This Sort of an Oddball I suppose.

I saw this one at the LGS a couple of days ago, and stuck it away on "hold" while I did some research.

It's a Smith and Wesson (naturally) Model 19-8, in 38 Special. That's not a typo. 38 Special only.





As best I can tell, it's one of a run of 213 made for distributor "RSR." Who they were ordered for, or why I have no idea. SCSW only lists that one line of information.

The Uncle Mikes stocks were standard. The finish on the gun actually looks better than the pictures look. I just snapped them with my cell phone before it got hauled to the back. I was able to get it for a slightly better price than shown on the tag, but they'd just gotten it in, so to be honest, I'm somewhat surprised they dropped it at all.

It's sort of neither fish nor fowl. It's sort of a Model 19, but it's not a 357. It's sort of a Model 15, but it's got the heavy ribbed barrel, and shrouded ejector rod. I'm not too crazy about the round butt, but a set of round to square butt stocks will correct that minor issue.

Some searching on the Smith and Wesson boards didn't bring up much about them, but apparently there is some question as to rather they are actually chambered for 357 and marked 38, or are actually chambered for 38 Special. A couple of people said they had them each way. I plan to take a spent shell with me today to see if it fits. I seem to remember thinking the cylinder looked a little short for a Model 19. I'll look closer at it today.

No idea why I want it really. Other than I do. I sort of like "oddball" stuff.

ArchAngelCD said:

148929 4" Marked . 38 Spl. -but Chambers .357 #CDP9361

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Upon further review...it turns out this is one of those. It does chamber 357 ammo, although from what I've read on the 'net, the factory doesn't advise it. Big surprise there. I've always gotten the impression the factory, any factory, doesn't actually advise firing a gun at all.

But no fear of me shooting 357 ammo in it, since I almost never shoot 357 ammo in any of my guns, and never have. Paper targets don't take a lot of killing, and that's all I shot in years.

The 357 Model 10-6's are fairly well known. They eventually morphed into the Model 13. Smith and Wesson also made a run of Model 66's in 38 Special for the California Highway Patrol, but did give them a distinct Model number, 68. I'm sure there are others.

ArchAngelCD said:

Edit to add information:

148926 4" B SB . 38 Spl. 213 Manufactured for RSR 2000
148929 4" Marked . 38 Spl. -but Chambers .357 #CDP9361

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Ok, so apparently this isn't one of the 213 for RSR. I had them check it at the LGS and they tell me it will accept 357 ammo. Makes me wonder now how many of the 929's they made. I just might have to letter it when I get it out of hock.

For what it's worth this one's S/N is CDN3329.

edwardware said:

It would be really surprising for S&W to make a M19 with a short frame window, and the barrel tenon looks right. . . I'll bet it's standard dimension..

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You are correct. Held next to a Model 10, it was easy to see that the cylinder on the Model 10 was shorter.

Drail said:

The odd thing to me is it "appears" that the barrel markings are stamped deeply on one side but laser etched on the opposite side. Is that what I'm seeing? S&W has put out some real oddballs over the years. Whatever the story is - that is WAY cool. Thanks for showing it.

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These apparently were made in 2000, which as best I can tell was after the Model 19 was officially discontinued. There was some speculation in those old threads that these were "parts guns" made up from parts left over from previous years. The fact that they (at least this one) doesn't have the internal lock might seem to point to this as being possible. The deep roll marks on one side of the barrel, and laser etched on the other side may be a clue also.

But that's just speculation. I have no real idea.

Mine either.

Well. Sometimes in my new 19-9, but that's different.