Year of manufacture?

[Stevewins]

I have a 6" model 19-4 with a serial number of 38K6*** and a B2 stamped on the yoke. I was wondering if anyone could tell me the year of manufacture, as well as what the B2 signifies.

It has an extremely smooth trigger and a lighter than usual trigger pull compared to my other Smith revolvers, none of which have had trigger jobs. I didn't buy this one brand new, and the previous owner obviously had a trigger job done, but I've also noticed that the cylinder doesn't spin freely by hand, it's somewhat "tight" for lack of a better term. It turns just fine, and the gun shoots great, the trigger pull is light and smooth so it's not really binding, it just doesn't spin by hand, as in a Russian roulette type of spin. Could that have been part of the trigger job, or some other type of tuning?

Thanks,
Steve

 

[DWalt]

38K6***:
25K001 – 56K9,999......1978 – 79 (manufacture)
No idea on the B2. Maybe a fitter's or inspector's marking.
Remove the cylinder and yoke, remove the cylinder from the yoke, blast everything out with spray carb cleaner, oil it, and reassemble. See if that helps.

 

[Hillbilly77]

It may not have had a trigger job. Back in the "old days" the triggers were noticeably smoother and (slightly) lighter than more modern guns (1980's to present).

My 19-3 dates to 1971. My 586 dates to 1981, and my 29-3 dates to 1986.
The 19-3 (like all older S&Ws I've handled and/or fired) has a better trigger than either of the others.

Another vote to clean and lube the cylinder/yoke assembly. It will probably loosen right up.

 

[Stevewins]

DWalt, thanks for the manufacture date info.

Hillbilly77, I've had some older ones too so I know what you mean. But I think this one probably had some work done on it, the rebound spring feels lighter as well.

I'll pull the cylinder and yoke and see what I can find.

 

[Stevewins]

You guys were right on with the yoke. I took it apart today and it was coated in what looked like thick axle grease. I cleaned it with gun scrubber. It's hard to clean the interior tubular area without getting sprayback in the eyes. I've never had a revolver build up anything like that before, even after many thousands of rounds.