Smith & Wesson S&W Model 19-3 .357 2.5″ Revolver MFD 1971 C&R
SOLD FOR: $980
WOA#: WY240303JP006
Make: Smith & Wesson
Model: 19-3
Serial Number: 3K50568
Year of Manufacture: 1971
Caliber: .357 Magnum
Action Type: DA/SA Double Action & Single Action Revolver with Swing-Out Recessed Cylinder
Markings: The left side of the barrel is marked “SMITH & WESSON”, the right side “S.&W. 357 MAGNUM”. The sideplate is marked with the S&W logo and the right side of the frame with the four-line Marcas Registradas address. The yoke cut is marked with the model number. The butt of the grip frame is marked with the serial number. The yoke and sides of the grip frame have inspection marks. The interior of the right grip panel is marked “5056”.The interior of the left grip panel is marked “K”.
Barrel Length: 2 1/2?, Pinned
Sights / Optics: The front sight is a serrated ramped blade set on a ramped base on the serrated rib. The rear sight is a square notch on a serrated leaf in a base that is micro-click adjustable for windage and elevation.
Stock Configuration & Condition: The grips are two-piece checkered wood magna stocks with S&W medallions at their tops. There are no chips or cracks. Slight pressure mark on the left grip panel near the hammer. The checkering is still semi-sharp with well defined grooves. There are minimal signs of handling wear. Overall, the grips are in about Very Fine condition. Please see the photos.
Type of Finish: Blued
Finish Originality: Original
Bore Condition: The bore is bright and the rifling is sharp. There is no erosion in the bore. This Bore rates in 9.5/10 in this writer’s opinion.
Overall Condition: This handgun retains about 95% of its metal finish. There is some rub showing on the lower front face. There are no signs of holster wear and not much sign of use.The turn line is noticeable. There are some faint light “ring” scratches on the side plate above the trigger. There are no signs of corrosion. The screw heads are sharp. The markings are clear. Overall, this revolver is in very fine plus condition.
Mechanics: The action functions correctly. The double-action trigger is smooth and the single action crisp. The cylinder produces no play in lockup on each of the six chambers with the trigger depressed. We did not fire this handgun. As with all used firearms, a thorough cleaning may be necessary to meet your maintenance requirements.
Box, Paperwork & Accessories: Bright royal blue box with blue metal reinforced corners in excellent condition. What seems to this writer a reproduction label has been placed over the original tag. The proper brochures, Holster selection chart, Safety & instructional manuals, list of S&W Warranty Service Stations, Warranty Registration Card, a Centerfire Handgun Ammunition Guide, and of course the Smith and Wesson wax storage paper.
Our Assessment: The .357 Magnum is the oldest “magnum” handgun cartridge. Smith & Wesson played a major part in the development and success of the cartridge and revolver that went with it. Firearms writer and experimenter Philip Sharpe is credited for its development during the 1930s when police agencies were asking for a more powerful round. S&W’s Douglas B. Wesson agreed to produce a new revolver that would handle “high-intensity” .38 Special loads,[1] but only if Winchester would develop a new cartridge. Elmer Keith, a well known author and wildcatter at the time, was experimenting with hand loading .38 Special ammunition beyond their original specifications, taking advantage of the newer and better designed firearm frames and metallurgy, and also played a major role in the development of the .357 Magnum. Winchester introduced the .357 Magnum, which was dimensionally identical to the .38 Special except for a .125 inch longer case, and the first revolvers (referred to as “.357 Magnum Models”) were completed by S&W on April 8, 1935.
Retired Assistant Chief Patrol Inspector of the U.S. Border Patrol, famous gunfighter, and noted firearms and shooting skills writer Bill Jordan consulted with Smith & Wesson on the design and characteristics of the Model 19. Jordan’s idea for a “peace officer’s dream” sidearm was a heavy-barreled four-inch K-Frame .357 Magnum with a shrouded barrel like the big N-frame .357 and adjustable sights. After a year of experimentation with improved-strength steels and special heat-treating processes, the result was the .357 Combat Magnum (later designated Model 19), with the first serial-number gun (K260,000) presented to Jordan on November 15, 1955.
The Model 19 was introduced to the market in 1955. In the ’60s was this revolver offered with a 6? barrel and then in a more concealable 2 1/2? barrel configuration. The model was a major success and would go on to be used by the uniformed officers of the U.S. Immigration and Naturalization Service and U.S. Border Patrol until they replaced them with .40 S&W semi-automatic pistols. This is a 1971 Model19-3 example with a blued finish, built on a square butt frame, pinned barrel and recessed cylinder cuts. Combine that with the 2 1/2? barrel and you have a full-frame .357 with a 6-round capacity that can be used for home defense,concealed carry or if you are a collector this item is a rare one to come across especially at this age and in such nice condition. Please see our photos and enjoy the auction.
K.F.