S&W K frame with identity problem.

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unspellable

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I have what appears to be a model 66 no dash with 2.5 inch barrel, round butt, narrow trigger and hammer. It has a rubber grip with the S&W logo impressed in the rubber.

Here's the kicker. Under the yoke it says Model 19-3!! There is no serial number under the yoke, only on the butt.

Serial number indicates 1971, first year for the model 66.

Any opinions?
 
Could it be a 19 someone had hard-chromed? This can often resemble stainless.....o_O

Also, the hammer and trigger would be case-hardened on a 19 whereas a no-dash 66 would have flash-chromed bits.

The rear sight assembly would be black/blued on a 19, but very early stainless guns also had stainless rear sights until they switched back to black for all of them.
 
Definitely stainless, not nickel plated. Rear sight is black. Trigger and hammer are not case hardened, but appear to be stainless. Hadn't heard of the flash chromed bit, I'll have to take a close look The front sight is a ramp with red insert. I've always wanted such a sight on a model 19, but every one I've seen had a target front sight. I have a no nonsense model 66 that I'll eventually drag out for comparison.
 
If your frame is stamped 19-3, what led you to believe it is a 66 no dash other than the color?
Not being snarky, I mean to say did you buy it thinking it was a 19 and then realize it was stainless as opposed to nickle or did you buy it knowing it was stamped wrong?
Either way, it's a neat find.
 
Guys, turns out it is a 19-3 factory nickel plated. It's a real fooler. I've had several S&Ws in nickel and stainless as well as other makes in nickel and stainless. Could always tell 'em apart at a glance from ten feet away. Never saw a nickel job that so looked like stainless. On the other hand I saw a stainless Python some years ago that looked for all the world like nickel. I suspect there might be a difference in the polishing before the nickel goes on. (or doesn't)
 
unspellable said:
Guys, turns out it is a 19-3 factory nickel plated. It's a real fooler. I've had several S&Ws in nickel and stainless as well as other makes in nickel and stainless. Could always tell 'em apart at a glance from ten feet away. Never saw a nickel job that so looked like stainless. On the other hand I saw a stainless Python some years ago that looked for all the world like nickel. I suspect there might be a difference in the polishing before the nickel goes on. (or doesn't)
Click to expand...
I have a 19-2 that I first believed was stainless because of the hammer and trigger and sights. Turns out it is either some kind of hard chrome or silver plating..
 
unspellable said:
Guys, turns out it is a 19-3 factory nickel plated. It's a real fooler. I've had several S&Ws in nickel and stainless as well as other makes in nickel and stainless. Could always tell 'em apart at a glance from ten feet away. Never saw a nickel job that so looked like stainless. On the other hand I saw a stainless Python some years ago that looked for all the world like nickel. I suspect there might be a difference in the polishing before the nickel goes on. (or doesn't)
Click to expand...
Hmmmm...still shouldn't have bright finished hammer and trigger.
Yes need pics! :D
 
ontarget said:
IIRC a factory nickle plated S&W will have an N stamped on the grip frame under the grip.
I might misremember though.
Click to expand...
Yes, the extractor star should be blued and there will be an N stamped on the grip section of the frame. Usually its on the left side
 
No. That’s refinished in hard chrome. Unless you have the box or factory letter saying it’s nickel. The color is wrong. And, the Smith & Wesson logo on the barrel looks a little soft. It’s been buffed.

Back in the day, stainless guns were rare as hens teeth.

But, a hard chrome finish was reasonable and, just as tough as stainless. Made a great duty gun. Arguably, tougher than stainless.

I’m guessing, probably Armaloy out of Fort Worth.

Nice gun and, a refinish that’s worth its cost for a carry gun.
 
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Before bluing, they all look like stainless steel. Simply a factory mistake.
As a curiosity, OP, try a dab of cold blue someplace where it won't show...there's always the chance some durnfool polished off the bluing.
Moon
 
Driftwood Johnson said:
As far as I know, ALL S&W stainless revolvers have a 6 as the first number in the model number.
Click to expand...
All S&W stainless revolvers are supposed to have a 6 as the first number in the model number.

My guess is that it's a mismarked stainless. There's a small chance it's a blued gun that somebody polished. If so, they did an amazing job making it look like stainless.

It's not factory nickel. Factory nickel has a mirror polish and case color hammer and trigger.
9kwwGL8.jpg
 
Dawned on me that the extractor star was in blue. Whacked myself on the side of the head since I've known for a long time that S&W's practice on nickel plating was to leave the extractor blue. But, there is no letter N on the grip frame. Now you guys have me wondering if it's after market nickel or chrome.
 
The S&W logo looking buffed is an artifact of the photo. To the eye it looks nice and sharp.
 
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