Smith & Wesson 19 RS

[Texas Star]

A Swiss member has one, which he's shown here.

CIA Officer Harry Archer had one in nickel, which he used in South American jungles. Took deer, tapir, and I think jaguar with it. Also had an early M-60 snub, which he loaded hot.

The M-19 suffered finish damage. The stainless M-60 was unmarred.
He reported these results in, Gunsport about 1969.

I think the MR-73 was adopted because the M-19 won't hold up well if shot a lot with full .357 ammo.

Pascal-

Thanks for your post and nice photos. We have 4-5 French members. One is a woman, another a herpetologist.

 

[noshow]

I wonder why it was ordered with a Target Hammer? The trigger appears to be a standard service type.

 

[rbmac52]

That is not a full target hammer on the Model 19RS. It looks to be the standard hammer for a Model 19.

 

[BAM-BAM]

Reintroduced as the Stainless Lady Smith 20 years later.

Love my 3" 66s but would love to have one of these or a 65NL if one existed.

IIRC there were about 500 3" 19s produced in the mid 70s.............. SmithNut has one or more IIRC

 

[Hapworth]

That is not a full target hammer on the Model 19RS. It looks to be the standard hammer for a Model 19.

Correct, that's a semi-target hammer -- midway between the target and service hammers.

 

[Hapworth]

...Love my 3" 66s but would love to have one of these or a 65NL if one existed...

What's a 65NL?

 

[16thVACav]

What's a 65NL?

Perhaps no lock?

 

[BAM-BAM]

What's a 65NL?

Smith made a LadySmith version of the 3913.... one without the "LadySmith" markings was called the "3913NL"

Smith made a 3" round butt version of the fixed sighted 65 with an extractor shroud like the model 19 with "LadySmith" engraving......

a "65NL" would be the LadySmith .357 revolver without the markings....... aka be a stainless version of the 19RS.

 

[lawandorder]

Don't forget the Model 65 HunterSmith, and the Model 13PC.

 

[firemanhank]

EDITED......I went back and looked at your gun again and realized what was different about it. It is a fixed sight revolver. The model 19s were target sight. This looks like a model 13. Certainly looks like that is what's stamped on the crane as well after magnifying the pic. In any case, here is more info on M19 with three inch barrel.

Pascal78,

An excerpt from the factory letter from Mr Jinks I received on my three inch Model 19...

The serial numbers for the French Police "Model 19-3 were placed in the .38 M&P serial number series beginning at serial number D639300 and continuing to serial number D639800. This is certainly one of the rarest variations of the Model 19."

In there fall of 1973, S&W received an inquiry from their French distributor, Raymond Gerand about the 3 inch model 19. Sometime after that, 500 were shipped to Paris, France for the French Police.

You never mentioned your serial number.. Does it fall into this range?

A 3 inch Model 19 is hard to come by. According to Mr Jinks, the French Police 3 inch revolvers are certainly rare.

Hope this helps,
Hank

 

[Texas Star]

Didn't Peru order similar guns? I think they had the national crest on the sideplate.

 

[Club Gun Fan]

The French government also ordered 4 J Frames in 9mm. They were a Md 36, 38, 49, in nickle and a 42. I saw the order when I helped Roy Jinks move from his home in Tolland. They did get another Model 36 with 16 cylinders all chambered in 9mm.

 

[pascal78]

I read that 250 S&W 19 RS were ordered by french police.

EDITED......I went back and looked at your gun again and realized what was different about it. It is a fixed sight revolver. The model 19s were target sight. This looks like a model 13. Certainly looks like that is what's stamped on the crane as well after magnifying the pic. In any case, here is more info on M19 with three inch barrel.

Pascal78,

An excerpt from the factory letter from Mr Jinks I received on my three inch Model 19...

The serial numbers for the French Police "Model 19-3 were placed in the .38 M&P serial number series beginning at serial number D639300 and continuing to serial number D639800. This is certainly one of the rarest variations of the Model 19."

In there fall of 1973, S&W received an inquiry from their French distributor, Raymond Gerand about the 3 inch model 19. Sometime after that, 500 were shipped to Paris, France for the French Police.

You never mentioned your serial number.. Does it fall into this range?

A 3 inch Model 19 is hard to come by. According to Mr Jinks, the French Police 3 inch revolvers are certainly rare.

Hope this helps,
Hank

 

[City Hunter]

I have two of them; the bottom one is one of the first made.
With original holster!