Informal Pictorial Essay - 3 inch K frames - Part 2 - 9mm & 357 Mag Models

[SmithNut]

Another re-tread of an old thread, originally posted in Dec 2006......


Here is the second installment of my "Informal Pictorial Essay". This covers the 9mm and 357 Mag K frames in my collection.
There are plenty of holes, but that's what makes the journey fun.

Enjoy.

 

[SmithNut]

Dup of above

 

[SmithNut]

Starting this thread with fixed sight models followed by the adjustable sight models in my collection.

This first gun is a Model 13-3, blue finish with standard hammer and standard smooth trigger.
S/N 17D3xx, puts this late 1982 production (non-pinned barrel). Pretty straight, ordinary and useful gun.

 

[SmithNut]

A companion to the gun above, this Model 13-3 is made in nickel about the same time. Features color case hammer & trigger (normal for early nickel guns).
S/N 17D1xxx puts this late 1982 (pretty close to the above gun).

 

[SmithNut]

This Performance Center PC13 is from early 1995, and is from the second run of these guns, billed by Lew Horton Distributors as a "Serious Carry Revolver".

Notice the ports on this gun are in the barrel rib next to the front sight. The first run had the quad ports down on the barrel, for some reason the second run was made within weeks of the release of the first so one wonders if the port location of the original was problematic for some reason. I have the same gun from the first run, but it's at my daughter's place, here is a pic of the two taken earlier. You can see the location of the ports on the top gun is lower, on the barrel instead of the barrel rib. S/N on that piece has the "HPC" prefix. The two production runs of this gun were only seperated by a few weeks. Both guns originally came with Eagle Secret Service Boot Grips.

 

[SmithNut]

This Model 65-3 is from 1986 (ANF7xxx) and still features flash chromed hammer and trigger (smooth). Pretty straight forward gun, no nonsense but functional carry piece.

 

[SmithNut]

Below are a couple Model 65-5 units. The first, BPK7xxx (1994 production) is a standard 3" gun, still using flash chromed hammer and trigger (smooth).

The second Model 65-5 is the Lady Smith version with the shrouded ejector rod and bead blasted finish. S/N is BNB6xxxm produced in 1994. A pretty neat package, this gun still has the flash chromed hammer and trigger (smooth) that lasted only a couple more years.

 

[SmithNut]

Last of the fixed sight guns will be this Model 547 - 9mm revolver. This gun has the characteristic shortened tang hammer and was originally shipped with the longer Target Magna grips.

S/N ABK6xxx, manufactured in 1982 (non-pinned barrel).

 

[SmithNut]

These three M19-2's have been shown before, so I'll add some shipping and configuration info.
All are in the K622xxx serial number range.

Top gun has a target hammer and trigger and was shipped on June 17, 1966 to Yorktown Custom Guns, Yourktown, OH.

The middle gun has a standard hammer and trigger and was shipped on March 3, 67 to Texas Gun Clinic, Houston, TX.

Bottom gun has standard hammer and trigger and was shipped on August 22, 1967 to a H. Miller, of Springfield, MA.

All three have a standard black ramp front sight. These guns were made up using the left over frames from the Naval ONI contract (4 inch RB revolvers.).

 

[SmithNut]

This Model 19-7 K-Comp is from the second production run (1997 for Lew Horton), and is numbered in the "KCPxxxx" prefix. The first run of K-Comps was made for the Stocking Dealer Program (1994) and were serial numbered in the "SDAxxxx" serial number range.
The K-Comp model included the frosted blue finish, radiused trigger (w/trigger stop) and non-tear drop shape hammer (the earlier production run had that style), along with the front night sight and "power" style muzzle port. The original rubber grips are long gone in favor of Spegel Boot grips.

 

[SmithNut]

Recently added this Lew Horton M19 to the clan. Not many made, about 75 I've read. This one is wierd in that the product code is from a standard production model. This gun sports the same bobbed hammer as the PC-13, the only other gun made that has these installed from what I can tell.
Mine is sporting Spegels, of course, and I've changed the ramp front sight out for a Patridge.

 

[SmithNut]

This M66-2 is s/n AHJ1xxx and was shipped in 1985 to Ashland Shooters Supply. This is the first time they made the M66 in this barrel length. The original grips were not with it when I got it, so it's wearing some Spegels....

 

[SmithNut]

This M66-4 is much later than the gun above, it shipped on Nov 11, 1994 to RSR. Serial number is CAA8xxx. This is one of my favorite late model configurations, it still has all the forged parts (flash chromed hammer & trigger) as well as the later style rear sight assembly, the fitting into the topstrap, to me, is very attractive.

 

[SmithNut]

This next gun is a M66-5, the last of the configurations before they added the lock to this model. S/N CEC2xxx, this gun shipped to RSR on 4/25/2000. This is the engineering change that moved the firing pin from the hammer to the frame, as well as adding the integral frame lug. Again, the rubber grips were replaced by something that I can stomach..

The front sight has also been replaced with a Patridge style... Love it!

 

[SmithNut]

This Model 66-3 F-Comp is from the first production run made for Lew Horton Distributors. S/N is PCP01xx and dates to 1993). Features include the flash chromed tear drop shaped hammer and trigger with integral trigger stop. PC shaped cylinder release and front night sight were standard with this model. Note the PC logo is laser etched on, under the cylinder release.
Gun is wearing Spegel Boot grips made from Macassar Ebony.

 

[SmithNut]

This Model 66-4 F-comp was made for Lew Horton in the 1995. S/N is LHFxxxx. Has the same features as the gun above, except that the hammer is not tear drop shaped, and the logo is roll-marked on instead of laser etched.
Wearing Spegel Boot grips, it also has a rear night sight assembly that is not original.

One more! Recently added this M66-4 "Super-K" to the stable (Thanks Louie!), made in 1997 (product code 17090), this has a contoured barrel and magna ports as standard. The gun shipped with polymer magna grips, they didn't do it for me so it's now wearing Spegels (what else?)

 

[gaucho1]

I really enjoy your pictorials.

A fine and interesting tour.

Thank You

 

[bronco45]

Beautiful Smiths. Obviously a lot of thought, work and insight that is reflected in this collection. Thanks for sharing.

 

[winter1857]

Smithnut is my HERO.

 

[TSW Guy]

Originally posted by winter1857:
Smithnut is my HERO.

+1!