My Dad passed away last September and about 2 weeks ago Mom sat down with all of us kids and handed out Dad's guns. I ended up getting his m19-3 with 3-T's and Patridge front sight. About three years ago, I bought Dad the Altamont grips seen on it as a gift. Back in early 2007 Dad paid $357 out the door from our favorite LGS, he always liked to joke about how his 357 cost $357. LOL! My how the market has changed in a short time! I remember the first time I handled and fired this m19, it was then I became a S&W fanatic and bought several of my own over time to include a 19-3 with a 4" bbl. Before Dad got this 19-3 I wasn't real sure what I wanted for my first wheelgun, and didn't have any real preference. This is the wheelgun that sealed my fate. It will always be special to me, Dad and I used to invent little challenges when we would shoot together. I'm thankful to have this little piece of him and will always remember this "first" S&W in our family.

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Thanks for sharing. Family heirlooms are always special.

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Patriots Forever!!

I know how you feel. I bought Dad a Model 65 3inch back in the '90s and "got it back" a bit over three years ago when he died. I am going to find someone in the family to take it when the time comes because it should remain in the family for a good while.

That is one good looking gun from dad. I imagine it has a lot of sentimental value.

Sorry for your loss. Nice story and a beautiful gun.

Treasure it.

My Dad has several Smiths that will be mine someday, but I am in ZERO hurry to acquire them. I wouldn't trade days with my Dad for all the guns and gold ever known on this earth.

Dads and wheelguns are special.

TRE

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Fine guns and fine smokes.

Condolences on the loss of your Dad. Very nice revolver to cherish though.

Condolences on your Dads passing, mine is gone as well and I have gotten the rifle that I gave him 20 years ago as well as the few rifles and shotguns that he had, cherish the memories, those are what will last.....

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Life NRA, Life TSRA, C&R FFL

Sorry for your loss. That's a great symbol to remember him by.

I grew up shooting and hunting with my grandfather. He's long passed, but there's never been a time when I've picked up that Model 10 of his that I didn't think of him.

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Because of the metric system?

Now for you it's priceless. $357, Great story.

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Mike, AmVets Member, Navy Vet

Sorry for your loss. But you did win the Model 19 lottery!

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Fred
S&WCA 3238

Sorry for you fathers passing. I understand he wanted his loved one's to own and love the thing he loved so much. Lucky boy. I have a very extensive collection of Smiths, Colts and 1911's and no family to leave them to. My sadness is that they will fall into the hands of those who will not love and care for the as I have.
Such is life....

You are lucky to have those memories of shooting guns with your dad. Some of us never got that opportunity. Enjoy your gift sir.

I understand... my father has been gone for over 18 years now and his pistols hold a very special place in my collection and my heart... I am making sure my son understands they have more value than money... range time shared with family is special... pass it on

Sorry for your loss.

I got my dad's guns when he passed. I'd trade them all, plus the guns I owned, to have him and Mom back.

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John 3:16
WAR EAGLE!

Absolutely! I would set fire to every material thing I own on this earth, including my house if it would bring him back.

Thank you all for the kind words and condolences.

Yeah, Dad was a hell of a man. About a year before he passed when the doctors told him that the rejection was returning and his condition began to decline, he tried to get us all together and give his guns to us. I am the oldest of four kids and every one of us told him we didn't want to talk about such things or for him to worry about such things.. We told him we wanted him to worry about fighting to get better. Every one of us loved deer hunting and shooting with Dad, we all were introduced to quality family time out in the woods at a very young age by Dad, be it hunting, fishing, camping, shooting or doing firewood and dozens of other things. Yeah, I like my S&W's, but this one is priceless to me. I will carry it hunting every time I go out, taking Dad with me in some small way. And when I'm gone, it will be passed to my son.

Sorry for the loss of your Dad! He had excellent taste in Handguns! Beautiful piece to remember the good times with.

