Model 19-5, is this a good price?

For me? Yes.
Is it a good deal? Well..

For me? Yes
I love K -frame Smiths, especially snubbies!

Yes for a 2.5 inch. Definitely. They often sell for more than the longer barrel guns.

One just like that was on consignment in a local shop for 475. Got snagged up quick. Had those compac grips and no box or docs with 2 1/2” barrel and all.

I thought it was a good price considering a model 66 was right next to it with original grips and 4” barrel for 700 I don’t do .357 bores or K frames anymore or I would have picked it up myself. They are kind of too common around here, hence the lower price.

I would put the price of $550, at the top end, but if you want it, if your like me, you think about it for long, someone else beats you to it, and a price is only as much as someone is ready to pay. It will be fine, for carry.

I have never understood this combination. Adjustable sights on a snub nose from a time period in which the primary audience for which the gun was marketed was being taught to shoot one handed with a “point shoot” style where sights aren’t used. Adjustable sights on a snub by are odd. K frame snub also odd. K frame adjustable sight snub... why? I would buy it just to figure out why. I love revolvers and that one would be right up my alley.

fordtrucks

Seems a bit pricey but looks to be in decent condition with a bit of holster wear on the barrel. I found the listing on Armslist; maybe offer him $500 and see what he says.

WestKentucky

Normally I would agree with you that adjustable sights on a snubby are like the answer to a question nobody asked. But I also like all the help I can get when it comes to shooting short barreled revolvers and if there's high visibility sights on the gun, I'm going to use them.

Years ago I shot a friend's Model 19 snubby that he had smoothed up the action on. Using the sights I put six rounds rapid fire firing double action only, of some particularly hot handloads, into the black at 30'. I really doubt if I could have done that using the one handed, "point shoot" method.

Looks like maybe a lot of carry wear - don't know without handling it if that translates to mechanical wear as well.

May well be worth it but I don't think it's a screaming deal and a warranted carry gun of similar build would cost less from new.

I'll bet it's one sweet handling unit though.

Todd.

If it’s what you want then go for it. Worst that could happen is it isn’t that great, but you could sell it down the road.

I rarely see classic snubbies at gun stores or gun shows any more. If I were in the market for one and came across that one for $550 I would probably jump in it.

I think its a fair price. I don't see those for sale around here often. I would be tempted by it. But I would also wave the cash in front of his face and make a counter offer.

I have a 3" model 36-6 with adjustable sights and love it. Its one of my favorite trail guns. The adjustable sights make it very shootable. Much more so than if it were just fixed sights with a grooved top strap and short front post.

I have one that I carried for a while back in the 1990's. As much as I really, really like K-frames, there are lots of snaggy edges on the M-19. This fact made it tough to carry unless I had it in a Bianchi shoulder rig worn under a jacket. When I drew while carrying the gun this way I was able to cover the hammer spur and rear sight with my thumb after unsnapping the holster. It would clear the jacket easily without catching on anything.

Since I live where jackets aren't worn all that much, after it got warm the M-19 went into the safe and a S&W 4013 took it's place for many years after. (Sadly I left it holstered in the safe and the tanning chemicals in the holster wore off the bluing on the left side near the muzzle )

$550? Not tooooo bad. Like mine, there is a bit of bluing wear on the muzzle, the high spots on the frame and the cylinder looks like it's turned quite a few revolutions, so hopefully the seller is being honest with you on the mechanicals. I paid $500 for a very nice 4" M-66-1 a few months ago, I bet if it was a 2.5" it would have gone for over $600, so you're not too far off.



As the guys said, it's not a screamer of a deal, but if the gun fills a void then go for it . You certainly won't lose money if you don't like it and sell it later.

Stay safe.

2.5 inch K frame revolvers have skyrocketed the past few years with average examples selling for $650-700 and nice ones with box up to $1000 in some cases. That's not a highway robbery price but it's pretty darn good as long as the gun locks up nice and had no major problems. I would seriously consider it

Think you’re going to find one for less anytime soon?

Not underpriced, but not out of the ballpark. Wish I'd have kept the one I bought some years ago for much less. I had a Python 2.5", so I sold the Smith and made a few bucks.

