Smith & Wesson S&W Model 19-3 .357 6" Revolver MFD 1973 C&R

Smith & Wesson S&W Model 19-3 .357 6″ Revolver MFD 1973 C&R

More Sold Smith & Wessons

SOLD FOR: $1,025.00

WOA#: WY240415EH047

Make: Smith & Wesson

Model: 19-3

Serial Number: 4K13184

Year of Manufacture: 1973

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.

Barrel Length: 6?, 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 “Football”  two-piece, checkered, wood, magna stocks, with S&W medallions at their tops.The Green verdigris has started to conform in the medallions. There are no chips or cracks.  The checkering is still sharp with well defined grooves. There are no signs of handling wear. Overall, the grips are in about good condition. Please see the high quality 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 9.9/10 in this writer’s opinion.

Overall Condition: This handgun retains about 99% of its metal finish. There is some rub showing on the front face. One of the chambers’ faces seems to have been vigorously cleaned . There are no signs of holster wear and not much sign of use.The turn line is noticeable but thin and intermittent. There are no chips. There are no signs of corrosion. The screw heads are sharp. The markings are clear.  Overall, this revolver is in very fine 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: Box from factory with blue reinforced corners. Box is correct to the weapon and is in fine shape also, paperwork including the manual, and a cleaning kit. The box has the label and the configuration matches the revolver.

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 1968  Model19-3 example with a blued finish, built on a square butt frame, pinned barrel and recessed  cylinder cuts. Combine that with the 4? 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.