The ultimate Model 19/66 Combat Magnum thread

[backer]

Is there a reason for so few six inch pistols being displayed? Were there less of them or were they just not as popular as the shorter barreled versions.

 

[chp]

My 19-4 in nickel. Purchased new in June, 1980.

Very nice Gary7. Mine's a 19-3, but not in as good of shape. However, it's the smoothest, most accurate, easiest to shoot revo I own.

 

[S&W Oldtimer]

Model 66-2

Model 66

Model 19-3

 

[Sailormilan2]

Inspired by Allen-frames iconic Ultimate Highway Patrolman thread and the wealth of information we have all gained from it, I would like to see if we can learn a little more about the Combat Magnum and the changes made to it over the years.

As with the threads on the Highway Patrolman, there are many threads on this forum containing info on the Model 19 and 66 Combat Magnums. Trying to find the bits of information hidden within them all would be very time consuming and might still lack some bit of information that could shed some light on these for the rest of us. So, the more information pertaining to the engineering changes we put here, the clearer the picture may become.

It has been well published that the engineering changes are as follows:

“pre”...............(1955) Thanks to S&W and Bill Jordan, introduced at K260001
19..................(1957) Stamping of model number
19-1...............(1959) Change extractor rod, right to left hand thread
19-2...............(1961) Delete trigger guard screw, change cylinder stop
.....................(1963) 50 made with 2-1/2” barrel; K544672-K544721
.....................(1966) 2-1/2” barrel introduced as standard
19-3...............(1967) Relocate rear sight leaf screw
66..................(1970) Introduced at K949100
19-4 (66-1)......(1977) Move gas ring from yoke to cylinder
19-5 (66-2)......(1982) Eliminate cylinder counterbore and pinned barrel
66-3...............(1986) New yoke screw, floating hand, and hammer nose bushing
19-6...............(1988) New yoke screw, floating hand, and hammer nose bushing
19-7 (66-4)......(1994) New rear leaf sight, drill and tap frame, change extractor, and Uncle Mike’s synthetic grips.
.....................(1995) Delete square butt
.....................(1997) Change to MIM thumbpiece and trigger
19-8 (66-5).....(1998) Sep – Change to MIM hammer and floating firing pin
.....................(1999) Discontinue 2-1/2” barrel
.....................(1999) Nov – Model 19 discontinued
66-6...............(2002) Introduction of the Internal Lock
.....................(2005) Model 66 discontinued

If you were to go back and look at some of my old threads, you’d see I was quite confused about the Model 19, and it was the reason I joined this forum.

For example, the change from the -2 to the -3 was the relocation of the rear leaf screw. At the time I had a -2 (K7952xx) that not only did it ship in late 1968 (-3 announced in 1967), I could see no difference in the sight screw between it and the later ones I had. No wonder I was confused.

It wasn’t until recently when I picked up an earlier -2 (not much, Jun-68) that I noticed that its rear leaf screw was located further back, right over the barrel/cylinder gap.

So, they are both “-2” but K7952xx appears to have the “-3” engineering change. My hope with this thread is that we can narrow down where that and some of the other changes occurred.

As I am sure we have all noticed, serial numbers vs. time frame seldom matter with S&W. Although I have seen non-model marked Combat Magnums in the K38xxxx range, here’s a 4-screw Model (marked) 19, K3166xx.

It’s not like we need an excuse for a picture thread here but maybe a closer examination of the Combat Magnums we own can bring some interesting and informative facts about them to light.
---
1/1/10
Here's a second version of the chart I am working on showing which model and serial number range. It is a work in progress! I will update it as I go and let you know if something significant changes.

Click on the picture for the full size image

Now, after reading your post, I am a bit confused. I have two Model 19s. One a 6", Model 19-2, serial #K620XXX which has the screw position like the revolver in the 2nd(bottom) picture.
My other Combat Magnum is a 4" Model 19-5, Serial #AUB5XXX, and it has the screw position like the 1st revolver(upper picture).
So when you say, "relocation" of the screw, was it moved towards the front, or the rear?

 

[Sailormilan2]

My two Combat Magnums. Top one was my dad's(Model 19-2, Serial Number K620XXX) that he used on the Departmental pistol team. The bottom was my issued Duty revolver(Model 19-5, Serial number AUB5XXX that I got to buy when we switched to Glocks.

 

[slowburninsteve]

Here's a couple of my 19's.
Steve

 

[Larry from Bend]

This is a 66-2 with target trigger and hammer (and it came with target stocks which are too pretty to be carried around the farm).

 

[BravermnArms]

I have a S&W mdl 66 4" with ss sights and was wondering if anybody could tell me an approminte price it could be worth? I understand condition is the most important but was hoping for a min to a max?

 

[armaliter]

Hi Braver welcome to the forum! Im no expert but I think I stole one about 6 months ago at $600 (previous owner said he shot six rnds thru it) with matching box and all the goodies but I would gestimate $475 to $700 in my neck of the woods.

 

[Samuel Adams]

Here is my IDPA workhorse. I bought a Model 19-3 police turn in. The bluing is a bit rough but it is a sweet revolver. I put on a new rear sight, had the cylinder chamfered, the DA trigger is 6 lbs and the SA trigger is less than 1 lb. I had to put the fiber optic front sight on because my eyes aren't what they used to be.

 

[snw19_357]

One a 6", Model 19-2, serial #K620XXX which has the screw position like the revolver in the 2nd(bottom) picture.
My other Combat Magnum is a 4" Model 19-5, Serial #AUB5XXX, and it has the screw position like the 1st revolver(upper picture).

Sounds correct.

So when you say, "relocation" of the screw, was it moved towards the front, or the rear?

It was moved to the front, forward of the barrel/cylinder gap instead of directly over it.

 

[Trenchgun]

Very recently acquired S&W 66-2 w/Eagle grips

 

[snw19_357]

Newest family member.

This one is super special. Not only is it the only one in this serial number range to have shipped in 1968 (I ain't never gonna find my 1967...), it could be the one and only Model 192 known to exist.

 

[james56]

S&W M19-4 with wyattburp holster last photo

 

[ab4ka]

Here's my 19-4, s.n. 49K6xxx

 

[Dennis The B]

Here are my two...

...Model 66-1 2.5", and a Model 19-3 6" -

 

[roaddog28]

My two. 66-4 4 inch and 19-4 6 inch.

Howard

 

[Green Frog]

I will probably be regarded as a total Philistine by the purists, but my 66 is a working gun, purchased as a police trade-in, campaigned in a PPC league for a couple of years, and modified by changing internals as they wore out, shaving the bottom off the cylinder release to clear speed loaders, replacing the original 4" red ramp barrel with a 6" red ramp, and substituting the beat up grips with the S&W smooth finger grip combat grips that were popular in the late '80s and into the '90s, since that's what fit my hand.

For purposes of the serial number chart, it is a 66, no dash and the serial number is 7K707XX. It is pinned and recessed, and the original hammer and trigger, IIRC, were stamped "S" indicating the true stainless parts rather than the flash chromed carbon steel ones which seemed to actually last longer. That's my story and I'm sticking to it!

Froggie

 

[tom turner]

An early 19-5, from 1982 . . . Grips by Patrick Grashorn . . .

 

[jughed440]

question....were any 6" barrel round butt 66s or 19s made by S&W??


updated pic of my Ks
on the left side, 66-2, and 19-6
on the right, both 66-4s