Revolver newbie with a question

If it is unfired new in the box; this just might be a gun to buy and keep as an investment.

If you're looking for a shooter you should be able to buy one in the 400 to 500 range.
 
$650 is kinda high for a Bangor Punta 19.

One of the reasons I like the 19-4 so much is that it was made during the so called "bad years" (Bangor Punta) of S&W.

That was usually reflected in the price.
You should be able to use that as a negotiating point to get a lower price.

BTW - 19's are my favorite - bar none.
Even a "bad" 19 is so far above anything else it's in another class all by itself.
They'll spoil you for anything else real quick.
 
A snubbie as a first gun is an odd choice

I have the SP-101 and love it. It is not a general purpose weapon though.
The 19 is more of a jack of all trades gun that will give you much better service.
 
VIPER - The Model 19 has been touted as "Everything You Need & Nothing You Don't" and to me that is the truest thing I have heard.
My own thoughts ( two for the price of one ) 1. A curse on the bean-counters at Smith & Wesson for dropping the Model 19 and 2. If it says Smith & Wesson, you can't go wrong. Enjoy the ride.
 
It may not have been fired (I take leave to doubt that), but is has been carried, and the action worked more than just a little. IT is NOT in LNIB condition.

It is also not a pinned & recessed gun, and does NOT command top dollar.

I Have a 30 year old model 28, thousands of round fired, that I could clean, and put back in its box (with the wax paper) and it would look as good as the one you are looking at.

prices are crazy But $650 for a 19 with the wear that one shows is too much.

I saw better looking ones at a local show for $600, and that was kind of high, but about what the market is paying for a good specimen, in my area.
 
If you decide on the SP101 try offering around $525. I picked mine up nib for $520 plus tax ($494+tax after military discount). While it's worth $600, it wouldn't hurt to offer less and quote the price I paid if it helps. I bought mine in Minnesota.
 
its not exactly a bad price. It is a good gun and its still within the sw factory repair policy age wise.

But in my area, that would be an easy 800. if you could find one.
 
I am going to take a proper look at the revolver later on today and if it shows too much wear, I will pass on it.

44 AMP wrote:
"It is also not a pinned & recessed gun, and does NOT command top dollar."

Thanks for the information but being a newbie on this, I have no idea what it means or why is a wanted feature.
 
"It is also not a pinned & recessed gun, and does NOT command top dollar."

Thanks for the information but being a newbie on this, I have no idea what it means or why is a wanted feature.

For many decades, Smith & Wesson made it a practice to secure the barrels of their revolvers from turning under recoil by using a small, steel pin through the rear of the barrel to the top of frame where it joins the barrel. Because this manner of assembling barrels to revolvers added cost to the manufacturer and because it was deemed unnecessary to the function of the gun (S&W was about the only company that ever did so), the practice was discontinued around 1982.

S&W also used to counterbore the rear part of the revolver's cylinder chambers to permit the cartridge rim to sit even with the rear face of the cylinder. This manner of manufacturer was done on Magnum and rimfire revolvers but, since around 1982 for the same reasons they stopped pinning barrels, the practice was discontinued on the Magnum revolvers but, because recessed cylinders will always be of a benefit in rimfire revolvers due to the possibility of the primer-loaded rim failing, S&W rimfire cylinders are still recessed.

Due to the fact that pinned and recessed revolvers have long been discontinued, the feature(s) add value to the collectors market.
 
Not great pictures again due to the lighting reflecting on the gun but hopefully a little better. The first picture that shows the action is the actual condition of the entire gun. There are no scratches on it and the bluing got dirty from my fingers. Its down to 525 out the door.
 

Attachments

  • pic1.jpg
    pic1.jpg
    236.5 KB · Views: 33
  • pic2.jpg
    pic2.jpg
    233.4 KB · Views: 26
  • pic3.jpg
    pic3.jpg
    225.9 KB · Views: 24
Last edited:
Due to the fact that pinned and recessed revolvers have long been discontinued, the feature(s) add value to the collectors market.

Pretty good explanation. I would add that there is a general perception that the older pinned & recessed guns were "made better", and so are also desired by shooters outside of their status as discontinued collector variants.

Part of the reason for this is that S&W did have QC issues after they changed their process. There were a number of factors involved, but most folks felt that S&W was "cheaping out". When its done right, either way works fine, other makers never pinned the barrels or recessed the chambers on magnums and their guns are perfectly fine without it.

Pinned & recessed was felt to be a sign of the extra care that S&W took making their guns. Reality not withstanding, when S&W dropped the P&R, and had some less than full quality guns get on the market, the legend became reality, and people pay more for it, both to collect, and to use.

I had a 629 (stainless .44 mag) with the long barrel (8") made shortly after the change (82-83, depending on model) and after a few hundred rounds the barrel visibly canted. Believe me, there is nothing that builds consumer confidence like watching the barrel of their top of the line .44mag UNSCREW!

Oh, they fixed it, no problem. In fact, that's what they said when it came back with barrel on straight, they said they found no problem with the gun. I digress, sorry.

Pinned & recessed guns are worth more to some people, because its what they want.
 
Back
Top