Smith & Wesson Model 19
Smith & Wesson · Pistol · In Production · 1957
Also known as: Combat Magnum, .357 Combat Magnum, Model 19
Overview
The Smith & Wesson Model 19, known as the Combat Magnum, is a six-shot, double-action revolver built on the medium K-frame and chambered in .357 Magnum, representing one of the most influential and successful law enforcement revolvers ever produced. Developed in collaboration with legendary Border Patrol Inspector Bill Jordan and introduced in 1957 as the .357 Combat Magnum (designated Model 19 when Smith & Wesson adopted numerical model numbers that year), this revolver combined the power of the .357 Magnum cartridge with the lighter, more manageable K-frame platform rather than the heavier N-frame used for the earlier Model 27. After a year of experimentation with improved-strength steels and special heat-treating processes, Smith & Wesson successfully chambered the powerful magnum cartridge in the K-frame, with the first serial-number gun (K260000) presented to Bill Jordan on November 15, 1955. The Model 19 features a fully shrouded ejection rod, heavy barrel profile, Baughman ramped front sight, and fully micrometer-adjustable rear sight. Available with 2.5-inch, 4-inch, and 6-inch barrel lengths, the 4-inch version became the standard for uniformed law enforcement throughout the 1960s-1980s.
Specifications
| Weight (empty) | 1021 g (36.0 oz) |
| Overall Length | 241 mm (9.49") |
| Barrel Length | 102 mm (4.02") |
| Height | 140 mm (5.51") |
| Width | 38 mm (1.50") |
| Sight Radius | 152 mm (5.98") |
| Firing Mechanism | Double Action Single Action |
| Trigger Type | Double Action Single Action |
| Trigger Pull | 48 N (10.8 lbf) |
| Magazine Capacity | 6 rounds |
| Magazine Type | Rotary |
| Muzzle Velocity | 425 m/s (1394 fps) |
| Muzzle Energy | 732 J (540 ft·lbf) |
| Effective Range | 50 m (55 yd) |
| Barrel Rifling | Right Hand |
| Rifling Twist | 457 mm (17.99") |
| Number of Grooves | 5 |
| Frame Material | Carbon Steel |
| Barrel Material | Carbon Steel |
| Finish | Blue |
Calibers
- .357 Magnum · primary — also known as .357 Mag, .357 S&W Magnum, 9x33mmR
- .38 Special — also known as .38 Spl, .38 S&W Special, 9x29mmR
Features
- Firing modes: Semi Automatic
- Feed systems: Revolving Cylinder
- Safety mechanisms: Transfer Bar
- Features: K Frame, Adjustable Sights, Swing Out Cylinder, Shrouded Ejector Rod, Baughman Ramp Front Sight, Micrometer Adjustable Rear Sight, Square Butt, Target Trigger, Target Hammer
Variants
- Smith & Wesson Model 19 Carry Comp PC — Performance Center
Service history
Operators
- U.S. Border Patrol · adopted 1957 · as Model 19
- U.S. Immigration and Naturalization Service · as Model 19
- Various law enforcement agencies · adopted 1957
Production
Production years: 1957-present
Produced continuously with brief interruptions. One of the most popular law enforcement revolvers of the 1960s-1980s. Hundreds of thousands produced.
Origin
Country of origin: United States
Designer: Bill Jordan
Notes
Bill Jordan's vision 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 revolvers and adjustable sights. The Model 19 became standard issue to uniformed officers of the former U.S. Immigration and Naturalization Service and Patrol Agents of the U.S. Border Patrol until both agencies adopted .40 caliber semi-automatic pistols in the late 1990s. The revolver can safely fire both .357 Magnum and .38 Special ammunition, making it versatile for training and reduced-recoil applications. The K-frame .357 Magnum proved controversial among some Smith & Wesson engineers who worried the lighter frame couldn't handle sustained magnum use, and indeed, heavy use of magnum ammunition over thousands of rounds could eventually cause timing issues or forcing cone erosion. However, these concerns were largely academic for most users, and the Model 19 proved durable enough for law enforcement service. The Model 19 was temporarily discontinued but returned to production in the Smith & Wesson Classic series with modern updates. The Combat Magnum name reflected its intended purpose-combat accuracy combined with magnum power in a package light enough for all-day carry.
Background
Bill Jordan wanted a magnum revolver that didn't weigh like a boat anchor, and the Model 19 delivered. Legend has it that when Smith & Wesson engineers protested that the K-frame wasn't strong enough for .357 Magnum, Jordan replied that he'd shot enough bad guys to know the gun only needed to outlast the fight-not last forever. The Model 19 proved them both right: light enough to carry all day, strong enough for any gunfight, but admittedly not built for endless diet of full-power magnums at the range.