Smith & Wesson 19 RS

[pascal78]

During the 70's, french national police ordered a special batch of a S&W 19 model named here in France the "RS" model, initial of Raymond SASIA, a famous Police Officer, who was also the Personal Body Guard of Charles De Gaulle. He designed the revolver according to its vision of the ideal police revolver (not too big, combat sights, 357 mag caliber...)

It's a 3" barrel SW 19-3 with fixed combat sights, round butt. Quite hard to find in France as it was a very limited run. This gun was quickly replaced by the famous Manurhin "MR73" revolver.

Don't know if you were aware of this particuliar and scarce version of the SW 19. Some pics to show you this "UFO"...

 

[SmithNut]

............... Quite hard to find in France as it was a very limited run..........

Even harder to find here...

Been looking for many years now.....

 

[mmck]

I had one of these in my hands back in the summer. There was a tag with $2000 marked on the back. The owner explained that was actually what he had paid. He wasn't really interested in selling, just using it to draw people in to look at his other Smiths.

The condition was good, but it definitely showed some use.

 

[mh51]

Never knew such a variation existed!! Now I've actually seen one! If you're the proud owner, congratulations! And thanks for the info.

 

[SixGunSancho]

Beautiful handgun.

 

[kraynky]

Very sweet! I wasn't aware of them either, as far as I recall anyway. Thanks for sharing it.

 

[pascal78]

It is also very scarce to find in France but as strange as it seems, price are quite low (a friend bought one less than 500 Euros brand new in its box... ). Most gunsmiths here do not know what they sell, there is currently one for sale at 600 Euro, I think it could be negociated below 500 without problem... trouble is that here you need special and dedicated state license for each weapon you want to buy...

I had one of these in my hands back in the summer. There was a tag with $2000 marked on the back. The owner explained that was actually what he had paid. He wasn't really interested in selling, just using it to draw people in to look at his other Smiths.

The condition was good, but it definitely showed some use.

 

[pascal78]

Here is one to buy : Smith & Wesson 357 mag occasion - Revolvers de Catégorie B (5973608)

But you need to find a local certified gunsmith to buy it for you and export it back to USA....

 

[mbliss57]

This is very interesting. I had never heard or seen one . Thank you.
Do you know when this was designed and 1st issued?
There is the 1st 3" version thought to have been produced around 1965. (Prototype for MA State Police.
This is in essence a model 13 with an extractor shroud. (began 1974)
I wonder when these were 1st purchased? SCSW does not mention them. It does mention export for Peru police 3" barrels 1987.

 

[murphydog]

Cool gun, thanks for posting photos of it.

It was never sold here new (there were a few re-imported a few years back), but the same gun in stainless steel was sold here a few years later as the model 65 Lady Smith.

 

[6518John]

I thought I remembered a thread about these from a couple of years back:

Rare but there; Model 19 fixed sights

 

[Protocall_Design]

Looks a lot like a 3 inch M13.

 

[murphydog]

Heavy (not bull) barrel with half-lug.

 

[hittman77]

Love, love, love round butt snubbies!

 

[stansdds]

I really like that Model 19RS. 3 inch barrel, which allows for a full length ejector rod, and the ejector rod is protected by the barrel under lug. A perfect K-frame concealable 357 Magnum.

 

[lawandorder]

This is the gun that should be in production right now with out the lock.
Blue or stainless, don't matter I would buy one of each.

Smith & Wesson, are you listening?
In the lane, brass is glistening
A beautiful fixed sight
We're happy today
Shooting our new model 19RS.

 

[16thVACav]

He designed the revolver according to its vision of the ideal police revolver.

I'd say Raymond got it right!

 

[Snapping Twig]

Interesting and handsome revolver!

IMO, it is exactly a 65-5 LS, but in blue steel.

 

[beagleye]

Looks a lot like a 3 inch M13.

My thoughts exactly, but the shrouded ejector is even better.

 

[SmithNut]

Interesting and handsome revolver!

IMO, it is exactly a 65-5 LS, but in blue steel.

Or the M10-10 Brazil export... same gun except the chambers are longer for the .357.

Interestingly the M10-10 had the longer cylinder length like the .357 guns, except were bored to .38 special length.

Maybe they were over-run guns????