Model 19-4 Nickel owners manual?

[Fredo Corleone]

I recently bought this Model 19-4 Nickel on gunbroker with no box or paperwork I was wondering which would be the appropriate owners manual. I think the -4 is the first model to have the front sight insert, the last pinned and recessed model 19. I am not sure if this would be a more hard to find manual.

 

[shawn mccarver]

I think it would use whatever manual they were using at the time for the Model 19. I do not believe they change manuals each time there is an engineering change. The 19-4 was introduced in the late 70s, so I suspect the folding instruction sheet and two-piece cardboard box with the metal reinforced edges would be correct. Often, they used a gray box for nickel guns, but also I think if they were out, they used what they had. In addition, I am not sure when, but at some point, they stopped using the gray box and used all blue boxes. Your gun, however, pre-dates the one piece folding box with the insert.

 

[toddimusnimski]

Nice gun! Check with S&W to determine the shipping date based on the serial number (should be between 77 and 82) and look for a manual online that is closest to that but not after. Your gun was made during the 64ish-84ish Bangor Punta ownership and manuals from that era will have that on page 1. There may be a date (ie 11-79) underneath the parts breakdown pic on page 2, sometimes a "prices effective" date with the parts list on page 3, and sometimes a date code at the bottom of page 4. Once you look at enough of them you'll know the right one when you see it.

Todd