K frame with identity problem

[unspellable]

I have what appears to be a 66 no dash with 2.5 inch barrel and round butt.
The model number under the yoke is 19-3!!
Serial number indicates 1971, first year for the 66. The serial number does not appear under the yoke, only on the butt.
At first, I assumed a mismarked 66, but since it is first year, could they have made a few marked as model 19-3??
It is stainless, has the ramp front sight with red insert. Narrow hammer and trigger. Rubber grips with S&W logo in the rubber. Original?

 

[two-bit cowboy]

Photos??????

 

[Thin Man]

Sounds like a hard-chromed 19-3.
That finish tends to look virtually identical to stainless steel.
Pictures would be a big help in determining precisely what you've got.

 

[unspellable]

Definitely unquestionably stainless. Also, never saw a 19 with a ramp front sight.
I'll see if I can figure out how to post photos tomorrow, but every body here should know what a 66 looks like, and it looks like a 66.

 

[ken158]

This comes up a lot here and since electroless nickel became popular in the 70's, many stainless looking guns have fooled many owners… On another note, all 2 1/2 and most 4 inch 19's have a ramp front sight. Post a pic of the yoke frame area with serial number and you will surely receive the info you want (or maybe do not want…)

 

[murphydog]

The round butt, 2.5" model 66 was introduced in 1974, and all factory 2.5-4" model 19s have the Baughman ramp front sight (the 6" had the Patridge).

The complicated explanation for this one is a factory mis-stamped gun that was round-butted and built three years early, but the simple explanation is a satin hard chromed model 19-3.

 

[glenwolde]

Only a letter would confirm, but my money is on a hard-chromed 19-3. Please explain why you think it is "Definitely unquestionably stainless".

A hard-chromed 19 looks so very close to a 66 and will fool all but the most experienced if all you have to go on is a visual inspection. I've been fooled and I've seen and owned plenty of both. The difference is very subtle and hard to distinguish in photos.

But as the experts around here say, "never say never" about S&W revolvers.

 

[GerSan69]

I've sent guns to be hard-chromed and they fooled me when they got back.
No worries, it may not be worth as much as an early 66 but it'll never wear out, either.

 

[hkcavalier]

Hey I got fooled by this 34-1. Posts are still archived somewhere on the Forum. But definitely hard chrome.

 

[stansdds]

Hard chrome can look almost exactly like stainless, odds are it is a Model 19 with what is the best finish that can be put on a firearm. As for a ramp front sight on a Model 19 or 66, that was the most common front sight. The Patridge sight was an option, at least on 6 inch Model 19's.

 

[Pine_Worker]

Still no photos.

 

[H Richard]

This is a 19-4 I had "Metaloy'ed" quite a few years ago. It's a great finish and wears like iron.

 

[RCL-09]

I have a 57 that I would swear is a SS 657 and so does everyone I have ever shown it to. But it is a hard chrome 57...

 

[sigp220.45]

One of my gunstore buddies handed me what I thought was a 4" 66, but it was marked as a Model 19. I asked if it was mis-stamped - nope. Refinished - nope. Turns out it was completely in the white - no finish at all.

I suspect the OP's gun is a nicely refinished Model 19. A call to the factory should settle it.

When you hear hoofbeats expect horses, not zebras.

 

[unspellable]

Guys, turns out to be a 19-3 factory nickel plated. It's a real fooler. I've had a number of S&Ws both nickel and stainless, as well ras other makes both nickel and stainless. Could always tell them apart at a glance from ten feet. Never before have I seen nickel look so much like stainless.
It's not the best nickel job I've seen from S&W although nothing to complain about. (Not quite as shiny as the usual nickel.)
Every 6 inch 19 I've ever seen had a Patridge front sight. Always wanted one with the ramp front sight.

 

[JP@AK]

Every 6 inch 19 I've ever seen had a Patridge front sight. Always wanted one with the ramp front sight.

As someone already mentioned, the 4" Combat Magnum nearly always shipped with the Baughman front sight. Here are two Model 19-3 examples. The nickel one has walnut targets that are not original to the gun. They should be GA, as seen on the blue example.

 

[GerSan69]

Guys, turns out to be a 19-3 factory nickel plated. It's a real fooler. I've had a number of S&Ws both nickel and stainless, as well ras other makes both nickel and stainless. Could always tell them apart at a glance from ten feet. Never before have I seen nickel look so much like stainless.
It's not the best nickel job I've seen from S&W although nothing to complain about. (Not quite as shiny as the usual nickel.)
Every 6 inch 19 I've ever seen had a Patridge front sight. Always wanted one with the ramp front sight.

It sounds like the "cloudy" effect that some nickel guns get after a couple decades might have affected your whole gun.
I'll bet that some polishing will bring back the finish if you're so inclined.

 

[Sevens]

A nickel 19 would have a black ejector star, usually an easy giveaway that is isn't stainless.