Would appreciate any opinions regarding this 357 Magnum "wheel gun." I KNOW...S&W and the present issues, BUT this handgun is a Tennessee Highway Patrol 50th Anniversary edition. It is NIB (wooden box) with the engraving "Fifty Years of Service to Tennesseans". The handgun has rear adjustable sights with a red tipped front sight, with the target trigger and hammer and wooden handgrips. Along the right side of the barrel is the enscription "Tennessee Highway Patrol 1929 -1979" and the frame has the "Tennessee State Trooper" seal. The dealer is asking $400 (total price). Any opinions would be appreciated. Thanks!
S&W Model 19 Opinions
- Thread starter Galco Kid
- Start date
Gunslinger
Moderator
The model 19 is an excellent gun. I, like many old salt police officers, carried one for several years as a duty weapon. They are dependable, well balanced and accurate. A person could ask little more from a "service" gun. Given that Smith will make no money from the sale I wouldn't worry about the politics involved.
The $400 asking price is too high. Model 19's in excellent condition can be found in the $250 to $300 price range. The Smith commemoratives, with a few exceptions, add little or nothing to their value. However if you like it and want to spend the bucks you'll have a fine weapon that will give you a life time of happy shooting.
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Gunslinger
We live in a time in which attitudes and deeds once respected as courageous and honorable are now scorned as being antiquated and subversive.
The $400 asking price is too high. Model 19's in excellent condition can be found in the $250 to $300 price range. The Smith commemoratives, with a few exceptions, add little or nothing to their value. However if you like it and want to spend the bucks you'll have a fine weapon that will give you a life time of happy shooting.
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Gunslinger
We live in a time in which attitudes and deeds once respected as courageous and honorable are now scorned as being antiquated and subversive.
Just for comparison, I picked up a very slightly used model 19-3 last week. I paid $300 for it. Bought it from a co-worker who has done some favors for me, so it didn't bother me to over pay a bit.
I'm not sure if the Tennessee State Trooper adds too much to the value. Probably would in Tennessee.
Good Luck...
Joe
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Go NRA
I'm not sure if the Tennessee State Trooper adds too much to the value. Probably would in Tennessee.
Good Luck...
Joe
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Go NRA
I regard the Model 19 to be the best for a carry revolver. It is almost a perfect combination of power and portability. I too believe the price is a little high on this particular revolver. Bought a 19-4 in like new condition the other day for $225. Whether you buy this one or wait for another, I don't think you'll be disappointed. BTW they are a lot tougher than some folks think. 
Great revolver. As mentioned above, perfect balance of size, wieght and usefulness. I paid $199.99 for a brand new one in 1979, First .357 that I kept, and still have it. If you want a shooter, look around for something in the 250-300 dollar range. gunsamerica has a want list and they appear regularly there in that price range.
BTW, it was originally known as a "Combat Masterpiece" and that's a pretty apt description
BTW, it was originally known as a "Combat Masterpiece" and that's a pretty apt description
Hey Galco Kid, Sounds like a great deal to me; of course I'm a UT fan so anything that
has to do with the great State Of Tennessee
is of interest to me. Once had a Texas Ranger
Commerative Set; S&W Model 19 with all the
bells and whistle's that you mentioned, +
a Bowie knife. Both had the same serial
number and came packaged in the mahogany
wooden box; and seems like I gave about
$375.00 for that back in 1973? Don't
think I would want to shoot the gun you
are considering; more of a collector's
piece value wise.
Best Wishes,
Ala Dan, N.R.A. Life Member
FootNote: The Texas Ranger Commerative Sets
were limited to 10,000. My set was serial
number TR 2723. The lower the serial number
the more valuable the piece will be.
has to do with the great State Of Tennessee
is of interest to me. Once had a Texas Ranger
Commerative Set; S&W Model 19 with all the
bells and whistle's that you mentioned, +
a Bowie knife. Both had the same serial
number and came packaged in the mahogany
wooden box; and seems like I gave about
$375.00 for that back in 1973?
Don'tthink I would want to shoot the gun you
are considering; more of a collector's
piece value wise.
Best Wishes,
Ala Dan, N.R.A. Life Member
FootNote: The Texas Ranger Commerative Sets
were limited to 10,000. My set was serial
number TR 2723. The lower the serial number
the more valuable the piece will be.
Galco Kid, Birdman is correct. The Mdl. 15 Smith was/is the Combat Masterpiece and the Mdl. 19 was/is the Combat Magnum. I have both and wouldn't get rid of them. Actualy, I couldn't as my wife requisitioned the Mdl. 15, and likes to carry the 19 when she's with me out in the mountains.
As to the Commemorative, as the other posters said, that's a bit high, unless you want to keep it NIB, unfired, strictly for a collection investment, way down the road (providing that the King in the Red House hasn't confiscated all of them by then).
Smith put out so many commemoratives for so many reasons, that it is almost impossible to keep up with them. Many of the commemortives have not held their value and it is an "iffy" market.
If you want a good Mdl. 19 shooter, follow the advice of the above posters and get a good used one at a decent price and enjoy it.
Just my opinion.
As to the Commemorative, as the other posters said, that's a bit high, unless you want to keep it NIB, unfired, strictly for a collection investment, way down the road (providing that the King in the Red House hasn't confiscated all of them by then).
Smith put out so many commemoratives for so many reasons, that it is almost impossible to keep up with them. Many of the commemortives have not held their value and it is an "iffy" market.
If you want a good Mdl. 19 shooter, follow the advice of the above posters and get a good used one at a decent price and enjoy it.
Just my opinion.
FWIW and IMHO and all that stuff.
The Model 19 is the absolutely finest medium frame revolver ever built for anything like a mass market.
As for commemoratives, the only one even keeping up a price is the Texas Ranger set and they aren't world beating investments. A lot of those state police commems were made in quantities of 200-500 and bring only a few bucks more than a standard gun, and then only in the "home" state.
Jim
The Model 19 is the absolutely finest medium frame revolver ever built for anything like a mass market.
As for commemoratives, the only one even keeping up a price is the Texas Ranger set and they aren't world beating investments. A lot of those state police commems were made in quantities of 200-500 and bring only a few bucks more than a standard gun, and then only in the "home" state.
Jim
I bought my Mdl 19 w/ 6" barrel for two hundred bucks. It came with both wood and rubber grips (I like wood), a trigger job, a bunch of 'smith work, 8 speed loaders, original S&W leather holster, one of those portable reloading kits in .357 M, and 5 boxes of assorted ammo. I thought I got a good deal. The finish is about 90%, and shoots like a dream. The finest (and cheapest) of my handguns. Get a cheap one, and shoot it. Guns were made to be shot, not looked at!
Slowpoke_Rodrigo
New member
I agree completely with above comments re the Model 19's sterling qualities and the value of commemoratives.
The first revolver I purchased for myself was a 19-4, serial number 71K8XXX. I paid $180 for it new in 1979 and still have it.
Reading Bill Jordan's 'No Second Place Winner' influenced that decision.
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Slowpoke Rodrigo...he pack a gon...
Vote for the Neal Knox 13
The first revolver I purchased for myself was a 19-4, serial number 71K8XXX. I paid $180 for it new in 1979 and still have it.
Reading Bill Jordan's 'No Second Place Winner' influenced that decision.
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Slowpoke Rodrigo...he pack a gon...
Vote for the Neal Knox 13