Regards
dcopper

My dad passed Nov. 16, 2011 at 76 years old. I inherited the Nickel Model 10-8 that probably had not been fired hardly at all. I have taken it out a few tmes and that's what got me back into shooting and reloading. My dad loved long guns, especially Winchester single barrel, red letters. He bought, sold and traded among all his buddies and enjoyed every minute. My brothers and I all ended up with specific firearms to remember him by and the rest were sold to help mom stay financially stable. I have a daughter who has no interest in firearms, and both my brothers' sons have no interest either. I'd like for the Model 10 to stay in the family, but not sure where it will eventually end up. I will keep it and cherish it and then it will go to one of my brothers. The memories will last for an eternity. :-) Enjoy your Model 19 and all the memories that come with it.

Nice to have good memories of your Dad, especially shooting with him.

My best friend and deer hunting buddy passed in December. He was 19 years older than me and was like a father to me.
His family gave me a Model 19 6 inch that he carried when we were in the field.
Don is not going deer hunting in 2017 but his gun is.

I got a few nice old guns that way as well...

And I too would rather have my dad back.................

But since we can't do that -- shoot it, cherish it and think of him each and every time you handle it.

You guys might think I'm nuts, but every now and then after I say my prayers at night I silently "Have a chat with my Dad..." just to update him on what's been going on.

Tomorrow is 9 years to the day too................ Damn.

Sorry for your loss.

Old No7

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The 2nd Amendment = Freedom!

Thanks for sharing your story. I have a 6" 19-3 (amongst others) that my son or grandsons will inherit someday. Or, who knowns, maybe a daughter or grand daughter. 39+ years ago I bought my dad a nickel model 36. For a time he was an over the road trucker and carried a .25 acp pistol that I was afraid would fire if you looked at it wrong. So, I bought him a "real" gun. He said, "it's kinda big". Dad, it is the smallest "real" gun you can get (in 1978). But, he kept it all these years - and gave it back to me about two years ago, saying he probably did not need it anymore. He passed this past June and he is forever safe from evil. Now I'm the caretaker of his nickel 36.

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Tony

Your story reminds me of my old hunting and shooting buddy. Al was 20 years older than me and passed away 9 years ago. He horse-traded so many guns since I had known him that I lost track. I did buy a few from him that I still have. When he passed his sons got all of the guns, but his wife invited me over to pick out a knife from his collection. He had more knives then I ever knew of, but the knife he always had on him when we were in the field was a fixed blade in a sheath. The knife had been sharpened so many time the blade was probably half its original size. That's what I chose and it is always with me in the woods, where Al loved to be.

Sorry for the drift, OP.

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Tony

As others have done, I offer my condolences on your loss. That is a beautiful memento of your cherished time together.

Best Regards, Les

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SWCA 3084, SWHF 495, PGCA 3064

Good stuff guys.

Mom also gave us each some other odds and ends. I received Dad's old Case fixed blade hunting knife with sheath. Mom bought it for him for their first Christmas as a married couple 40 years ago, it is a year older than me. That was the coolest knife in the world as I was a kid growing up, he always had it on his belt when deer hunting. Another good memory soaked keepsake.

I'd also like to extend my condolences. My Dad will be gone two years in March. I have a lot of good memories of shooting with him, going to gunshows, talking about guns. He gave me my first gun, his 28-2, and did all he could to support my interest in shooting. The thing I miss most is sitting in the kitchen talking with him, we could spend hours talking.

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Wheel guns are real guns.

Very sorry for your loss.

It is interesting how a firearm can bring back vivid memories. Here is a pic of two of my heirloom firearms.
The bottom is a Colt Official Police that was my great grandfather's security revolver (with the original Sam Brown holster). It was passed to my grandfather and then to me. I remember how how eyes would sparkle when he was too old to really shoot it or clean it and he'd have me give it the old once over and clean it up for him when I'd come back home from shooting and would be cleaning my Ruger.
The top one is my father's Highway Patrolman from 1962. It was his service revolver. He is still with us, but I know it was a significant "passing of the torch" when he gave it to me. I will always treasure it and think of him when I take it to the range.

