another model 19 question

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Bellzy

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I have a co-worker that I've been talking to about guns with and he was telling me about this little smith that he has that he doesn't like to shoot because it so abusive. The crux of this is that I have a Dan Wesson model 15 that I don't shoot much just because. He says he'll trade straight up, his gun is a model 19-3 with a 2.5 inch barrel. The condition of his gun is pretty good, aside from a little pitting in the finish and some holster wear at the muzzle it's in great shape...lock up, timing, grips, All is in order except the finish. Serial number on this piece is 5K11XXX.

What do you guys think, should I do it? I do
love the snubbies.
 
I would make the trade. I would much rather have a Model 19 2.5" than a Dan Wesson.

I'm not a fan of the DW as far as grip shape and trigger pull are concerned.
 
Can you be more specific? What kind of barrel is on your DW? Length? Vented? Underlug? What kind of shape?

The pitting on the 19 reduces its value considerably.

If I had a DW 15 in 100% shape w/4 inch vented, full underlug barrel, I wouldn't make the trade. But that's just me.
 
I know what you mean about the grip shape. I have small hand and I really can't get a solid grip on it, as far as the trigger pull goes that doesn't bother me too much although I will say that the weight on the trigger is heavier on the Smith than on the Dan Wesson.
 
Bellzy,

I have a S&W Model 19-3 in 4" blue and I will never part with it. It is the nicest shooting revolver I have ever had. Plus that version was made back in the days S&W was still pinning the barrel, and recessing the cylinder chambers. That alone makes the early 19's more appealing to the collectors, raising the value.

If you hardly shoot the Dan Wesson anyway I think I would do the trade. If he is a good enough friend to let you shoot it first, I think that would seal the deal.

Bill
 
I have both and like both (both 4" guns though) I don't see me getting rid of either one, but if one had to go, it would be the DW. If they are both in similar condition, it is a good trade, especially if you like the M-19 better.
 
I wouldn't make the trade straight across unless you really like the guy and don't mind losing a bit in the deal. I'd rather have the DW you described and you may find you'll miss the gun if you trade.

The pitting bothers me, though, and I'd hold out for a Model 66/65 (stainless). Still, your call.
 
Any .357 with a barrel 3" or under is going to put out a lot of blast and noise, a bother even with good muffs. For concealment, there is little a 2 or 3 inch barrel will do that a 4 inch won't do as well.

Jim
 
Here is a couple pictures of the Smith. I'm not sure if you can see the minor pitting or not but it gives you an idea of the condition of the piece.

67f31127.jpg
f9e40fad.jpg
f331df02.jpg
 
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I traded a Model 19-3, 2.5" barrel for a Model 66, 4" because the snub was a monster to shoot. I've owned and shot many handguns but that M19 was unruly, and hard as hell on the hands. The noise level was intense and it was a fire breathing dragon to say the least. I will say it was very accurate though.
If you were to stick with the .38 specials and possibly the +p ammo in it you may find it highly servicable.
I have a Model 14 .38 for the .38 ammo's and a couple of .357's for the .357 ammo.

Good luck on your decision. If it were me I'd keep the Dan Wesson. But that's only my 2cents worth.
 
I want to thank everyone for their responses and opinions.

I think what I'm going to do is make the trade and send it off to Smith &Wesson for a servicing. I'm not too concerned with how brutal it is to shoot with full house .357s because I do reloads and have a nice low end recipe that I use for my SP101 for those light range sessions.

Once again thanks to everyone.
 
send it off to Smith &Wesson for a servicing
Click to expand...

Well, you might want to go ahead and have them refinish it. They do a top notch job for a very reasonable price.
 
Harmonic,

I was thinking about that but I wasn't sure what that would do to the value of the gun.
 
The old bluing job will most likely be better than the new, more environmentally-friendly bluing now offered by S&W. With decent rubber grips, the loads shouldn't be too bad. I had a .357 derringer with wood side panels. I shot it just to get used to the recoil and blast, but ended up getting rid of it because of misfires. In comparison, my Ruger Speed-Six is a pussycat.
 
I wasn't sure what that would do to the value of the gun.
Click to expand...

With all due respect, the gun doesn't have any real collector's value with the pitting/rust. It's strictly a shooter. Besides, a 19-3 isn't a very rare animal anyway.

If you're just looking for a ccw/shooter, then it's fine the way it is. But since it's going back to Smith anyway, I'd think about rebluing it. But that's just me.

On the other hand, with the cost of the servicing, plus the cost of rebluing, plus the value of your DW, it might be cheaper to sell the DW outright and just buy a primo 19.
 
Among the 357s I've got a 19-3, 2 19-5s and a 27-2. When I go shooting the 19-3 and 27 always go as well as an old wore out K22. Out of about 40 S&Ws those three have the best actions, are the easiest and thus the most fun to shoot. Actually they're the only ones I can hit anything with if the truth be told. Value and collecability are immaterial. Having fun is material and is what keeps keeps us going. I wouldn't trade any of those 3 revolvers for 10 brand new DWs. If you think the 357 is too much with the lighter gun then use high quality 38 spl wadcutters for practice and 38 JHP for CC. Try it, you'll like it!
 
I went to the range the other day and fired the M19 and I don't think the recoil is any worst than my SP101, actually the little gun is a lot of fun to shoot. One thing I seemed to notice more than on the Ruger is the blast from the muzzle. Maybe it's because of it being blued instead of the stainless.
 
DW sixguns leave me less than impressed. OK, but not impressive. Moreover, decent DWs are available more often than 19s. I would go for the 19, which I consider the most desirable DA sixgun in the world.
 
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