MODEL 19 IN STAINLESS- did they exist?

[CALREB]

I know we are all just talking here,and we all know that S&W did some, no rhyme or reason,things from time to time.So finding a model 66 that was mismarked or 19 made of stainless is well within reason.
BUT we all have seen or lucky enough to own a somewhat RARE (whatever that means) Smith or other gun.I know that if we had a gun matching this description it would be going for alot more than whats being asked.
I think what bothers us is that someone may be going to get ripped off on a pretty outrageous claim ,AND has no return recourse other than to bad mouth the seller ,who may have been told the same story in the first place and not know any difference. Who knows? AND on the other hand what IF !!! NOOOOOOO stop,time for bed.

 

[NFrameFred]

we all know that S&W did some, no rhyme or reason,things from time to time.
BUT we all have seen or lucky enough to own a somewhat RARE (whatever that means) Smith or other gun.I know that if we had a gun matching this description it would be going for a lot more than whats being asked.

Yes, but they are more single oddities and one off custom factory requests for the most part, aside from the occasional mis-stamp or non-standard parts mis-match. Such a "special production" run of multiple guns would not have escaped record keeping and notice by those who love to ferret out the arcane aspects of S&W production oddities. How is it that one mope on Gun Broker has access to some secret knowledge that no one on this kind of a board ever heard a whisper of ? Ain't buying that bag of magic beans . . . . .

. . . .the seller ,who may have been told the same story in the first place and not know any difference. Who knows?

Most of us have seen a few such folks. I believe deep down they know better, but human nature being what it is they don't want to admit that they fell for a line in the first place, paid too much, and now desperately hang on to the "story" hoping they can unload their white elephant and still claim ignorance if exposed. Even in the face of several knowledgeable folks telling them the straight of it, I've seen some that refuse to listen. Most of the time they were on the sellers side of the table at a gun show.

AND on the other hand what IF !!!

That's the part of human nature where we'd all like to get something for nothing and many folks are gullible enough to want to believe in something that obviously has no basis in fact. PT Barnum made his living that way - "There's a sucker born every minute". The story, the timeline . . . . doesn't pass the 'smell' test . . . . .

 

[Bullseye Smith]

I bet it is the same guy - Seller & Bidder, one is the shop and the other is home address.

 

[shawn mccarver]

help needed here. There is an auction presently where the seller said the US nay ordered 19's in stainless before the 66 existed and I think the gun may just be metalloyed or hardchromed.The sellers description is as follows

"THIS IS A SMITH&WESSON MODEL 19-3 RARE STAINLESS STEEL ADITION 500 MADE FOR THE US NAVY JUST BEFORE THEY SWITCHED OVER TO MODEL 66 NO DASH PINnED AND RECESSED MODEL MADE IN1975 SS# 8K XXX COMES WITH A VERY RARE ORIGINAL FACTORY STAMPED COMBAT GRIP THAT MADE FOR A FEW PERFORMANCE CENTER ADITIONS ."

there was no performance center back in those days. here is a picture of it

any comments would be very much appreciated since i dont know if its a treasure or just a misrepresented piece

I suppose we have all heard of the stainless Model 15s, which pre-dated the Model 67s. They are quite rare. We have all heard of Model 10-6 in .357 Magnum instead of the normal 38 Special, which pre-dated the Model 13. So, there are anomalies.

Lack of "gubmint" (I suppose the other poster means "government") markings does not necessarily mean it is not as many agency weapons, including US Marshal Model 10s and all of the FBI guns (10s, 13s, etc.) did NOT have any US or other agency markings.

That said, I would have serious doubts about the truthfulness of this ad. I have never heard of it, but there are all sorts of things I learn with every issue of the Journal of the S&WCA. Frequently, members on here are quoted as saying that you can never really depend on never at Smith & Wesson. I think the claim is dubious, if not outright false. I note also that the 2 1/2 inch barrel was not available until later. The apparent illiteracy of the seller and his claim about the stocks also leave a bad taste. At the very least, a quick confirmation with Roy Jinks or any of the more knowledgable members would be in order.

Otherwise, you might end up with a re-finished Model 19 (which, by definition, has NONE of its original finish left), and you might be disappointed with the revolver.

 

[Robinett_11B]

I thought you were refering to my thread from a while back.

Alot of people helped make it what it became...

http://smith-wessonforum.com/s-w-revolvers-1961-1980/129644-unbelievable-find-mismarked-m-64-a.html

Ha! I only got through 4 pages...I couldn't stop laughing. Classic.

 

[Roady]

SS Model 19

I have never posted before but I recently picked up a 2.5" K frame model marked 19-5 at Cabelas, Ser # ABM 8XXX. I have owned many S&W revolvers. This is just like any other stainless Smith I have ever owned except it is marked as a blue gun. No box & old Pachmayr grips.

I have researched several threads about this "White Buffalo". Has anyone ever received official confirmation that a SS gun ever got out of the factory mismarked as blue? I'd like some evidence before sending S&W $50. If it has happened have they ever admited it?

I'd be glad to post pics if anyone is interested.

Thanx
Roady

 

[murphydog]

Roady;

Without seeing photos, most likely you have a model 66-2 that has the wrong model stamp, which is seen occasionally. You may wish to create a new post to get more replies. Hope this is helpful.

 

[Drail]

While I can't be certain from just looking at a photo on my computer if I was a betting man I would say that has been finished in BRUSHED hard chrome (not beadblasted.) Accurate Plating and Weaponry used to do a lot of that. Maybe still does. Or if we want to get really way out there maybe it's carbon steel in the white. I will never have the nerve to buy a gun that I cannot look at first.

 

[18DAI]

Back in the day, when the 66's were introduced - hard to come by - and commanded scalpers prices when found - alot of cops went and got model 19's and had them hard chromed / electroless nickeled / and other plated finishes that I no longer recall.

These Model 19's still show up in LGS and on the auction boards from time to time. Some were very well done and can appear to be stainless at a glance. Regards 18DAI

 

[kbm6893]

Was this guy from Florida? There's a guy who constantly misrepresents his guns on there, calling them "New in Box" when the box isn't even from the same period, and high polishing used guns and calling them "100% factory finish". if this guy is from Bradenton, FL, he's a known shyster and I would advise anyone to stay clear of him.

 

[Hondo44]

I have never posted before but I recently picked up a 2.5" K frame model marked 19-5 at Cabelas, Ser # ABM 8XXX. I have owned many S&W revolvers. This is just like any other stainless Smith I have ever owned except it is marked as a blue gun. No box & old Pachmayr grips.

I have researched several threads about this "White Buffalo". Has anyone ever received official confirmation that a SS gun ever got out of the factory mismarked as blue? I'd like some evidence before sending S&W $50. If it has happened have they ever admited it?

I'd be glad to post pics if anyone is interested.

Thanx
Roady

That kind of supports the gun in the original post as possibly being a factory anomoly. Can I pressume it chambers 357 ammo?

 

[teezer]

i believe the finish is called armaloy, that was the hot setup back in the late 1970s to make one think you had a ss model

behlerts did my k38 back then and has held up well

 

[dant]

we 've told folks in the past and have shown numerous others, "how" to check to see if the finish OR the actual material is or is NOT 'stainless'......in some out of the way spot, like under the grips and inside of the hollowed out area of the frame, scrap or scratch through the surface and apply a bit of cold blue on a Q-tip, if it turns BLUE ( darkens) it is NOT stainless steel END of doubt no harm or foul to find this out, will NOT damage or harm anything, it ENDS the question....duh (yes, a magnet will stick to gun alloy stainless)
Keep hearing these stories of guns that have an armaloy or Metalife finish, and if its polished out, will LOOK just like stainless..........
and if it doesn't "turn blue" then BINGO you may have found one of the very "few" anomolies that escaped the factory..............you would have KNOWN in less time than it took to type this reply.....

 

[Hondo44]

we 've told folks in the past and have shown numerous others, "how" to check to see if the finish OR the actual material is or is NOT 'stainless'......in some out of the way spot, like under the grips and inside of the hollowed out area of the frame, scrap or scratch through the surface and apply a bit of cold blue on a Q-tip, if it turns BLUE ( darkens) it is NOT stainless steel END of doubt no harm or foul to find this out, will NOT damage or harm anything, it ENDS the question....duh (yes, a magnet will stick to gun alloy stainless)
Keep hearing these stories of guns that have an armaloy or Metalife finish, and if its polished out, will LOOK just like stainless..........
and if it doesn't "turn blue" then BINGO you may have found one of the very "few" anomolies that escaped the factory..............you would have KNOWN in less time than it took to type this reply.....

Who are you addessing, the OP? He doesn't have the gun and the 'shill' seller doesn't reply.