Model 19-4 Stainless

[Robbyrayd]

I have a model 19-4 in stainless not nickel. Everyone thinks it is a model 66. I called S&W today to ask about it and they confirmed that a few 19-4 were made in stainless. I have tried looking up values for it but blue book does not list a stainless version! Does anyone know anything about these?

 

[robertrwalsh]

I never even knew such a thing existed. That might be worth a couple of bucks.

 

[505Gibbs]

I have a model 19-4 in stainless not nickel. Everyone thinks it is a model 66. I called S&W today to ask about it and they confirmed that a few 19-4 were made in stainless. I have tried looking up values for it but blue book does not list a stainless version! Does anyone know anything about these?

Without a letter their comment in meaningless!

 

[LoboGunLeather]

Sounds like a piece to hang onto and document as much as possible. Factory letter would be the first step.

 

[Robbyrayd]

I added some pictures

 

[s&wchad]

Welcome aboard.

I doubt it's stainless. Post a photo of the back of the cylinder showing the extractor star. A photo of the left side of the grip frame might also help.

 

[SmithNut]

I'm guessing hard chrome, it's fooled a lot of folks over the years here...

 

[sndbggr1484]

Weren't stainless barrels stamped with an 'S' in the ejector shroud?

 

[Robbyrayd]

Added pic of back of cylinder. Thanks everyone for your help.

 

[Hair Trigger]

Remove the grips and post pics of both sides of the grip frame. Nice looking revolver, made in 1980 according to the SN.

 

[Marshal Tom]

Me thinks hard chrome!

 

[Truckman]

Without a SWHF letter, it's all speculation...An interesting gun nonetheless......Ben

 

[ken158]

Well, 66's in all barrels had ramp front sights, they did not have target H&T and a big give away is the blue extractor instead of stainless. Your 19-4 is hard chrome. As SmithNut said, hard chrome has fooled many over the years.

 

[The Mighty S&W]

I've got a model 66-3 with a 2.5 inch barrel, and I was thinking that it (the model 66) is the stainless steel version of a model 19. I'd be very surprised if a model 19 actually turned out to be stainless rather than hard chromed.

 

[Robbyrayd]

Thank you all for your knowledge and expertise.

 

[Retired W4]

If S&W customer service said some 19-4s were made out of SS then they should offer up some proof. I've never heard of such an animal, but then, there is a lot I don't know.

I believe, for what it's worth, someone put a lot of work into that gun, including new front sight and hard chrome finish. Also the hammer and trigger lack the look of flash chrome of a SS Smith of that era. Personally, I would not spend the money on a letter.

It's also curious Jim Supica did not include that variation in SCSW.

 

[stansdds]

Look at it this way, what you have is a 6 inch barreled Model 19-4 with the best corrosion resistant finish one can put on a firearm. Enjoy it and don't beat it to death with full power 125 grain magnum ammo.

 

[LPD256]

Regardless of the answer you find it's a great looking gun and I'm betting a fun shooter. I can't tell for sure but it appears the trigger and hammer are the same color as the gun which many times indicates a refinish. But as I said it's a cool gun.

 

[wproct]

Whether it's stainless steel or not, I like it!

 

[Muley Gil]

Judging by the fit of the side plate, this revolver has been refinished. I lean towards hard chrome as well.

 

[Robbyrayd]

Pics of star extractor and grip frame

The star is not blued

 

[19leben]

Lots of soft edges and the S&W address shows buffing along with the side plate. Pretty sure someone had this one hard chromed. It's a really nice, tough finish that looks great. I'd definitely enjoy shooting it.

Also, I'd not put a lot of stock in what their customer service people tell you. They're not experts on the History of Smith & Wesson.

Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

 

[swagmeister]

Never heard or read of a stainless Model 19. As mentioned in earlier comments, it has been hard chromed, something like the old Nitex finish out of Dallas, TX. Still a great looking gun.

 

[Hoosierville IRN]

I have to admit, it does LOOK like stainless steel....just sayin'

 

[Rock185]

I've learned to "Never say Never" where muscle cars, guns, and some other things are involved. It does look like a refinished model 19 to me. Both my model 66 no-dash 66s had stainless ejectors and standard, not target, "flash" or hard chromed hammer and trigger. While my early '70s blue model 19 had a target hammer and trigger, the only early 66 I've seen with target hammer and trigger is my 66 no-dash that was electroless nickeled by Robbie Barrkman. My blue 6" model 19 had the same Patridge type front sight, as opposed to the ramp type on every stock 6" model 66 I've ever seen.

But, a letter might prove you have a valuable collector's item, an actual stainless model 19. Never say never...

 

[GerSan69]

The thing that makes me think twice about a refinish is the presence of those "lines" in it. Hard chrome does not allow such things to appear after application, only if they are in the original finish and I don't know of anything that can cause them, either. They look for all the world to me like the characteristics of stainless.
A wild guess is a mismarked 66, but I'm not 100% for that, either.

 

[stansdds]

Once hard chrome is applied, it is nearly impossible to alter its appearance, but those "lines" are not an indicator of stainless. Case in point, the Argentine FM-90 "Hi-Power" that I own. It is hard chromed and the slide looks exactly like stainless, right down to those lines.

 

[viceunit]

The model 66 was long into production by the time the 19-4 came along. Its not like they needed a prototype stainless 19 at that time period. Still, that is a nice looking gun.