Model 19-1 4" Nickel - Grail Gun I didn't even know I was looking for-Updated w/Pics

EarlB

Member
Joined
Jul 8, 2015
Messages
597
Reaction score
2,309
Location
North Texas
Model 19-1 4" Nickel - Grail Gun I didn't even know I was looking for-Updated w/Pics

My current "grail" guns are a registered or non-registered magnum, and a Model 27 no dash 3-1/2". They still are, but today I found a grail gun I wasn't expecting. An as new, in original box 19-1 4-screw 4" nickel Combat Magnum with all paperwork, accessories and tools. You don't see these come up for sale often so I half expected to never find one. It has the N stamp on the frame and under the ejection star as well as the L on the fact of the cylinder. It is S#K422279. I'll get some better pics tomorrow when the sun is out. It has some absolutely gorgeous diamond target stocks. Interestingly although my pre-19 combat magnum came with red insert ramp front, white outline rear sights, diamond targets, and TH/TT - this one they only opted for the target stocks as shown by the very faded writing on the box label. I do love the blue ramp front sight with the proud pins.

Thanks,
Earl

sw191.jpg

sw1911.jpg

sw1912.jpg

sw1913.jpg

sw1914.jpg

sw1915.jpg

sw1916.jpg

sw1917.jpg

sw1918.jpg

sw1919.jpg

sw19110.jpg

sw19111.jpg

sw19112.jpg

sw19113.jpg

sw19114.jpg

sw19115.jpg
 
Last edited:
Register to hide this ad
Nice revolver ;)

For comparison have blue 4" Model 19 (no dash) Serial K 422034 Shipped May 1961..
BTW AFAIK Nickel 19's made before late 1969 early 1970 would have the blue ramp proud pin combo.

Also... 4" and 6" Combat Magnums came standard with checkered target stocks or smooth presentation stocks,
RB snubs were usually shipped with Magna stocks
 
Last edited:
Yes sir, very faded but it can still be read under light (don't worry as I've seen some do I won't touch it up!). And the opposite end of the lid has silver lettering that states what it is, finish, and barrel length. Perhaps the red ink doesn't hold up as well to time as the black? Either that or it is a result of how the box was stored over the years. None of my other boxes with black or blue ink on the labels have the writing faded to this extent. Earl

Is the box label writing in red ink?
Ed
 
Last edited:
Most 19-1 boxes I have seen have red ink that has faded badly, almost to the point that it looks like a solvent got on the label.
 
Updated with some more pics. Has anyone seen or heard of a 19-1 with an earlier serial number? From what I've been told and found with my google fu, it may be amoung the earliest reported. Interestingly, those this early seemed to have shipped the latest. I put in a SDR for Roy on the SWCA forum, judging by another that was a few hundred numbers above mine, there's a good chance this shipped as a birth year gun for me (1963). I wasn't even looking for this one. I'm really excited to add it to the collection. I obtained it from a fellow collector whom I've purchased several Smiths from. He had offered me something else and I told him lately I've been looking more at 4 and 5 screw revolvers. Then he sent me the first pic above...

EDIT..Thanks to Roy, I know now it shipped in July 1962.

Earl
 
Last edited:
I picked up a 19-4 not to long ago that's really nice but I didn't get all the goodies like you did. There is one thing I really like about yours over the one I got, that's the blued front sights mine are nickeled and they are difficult to see clearly.
 
Last edited:
That's a beautiful revolver too xfuzz! I know many don't, but I do love nickel revolvers! When trying to decide on what I wanted to sell to recoup some of the cost of the 19-1, I picked up a nickel 15-3 snub out of the safe. It wasn't the first time I've pulled it out thinking about selling it, but every time I handle it I put it back - I just can't let it go!
 
Beautiful revolver! Cost to obtain it would determine whether I would shoot it. Tough decision...
 
It is the lowest serial numbered 19-1 I know of. It will be interesting find out what month in 1962 (possibly 1963) it shipped.

Bill

Case in point - I have a nickel Model 19 (no dash), SN K422470, that is almost 200 SN's higher than the OP's dash one!!!:eek: Just confirms that the guns were not assembled nor shipped in SN order...
 
Last edited:
Thanks Tom, I agree. When I first started collecting S&W revolvers I wasn't a nickel fan. But after handling a few of them, that changed. Now I look for both blue and nickel examples. This one is a year older than I am, I wish I was in as good a shape comparatively speaking! Instead I lost my box, my tools are broken, my stocks have swelled up too much, and my finish is all flaked off on top :(

In all seriousness, this is one of the most beautiful Revolvers that I have ever seen.

It is stunning.
 
Last edited:
Serial Number correction

Here's one with a much higher number. ****It is K464886, not K484886 as the pics indicate***. It's still about 40,000 higher in serial number. Had to get the letter out to see the mistake I originally made when I took the pics. Old eyes:) Richard is correct, don't attempt to correlate shipping dates to serial numbers on a -1 or any other S&W actually. The only way to know for certain is a factory letter.:)
Chuck
xlarge.jpg

standard.jpg
 
Last edited:

Latest posts

Back
Top