S&W 19-3, SP101, should I?

P

psyfly

New member
The 19:
Minus: Rough finish. ID scratched on frame, crane comes off in my hand
Plus: Locks up tight, no rust, it's a 19, $400

The SP101 (357):
Minus: None I can find
Plus: $400

What say ye?

Thanks
 
I think the 101 is an awesome revolver. I think the smith is a fine piece as well, but if something goes wrong, your on your own or at least paying.
 
Is the 19 missing the screw that hold the crane to the frame? Even though prices have risen $400 seem a lot for a questionable gun.
 
Out of those two, I would go with the Ruger.

If I was looking to spend $400-ish for a revolver and liked the S&W model 19, I would look into a late 80's Taurus model 669/668/66 . They are well made guns, no locks, no MIM parts, basically almost a k-frame S&W clone but without the weakening flat on the forcing cone found on those S&W. You could pick up a mint condition one for that price range. I know Taurus doesn't get much respect on this forum, but those guns from that era are extremely well made.

For example, look at this 1988 Taurus model 669 listed on Gunbroker. Normally you can find them in the $300-$400 range depending on the condition and such. The prices are going up though, because people are realizing they are nice and can be picked up on the cheap compared to prices found on the older smiths.

http://www.gunbroker.com/Auction/ViewItem.aspx?Item=475086397

I just picked up a 1989 669 with 6" barrel and it is a seriously nice gun. Accurate too. I got it for just under 3 bills out the door. After that purchase, I'm on the look out for more when I go into the stores.
 
Minus: Rough finish. ID scratched on frame, crane comes off in my hand
Plus: Locks up tight, no rust, it's a 19, $400

What say ye?
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"Crane comes off in the hand" bothers me.

I have a 19-4. Sweet shooter, that I seldom shoot.

Barrel length on both of these?

For example, look at this 1988 Taurus model 669 listed on Gunbroker. Normally you can find them in the $300-$400 range depending on the condition and such. The prices are going up though, because people are realizing they are nice and can be picked up on the cheap compared to prices found on the older smiths.
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Interesting. Mine was that vintage, and did not have the full length underlug. (Developed some issues, and it was not the equal of the S&W. Got traded off after I acquired the 19-4.)

$450's an insane price, but what else do you expect from Gunborker?
 
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Interesting. Mine was that vintage, and did not have the full length underlug. (Developed some issues, and it was not the equal of the S&W. Got traded off after I acquired the 19-4.)
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Yeah, The seller has the wrong info. He is listing it as a 66 (which was not a full underlug.. more like a 3/4 length underlug). The serial number of the gun in the add puts it as a model 669, which has the full underlug.

I'm not trying to say one is better than the other, just that these older Taurus revolvers are of a higher quality than the much more recent offerings from Taurus. Trust me, I thought I would never buy a Taurus after reading the negative views of the brand on this forum and across the net. Then I tried out a new 22lr model last year and it was not that great, which supported all I heard. I passed on it and bought a used 1991 Ruger SP101 22lr. But, wen I handled some of the older Tuarus .357 magnums from the mid to late eighties, it changed my mind about avoiding Taurus altogether.

Talking about insane prices, you see some of those beat to heck model 19's on there... lol.. man, you would think they were made of solid gold the way they are getting priced. I know, its a smith.. but still...

Anyway, it was just a suggestion for something to look out for as an alternative.

But, I reiterate, if the choice is between the two in the original post, I would take that mint SP101 over a beat up M19 any day of the week and twice on Sunday ;)
 
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Yeah, the older Taurus from that era were pretty good guns.
I've mentioned it before, a good friend and gunsmith prefered them, back then, to S&W.
Their 92 style pistol was very well thought of, too.
Back then.
Wonder what happened since.
And another vote for a good Ruger over a not so good S&W.
 
Those old Taurus guns were good ones. The dividing line seems to me to be: Factory wood grips...good...factory rubber grips...not so good. Not 100% but a good rule of thumb IMHO.

Now, to the OP. I'm a Smith & Wesson guy, but I wouldn't touch that Model 19. If you know those things are wrong with it, who knows what might be hidden that you don't see.
 
Yeah, The seller has the wrong info. He is listing it as a 66 (which was not a full underlug.. more like a 3/4 length underlug). The serial number of the gun in the add puts it as a model 669, which has the full underlug.
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The box displayed is for a 66.
 
The box displayed is for a 66.
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I know, but the box is also a generic box used across several models. If you notice , there are three barrel lengths and two finishes on there. The 669/668/66 were of the same family, just different barrels. 668= full lug vent barrel (think Python). 669 = full lug barrel. 66= 3/4 lug barrel. Other then that they are based off the same firearm.

Go here: http://www.taurususa.com/find-model.cfm

According to Taurus,after typing in the serial number from that box, they list the gun in question as:
SEARCH RESULTS
Your Model Is HG-M669-B4
Production Year 1988

So, a 1988 high gloss model 669 with a 4" barrel.
 
The sp101 is probably the most "overbuilt" revolver that can be had and still called a snubby. I would be all over it...certainly wouldn't sell mine for $400.
 
A badly scratched and number engraved Model 19 MAY not ever be considered a collector's piece. However, model 19's are highly sought after - so the 19 in question may well end up, in the future, being a lot more valuable than the Ruger (which has no real collector value). S&W's almost always have better trigger feel than DA Rugers. If in good mechanical condition, the 19 very likely would be the better shooter (though only because of the trigger).

The Ruger, if you are considering the purchase as a gun to SHOOT and CARRY, may be the better prospect. It is a more modern design, very robust and reliable, a bit smaller than the 19 and lighter.

If it were me (and I have both S&W's and Rugers - and I carry an SP101 every day).... if the gun was to be primarily for SD, carry, etc. ...I'd get the Ruger. IF future value was an important part of it - depending on how badly damaged is the finish on the 19 really is - I might well get the model 19.

The crane issue with the 19 is probably a missing or damaged crane screw - easily replaced. But, I would check this closely. Worse case, the crane is damaged or broken. It can be replaced with a used one fairly cheaply (and does not require a gunsmith), but availability might be an issue. I would also consider WHY the crane comes off - I would have a close look at it and the screw (if present) - before I would make a final decision.
 
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The SP101 is a good gun if you are looking for a .357 to use as a carry gun. If you want something that is more for general use, I would opt for something larger.

I am a S&W guy and I think that Model 19's are a heck of a gun. I have also been known a to rescue a neglected Smith from time to time. But, $400 for a beat up 19 that some jackass scratched an ID number on is stretching even my willingness to save one from an idiot. It will cost around $300 to have a quality refinish done on it and at that point you could have bought a decent one for the same or less money.

The owner apparently doesn't even know what he has and is more than likely is just going off of what someone told him what the value is. I would stay away from it and look for a better condition 19 even though it means that you will have to pay a bit more $ for a good one.
 
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