Is it worth it? Model 19 Question.

[redraidermgr]

About 4 years ago my dad bought me a 4'' blued S&W M19. It only cost him about $250 at a pawn shop. The gun hasn’t been in anywhere near great shape since I got it. The grips are the Rubber wrap around and the bluing is mediocre with a lot of wear and tear around the muzzle and around the grips.

The gun shoots great and is very accurate and fun to shoot. It is incredibly well balanced and has a great trigger. My question is this: I have recently started looking into having the gun re-blued. Gander Mountain says they have to send it off and it will cost 200 and take a few weeks. This is not my only gun so I am not worried about being defenseless while it is gone. I have also found some nice ivory style grips with finger groves and a Masonic Square and Compass etched on them that I would like to see on the pistol as I am a Master Mason.

Do yall think it is worth it to spend more money than the gun was bought for to make it a really classy gun? It still has the original bluing but it is I would say 65% at best. I know that it is a very good gun and I would like to treat it right and have it to pass down my children when I have them. I don’t really know much about collector’s value and I know that these guns are getting harder to find as everyone that has one loves it and usually ends up grabbing any others that they can get their hands on.

So I am asking yall what your opinions are. The final decision is still far from being made and I want to hear ideas and see what everyone thinks.

 

[revolverman357]

Here's what I think. If it makes you happy go ahead and have it re-blued, put on some grips you like and are comfortable to you. If you plan to keep it and use it, it might as well be just like you want it. I'm sure your father would be happy to see you have fun with the gun he gave you. Don't worry about what other people have to say, just have fun!

+1 on the Masonic S&C, my brother.

 

[LouB]

S&W mdl 19

I have a Mdl 19 that I bought used. Sent it to S&W for a renewal ... mechanical tuneup and rebluing came back beautiful and 10 years ago was only $150 or so. Mdl 19 are a classic pistol. Keep and enjoy it.

Lou

 

[The Bushmaster]

If you plan to use it for field carry or regular use...No. If you will only be using it for range work and showing off to others. Yes. Or as Revolverman357 said..."...if it makes you happy..."

S&W Mod 19's are becoming a classic firearm and are also becoming a very much sought after revolver.

 

[csmkersh]

Why don't you contact S&W and see if they will refub and sr-stock your M19. While they are at it, they could do some hand or laser engraving to make it truly yours.
​

 

[OFT]

I'm with the Bushmaster. If you're going to carry it in the field or for self defense it ain't worth it. If you're going to baby it and use it under controlled circumstances, go for it.

 

[machinisttx]

Howdy Brother(MM and York Rite here). One thing to keep in mind is that a reblued gun will have less resale value, it's generally a losing proposition to reblue a gun.


If you do decide to reblue it, S&W will do a fine job. There is another company many of the people on the S&W forums brag on--the name is Ford's(something or other after that, can't remember right now). I would absolutely not let Gander touch any firearm I own......

Did you pick those grips up from an individual, or manufacturer or ??? I have a few guns I'd like the S&C on.

 

[Shade00]

Go with S&W. I've seen a lot of pictures of their work, and it is very nice. They're pretty cheap, too, at $180 + shipping costs.

 

[Guillermo]

Get some new grips. I like the Hogue monogrips, they are only about 18 bucks.

As to the bluing, like everyone else I would ask how you are going to use it. If it is a carry piece or truck gun, I wouldn't do it.

If it is going to live in a silicone sock on the shelf of the safe, I would say absolutely.

Remember, you can always work on the finish in the future.

 

[Water-Man]

If you can justify the money, do it!

 

[Jim K]

The Model 19 is hardly a rare collectors item. I see no reason not to do as you propose. S&W does do a good job at a reasonable price. And they can probably get it back together again, which one shop I heard of couldn't.

Jim

 

[Oro]

Send it to S&W. They have a reasonable shipping service/price, do great work, and keep the papers as a "factory" reblue is much more desirable than an aftermarket one, unless it was done by the handful of really talented aftermarket people.

PS, I second the ivory or ivory-look grip idea. I think the ivory-look and deep blue is just gorgeous on a 19...

 

[SaxonPig]

Refinishing is not economically feasible. As is the gun is worth $350. Spend $200 to refinish and you have $500 in it. But wait, a reblued M19 is worth maybe $350. Whaaaaat? That's the way it is.

Spending $200 to make the gun worth the same make sense to you because it doesn't to me. You could sell this one for $350 and for $450-$500 buy one in nearly perfect shape and you wouldn't have a reblued gun. Of course, it wouldn't be the one your dad gave you. But then, if you refinish it, it's not the gun your dad gave you either, is it?

