model 19-3 info

[bugmanz]

picked this up about 2 months ago,sn 5k41xxx.it was a blued gun that appears to have had the bluing rubbed off,maybe by hand.its a round butt,and in rough shape,and i was told it came from Puerto Rico.every thing looks original on it.thanks for any and all thoughts.

 

[old bear]

There has to be someone out there that knows more about this than I do, but from the pictures your revolver looks like an early M-66, which was the stainless steel version of the M-19

 

[jtpur]

I think you're looking at a DOB of 1972.....does it have 19-3 stamped on it? I can not tell from the photos if it is nickle, or if it had bluing on it.....if it is staineless I would agree its a model 66.....unless someone had it refinished with a "stainless look finish..."

 

[bugmanz]

thanks for the dob info jtpur.gentlemen it does have a 19-3 stamped on it and the bluing looks to have been rubbed off,maybe by hand. i had a friend tell me that the 4 inch 19 was not normally made in a round butt configuration .any thoughts on this?it is a great shooter i might add.thanks.

 

[murphydog]

You are correct, the 4" 19-3s are square butt. If the grip frame is unaltered from the factory, someone switched the original 2 1/2" barrel for the 4", in addition to the "refinishing" (unfinishing?).

 

[snw19_357]

Looking at the shape of the frame on the top near the barrel, it appears to be a round butt frame so most likely, the 2-1/2" barrel was replaced with a 4". But, some RB 19's did leave the factory with 4" barrels so without a letter, can't be 100% sure the barrel isn't original.

Is the frame stripped or does it have a nickel finish? Pictures are kinda small but the hammer appears to be nickel.