Smith & Wesson Model 19

bought one new for 169.00!!!! 6 inch blue. that was in 1973 :eek:
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I think I paid $210 for mine in 1979. I still have it.

Anyway, I was doing a bit of a "show and tell" to a couple of friends last month. They're married; he's my age and has been shooting since he was a kid. His wife is new to the sport. She wondered why my older handguns are so large (M19, M29, .357 Blackhawk, all 6" barrels). Her husband explained that back then, people bought handguns for range shooting and hunting, and that concealed carry was prohibited almost everywhere.
 
Stephanie B

Anyway, I was doing a bit of a "show and tell" to a couple of friends last month. They're married; he's my age and has been shooting since he was a kid. His wife is new to the sport. She wondered why my older handguns are so large (M19, M29, .357 Blackhawk, all 6" barrels). Her husband explained that back then, people bought handguns for range shooting and hunting, and that concealed carry was prohibited almost everywhere.
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That's a fact. I can recall being in a local gunstore back in 1981. I was thirteen and looking at snubnose revolvers because I loved cop and detective shows and snubbies were cool. The proprietor told me that I would be better off with a larger revolver since only a handful of folks could carry a concealed handgun and the snubbie was a "specialist's revolver". A larger revolver was more useful.

I own three snubnose revolvers now. I live in a state which is a "Shall Issue" CCW state and I carry those snubnosed revolvers.
 
How can you not love a M19?

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IMO the 19's are one of the best deals going currently for a classic blued S&W. They've come up a bit in my area, price wise, but w/ so many issued and their durability, there's a steady supply available which seems to hold keep a lid on prices.
 
I bought a nice 6" 19-3 a year or more ago. Didn't really need it, just bought it on a whim at a local gun shop. showed it to the 38 yr old neighbor guy. He literally fell in love on first sight. I sold it to him without a second thought. Then it started nagging at me that I really needed one of those. A few months later one appeared on GB for around $500 and I bought it. It shoots like a dream and will be with me for a long time.
 
Model 19-2

I bought my beautiful 19-2 6inch is 1965 for $94.00 including tax. It was in SF, Ca at the SF gun exchange. I still have it in the original box and S&W wrapping paper. Of all of my weapons, this is my favorite. I am a 75 year old vet and I hope to be buried with it. My son-in-law can have the rest of my collection.

For God and Country
 
Excellent buy on the Model 19! I wish I could hit deals like that on old blued Smiths! I really like the 19-3 owned by Florida Guy! I picked up a pinned/recessed 66-1 a few years ago and would like to find it a blued steel "companion" some day.

a model 19 6 shooter may not be a better choice than a high tech P229 .357sig or Glock 23 .40.
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Then again , for those here who appreciate Model 19s they are probably a far better choice than either of those two pistols.
 
http://thefiringline.com/forums/attachment.php?attachmentid=77426&d=1326326498

On the right - lower right is a pair of model 19's 4" in nickel ( a dash 2 and a dash 3 ) both very nice guns / and I shoot them a lot. ( and there are a pair of model 66's - both dash 1's ...in 4" as well ) .....I like both models a lot.

I have no issue carrying either the mod 19's or a model 66 ...if I wanted to .../ I rarely do ...but certainly nothing wrong with them, even in 2012 !
 
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From the Top: is an 6.5" S&W .44 Magnum, first year of production, 1956. It has Keith Brown Roper style grips, with elephant ivory inlays. Next down is a 4-screw, S&W Model 19 no dash, shipped in 1959. It has elephant ivory magnas on it. Then, an S&W Model 57 .41 Magnum, shipped in 1979. It has stag magnas on it. Now back to the thread topic, an S&W Model 19-2 shipped in 1965. Finally, an S&W Model 29-2 .44 Magnum, shipped in 1976.
 
My life depended on a model 19...

I carried a model 19 on duty for years in service with 3 different departments! I loved that gun!
 
ClydeFrog said:
Wheel-guns are okay but today's gunners need to move forward, like it or not.
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Yeah, I'd take a new S&W M&P, 9mm, or .40 over a Model 19 any day. The new M&P and the new Walther PPQ are first rate. After that good old Glocks come to mind. My old revolvers are more for nostalgia than anything else. Even when I carried a .357, 25 years ago it was a stainless Model 66, not the rust prone 19. I do love the way bluing looks though. I wax mine with micro crystalline wax and they shine like diamonds, its also a great rust and finger print preventer.
 
Yeah, I'd take a new S&W M&P, 9mm, or .40 over a Model 19 any day.
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Have you ever looked down the barrel of a gun held by an unstable person before???

