Info on a revolver

[Kwesty]

Hello everyone

I would like to see if I can get some help from you guys about this revolver that was given to me since I cannot seem to find anything out through my own digging i thought I would try here.

its a 2 1/2 inch S&W 357 its says Model 19-5 with a C-9 stamped above the serial number. Basically just trying to see if this is an original pistol or if its had some modifications done to it. Any help would be appreciated thanks in advance.

 

[MetalMan]

Welcome to the forum!! Great first post and thanks for the photos...these are always appreciated on the forum.

Congratulations on your acquisition of the 19-5, arguably one of the quintessential S&W firearms.

Your looks to be in great shape.

Is it nickeled or hard-chromed? Model 19's are typically blued.

The DOB for this gun can be determined by the serial number which should be stamped onto the bottom of the grip frame. If the grips completely cover the bottom of the grip frame, you will have to remove them to gain access to the serial number.

The "C9" and numbers below that are simply assembly numbers used to keep the parts together during production.

I also own a 19-5 which doesn't have the red insert on the front sight ramp; not sure if the insert is OEM or aftermarket. Mine has an "AZZ"- prefix serial number and dates to late-1988, the last year of production for this model.

 

[herschelgconyers]

Looks like paint on the front sight.

Sent from my ME301T using Tapatalk

 

[Grayfox]

Is that a square butt or just target grips on a round butt? Every 2 1/2" Model 19 I've ever seen was a round butt. If that is a square butt, I'd suspect that the barrel has been changed. But, as we all know, with S&W never say never.
BTW: those stocks by themselves are quite valuable.

 

[s&wchad]

The non-original diamond target stocks have been "modified", which seriously reduced their value. The gun looks really nice!

Post a photo of the frame with the stocks removed. An original 19-5 with a 2-1/2" barrel will have a round butt grip frame.

 

[Kwesty]

More pics

Here are some more pics. It looks like the emblem on the grips say S&W but they are kinda faded so who knows. Also it does look like someone painted the front sight post . How do I go about finding the age based off the SN#?

 

[Inusuit]

Post the serial number here, and someone with access to the Standard Catalog of Smith and Wesson, 4th Edition can give you the approximate shipping date of your revolver. Some are leery of posting the full serial number. If you are one, use XX for the last two numbers on the right.

Oops, I didn't look at all your pictures. Serial numbers with an ACC prefix were shipped in 1985.

 

[MetalMan]

I also believe that the 'N' stamped on the grip frame indicates factory nickel finish.

 

[Kwesty]

Thanks for the info.

 

[bananaman]

Welcome to the FORUM! Yes, was shipped from the factory as "Nickel" I have a 66-2 in stainless. It is the same gun. Enjoy it! Find yourself some round butt stocks. Bob

 

[H Richard]

That is a Factory nickle Mod 19, but the grips are from an earlier K Frame, and look to have been modified, filed straight across the top. Nice looking gun. Welcome to the Forum.

 

[stansdds]

Sure looks to be a factory nickel plated 2 1/2 inch Model 19-5. The stocks are genuine S&W too, but the modifications to the stocks has destroyed their value.

 

[Kwesty]

I got the factory grips located and coming my way.

 

[Art Doc]

Oh...the humanity. Targets on a snub nose is bad enough but when the stocks are $250 early style modified to be worthless...heart breaking. (Of course, my heart is already broken.)

 

[Kwesty]

Forgive me being ignorant but what do the target grips look like when they are not modified? Everyone seems to be distraught about those grips.

I have just started getting into revolvers so I have quite an amount to learn but I welcome the challenge.

 

[ABPOS]

I'm thinking they were modified so that possibly a speedloader would work with them. There isn't enough room in the normal configuration of target stocks.