Snake Plisskin
Member
Long time away , now returned. Anyone have one of the New Classic Smith & Wesson Model 19, personal review, photos ect, thanks for you help.
Something like this photo below
Something like this photo below
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I would strongly advise you to find a nice old one and buy it. The new ones are NOT worth the asking price. The 19 IS a great revolver.
I would strongly advise you to find a nice old one and buy it. The new ones are NOT worth the asking price. The 19 IS a great revolver.
But I am not crazy about the spring loaded ball and detent. A cost saving departure from the original design.
The ol' "if it's new, it must only be a cost-saving approach that cheapens the quality of the product"
Well, I'm not so sure about either: From what I've seen, the ball detent works well to lock up the gun. Ball detents have to be designed and installed correctly for them to work well (I had a respected gunsmith install one in one of my revos, and it did next to nothing). It's not clear to me that it'd be any cheaper than the original design.
I just prefer the older design.
AFAIK, the new K-frames don't have the flat underside. I pulled the pic off the interweb to confirm. IIRC, a bit less of the forcing cone extends beyond the frame as well. And from those I've checked out, the ball detent works rather well, and the gun locks up tight. I've not shot the new K-frames, but my bet is they shoot just fine. I would advise the OP to inspect their new gun closely before taking it home
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The extra barrel length has to do with our friends to the North ( Canada ) as they have some crazy law no revolvers under 4" thus 4.2" for Smiths and Rugers and any other revolver manufacturer.So no worries we will just have to live with it.I see no big deal about it. Heck Ruger makes a 5", there are others who make 2", 2.5" . 2 3/4". 3" , 45/8 , 6" , 6.5" ect from other gun makers.I've got one of the new ones, (see my avatar). While I haven't shot the new one a lot, it shoots just fine. The grips are a little narrow, but not enough for me to change them. I don't/won't shoot it a lot with Magnum loads anyway so they'll be fine. If you require bigger grips, any grips for a round but K-frame will work.
Cost. I paid about what I paid for an unfired (outside the factory) Model 66-1 in a presentation case. I could and did, not long after, buy a nice 19-4 for less. Again, pay your money and take your choice.
The thing that "bugs" me most about it is that extra .2" of barrel. There is no logical reason to not like it. Heck, I can barely tell the difference unless I hold them side by side, but I "know" it's there. I know why they did it, and I think it's a good idea, but it still bugs me. I have a thing for 4" barrels.
Only you can decide if you want to buy a new one or not. I did because I haven't bought a "new" Smith and Wesson revolver (a Model 19 actually) in about 40 years. The things like the lock, MIM parts, two piece barrel and such, don't bother me at all.
edited to add: Another advantage of the "new" Model 19 is that I can walk into my local gunshop this morning, and buy one. I don't have to wait/hunt for one.
S&W has turned out great revolvers and Lemons all through their history.