My "common" S&W Model 19 trio is now complete

[JC111]

Four years ago I purchased a Model 19-3 w/6" barrel from a co-worker. Though I had been looking for the 2.5" variant the price was very reasonable and I figured why not? Once I had it I decided it needed company. It took a few years, but I found a 19-4 w/2.5" bl in 2014 and last Friday I located a 19-3 w/4" barrel. So now I have a complete trio of the "common" barrel lengths that were available to the "common" American gun-owner back in the distant past. I'm well aware of the 3" bl models (my research says that only 2,500 were made) as well as the 3" fixed sight models that were made in the seventies in an effort to score the French government contract (Smith lost to the Manurhin MR-73), nickel finish and ,of course, the stainless steel Model 66. Collecting never stops, but for now I am content. Not the greatest photos, but here my little trio is. Incidentally I'm being just a little sarcastic by putting common in quotes. A couple posters on other sites have described my trio as common. I don't consider them common though I would go with mass-produced. Snobbery irritates me at times.

 

[gotboostvr]

I like your style!

 

[JC111]

I like your style!

Thanks. Same to you sir.

 

[Saddlebag Preacher]

Blued model 19 4" like the one you have was my first duty sidearm as a young LEO. We supplied our own dept. recommended handguns (Colt or S&W). I remember I paid an princely sum of $210.00 plus tax. Like everything else, sure wish I still had it. Changed when we started carrying semi-autos.

 

[JC111]

Blued model 19 4" like the one you have was my first duty sidearm as a young LEO. We supplied our own dept. recommended handguns (Colt or S&W). I remember I paid an princely sum of $210.00 plus tax. Like everything else, sure wish I still had it. Changed when we started carrying semi-autos.

Nice examples of the Model 19 aren't as easy to find as they were ,even just ten years ago, and nice P&R examples are even harder to find.

 

[sean m]

Very nice. I have Dad's 6" 19. Great gun, only gets shot a few times year in memory. Always wanted a 2.5" with round butt. Thought it would have been the perfect carry revolver. Ended up with a Ruger Police 6 with a 2.75", about as close I could afford to that dream.

 

[JC111]

Very nice. I have Dad's 6" 19. Great gun, only gets shot a few times year in memory. Always wanted a 2.5" with round butt. Thought it would have been the perfect carry revolver. Ended up with a Ruger Police 6 with a 2.75", about as close I could afford to that dream.

The Ruger Security Six/Speed Six 2.75" is also a sweet revolver.

 

[vba]

So now I have a complete trio of the "common" barrel lengths that were available to the "common" American gun-owner back in the distant past.

Geez, not so distant for me...Nice guns I have a 6" left.

 

[Tallball]

Nice wheelguns!

 

[Blkhrt13]

All the envy

 

[badkarmamib]

IMHO, a collection is defined by the owner. What is necessary to complete your collection is entirely up to you. That being said, that is a fine set of firearms you have there. Common or not, finished collection or centerpiece of a to-be-added-to-later larger collection, you can be proud of it. Congratulations!

 

[bannockburn]

JC111

Nice Model 19 Trifecta! The 2.5" barrel is one of my favorite .357 "snubby" revolvers. Have never seen all that many 6" barrel versions so I would say your trio is a notch above common at any rate.

 

[reddog81]

Nice collection. Even though they would have been common 40 years ago, they aren't just something you can walk into any gun store and expect to find on a regular basis today.

Now for a harder challenge you can move onto getting each barrel length in the "less common" nickel.

 

[Deaf Smith]

I'm a fool for K frame 2 1/2 inch snubs... Always have been.

Deaf

 

[JC111]

Nice collection. Even though they would have been common 40 years ago, they aren't just something you can walk into any gun store and expect to find on a regular basis today.

Now for a harder challenge you can move onto getting each barrel length in the "less common" nickel.

You aren't kidding. When I started I believed it wouldn't be that difficult to get all three examples. I soon realized it was going to take a bit longer than I initially thought.

 

[Jim NE]

Wow! You guys have a model 19 for your every mood!

Very nice guns, JC111 and gotboostvr!

 

[kBob]

That is certainly a nice collection. I am jelly, as my teen daughter says.

TWICE! TWICE! I have owned good solid and pretty 19's with six inch barrels and patridge sights. Twice I have shot them with everything from powder puff .38 Special HBWC loads to "OMG, I can not believe I even put that in a firearm" .357 loads and been impressed for a year or two and loved how they shot......and then traded them for something I had to have. One was factory wood and the other the old "Sile" type black rubber, but unmarked as I got them in Europe. Think those grips were actually made in Italy. Used to carry that one in my brief case for driving to work and home. Loaded it with either the European Winchester Copper washed hard cast 158 .357 factory or the Norma FMJ Pointed SWC you could get over yonder......made me worry less about Bader Manhof or Red Army Faction types in small Euro cars than when only armed with 9x19mm or .45ACP auto. Gosh, I miss that gun. Somebody kick me!

-kBob

 

[bannockburn]

Been there, done the same thing! Had numerous K and N frames that were perfect in every way. Well built, totally reliable, nice actions, and super accurate. So what did I do with them...I sold or traded them away.

Somebody kick us both!

 

[muzzleblast...]

Well done. Very nice collection, and in nice condition. I can't justify the prices on the 3" M19s either. But, the M13/65 3" heavy barrel, fixed sight revolvers can be had at a reasonable price and compliment the common M19s.

 

[texagun]

Now you can start collecting the stainless versions of the Model 19. The Model 66 snubbie would be a good place to start.

 

[JC111]

Now you can start collecting the stainless versions of the Model 19. The Model 66 snubbie would be a good place to start.

I just had somebody tell me that now I need to get the nickel models.

 

[gotboostvr]

I just had somebody tell me that now I need to get the nickel models.

Why not both?!

 

[RPZ]

I do not see many of these in excellent+ to mint condition so I do not think they could be called common. And they are certainly classics IMO.

My dream handgun in my early teens was 19 4". Favorites now are 3" K-frames.

 

[JC111]

I do not see many of these in excellent+ to mint condition so I do not think they could be called common. And they are certainly classics IMO.

My dream handgun in my early teens was 19 4". Favorites now are 3" K-frames.

I was being a little peckish when I wrote the first post on this thread. On another forum there was a response that said that it wasn't a bad beginning and that it wasn't a bad example of the common barrel lengths. Just struck me as being a little snobbish, but perhaps I was being overly sensitive. Thank you by the way.

 

[test drive]

Yes I think a round butt snub 19 with that deep rich bluing is the best looking Smith ever made.