Model 19 - new to me

[4D5]

Found at my LGS.

I hadn’t been to my LGS in a couple weeks. I browsed the display case and there it was. I resisted at first and browsed a while.
I went back and gave it another look, too good to pass up for the price. It is in really great condition. Everything is tight and there is hardly a turn line. I don’t think it has been shot a lot. The nickel is in really good condition. The grips have normal wear marks but not hurt.

The LGS guy and I figured it might be assembled near the end of the -3 run starting -4 run. It has a pinned barrel but no recessed cylinder.

It has been sitting a while because the cylinder doesn’t spin much after a quick twist of the ejector rod. Got it home, stripped it down and gave it a good cleaning and once over. The rear sight elevation was really stiff so it came off and got a good cleaning as well. It runs much smoother now.

I’m going to put a Hogue monogrip on for shooting. The wood stocks seem to punish my middle finger (trigger guard) with the wood even with cowboy loads and the stocks are a little fat for my hands as well.

Details:
DOB ~ 1980
No papers/tools but with a blue box that does not match the gun S/N
Nickel
Model 19-4
6 inch pinned bbl / no recessed cyl
Square butt
Narrow TH TT

It looks like this:

 

[Mr.357Sig]

I hate you.

She's a beauty. Enjoy.

 

[Dobe]

Nice

 

[Maple_City_Woodsman]

Very nice! My dad has had the blued version of that gun for longer than I have been alive.

The 6" Model 19 is great IMO because it has a long sight radius, a full 6 shots, and its still very trim and light.

 

[4D5]

Target update

Well I got it all cleaned up and the Hogue grips on. They don't do the gun justice but I shoot a lot better with Hogue. I was a bit all over the place with the wood stocks. But with the Hogue grip it does this

 

[Lucky Derby]

Very nice revolver that shoots well. You may want to try some wood hogues. They look nice, and they feel good, at least to me.
Although both -3s and -4s are normally pinned & recessed. -5s are the first to not have those features. As with all things S&W, no rules are written in concrete.
1977 was the start of the -4, 1982 was the start of the -5. DOB of 1980 puts this gun in the middle of the -4s. Of course DOB dates are shipping dates, not manufacturing dates. Guns have been known to sit at the factory for years before shipping. I suspect that the cylinder was changed at a later date, for whatever reason. With a 1980 shipping date, I doubt they even had non-recessed cylinders to put in the gun.

 

[Cop Bob]

I used a blue version of that very gun with nothing more than a trigger job and a set of Houge Monos as my distinguished match gun for years... Good find...