Why no 3.5" Mod 19?

[Jebus35745]

I have a project 17-2 that I was gonna have converted to .32 long. I changed my mind and I'm thinking of having it cut to 3 1/2". Would be a handy gun to carry. Larry

 

[Doug M.]

The 4" M27 as a standard item came about in the late 70s AFAIK in the 27-2. Remember that there was a 3.5" N frame .357 for a long time, and it was replaced by the 4". I am not sure that this is gospel, or if it is just folklore, but supposedly the 3.5" barrel was a favorite with the FBI for quite a while.

A lot of LE agencies back then also mandated 4" minimum for uniform wear. Since the M19 was already a 4" like most K frames, there was no incentive to make a 3.5". The spread of sizes in the N frame (3.5", then 5", then longer) did not exist in the Ks - again, no incentive.

 

[mc5aw]

The 2-1/2" and 4" barrels best serve two distinct sectors that the 3-1/2" does not. The former is best for concealed carry, while the latter is ideal for belt carry (ie LE, etc.) Though a 3-1/2" barrel is attractive and highly desirable to enthusiasts like ourselves, it doesn't surpass either of its siblings for practical widespread usage.

 

[BAM-BAM]

After getting my first 3" 66.......... I wondered why they ever made 2 1/2in 19s and 66s. LOL

The proportions of a 3" 19/66 barrel to the frame and butt are about the same as a 3 1/2inch 27........just right!!!!!!!

IMO.....the extra 1/2 inch of barrel on the 3inch K-frame guns (65 or 66)does not effect concealed carry and has the benefit of full length ejector and longer sight radius......

Love the look of the 3 1/2 inch N frame.......but;on the flip side the N-frame w/ it's square butt & cylinder are so large (to me) that I'm ok with a 4 inch barrel......

 

[BAM-BAM]

I have a project 17-2 that I was gonna have converted to .32 long. I changed my mind and I'm thinking of having it cut to 3 1/2". Would be a handy gun to carry. Larry

Larry...got me thinking....you can get 4" 18s.......... so think about 3" vs. 3.5" and a set of Spegel boot grips! could be the perfect trail/kit gun.....IMHO better than a 34 or 63!!!!

Think I need to find a "project" suitable 17.........

Doesn't someone here have a 4" 19 they converted to .22lr?????

 

[Doug M.]

Yeah - that was a nice looking project gun. I am sure if you are smarter than I and come up with the right search terms, you will find it.

 

[northslope]

After getting my first 3" 66.......... I wondered why they ever made 2 1/2in 19s and 66s.

Agreed!

 

[sbacpa]

This Model 19-2 with a 3-inch barrel, TT and TH was shipped in 1966. I think it is one of around fifty made by S&W.

Bill

Bill,
Here is another one of those. It is a 1965 production. Model 19-2 with 3-inch.

 

[Doc44]

Steve...very nice 19-2.

Bill

 

[Engine49guy]

S&W Performance Center 3" K comp. 19-7 (R) with a 2.5" Model 19-5 (L) for comparison.

 

[brokenprism]

Help, heart failure.

Until now, the only K-frame Smith I could stand to look at was 2.5". This is better. By... a lot.

You're right about 5" being the ideal length, too.

The Horton .44 spl is .5 inches away from being visually perfect. To get it there as is, put a non-pencil barrel on it.

 

[Maximumbob54]

No one want's to pop up their pic of the rare 5" M19???

 

[A10]

No one want's to pop up their pic of the rare 5" M19???

heck, I don't even have a common 4" 19 any more....if I ever got my hands on one of the 3" guns I doubt I'd let it go. It appears near perfect to me, a shorter barrel for handier concealment yet the full length extractor rod for positive case ejection. I'm a little surprised it wasn't cataloged.

 

[Doc44]

Two Model 19-2s with a 5-inch barrel and nickel finish. The top one was shipped in 1965 and the bottom one in 1969.

Bill

 

[MrTrolleyguy]

There are late 3" model 19s. I don't know how early they were made. Does not seem to make sense to also produce a 3.5"

There is a 19-2 3 inch on GB right now with a starting price of $3,000.00



This is my 19-7 3" K Comp

 

[A10]

I'd get a nice Outdoorsman for 3 grand......probably not gonna bid on that one!

 

[S&W Fan]

Ok, I surrender, in a K a 3" just looks "right".

 

[MrTrolleyguy]

So how long until someone posts:

Actually they did a special run of them for blah blah blah and here is a pic of mine.

PIC

In 3.5"....not 3" from the factory.....oh, your the guy who comes along and pulls our leg!

What ever...

 

[jtcarm]

It would need a tapered barrel to achieve the classic look.

 

[texmex]

When the 357 Magnum was introduced, S&W thought most would be ordered with the 8 3/4 inch (later 8 3/8 inch) barrel and would be used for hunting. To their surprise, they became very popular with law enforcement, especially the FBI. Since their agents are plain clothes, they wanted the shortest barrel possible. That just happened to be 3 1/2 inches and also happened to be very sexy looking. When Bill Jordan and others convinced them to make a K frame 357, they assumed they would be popular with law enforcement and some of those would be plain clothes. The 2 inch K frame 38 that they had been making for years necessitated a shorter ejector rod. A 2inch barrel wouldn't quite work with the ejector rod shroud on the Combat Magnum so the shortest practical length was 2 1/2 inch. When they made 3 inch K frames, they realized that there was little practical difference in concealability, the slightly longer barrel was more efficient with magnum ammo and the longer ejector rod was an added benefit. Since the 3 inch model 10, 13, 64 and 65 were popular, somebody thought a 3 inch model 19 or 66 would be good so they special ordered them that way. There wouldn't be enough difference between a 3 1/2 inch and a 4 inch to even tell without a tape measure since neither would be right at the end of the ejector rod shroud. The 357 Magnum was originally available with any barrel length you wanted from 3 1/2 to 8 3/8. Somewhere out there must be some 7 1/2, 5 1/2, 4 3/4 and so on. All the barrels started off as 8 3/4 or 8 3/8 and were shortened to the ordered length. Later, they standardized on 3 1/2. 4, 5, 6, 6 1/2 and 8 3/8.