I went to look at two firearms today. One was a 70 Series Colt set up for bullseye. The other was this:


It has wear to the grips, and bluing loss at the muzzle and behind each of the flutes on the cylinder. The case coloring is beautiful, and I doubt it has had more than a box or two of ammo put through it. Mostly carry wear - the widow indicated her husband owned a bar, and this gun was in his waistband all the time. It's not a pristine example, but as a shooter, I don't think it looks too bad. Serial number is 6K6019XX. Can any of the experts tell me its year of manufacture? Thank you for your help.

All I can tell you is that it was made before 78. Not sure what the market is like in NJ, but if you can get it for less than $650 OTD, I'd jump on it.

Thanks. I thought with the wear it would be a $500 gun, tops. I paid less than $400 for it, so I'm happy to have a nice shooter.

Good buy on a great gun. My 4 inch 19-4 has some honest wear, but it's one of my best shooters. Congrats. You'll enjoy it.

Shipped back in 1974! Congrats! Love Model 19's.
Glad ya chose the Smith.

Great score, I have a 2.5" -5 in similar shape that I paid a bit more for.

I'm envious, love to find a P&R shooter for a descent price.

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SWCA #2817

So long as it's mechanically sound, you got a great price on one of the best snubbies ever made -- and better still, since somebody already took care of the carry wear for you, you wont' be afraid to use it.

Congrats.

What's the giveaway that it was pre 1978?

You did very well! Congrats on a nice 19 snubbie! :-)

-3s transitioned to -4s in '78.

There are too many digits in that serial number. However, if it is 6K6019x, then it was made in 1975.

At <$400 you did very well. Here is one I picked up a few years back with well over 95% of its original blue, but non-matching stocks. I paid about $500 for it.

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Jack
SWCA #2475, SWHF #318

It is a niggling point, but according to the book, the 1974 6K production stopped at 6K58917. So, 6K6019x would have been 1975.

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Jack
SWCA #2475, SWHF #318

Congrats!

That's a great one for carry.

You are correct, 1975! Thank you.

Nice pistol Koz, I have the same snubby and it's a great little shooter. You got a great deal on it, private sale or LGS?

Less than $400? Nice shooter. Today I managed to buy another gorgeous -3 snub. 4K (1972 I think). Have fun with that and carry it with pride. It will serve you well.

I originally gave her $350. I told her I had no interest in the Colt, but would be more than happy to sell it for her. I'd told her I'd clean it, research it (who knows, maybe it's a Bob Chow!), take nice pics of it, and put it up on the Forum. She put $50 back in my hand and thanked me for taking the time to help her. We spent an hour talking about her husband - I think she needed that. Nice lady. I'm glad to help her out, especially during the Holidays.

^^^^^^^
Thanks, beat me to it.

There was a time when each and everyone of us bought guns to use. As we aged and our finances improved, we became collectors , sometimes forgetting that guns were designed to be shot and used. You purchased a great revolver used for the purpose that it was designed for and got a great value to boot. Shoot ,it, carry it and continue to enjoy and depend on a great revolver. In short, you did good. All my very best from a old guy whose first S&W was a model 19 that he slipped into a black basket weave duty rig that he trusted to defend is life with., Joe .

I had a set of combats that didn't have a home, so I gave them one:

Those combats really dress the old girl up.

Man OP, even with the light wear on the grips and all, it looks rock-solid! Very cool gun.

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USMC 83'-87', NRA Member.

Now we are talking. Nice find.

After hearing all kinds of positive feedback about Renaissance Wax, I decided to give it a try. Since the 19-3 is pretty well used, I figured it would benefit from a little polish. I think it cleaned up pretty well.

I swapped the Combats for an older set of Pachmayr Compacs.

Good move on the stocks/grips.
Combats are approaching nearly 1/2
what you paid for that shooter.