Old detective and his S&W wheel guns

Trooper Joe · April 28, 2017, 05:08 PM

Smith and Wesson Model 19-6, 2.5" barrel, Model 19 with new Altmont grips

S&W, Model 36-1, 3" "Chief's Special"

S&W, Model 36-1, 3" "Chief's Special", original box, grips, rubber S&W grips (great find in Florida)

Just got back from Florida and started to really admire some of the guns I found down there.

The model 19 had some real crappy grips on it, no box, etc, but was a great deal at $300. So I had the dealer ship it to my dealer in Michigan. Just installed some Altamont grips on it along with a recent manufactured "Tyler" grip adapter. Sort of reminds me of my detective days in the 70s. Can't wait to shoot it and show it off at the range.

The Chief's Special is one I really have fallen love with. I knew they had made some 3" model 36s, but I am not sure I ever saw one. Got the gun (almost unfired condition), original grips, box and papers [for somewhat more than the Model 19

]. Bought some original S&W rubber grips (allegedly original) and a set of aftermarket wood grips (shown installed on the gun). The rubber grips are the most comfortable to shoot the gun with (158 grain ammo, non+p of course). It is very accurate and a lot of fun to bring to the range (just got to keep the drools off of the gun.)

Just some thoughts from an old "wheel gun" detective ,

Trooper Joe

PS: My greatest fear is that if I have a stroke or die, my wife will sell my guns for what I told her I paid for them.

tallball · April 28, 2017, 05:22 PM

Nice aquisitions!

mk70ss · April 28, 2017, 05:26 PM

From one revolver guy to another, very nice.

Bill DeShivs · April 28, 2017, 06:23 PM

The model 36 is a 3" HEAVY barrel.
Most were the lightweight tapered barrel.

shootniron · April 28, 2017, 06:55 PM

Nice revolvers!

I have that top one...I like it a lot...though, it is seldom carried or shot.

dscampbell · April 28, 2017, 06:56 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by mk70ss

From one revolver guy to another, very nice.

Me as well

Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

Stephanie B · April 28, 2017, 08:49 PM

Very nice!

Deaf Smith · April 28, 2017, 09:07 PM

I'm a fool for snub Combat Magnums. Have a 19-5, 66-1, and 66-2!

Using Buffalo Bore 158 grain .38 loads (1050 fps from that 2 1/2 inch barrel) it is plenty for self defense and makes a good trail gun.

My 66-1 is on the left! On right is a Ruger Security Six and altered to round butt. Note the Eagle Secret Service grips. Best concealment grips I have found.

Deaf

James K · April 28, 2017, 10:49 PM

For many years my "uniform" gun was a 4" Model 19 (usually loaded with the issue .38 Special); my off duty gun was a Model 36 3" barrel, steel square butt, a rather rare combo and one few people have ever seen, though S&W sold a fair number of square butt models that used a wood filler grip.

I still have both guns and consider the combo near ideal. I know some folks like the idea of "gun of the day", carrying 20 or more different guns (even 3 or 4 at a time). I have quite a few guns, but the idea of playing guessing games on what I am carrying has never appealed to me. I keep thinking that I could collect serious bodily harm before realizing that the Luger safety works differently from that of a 1911.

Jim

Trooper Joe · April 29, 2017, 10:11 AM

Some of the guys on one forum pointed out that the Tyler grip adaptor just didn't look right on my Model 19. I agreed and took them off. The new Altamont grips look much better without the grip adaptor. We did, however, use a lot of these Tyler grip adaptors when I was on the job in the 60s and 70s. We also ran a lot of the rubber grips that were just becoming available.

I guess for a long range session I could install these Hogue grips that actually came with my Model 19.

I moved the grip adaptor (after all I just paid almost $30 for it from the fellow in Oklahoma who is re-popping these/ If I remember they used to cost about $5 to $10 back in the day) to my model 10. They actually look better there. (If I remember, we all used them for our heavy barrel model 10s when we were still in uniform.)

By the way, I found this almost new model 10 last year in Florida (for some reason I did not keep mine when I retired from the State Police in 1987).

Thanks for the critique of my wheel guns guys. Lot of good ideas on these forums.