I would treasure this revolver as is.

Then start saving to buy a shiny new looking gun to go along with it.

Just my 2 cents.

 

[glassman]

put a new face on it.

I'm with the others who have said to send it back to S&W. If you're going to pass it on to your children, collector value isn't an issue. It's been said about horses but I guess it could be adapted to pistols...'there's something about the outside of a gun that's good for the inside of a man'.

 

[Guillermo]

SaxonPig's "sell and buy" scenario makes a lot of sense to me if you want a 19 in better shape.

Of course my answer is to sell it to me for what you have in it and then buy what you want.

 

[Smithiac]

My 2 cents is that if you were going to reblue go with S&W the 19 is getting harder to find good deals on and they are growing in popularity. I would consider every post someone may have posted something that you didn't consider. Reblued guns are never valued as high as original finish even with a factory reblue. And even with a factory reblue there will be tell tale signs that is has been done. Bottom line is its up to you but ganders in my opinoin is not the way to go.

Smithiac

 

[Virginian]

I voted refinish and Ivory grips, but I would send it to S&W over Gander or anyone else.

 

[Matt-J2]

You're planning to hand it down to your kids, that's cool. So get the finish and custom grips that you want. Turn it into your gun, so that it truly will be Dad's Gun when you're gone, and not just some old pistol dad kept around.

 

[jjohnson]

Sloooooow. You have time.

Well, Brother, I'd be tempted to put the money for re-blueing on another handgun, but if you're going to have it engraved with a Square and Compass, you may as well go for the old Colt look - most of them I've seen from the 50's and 60's were blued better than many of the Smiths I've owned.

Myself, I'd rather start with some really nice grips, because I shoot mine a lot, and really good fitting grips do more for me than the finish or any engraving, but to each his own. If it's really something special to you, no point in trying to talk you out of it.

Just have it done in the dead of winter when you're not shooting that much. You KNOW custom work always takes 3 times what you figure plus six weeks.:banghead:

Stay on the level.

 

[weisse52]

Get it all done.....it's your gun. Enjoy it the way you want and do not worry about what other say.

And yes, let S&W do the work.....

 

[earplug]

Instead of spending money on a pretty face. use the money for a great DA action job and upgrade the sights.

 

[dispatch]

Revolver as stated condition- leave it alone and shoot it please.

 

[XavierBreath]

I would tend to leave it be. There is a beauty unique in the finish of a weathered gun.

Go ahead and put the ivories on it if you like.

 

[redraidermgr]

Thanks for all the advice guys. It completely skipped my mind to check on S&W re-bluing. Like I said in the original post I am not sure what I will do right now. I am still contemplating it. It will not be a carry gun but I do like to take it to the range and shoot it still. The gun has amazing accuracy and is a blast to shoot. I know that re-bluing won’t help and can actually hurt resale value and that the gun isn’t worth much to begin with, that is one reason I haven’t decided what I am going to do yet.

One reason I was thinking about re-bluing is because the blue has completely warn off in some spots on the frame and barrel apparently from holster wear and I was worrying about rusting being a problem. I keep the gun well maintained and it never gets water on it but I still worry about it.
The grips I am wanting are almost as much as re-bluing, at least from the one place that I have found them. So it is still largely undecided as to what the fate will be. I still plan on it being something to pass down to my children, not something that I will likely ever sell.

But then, if you refinish it, it's not the gun your dad gave you either, is it?

It would still be the same gun, just a better looking one. This is by no means a family heirloom. My dad picked it up at a pawn shop for me because he used to have one similar that he sold when my brother and I were really young and thought it would make a good starter for my future collection. I am sure he won’t mind me fixing it up if that is what I decide. I have even been considering getting him a Model 19 or similar pistol so that he might get back into shooting, etc. At the least it will be a good self defense gun for him when he is out in the oilfield.

But like I am saying nothing is final yet. I am still weighing whether or not it is worth it to fix it up. Spending a lot of money on something just to spiff it up won’t help its value but it would definitely raise sentimental value for future kids etc.

 

[22LongRifle]

I would spend money on what counts, the inside! Have a good smith break it down, clean it throughtly, check it out, replace springs and what nots if needed. Then just get some sexy walnut grips and T grip for it!

Worn blueing is like scars and nicks, they are what is on a working weapon.

Maybe upgrade the sights.

22lr