With a budget under $700, the range of
available Smiths in .38 and .357 is quite
large for used and some new.

If you're not under any pressure to buy,
I'd say do some more hunting around gun
shops, pawn shops, any local on-line gun
sites.

Doesn't hurt to ask a gun shop what it can
do for you in the way of out the door prices
on new models that might catch your fancy.
I'm thinking of the Smith 686s, the 66,
the 67 (.38 only). And, although this is the
Smith Forum, don't overlook the possibility
of a Ruger GP-100. And don't forget the
Smith Model 10.

But if the Model 19 is nice which by the
pictures seem so, that would be my first
choice. Ditch the idea of the Model 29
with expensive ammo and really heavy
recoil.