Trooper Joe

April 28, 2017, 05:08 PM	#1
Trooper Joe Senior Member Join Date: January 5, 2005 Location: Michigan Posts: 225	Old detective and his S&W wheel guns Smith and Wesson Model 19-6, 2.5" barrel, Model 19 with new Altmont grips S&W, Model 36-1, 3" "Chief's Special" S&W, Model 36-1, 3" "Chief's Special", original box, grips, rubber S&W grips (great find in Florida) Just got back from Florida and started to really admire some of the guns I found down there. The model 19 had some real crappy grips on it, no box, etc, but was a great deal at $300. So I had the dealer ship it to my dealer in Michigan. Just installed some Altamont grips on it along with a recent manufactured "Tyler" grip adapter. Sort of reminds me of my detective days in the 70s. Can't wait to shoot it and show it off at the range. The Chief's Special is one I really have fallen love with. I knew they had made some 3" model 36s, but I am not sure I ever saw one. Got the gun (almost unfired condition), original grips, box and papers [for somewhat more than the Model 19 ]. Bought some original S&W rubber grips (allegedly original) and a set of aftermarket wood grips (shown installed on the gun). The rubber grips are the most comfortable to shoot the gun with (158 grain ammo, non+p of course). It is very accurate and a lot of fun to bring to the range (just got to keep the drools off of the gun.) Just some thoughts from an old "wheel gun" detective , Trooper Joe PS: My greatest fear is that if I have a stroke or die, my wife will sell my guns for what I told her I paid for them.

April 28, 2017, 05:26 PM	#3
mk70ss Senior Member Join Date: January 12, 2008 Location: Tennessee Posts: 1,598	From one revolver guy to another, very nice. __________________ Say when.....

April 28, 2017, 06:23 PM	#4
Bill DeShivs Senior Member Join Date: April 7, 2006 Posts: 10,985	The model 36 is a 3" HEAVY barrel. Most were the lightweight tapered barrel. __________________ Bill DeShivs, Master Cutler www.billdeshivs.com

April 28, 2017, 09:07 PM	#8
Deaf Smith Senior Member Join Date: October 31, 2000 Location: Texican! Posts: 4,453	I'm a fool for snub Combat Magnums. Have a 19-5, 66-1, and 66-2! Using Buffalo Bore 158 grain .38 loads (1050 fps from that 2 1/2 inch barrel) it is plenty for self defense and makes a good trail gun. My 66-1 is on the left! On right is a Ruger Security Six and altered to round butt. Note the Eagle Secret Service grips. Best concealment grips I have found. Deaf __________________ “To you who call yourselves ‘men of peace,’ I say, you are not safe without men of action by your side” Thucydides

April 28, 2017, 05:22 PM	#2
tallball Senior Member Join Date: October 17, 2014 Posts: 2,444	Nice aquisitions!

April 28, 2017, 06:55 PM	#5
shootniron Senior Member Join Date: April 16, 2011 Location: Georgia Posts: 1,599	Nice revolvers! I have that top one...I like it a lot...though, it is seldom carried or shot.

April 28, 2017, 08:49 PM	#7
Stephanie B Senior Member Join Date: March 1, 2008 Location: NWern SE Missouri Posts: 339	Very nice!

April 28, 2017, 10:49 PM	#9
James K Member In Memoriam Join Date: March 17, 1999 Posts: 24,383	For many years my "uniform" gun was a 4" Model 19 (usually loaded with the issue .38 Special); my off duty gun was a Model 36 3" barrel, steel square butt, a rather rare combo and one few people have ever seen, though S&W sold a fair number of square butt models that used a wood filler grip. I still have both guns and consider the combo near ideal. I know some folks like the idea of "gun of the day", carrying 20 or more different guns (even 3 or 4 at a time). I have quite a few guns, but the idea of playing guessing games on what I am carrying has never appealed to me. I keep thinking that I could collect serious bodily harm before realizing that the Luger safety works differently from that of a 1911. Jim

April 29, 2017, 10:11 AM	#10
Trooper Joe Senior Member Join Date: January 5, 2005 Location: Michigan Posts: 225	Some of the guys on one forum pointed out that the Tyler grip adaptor just didn't look right on my Model 19. I agreed and took them off. The new Altamont grips look much better without the grip adaptor. We did, however, use a lot of these Tyler grip adaptors when I was on the job in the 60s and 70s. We also ran a lot of the rubber grips that were just becoming available. I guess for a long range session I could install these Hogue grips that actually came with my Model 19. I moved the grip adaptor (after all I just paid almost $30 for it from the fellow in Oklahoma who is re-popping these/ If I remember they used to cost about $5 to $10 back in the day) to my model 10. They actually look better there. (If I remember, we all used them for our heavy barrel model 10s when we were still in uniform.) By the way, I found this almost new model 10 last year in Florida (for some reason I did not keep mine when I retired from the State Police in 1987). Thanks for the critique of my wheel guns guys. Lot of good ideas on these forums. Trooper Joe