New to me pair of model 19s

[DoubleNickel]

Hi guys, yesterday I purchased this pair of model 19s.
The 4" barrel (bottom) is a 19-3 p/r. The problem I have with it is that is doesn't have the original stocks. The left side is not cut for the moon clip. So, I do need to find a correct set.
The 6" barrel (top) is unique. It is a 19-4 with recessed cylinder but non-pinned barrel. I've never seen one in this configuration.
Hopefully I did OK at $1300 for the pair.

 

[Nframe_is_no1]

Your 6” has a replacement rear sight. You do not need grips. The 4” likely has the original grips. The 19-3 pre-dates the grips that were relieved for a speedloader. The cutaway is for a speedloader not a moonclip. Nice pair!

 

[BAM-BAM]

Your 6" is likely a "transition gun"; S&W is well known for not throwing anything away......... I have a 4" Model 27- 2/3 [?] that is recessed but the barrel is not pinned

 

[Rodan]

Nice pair! Looks like a Millett sight on the 6". You did fine at the pair price. IIRC the 'football' speedloader cut would have been correct for a 19-3, but don't quote me on that.

Now you just need a 2 1/2" to complete the set...


19-3s

 

[JP@AK]

The 4” likely has the original grips.

I think I disagree. The picture seems to show that those target stocks are made of walnut. The Model 19-3 would have shipped with target stocks made of Goncalo Alves, not walnut.

The 19-3 pre-dates the grips that were relieved for a speedloader.

Correct. They would have had the extractor relief (football shaped). The speed loader cut didn't appear on K frames until about 1978, which is into the -4 period.

 

[Birdhunter6]

Those are very nice. You did very well in my opinion.

I have a transitional 3" 13-2 that's recessed but not pinned.

 

[Hair Trigger]

I think I disagree. The picture seems to show that those target stocks are made of walnut. The Model 19-3 would have shipped with target stocks made of Goncalo Alves, not walnut.

It's possible they are GA; take a look at Rodan's middle M19-3 in the picture above your post. Those look like Walnut, too, but I think both his and OP's are GA. Tiger Wood is known for its color variability, however it is rather unusual for a block the size of a Target stock panel to be entirely that light without streaks of darker wood through it.

If they are walnut targets and OP says they don't have a relief in them, could it be possible they are early unrelieved walnut stocks? Generally those are a much darker brown, but OP would have a set of stocks worth a lot more than what is correct for his revolver.

Nice pair of M19's regardless of the anomalies.

 

[DoubleNickel]

Thanks everyone! I have to wait 7 days until I pick them up and can post more pictures then.
So the 6” 19-4 has a replacement rear sight. I’m guessing it hurts value.
Regarding the 4” 19-3 grips, I will post more pictures of them here when I pick up the guns next week.

 

[Bald1]

$650 a piece?!?!?!?! Yea you did ok. Better than ok.

 

[444 Magnum]

If they are walnut targets and OP says they don't have a relief in them, could it be possible they are early unrelieved walnut stocks? Generally those are a much darker brown, but OP would have a set of stocks worth a lot more than what is correct for his revolver.

No diamond.

I agree on the price...you did well.

 

[DoubleNickel]

Dealer just text me some close up pictures of the stocks on the 19-3. Left side does have the football cut you guys were talking about

 

[M29since14]

Very nice looking Model 19s. You didn’t get hurt at all if they are good mechanically. They look like they’ve seen little use.

The rear sight on your 6-inch gun can easily be replaced with a correct S&W sight.

Congratulations on your two great looking revolvers.

 

[Cotis]

You did just fine in this transaction IMO. Very nice revolvers, I have a 4” similar to yours and passed on a 6” this past summer with some regret. Both of yours show some lateral movement of the hammer as evidenced by wear marks on the case coloring. This can be minimized with appropriate shims to stop any rubbing against the frame. Just something to inspect for, check the rivet on the hammer nose, mine was loosened from this movement and had to be replaced immediately after I acquired it.

 

[moonsterman]

The ole Frank Fritz bundle....well done sir!!

 

[Engine49guy]

You did fine on the price,
Agree the rear sight on the 6" is an aftermarket by "Millett" it is an upgrade better IMO than the original.
Your 6" is late production 19-4 and the barrel set pin was deleted towards the end of the 19-4 revision, after SW used up all the recessed cylinders in stock they began using the new non recessed cylinders and marking them as the 19-5.
While the stocks on the 4" are correct vintage most did come with a different style wood , typically Goncalo Alves, the plain walnut style was more commonly used on the .38 caliber versions like the Model 14 but there's no hard rules with SW, they could have run short and used walnut, or the gun store that originally sold it could pulled a switcheroo, or the owner, no way to say for sure but stocks are easily obtained and changed if you don't like the walnut.

On a side note while the 6" versions came with both style front sight blades most are found with the the flat faced " Patridge " style so IMO the Baughman blade with red insert is another plus.
The 4" is the no frills version, std hammer and trigger, no red ramp and likely black rear site, if it has a white outline rear site my bet is it was originally on the 6" if they came from the same owner and was swapped.
Btw, if you compare the frame 4 line address stamps you will notice the 4" has the old style large ampersand, this along with the style of caliber stamp and lack of front ramp pins pings it as an early 70's gun Imo.

 

[DoubleNickel]

Thank you for such a detailed reply. You guys amaze me with the depth of your knowledge. Thank you all very much!

 

[boykinlp]

Your 6" is likely a "transition gun"; S&W is well known for not throwing anything away......... I have a 4" Model 27- 2/3 [?] that is recessed but the barrel is not pinned

Those are very nice. You did very well in my opinion.

I have a transitional 3" 13-2 that's recessed but not pinned.

I agree that the 6 incher is a transitional gun. I have a Model 66-2 with a non-recessed cylinder but it does have a pinned barrel.
Larry

 

[Engine49guy]

I agree that the 6 incher is a transitional gun. I have a Model 66-2 with a non-recessed cylinder but it does have a pinned barrel.
Larry

That's a weird combination but nothing is impossible with S&W.
The 66-2 change was the new non recessed cylinder, if I had to guess, if it's not an overstamp then somehow a frame was drilled for the set pin but they only had non recessed cylinders to install, the pin has no bearing on the dash revision the cylinder change did.

 

[DoubleNickel]

My 7 day wait is over and today was pick up day.