Need help Identifying My 19-3... Or is it?

[Show2win]

I bought a S&W Model 19-3 357 Mag. a couple of years ago from an old man at a yard sale pretty cheap. I never really paid much attention to anything about the gun except the fact I just enjoyed shooting it and loved the look of the gun. Recently I was talking to a friend of mine showing him my gun and we found something very interesting.

It is stamped a Model 19-3 but the gun is polished with a 6" barrel. He told me that he was pretty sure S&W didn't make a 19-3 that has my guns characteristics and that he thought it was a model 66. I am not real familiar with Smith and Wesson guns and this is bothering me since I haven't been able to find anything on the net that looks like my gun.

It has 2 sets of numbers on it. The first set is located behind the yoke and on the butt under the grips which is 23117. There is also another set of numbers above the model number that begin with 4K37xxx. If needed I will post the rest of this number as well, just let me know if you need it. I am attaching a picture of the gun.

Thanks in advance for any help. I would like to get an idea of what the real value of this gun is.

 

[viceunit]

I have only seen 6" model 66 to have a ramp front sight. Yours has a patridge front sight that was the most common front sight on 6" model 19's whether blue or nickel. I suspect your gun may have been treated to an aftermarket finish coating that has the appearance of stainless steel. If that is the case, the rear sight was removed and not coated, but the trigger and hammer look to either be coated or flash-chromed as found on production stainless guns.

Or, I could be totally wrong and it is a mis-stamped 66 with a patridge front sight. I welcome others to chime in on value of the gun and opinions about its configuration.

 

[KEN L]

Try sticking a magnet to it!

 

[Gun 4 Fun]

The serial # puts it in '73 for time of manu. Better pics of the hammer and trigger would help, but i'm betting on an aftermarket finish of some sort that was buffed enough after application to make it look a bit shinier than a regular hard chrome finish. Post a pic of the grip frame without the stocks. A lot of of times the original finish will still be evident on the inside flats of the grip frame.

 

[Show2win]

New pics and info

Ok after reading your replies I tried the magnet test and it stuck to the gun...

Here are more pics. BTW thanks for all your help guys. This is the first older revolver I have owned and I really like it, it shoots like a dream! I would still like to get an estimate of what you all think it is worth though for my own knowledge. I paid $200 for it.

DJ

 

[ben_g1]

I don't think the magnet test is valid as I have a stainless 66-1 held under my desk with a magnet.

 

[Gun 4 Fun]

I don't think the magnet test is valid as I have a stainless 66-1 held under my desk with a magnet.

You are correct. The magnet test is an old wives tale. SS contains carbon steel. Just how much is up to the various manufacturer's, and also what determines how well the magnet will stick.

 

[old bear]

Do to the fact that the trigger and hammer are not color case hardened, it appears you appear to have a M 19-3 with an after market finish.

Great shooter and H.D. revolver for very little money.. Enjoy it.

 

[Gun 4 Fun]

Ok after reading your replies I tried the magnet test and it stuck to the gun...

Here are more pics. BTW thanks for all your help guys. This is the first older revolver I have owned and I really like it, it shoots like a dream! I would still like to get an estimate of what you all think it is worth though for my own knowledge. I paid $200 for it.

DJ

For that price, you sure didn't get hurt, but it has little collector value now, since it is a definitely a refinish. Even the mainspring was re-finished. I'd say it is worth $3-400 as a shooter grade gun.

On the plus side, the finish will help protect it against the elements better than the original bluing would have.

 

[Show2win]

Well that is good and bad news... I thought I might have had a one of a kind!! LOL

I figured what I paid for it was a good price considering it is in great shape to be over 30 years old. At least I know now what I have and that is really all I wanted.

Thanks again for all your help!

DJ

 

[Murdock]

My guess is that this is "Armalloy" or some other hard chrome finish. Before the 629 came along I saw this done with a M28 that had M29 parts installed, then hard chromed. Sure looked like a M66 on steroids.

 

[Gun 4 Fun]

True SS will not attract a magnet. The SS used in gun manufacturing has plenty of carbon steel in it, and even those guns made with much more SS will still attract a magnet, though not as strongly as a gun SS gun that has a higher carbon steel content. Another myth is that SS guns are rust proof. They aren't and they will rust due to the carbon content, though at a much slower rate than carbon steel guns that have been blued.

 

[Iggy]

Looks like a durn fine hard chromed shootin' iron to me. It will be shooting generations from now.

 

[arjay]

I like it.I think you could get around $500 for it.

 

[Show2win]

The magnet did attract to the gun barrel but like Gun For Fun said it did not lock on like if I had tried it on a piece of 1/4" steel plate etc...

 

[RIDE-RED 350r]

Re-finished or not, I am sure envious of what you got and what you paid for it!

So Old Bear: They would have applied this coating to the trigger and hammer as well?? My father has a 19-3 in the exact same configuration with the TT, TH, 6"bbl and Partridge front sight. His hammer and trigger are color case hardened.... Would a coating stick to color case hardened parts?? Not being a wiseguy, I'm asking in earnest because I do not know...

 

[pharmer]

Partridge front sight. .

Aaargh....dogpile. Joe

 

[RIDE-RED 350r]

Aaargh....dogpile. Joe

OK, went right over my head.... What I do???

 

[arjay]

 

[clang444]

Here is what a 6" original nickel 19-3 looks like: