I've joined the S&W Club

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lcpiper

New member
I was out looking for a new revolver and one of my LGS had a new stainless GP100 and was looking it over, chatting with the owner and mentioned that I wish he had one of the older model guns like the Model 29s and such.

The owner reaches back, unholsters his 3" Model 19, empties it and hands it to me to look over.

It isn't a perfect gun but he set a price of $575 and I decided that was good enough so I bought it right there.

I still had a few hundred left on me so I went to another LGS in town and was really looking for something like a rifle in .22WMR. Damn if the guy doesn't have an almost new looking Model 27 Blued 6" with the big wooden presentation grips.

I bought that one too :o

So now I have a pair of .357 Magnum Smiths and I have a picture for you guys that doesn't do them justice, I'll take some better ones tomorrow.
 

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eh...are you sure it's a 3" 19? Looks too short to me.

BTW, 3" 19s are exceedingly rare and collectable, so if yours is a bona fide 3" 19, you got one heck of a deal. But honestly, looks like a 2-1/2" snubby to me. At any rate, nice scores.
 
eh...are you sure it's a 3" 19? Looks too short to me.
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Agreed, the ratios of the distances from the muzzle to the forcing cone is just about 40% for the smaller as compared to the larger gun, corresponding to a 2-1/2" barrel.

$575 is too high for a K-frame snubby. $400 would have been a better price. Still a nice revolver.
 
You guys are correct, it's a 2.5". The 3" was a guess just eyeballing it next to the 6" Model 27. BTW, they are in fact a;

2.5" Model 19-4
6" Model 27-2

Just a little checking the Model 19 seams to have a much nicer DA trigger but the Model 27's SA trigger is so sweet but the DA on it feels too heavy.

BTW guys, is the stippling on the top strap on the Model 27-2 normal?
I'll add in a close up.
 

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IIRC there was a later run of 3" Model 19s sometime in the 1990s; those are not so rare nor are they so expensive.

The original 3" guns were, again IIRC, done for the Michigan State Police in the early 1960s and are, as noted, rare and expensive.

I picked up my 2.5" Model 19 in the early 1990s for $225 in virtually perfect condition.
 
Yes, the stippling on the M27 is normal as is the high gloss finish.
The 27's baby brother is known as the M28 and has a duller finish and
no stippling. The 28 was brought out as an "economy" model of the 27
for the police. The 28 is no longer produced.

As to DA triggers, is the 27's DA smooth though notably heavier. Smooth is the first quality you want. On the 19, the DA might seem lighter for a number of reason: more use and broken in better, perhaps some work done to it inside,
perhaps some slightly lighter springs. Check the strain screw on the 19 (it's at the bottom of the front strap and sets the power of the hammer spring---see if it's been turned out a turn or two. If it has, tighten screw and then see how the DA is.

As to the price of the 19 being too high, that's up to you to decide and
"snubby" 19s have been going up in price more than the standard 4-inchers or 6-inchers. Finding a decent one isn't always easy so paying more than
$500 isn't out of line, especially if it's pinned and recessed (tiny pin protrudes through frame just forward of the forcing cone, and the cylinders are recessed
to enclose the rim of the .38/.357s. These features were done away with in 1982.

Update: I see from the better pictures that both guns are pinned and recessed. You have two very highly prized winner, both probably from the 1970s. Serial numbers can better pinpoint date of manufactrure.

Second update: If you decide to go to another type of grip on the 27, DO NOT DISCARD or sell the originals. They are getting harder and harder to find and prices for used ones are going up and up.
 
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Both of these are pinned and have recessed cylinders.

I'll fool with the actions later when I have more time to do so. I'll read up some on the ins and outs of the Smith Actions before I jump into that.
 
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$575 is too high for a K-frame snubby. $400 would have been a better price. Still a nice revolver.
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I disagree. Its not just a factory K frame snub, its a K frame snub 3-5-7, which changes things. If the gun were a model 12, 15, 67 or 64, I might agree. However, since its a 357, and P&R, I'd say its worth about that, esp with the original round butt wood grips. They are HOT online, and they're not often seen by me at gunshops or shows.

$400 would be a great price, but realistically, a non recessed 4in or 6in model 19 is worth that much. When you get a snub, that is P&R, the $600 seems about right in today's market. Any 19/66 with condition is worth over $400, IMO.

The K frame 357s are no longer made, and are lighter than most other 357s, so there is a market for them.

Nice guns. You will probably end up buying many more S&Ws, because its hard not to!
 
$400 would be a great price, but realistically, a non recessed 4in or 6in model 19 is worth that much.
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When you see of a non-recessed 6in Model 19 in excellent condition for $400, please kindly let me know, so I swiftly grab it. :D In a few months I spent browsing the Internet and LGD the best I could find in excellent condition was around $500 with average near $600. A that's 6in I was looking for...
 
Yea I agree about the $400 for a late model 19, I meant to say "...is worth at least $400." Basically, any 19/66 with condition is over $400 is what I meant to say, in reference to spacecoast's price estimate.
 
Very nice guns. The Model 27 was the Cadillac of the S&W line and considerable effort went into the fit and finish.

The K-frames revolvers have a very strong following for their overall excellence and wonderful balance.
 
Model 19's are fetching a premium these days. The 2.5" sell for the most out of the common lengths (2.5", 4", 6"). Unless the bluing is very rough, or there is a mechanical problem, you did exceedingly well. Now rid yourself of that Hogue grip (put it in a box for later) and put some proper stocks on that beauty. S&W still sells round butt magna/service grips on their website for cheaper than you can find on eBay.
 
Way to start your S&W collection! Those are 2 awesome guns, likely the start of a larger S&W collection I think ... they are addicting :p ! I had to hold myself back from buying a 4" Model 10 this weekend.

I agree with Winchester, $400 seems to be the floor for S&W K Frame .357s these days (maybe $450 even), well worn 6" ones at that which seem to go for less than other barrel lengths. 2.5" P&R Model 19s in good shape are priced right around $600 in my parts these days, and that is typically what they sell for. So $575, while not a fantastic deal, is right on the money for my neck of the woods.
 
Beautiful beginnings.
BE CAREFUL!!! The S&W club is very addicting and you'll be wanting a few more.
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Too late. The hook has been set. :) Resistance is futile.

P&R S&Ws are an addiction...a most enjoyable one. Can also be an expensive one.

Enjoy the addiction.
 
Great guns, good prices. I shoot a lot of hand loaded .38 Special in my 19's and my 27. Older hands with a bit of arthritis, and I like to shoot 3-400 rounds at a range session.

The 19-4 comes in 4" and 6" as well, as a thought for the start of a "collection". I have a few little groups of S&Ws along that line.
 
great looking guns...i love the 19 snub

$575 is too high for a K-frame snubby. $400 would have been a better price. Still a nice revolver.
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Welcome to planet Earth....of course $400 would be a better price, but that pipe dream price is way below the norm. S$W K frame snubbies are a hot item. Just turned down a $650 offer for a 66-2 snub
 
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