an oldie but a goodie

[daytime dave]

I was at camp a lot this summer. I picked up some great Smith and Wesson revolvers at my favorite lgs. The last entry is no exception. It's a model 19-2. It's a great revolver. This one is a real keeper (not that they all aren't). It kept all it's six shots on the paper plate at 25 yds with magnums and plus P's. I didn't have a model 19 up until this point.

[BrokenolMarine]

Sweet, I have let a couple go that I wish I had kept, and the nineteen was one. I had a twenty seven I should have held on to, and my first PPC gun was a bone stock six inch model fourteen. Sheesh, so many.

[North Country Gal]

Same here, Marine, but the couple of 19/66s I've had were 6" barrels and I really think the 19 is at it's classic best with the shorter barrels. Yeah, I've a few vintage Smiths that I should have kept, too.

Dave, congrats on a classic. I'm hoping to find a few more vintage Smiths for our collection in the near future.

[markiver54]

Nice find Dave! My sister had a 19 that I wanted, but she ended up giving it to my brother after he recommended she get something else. I've seen it, ( one of those pink things ). Don't remember what brand though.
Anyway...congrats on the 19.

[markiver54]

My 686 is a dash 2 as well. It is also a pre-lock. Does the dash 2 mean they are near the same vintage?

[daytime dave]

Mark, I'm sure NCG can put it better, but when S&W started the model numbers, when they made a change to that model, it got a dash number. This gun is pinned and recessed. Pinned barrel and recessed cylinder. At some point, S&W did away with that. After each change, a new dash number. The 19-2 means it has seen two changes of note since the model 19 first came out. Your 686 has had two changes in design since the 686 came out, hence 686-2. I'm sure the internet can tell you the changes too.

[markiver54]

Mark, I'm sure NCG can put it better, but when S&W started the model numbers, when they made a change to that model, it got a dash number. This gun is pinned and recessed. Pinned barrel and recessed cylinder. At some point, S&W did away with that. After each change, a new dash number. The 19-2 means it has seen two changes of note since the model 19 first came out. Your 686 has had two changes in design since the 686 came out, hence 686-2. I'm sure the internet can tell you the changes too.

Thank you Dave for the helpful info!

[PT7]

That is one very sharp-looking wheelgun, Dave! NCG has already stated the obvious. This classic snubby is in a class by itself. Congrats on a very acquisition to your revolver collection.

Keep on enjoying it. Glad you got in some range time again.
PT7

[Mistered]

Does the dash 2 mean they are near the same vintage?

No - as DD said the dash # was applied when a design or other change was made to that particular gun regardless of the year.
The changes were different according to the model of the gun.
For example the Mod 19 lost the pinned and recessed system in 1982 and became a Mod 19-5.

BTW DD - nice score on one of the finest S & Ws made!
I packed a Mod 19-2 for 100s of miles backpacking and other outdoor activities - stupidly sold it for no other reason than my brother wanted it but it has been replaced with a Mod 66 4".

Keep your 'full house' Magnum ammo to a minimum with it and it will outlast all of us!

[markiver54]

Does the dash 2 mean they are near the same vintage?

No - as DD said the dash # was applied when a design or other change was made to that particular gun regardless of the year.
The changes were different according to the model of the gun.
For example the Mod 19 lost the pinned and recessed system in 1982 and became a Mod 19-5.

BTW DD - nice score on one of the finest S & Ws made!
I packed a Mod 19-2 for 100s of miles backpacking and other outdoor activities - stupidly sold it for no other reason than my brother wanted it but it has been replaced with a Mod 66 4".

Keep your 'full house' Magnum ammo to a minimum with it and it will outlast all of us!

Thanks Ed.
Now I'm wondering if my brother still has it and if he would let it go.

[JEBar]

nice find Dave .... congrats indeed

[North Country Gal]

Good explanation guys. The dash number, as explained, is unique to an individual model. Doesn't cross over to another model as a way to determine vintage, even with models that differ in only blued versus stainless. For instance, on the Smith 44 mags, the endurance package was added to the stainless 629s with the dash 2E or 3, but since the blued 29 predated it, the 29 got the entrance package at dash 5.

In general, the pre-early 80s Smiths with the pinned barrels and/or lack of a lock (some models like the 686, 629 came after pinned barrels) are the best way to spot a potentially collectible Smith. The pinned barrel was an added measure to secure the barrel to the frame, but wasn't really needed. It's not an obvious big pin, but if you know where to look, you'll see it. It's a tiny pin above the the spot where the barrel is installed in the frame, as with this early 70s vintage 28-2. If you look at the pic of Dave's 19, you can also see it.

[BigAl52]

Nice gun Dave I have looked at several lately but the price there going for is crazy