Trust of your gun under these circumstances TRUMPS magazine articles and narrative on forums!;)

Why do you think African Pros still prefer a double rifle over a semi-auto Browning .338 with more rounds?

If you are going to war with the military OK, but, and there always is a but in life, most civilian Police Department gun decisions are made my pencil neck, bean counters who wouldn't know the difference between a Glock and a Dock! They only see cost, and a hand pinned model 19 would cost twice the price of your plastic saviors!

Civilians need even less of a military style handgun in most cases! You see, the military has a lot of backup to cover their backside ... will you at 2AM at your backdoor with the kids sleeping just down the hall? Keep it simple!

Trust me, if your back door glass breaks you will go into a sweat, having flashbacks of the last jam you had with your auto, you will, even if it was hundreds of rounds ago. If it does it now you get dead; whilst your old school, ex-cop neighbor who is heading over to assist you, doesn't worry at all about his choice, his TRUSTY, NON-JAMAMATIC, S&W MODEL 19!!!
He concentrate on the job at hand! He is not worried about magazines defects, ammo style that will feed, etc. Whatever fits into the cylinder WILL COME OUT THE OTHER SIDE ... PERIOD. THAT FEELS DAMN GOOD AT NIGHT TO KNOW!

That is all....
 
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WildBill45 said:
Have you ever looked down the barrel of a gun held by an unstable person before???
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Yes, it happens every time I point one at a mirror.

My post says I'd take an S&W M&P over a Model 19. Not that anyone else should, especially someone who is perhaps a tad set in their ways and a bit adverse to modernity.

I said what I believe though, in my experienced and considered opinion, the new M&P is an outstanding weapon and ultra reliable. Modern semi-auto users should definitely spend some time practicing malfunction clearance, but malfunctions are a very rare and unlikely event. New semis are also very accurate, powerful and have 2.5+ times the capacity of a Model 19. They are highly corrosion resistant and very low maintenance. It takes a lot more work and care to keep a blue Model 19 looking good and rust free, I know. There is a reason most IDPA shooters and police departments use a Glock, M&P, etc in favor of a revolver. Being Jamamatics, is not one of those reasons.

Look, I still see the value of a revolver, especially the small SD/BUG revolver like a S&W 642, etc they're great CCW guns. The full size revolver on the other hand is still as deadly and reliable as ever, there is no question about it, but its lost out to the modern semi-auto. Just like the Colt SAA lost out to the DA revolver and the Luger, 1911, etc many moons ago. The SAA was and still is a deadly and formidable weapon. Some men continued to carry them well into the 20th century, some people still carry one, but technology advanced. Just as technology advanced beyond the Model 19.

On the other side, I do still own two Model 19s you know? and think they are excellent revolvers. Every revolver I own is an excellent and deadly revolver for that matter. They look pretty, but I know how to use them and they stay loaded. Just in case...

Below is my shipped in 1950 S&W Combat Masterpiece, it has the brass grip adapter. Feast your revolver loving eyes on it as a consolation prize. The Combat Masterpiece, as I'm sure you know, is the forerunner of the Model 19. It was a state of the art, police/SD weapon...in the 1950's...

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They're all loaded with high power defense ammo and don't have trigger locks. :cool:
 
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Yes, it happens every time I point one at a mirror.
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I love your response my friend, a good one!:D

I am not adverse to autos, being a Wilson man, and I have owned most of the major brands. I had good luck with most, but after years of carrying one, as our department went auto, there were times when I longed for my 19. Especially so when searching a house for a suspect all on my own. When push came to shove I missed my 19. This is why my main, Heavy, CCW gun since retiring is my S&W 325! I also carry as my CCW, Light, my Beretta Nano!

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=CWWI9jFOPbs

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=CbF5oxsdrMY
 
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Well, there is no question the S&W Model 19 is a slick handling combat revolver. They didn't name it Combat Magnum for nothing. You are well armed and have confidence in and familiarity with your weapon. Those are important things.

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S&W Model 57, S&W Model 19-2, S&W Model 51-1. N,K and J frames compared.
 
My favorite gun saying, 'Die Hard' was just a movie.
I was in 6 stand up gunfights during my career. I never fired more than 4 rounds in any of'm. I also never had a revolver fail to fire because of a faulty magazine. Yep, saw that happen once.
 
Your 19 looks as beautiful as mine.

My first gun was a model 19-2 with a 4" barrel back in the early 70's and I still have it and would never part with it. To me it is the cream of the crop in handguns. Upon my passing it will go to my son who is a who is a county sheriff.
 
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