JeffD607]

Wow..... that cleaned up real nice!

 

[flundertaker]

Here's the before pics. Nasty.

 

[Engine49guy]

The 4" and 6" Combat Magnum front sight ramp was a seperate piece cross pinned to the barrel until around late 1969, the blued versions pins were usually ( not always) polished flush.

Nickel 19 barrels were plated with the ramp off, the front site ramp was finished in blue and was pinned on later and the pins were left "proud".
Beginning around late 1969 early 1970 during the Model 19-3 production the factory began making the fs ramp integral with the barrel ( note the fs "blade" was still pinned to the ramp and polished flush).

Nickel 19-3's began getting nickel coated ramps and blades late 1969 early 1970.

On a side note the Model 66 was introduced just after the change so unfortunately none have a pinned ramp although the earliest examples do have a K serial prefix.

Imo your barrel looks correct.
While 4" and 6" nickel 19-2's are always found with blue fs ramps and proud pins nickel 19-3's are rarely found with blue ramps, my guess is not many nickel 19-3's were made between the dash 3 revision change around 1968 and the integral ramp change in 1970.
Attached pic left to right
4" Model 19, K391560 02/1961
6" Model 19-3 K899759 10/1969
4" Model 19-4 60K9548 05/1980

 

[flundertaker]

The 4" and 6" Combat Magnum front sight ramp was a seperate piece cross pinned to the barrel until around late 1969, the blued versions pins were usually ( not always) polished flush.

Nickel 19 barrels were plated with the ramp off, the front site ramp was finished in blue and was pinned on later and the pins were left "proud".
Beginning around late 1969 early 1970 during the Model 19-3 production the factory began making the fs ramp integral with the barrel ( note the fs "blade" was still pinned to the ramp and polished flush).

Nickel 19-3's began getting nickel coated ramps and blades late 1969 early 1970.

On a side note the Model 66 was introduced just after the change so unfortunately none have a pinned ramp although the earliest examples do have a K serial prefix.

Imo your barrel looks correct.
While 4" and 6" nickel 19-2's are always found with blue fs ramps and proud pins nickel 19-3's are rarely found with blue ramps, my guess is not many nickel 19-3's were made between the dash 3 revision change around 1968 and the integral ramp change in 1970.
Attached pic left to right
4" Model 19, K391560 02/1961
6" Model 19-3 K899759 10/1969
4" Model 19-4 60K9548 05/1980

Great info Sir. I appreciate it. Very nice trio you have. Curious if the non checkered stocks are original on all three or your preference?

 

[paplinker]

The 4" and 6" Combat Magnum front sight ramp was a seperate piece cross pinned to the barrel until around late 1969, the blued versions pins were usually ( not always) polished flush.

Nickel 19 barrels were plated with the ramp off, the front site ramp was finished in blue and was pinned on later and the pins were left "proud".
Beginning around late 1969 early 1970 during the Model 19-3 production the factory began making the fs ramp integral with the barrel ( note the fs "blade" was still pinned to the ramp and polished flush).

Nickel 19-3's began getting nickel coated ramps and blades late 1969 early 1970.

On a side note the Model 66 was introduced just after the change so unfortunately none have a pinned ramp although the earliest examples do have a K serial prefix.

Imo your barrel looks correct.
While 4" and 6" nickel 19-2's are always found with blue fs ramps and proud pins nickel 19-3's are rarely found with blue ramps, my guess is not many nickel 19-3's were made between the dash 3 revision change around 1968 and the integral ramp change in 1970.
Attached pic left to right
4" Model 19, K391560 02/1961
6" Model 19-3 K899759 10/1969
4" Model 19-4 60K9548 05/1980

I do believe there are some early 27-2s nickel guns with black front sights? I have come across a couple on auction sites but none I saw a letter on to verify.

 

[Engine49guy]

Great info Sir. I appreciate it. Very nice trio you have. Curious if the non checkered stocks are original on all three or your preference?

I was celebrating my 16th BD when the 19-4 shipped so am not the original owner of any of them.
None are the original stocks they shipped with but all are correct era.
The 19-4 was unfired and wearing proper checkered targets but cant recall what the other two were wearing, if memory serves they were both duty guns and wearing beat up old rubber Pachmayers that got tossed.
I have an obvious weaness for dark smooth presentation stocks on nickel guns so fit them to each.

 

[Engine49guy]

I do believe there are some early 27-2s nickel guns with black front sights? I have come across a couple on auction sites but none I saw a letter on to verify.

My focus was more on the Model 19 than the Model 27.
I have seen plenty of early nickel 27's with blue pinned ramps but do not know when the change occured on that model.
My only nickel 27-2 is a late transitional 4".
I once handled an early production 4" nickel 29-2 with diamond cokes and a pinned blue ramp (that I foolishly let get away years ago and still kick myself over) so would not be surprised if the change occured during the 27-2 revision and if so they would be found both ways blue ramp early, nickel ramp later like the 29-2.
Below is 4" nickel 27-2 (recessed but non pinned) Serial N941017 Shipped Feb 1984.
Arrived wearing checkered magnas and currently wearing Herrets smooth dark presentation stocks with SW medallions.

 

[millerj7]

I do believe there are some early 27-2s nickel guns with black front sights? I have come across a couple on auction sites but none I saw a letter on to verify.

My 5"