Jeff olson
Member
- Joined
- Oct 23, 2019
- Messages
- 935
I can't find anything on this one.View attachment 867594 View attachment 867597 View attachment 867598
Ya, its a K-frame for sure, 6 shot. The 2.5 inchers all had the very slender round butt.Is that a six-shot cylinder? It kinda looks more like a five.
Do the 19/66 guns have such a small grip portion of the frame?
I'm not good with Smiths; I don't know of any of their five-shooters having come with adjustable sights, so I might be wrong on the cylinder chamber count.
I certainly appreciate the feedback. I'm thinking it's a 66. It is not plated or chromed. Stainless. .357. No one is able to pinpoint this thing. It's never been fired as far as I can tell. I don't plan on shooting it. It was my father's. He could have told me what it is.The first year and a half of production starting in 1970 had the stainless rear sights and solid stainless front sight. in Mid 1971 rear sights were changed to black according to the SW Catalog 4th edition. The 2.5" was not introduced until 1974 if I'm reading correctly and that would mean never offered with a stainless rear sight. To add to the confusion, I know my gunsmith has a 2.5" model 66 with stainless sights, but could have come off a 4". I could easily tell by seeing the gun as the 2.5" rear sight assembly is actually LONGER than the 4 and 6" rear sights.
In the picture, the rear sight is the correct length, so that would mean to me anyway that the gun is one of the following: (1) A factory S&W 2.5" with a SS Factory rear sight (would not be surprised as a lot of stuff has come from the factory not listed in the catalog). This makes the most since because the rear sight in the picture does not look like it was coated or plated to me. (2) A model 19 that has been hard chromed or plated like the Armalloy coating that was popular some years back. I'm voting model 66 that had a factory stainless rear sight and just not a catalog item. The engraving looks to sharp to have been plated or coated after the engraving. Whatever it is, it is beautiful and I think if Jeff Olsen would just send it to me, I will gladly research it and when I get a correct answer to the mystery, I'll send it back. Shouldn't take more that 3-4 years to research it.
His name is Roy Jinks. He is the S&W historian.I forget his name but there is a S&W affiliated expert who has access to all the S&W factory records.
If someone will post the contact details you could ask him for what the factory has on the gun.
FYI.... The stainless steels used in firearms are all magnetic, so doing a magnet test is useless.
The stainless steels used in firearms are all magnetic, so doing a magnet test is useless.
Well, nuts, no help there then.dfariswheel writes:
I agree. I have some stainless guns from three or four different makers, and they all will strongly attract a magnet.
I agree. I have some stainless guns from three or four different makers, and they all will strongly attract a magnet.
After a closer look I can make out the 19-2 stamp.The first year and a half of production starting in 1970 had the stainless rear sights and solid stainless front sight. in Mid 1971 rear sights were changed to black according to the SW Catalog 4th edition. The 2.5" was not introduced until 1974 if I'm reading correctly and that would mean never offered with a stainless rear sight. To add to the confusion, I know my gunsmith has a 2.5" model 66 with stainless sights, but could have come off a 4". I could easily tell by seeing the gun as the 2.5" rear sight assembly is actually LONGER than the 4 and 6" rear sights.
In the picture, the rear sight is the correct length, so that would mean to me anyway that the gun is one of the following: (1) A factory S&W 2.5" with a SS Factory rear sight (would not be surprised as a lot of stuff has come from the factory not listed in the catalog). This makes the most since because the rear sight in the picture does not look like it was coated or plated to me. (2) A model 19 that has been hard chromed or plated like the Armalloy coating that was popular some years back. I'm voting model 66 that had a factory stainless rear sight and just not a catalog item. The engraving looks to sharp to have been plated or coated after the engraving. Whatever it is, it is beautiful and I think if Jeff Olsen would just send it to me, I will gladly research it and when I get a correct answer to the mystery, I'll send it back. Shouldn't take more that 3-4 years to research it.