S&W Model 19-4 Takedown?

2647 Views 3 Replies 3 Participants Last post by snw19, Oct 4, 2007

Colt

Discussion Starter · Jun 22, 2007

I'm attempting to take apart a Model 19-4 "Combat Magnum" owned by my grandfather. It's in perfect condition considering how old it is (1977-1982) but I don't think anyone's really cleaned it in all the years it's just been sitting around in the box since my grandfather actually has no great interest in firearms. The manual isn't helping at all and barely tells you how to clean it. I figured out how to take the cylinder out, grips off, and I removed the three screws holding the side plate on but the plate is refusing to budge. Is there some trick to getting the side plate off? Cocking the revolver while removing the cylinder and holding it at 23 degree angle? I'd rather not force it off but it could simply be stuck from age. Any help at all is appreciated. - Colt

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· #2 · Jun 22, 2007

Unless you know what you are getting into don't take the side plate off. Use Gunscrubber and spray the insides good and you will get most all the gunk out of it.

Now if you just have to take the side plate off; take out the screws, hold it by the barrel with your right hand, tap the grip frame near the bottom of the side plate with a soft face hammer or screwdriver handle. The plate will come up. It is not stuck from age, it is fitted very tight. If you try to pry it out you will bugger it up and it will be hell to get back in place.

When the plate comes off parts will fall out. Have a manual handy.

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Joe S.

· #3 · Aug 28, 2007

JDH is right on about how to remove the side plate. DO NOT pry on it.

If you've never had one of these apart before its probably worth paying someone who knows them to do it.

Likely its just got a lot of congealed lube in there if it hasn't been shot much over the years.

The only problem with just spraying out the innards with Gunscrubber is you don't get lube back in on the parts that should have it. Its something of an intricate mechanism internally.

19s are great revolvers, its a real treasure to have.

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snw19

· #4 · Oct 4, 2007

Colt said:
I'm attempting to take apart a Model 19-4 "Combat Magnum" owned by my grandfather. It's in perfect condition considering how old it is (1977-1982) but I don't think anyone's really cleaned it in all the years it's just been sitting around in the box since my grandfather actually has no great interest in firearms. The manual isn't helping at all and barely tells you how to clean it.

Aw, you don't want this old thing, I'll take it off your hands... :wink:

What barrel length? In the box w/manual&papers?

Colt said:
Is there some trick to getting the side plate off?...I'd rather not force it off but it could simply be stuck from age. Any help at all is appreciated. - Colt

Do NOT force/pry it off!!!!

The others are right. If you don't know what to do with the internals, don't take them out!! AGI (or whoever) makes a good book on S&W revolvers.

But, if you're going to take the side plate off, gently tap the side of the butt (where the grips were) with the wooden handle of a hammer (or like) and it will work it's way off. But just like you don't want to force it off, don't force it back on!!!

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