Around my area, an “original” 19 of any description is seldom up for sale. When you do see one, asking prices for a decent shooter grade start around $450 to $500. The 2.5” guns are the most desirable and can bring more depending on condition and accessories. The used gun market prices vary depending on location.

WestKentucky said:

I have never understood this combination. Adjustable sights on a snub nose from a time period in which the primary audience for which the gun was marketed was being taught to shoot one handed with a “point shoot” style where sights aren’t used. Adjustable sights on a snub by are odd. K frame snub also odd. K frame adjustable sight snub... why? I would buy it just to figure out why. I love revolvers and that one would be right up my alley.

Click to expand...

Lacking adjustable sights relies on the gun shooting to POA regardless of hand and dominant eye (parallax). What are the chances?

I passed on a 2.5" 19-8 for $425. The price seemed fair enough but it's the least desirable version of a classic and a dubious combination of features, as mentioned above. At another time I may have pounced on it.

jdavis123 said:

Around my area, an “original” 19 of any description is seldom up for sale. When you do see one, asking prices for a decent shooter grade start around $450 to $500. The 2.5” guns are the most desirable and can bring more depending on condition and accessories. The used gun market prices vary depending on location.

Click to expand...

It’s funny; the model of the M-19 that’s the most specialized and least versatile.. the 2.5” version...is the one that people seem to crave and therefore costs the most. Maybe because of lower production numbers? I dunno.

In any event, if it sings to you buy it. If not, pass it up for something that does.

Stay safe.

fordtrucks said:

can you expound on “least versatile”? Thanks

Click to expand...

I wouldn’t use a 2.5” for serious target shooting, hunting, etc. I wouldn’t hesitate to use a 6” for these things and a 4” is a compromise that fits the frame perfectly and can handle it all. The sight radius makes accurate shooting at distance much more difficult with a 2.5 than a 4 or 6” M-19 and there is some velocity loss and increased blast with the shortest tube as well.

I can pack a 4” M-19 as easily as a 2.5”, the extra 1.5” makes shooting it easier and isn’t that much more to conceal. It also has a full length ejection rod to help lift magnum cases from the cylinder an extra .28” or so while the 2.5” is abbreviated to fit the shorter barrel.

I carried a 4” M-19 off duty for a while in a strong side OWB holster (And in the winter even a 5” 629 Classic was carried in an OWB holster to and from work under my coat for a bit.) As I said earlier, the unbobbed M-19 is very sharp-cornered, so if I was to carry a K-frame .357 again I would reach for my 3” M-13 to at least avoid the rear sight snag issues.(The hammer is unbobbed on that gun, too.)

Don’t get me wrong, the 2.5 is really a neat gun., I just don’t find it as all-around versatile as a 4” or a 6” M-19.

Stay safe.

The local gun shop has always had fairly reasonable prices on revolvers. Buddy got a nice M67 there last spring for $450 out the door In August I got a 3 inch 68& on sale at $478. It had been $595 before discount. Not a 19 but today they have an M66 snub for $995. It is not P&R. They must feel that's where the market is on those and I don't imagine the M19 is too far away. Me and a buddy have bought a half dozen used revolvers at this shop in past 5 or 6 years and we are both cheapskates. They have a used 686 SSR pro for $650 that's been there 2 months and I bet you could get for $600 out the door as further examples that their prices are normally decent. I honestly expected to see $695 or maybe 750 on the price tag. Was shocked at $995, but again, they must think that's about right. I do know they sell a lot on gunbroker

fordtrucks, did you buy it?

I can tell you that up here in the PNW, where we seem to be swamped with collectors of S&W revolvers, you'd never see one at that price. Last 19-5 I saw in decent shape, guy was asking $795 -- and he got it. The 19-4s and earlier, go for even more if they're in good shape, over 900 to more'n a grand if excellent condition.

I brought my 39th Ed. Blue Book into an LGS trying to haggle down the owner on a 66-4 (according to Fjestad and Schwing's, he was asking $300 too much); guy laughed it me, told me it'd be sold by the next day … it was, and I was not the purchaser.