Ok, I pulled the trigger, as Ladder13 knows, he smacked me on the side of the head when I mentioned my LGD had one and I didn't buy it.. I went in first thing this morning and had it put in the closet,"that's my layaway room".. while there he also showed me his closet shop gun, the one that's loaded for SD and proceeded to tell me how he built it for himself, while he worked at S&W many years ago. I'm not sure but it may be a one off gun. It's a blued 3" 19-3 with a full lug heavy barrel and combat grips.. it was gorgeous!! He then went on to tell me about the 3" 66 he uses as a bedside gun, and how maybe that's kind of a waste and he may have to do something with it. He said maybe he should just use one of the $50 trade in guns he takes in... I said.. yayaya, and sell me the 19 and the 66... he did mention how a few of his better customers had offered him as much as $625 for the 19-3....and I almost think I could tease him..... what say you as to what would be a fair offer.. the 19 is nice maybe 90-95%.. but what a beauty with the full lug barrel...

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Jack C

3"? thought it only came in a 2.5" 4" and so-on? maybe I'm wrong on this.

I do believe some 19s were made with 3" barrels, not too common a revolver. Suppose he could have made one with an extra 3" barrel that may have been in a parts bin somewhere.

A small number of 3" M-19's were produced. I believe that these were a special order for the California Bureau of Narcotics.

These are very scarce and VERY expensive when they do come up for sale.
The picture is not my revolver, but it belongs to a forum member.

Attached Images

3 inch M-19.jpg (109.0 KB, 136 views)

A full lugged barrel sounds different for a M19, especially a -3.

Did it look like the one pictured above or like a 586/686, etc.?

Not really, I think the lower lug was flush with the end of the barrel,straight out, no angle cut. I'll look around and see what I can find..

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Jack C

Looks just like this 686 3" CS in the video, only blue

Smith and Wesson 686 3" CS-1 - YouTube

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Jack C

If it's a true 3 inch 19, I'd have no problem whipping out 650. Maybe the gent was confused and it was a 3 inch 586. Jack, glad you came to your senses and bought the 3" 65.

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Sure you did

Definitely a 19-3, I opened the cyl and looked myself. I didn't want to give it back to him. My LGD used to work at S&W, he said he actually hand built it himself. I am sure he knows exactly what he has, he's not giving it up cheap, if at all. But I want to try and get it.. so what do you think I should offer him, I'm sure 650 won't get it done.. And that 65, is nice, but it had the damndest nicks around the edges here and there, I'll have to do some work there, but should be able to fix it. Go Bruins!!!

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Jack C

I dunno what it's worth. Wait on snw19___357, Chris, to chime in, he knows these 19's very well.

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Sure you did

Yeah, that's one I'm pretty sure they'd be able to call my bluff on quick. (but I only have $600 on me, cash...)

That's interesting.

I dunno what it's worth. How much you willing to pay for it?

The full lugged barrels didn't even come out until the '80s, a few years after the 19-4s came out. They may have brought their 19-3 with them to S&W and replaced the barrel there but I doubt it left S&W like that originally. Is it a round butt frame?
The 3" K-frame .357 Magnums are excellent handguns, period (13/19/65/66). I'd love to have one that someone went through the trouble of making. But, I certainly wouldn't pay what I would for a factory 3" M19.
I'd consider what it was originally worth, subtract the fact it's been modified, and then add what you think the improvements are worth to you.

I'd love to have a 3" 19 in my holster but I couldn't do that with a factory 3". I'd look at it as less than a factory 19-3 but maybe more than a shooter 19.

very nice accessment SNW, I appreciate your view, it makes sense. I think it's a round butt, I'm going to stop in today and check it out again, if he'll let me.... Then I'm gonna grill him on the 3" 66....

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Jack C

Steve, I am surprised that you missed this 65 post!!! You are slipping! Bob

I'm on it Bob!

The 19-3 is the model number and the engineering change. The -3 dosen't mean it's a 3". I'd be sure you what you're looking at before offering big bucks.

I'd give my left hand trigger finger for a 3 inch pristine Mod.19. YAKUZA STYLE. I ain't kiddin' neither.

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Blessed be the Lord,my Rock

I stopped in today and he broke it out, what a beauty.... there is a story behind it, it is one of a kind.... I guess I'll leave it alone for now cause he's not ready to give it up..

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Jack C

You're not going to tell us the story

I'd like to hear the story too! At any rate you got the 65 3" which is one of the best revolvers ever made.

No, No, I'll get it, he started to tell me something about the 19-3 designation, then a customer walked in.... got sidetracked..

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Jack C

Back in 1972 I had a 3" nickle M19 no dash. The barrel had a full lug. I had it lettered, but sold it during a family financial emergency, probably THE one gun I should never have sold. When I acquired it it came with a custom border patrol type holster by Elpaso.