Smith and Wesson Model 19-3 mis-stamped 15-3

[jeffyhog]

Hello all,
I purchased this S&W just over 10 days ago after it was posted in the Marketplace for sale as a .357 Magnum 15-3. Several people asked for an update once I picked up the gun, so here's a few photos and what I've found.
Here's the link to the sale ad: http://www.calguns.net/calgunforum/s...highlight=15-3

There was much discussion about it as the seller didn't immediately post pictures and he wasn't familiar with the S&W models and calibers. Many suspected that the gun was pieced together from various parts. I didn't know myself but decided to take a chance on it and meet the seller for a PPT. As I updated in the original sale ad, I was surprised when the seller showed up with the original box for a 19-3, with a matching serial number to the "15-3". Everything looked very good with the gun, and I concluded that it was in fact a 19-3 which had been mis-stamped by the factory as a 15-3.

My 10 days was up yesterday, so I now have it home, cleaned it up, inspected, and taken a few photos.

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The Serial number on the box matches the serial number stamped on the frame. The label reads "19-3" in the Model box. The other end of the box reads ".357 Combat Magnum Blue Finish Model 19 6 inch barrel.

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I'm having trouble with photobucket. The links disappear when I try to copy them to link.

In any case, the serial number inside the frame matches the serial number on the bottom of the grip frame, which matches the serial number on the box, and the model stamped inside the frame clearly reads "15-3".

There is a "3" stamped on the lower left side of the grip frame which indicated that the frame was intended for a .357 Magnum gun.

The grips are both ink stamped KT357 on the inside. The right side also has 5949 and the left side is stamped 5950.

There is a 5 digit number stamped near the bottom left side of the grip frame which I assume is an assembly number of some sort. There is a matching number stamped on the yoke.

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The barrel is pinned to the frame and stamped S&W .357 Magnum on the right side.

The cylinders are recessed and a .357 cartridge chambers properly in all cylinders.

I'll try to get some more photos up if photobucket will cooperate. I'm not an expert on these things but I think all indications point to this being a factory mistake. If you guys have any other thoughts or ideas, or things for me to check, let me know. I'm definitely going to send off to S&W and spend the $50to get the letter on this.

[Ron-Solo]

Beautiful gun. It's definitely not a model 15. It is a 19. I have a 15 and a 66, which is the stainless version of the 19.

The shroud around the extractor rod is for the 19 or 66. The 15 does not have it.

There should also be the complete serial number on the butt frame under the grip. On some models, the serial number on the yoke area of the frame is a partial number, along with the model stamping.

[jeffyhog]

Thanks Ron, finally got photobucket to work so I posted some more photos. Yes, the complete serial number is on the bottom of the grip frame as well as in the yoke area, as well as the "15-3".

[nothingextra]

Call S&W and ask them to do a ser# search.
You'll know how it left the factory.

[trigger945]

I think your hunch is correct that it is a 19 with a mis-stamp.

The features dictate that it is a 19, especially the shroud on the extractor rod. 15 doesn't have that.

Most 19's also came with target grips, like yours, while 15's typically came with magna grips.

A 6" 15 is also very rare as it is normally a 4" revolver. Its 6" counterpart is the 14.

If it was a frankenstein Smith, then it looks like the person who did it is super highly skilled. I doubt it.

Enjoy your 15, err, 19...

[bsg]

congrats on a beauty. S&W can provide the history of the revolver as it came from the manufacturer.

[psssniper]

photobucket uploads sometimes generate a calguns banned word in their url. The other day I had trouble with a link I was trying to use and it had the word *** in it <(see! three asterisks) but think of british slang for a cigarette. So long story short, look closely at your photobucket url link for banned words if you are having trouble with photos on calguns.

[Wyatt Burp]

I bought a S&W Model 24-3 .44 special new in 1983. In an article I read about it first, the author said his gun was marked "29-3" saying they used .44 Magnum marked frames for the first ones. Mine is marked correctly. Maybe that's what happened with your gun. When I saw this gun talked about before in the ad, someone mentioned concern about a Model 15 frame not heat treated correctly to be for a .357. I do not believe this.
I doubt the gun's value increases much if at all because of this. But I believe it's totally original and you verified that by comparing numbers. The box is a big bonus, and if I remember right, the price was great.

[movie zombie]

might not have been part of the deal but they look good together!

[GM4spd]

Mis stamps occurred with S&W on occasion. Great looking K frame. That
was a good price also. The 5 digit number in the yoke is usually an
assemblers number(not related to the serial) that number should be
on the frame and on the inside of the side plate,they are usually all
the same number FWIW! Pete

[anothergunnut]

Didn't somebody recently post a factory letter about a 15 that was essentially a 38 spcl only model 19? IIRC, it was a special order for a foreign police force.

[denpython]

Thanks for the update O P.
Beautiful revolver.

[sigstroker]

I bought a S&W Model 24-3 .44 special new in 1983. In an article I read about it first, the author said his gun was marked "29-3" saying they used .44 Magnum marked frames for the first ones. Mine is marked correctly. Maybe that's what happened with your gun. When I saw this gun talked about before in the ad, someone mentioned concern about a Model 15 frame not heat treated correctly to be for a .357. I do not believe this.
I doubt the gun's value increases much if at all because of this. But I believe it's totally original and you verified that by comparing numbers. The box is a big bonus, and if I remember right, the price was great. I just traded a Ruger Redhawk for this pinned and recessed (like yours) 19-4. The cat wasn't part of the deal.

Not sure I've ever seen smooth Smith stocks like that.

[scotchblade]

For $550 and the box, that's a heck of a deal.

[GM4spd]

I bought a S&W Model 24-3 .44 special new in 1983. In an article I read about it first, the author said his gun was marked "29-3" saying they used .44 Magnum marked frames for the first ones.

I think I remember that article by Skeeter Skelton. In addition to the 29-3
frame his tapered 44 S&W barrel had the & " crushed" instead of standing
straight up,which would indicate S&W had some leftover barrels from the
60s. Pete