I traded for a 1980 19-4 6 inch, blue, has the partridge front sight, target grips, etc. I have read that 6 inch barrels are harder to find? Is this true? Any info is greatly appreciated. Sure do like this old gun, it feels real good even though I still haven't shot it.

It's not worth any more money than a 4" if that is what you are asking. Definitely not rare.

Not sure about RARE. I did find one last summer. No box, but it's as Clean as they come. Mine shipped December !979. Got a picture?

__________________
RIP Shipmate

I'd love to find any k or n frame 38/357 that shipped in 1980, birth year gun fer me, and yeah, post pics!

rare to me...

Here is a picture of it, and no I am not trying to trade. Thanks

Looks nice. The only 6 inchers that you don't see very often are the ones with TT/TH/TS/RR/WO. I see a 4 inch in that configuration every now and again, and have owned 2 of the sixers with all options. Again, yours looks nice, but the only option is target stocks, and they were pretty much standard on the 19-4s that I have seen and owned, which is about 12-15 over the years. By the way, the 6 inchers that I had with all the options were blue, I have never seen a nickel 19-4 six inch with full target options. If any of you guys have one, please post a pic.
DLB

__________________
Be Kind! John 3:16,14:27

When I viewed this post, I had to go look in the safe and my 19-3 6" has all the above options. I think someone did some trigger work on it because it is by far the smoothest trigger in SA and DA of all my Smith revolvers.

I remember in the early '70s, which would have been the 19-3 era, I was on the hunt for a 6-inch Model 19. I would have taken any one that came along. I had a friend who was selected to go to S&W armorer's school and he needed a gun to take along to work on. Of course I couldn't find one. Later, I did eventually find a 6-incher that had been tuned by an armorer at the Plainfield academy. It was probably the slickest S&W I have ever owned; one of those I "should have never sold."

When the -4 versions came out, it seemed like more 6-inch guns were available. I was thrilled to find one like Dlbx2 describes and, as it sometimes happens, not long after I bought that gun, I found another one just like it, so I guess I obtained my revenge for not finding and then eventually selling that earlier 6-inch gun.

I always think of the -4 guns as the cream of the Model 19 crop, but I am sure others will disagree. I just wish I had been able to get one or both of my -4 guns tuned by the same fellow who tuned the -3. That one was a sweetheart.

Congratulations as that's a great looking revolver

New guy here. I've got a 19-3 6"thats a lot better shooter than I am. Its the firt gun out of my bag and the last one in. TT/TH/TS/RR/WO. What do these option symbols stand for?

~Target Trigger

~Target Hammer

~Target Stocks

~Red Ramp Front Sight

~ White Outlined Rear Sight

I have all these options on my 4" Nickel Model 19-4.

I have also seen some use TS for target sights, but I believe it usually means Target Stocks.

I cannot speak to scarcity per se, but have been looking at guns-shows and in shops for a 19 or 66 in 6" for a while, with no success aside from one real beat looking specimin. I see quite a few 4" and 2.5" guns.

I bought this 19-4 6" many years ago from a co-worker. Nice shooter...

Attached Images

19_4l.jpg (165.5 KB, 163 views)

__________________
Go NRA

I've owned two. They are easy to shoot well, and relatively light for full six-inch .357 power.

The late Jeff Cooper once wrote that they make a good trail gun for the hiker and backpacker. I agree, but prefer the stainless option, the M-66.

Slightly off topic question: Is there any significant difference in shooting performance between a K38/M14 and a 6" 19 or 66, assuming that they are in the same basic physical condition?

__________________
NHI, 10-8.

Not really.

Some will tell you a 38 will shoot more accurate than a 357. I say hogwash. The only difference is the cylinder is a fraction of an inch bigger on a 357 and the forcing cone slightly longer on a 38.

A 19/66 will have a shrouded ejector rod whereas a 14 wont, difference in weight between the two is insignificant.