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I'm sorry for your loss. It's been nearly 19 years since we lost Dad. I have his M19-5.
This is not a good picture but it's his gun in a holster I made for it sitting next to a purse he made Mother around 1949 or 50, best we can guess.
I tried to use his floral pattern and match the color but the purse is faded.

My condolences to you on the loss of your father.

This thread brought back memories of sharing hunting and shooting with my father, Pop. I can remember sitting in the shade of an old tree on a farmer's land someplace in upstate NY, with Pop, waiting for a woodchuck to show his head. That was 60 years ago, he's been gone for 25 years and I still have his Winchester M70 in 243Win that he had that day.

We lived in a suburb of NYC and about 1960 Pop and a few of his friends started The Nassau County Rifle and Pistol Club. Every Friday night throughout my high school years he took me to shoot at their indoor range which was in the basement of some store. That was when I really learned to shoot and developed my lifelong love of guns and shooting. I also have his High Standard Supermatic Citation which he enjoyed so much on those Friday nights.

Thanks for rekindling those long ago memories.
Carmine

Condolences on your loss. God bless you. Few things are more personal than a firearm loved by your father. It speaks of his knowledge, personal tastes, and has his love imprinted on the firearm through holster wear and handling. What a great heirloom. Use it well and remember the man. Be well.

I'm sorry to hear of your Dad's passing. You have a nice revolver with a story to remember him by. Although he is gone, you can hold that revolver as he did and remember him.

I have a Model 70 that belonged to Dad. I gave it to him as a Christmas gift many years ago. He used that rifle on our hunting trips. One day after a trip to the range, our last one it turned out, he sent it home with me to "clean." I told him I'd get it back to him shortly, but he said I'd just better hang on to it. Dad left us just over a year ago on January 25th 2016. His rifle rests quietly in my safe. It came back to me as he was preparing to leave. One day I'll be able to fire it, but I'm just not up for that yet. It's something he held that I can now hold.

I think you'll find comfort in having your Dad's revolver. When you hold it, don't let your tears fall on the gun. They're hard on the bluing.

Peace and comfort to you.

My most sincere condolences, I can relate though it was in early '92 when my dad passed. I have his 4" 686 he bought new in Sept. 1981 (no dash though it did go back for the "m" mod)-I was with him when he got it, have the original box, grips, tools, even the receipt. He got rid of his 4" 66-1 to get this (shortly I'll be looking for one to get as well).

Neither of my siblings care for firearms so it was natural that it passed to me. I used it to teach both my sons how to shoot a handgun. One day it'll go to my now 3 yr old grandson.

It's a cherished item, as yours is, gets some range time now and then, a true joy to shoot and remember some fun times. It would definitely tell some tales if it could talk.

The last time Dad's m19 was fired was at his memorial service we decided to have right at Mom and Dad's house. We opted not to go the conventional route with calling hours and a funeral, but rather we had a celebration of Dad's life and a private service for us the family right there where his heart resides...home.

We organized a 21 gun salute at the end. All of us kids, Mom, and my brother in law fired every firearm he owns. I fired the m19 from one hand and his m63 with the other. My younger brother is a Master Sgt in the USAF and called the shots. I was perfect, and every round fired added up to 21, seven firearms discharged three times in perfect unity. One of my coworkers, a friend heard it loud and proud at his house 2 miles away.

That is the last time the m19 was fired...And it happened to be me who pulled the trigger.

I don't mean to keep going round and round on this subject... as I read through all of these posts, it reminds me of other things I think you all would appreciate.

And once again, thanks to all for the kind words, condolences, and stories. And my condolences to all of you have have shared the loss of your Dads, no matter how long ago it may have been. I am still deeply effected by losing my Dad, and I don't see that going away any time soon.

That must have been an awesome send off!

I've lost both my parents in the last few years. Always listen to what they have to say. No one wants to talk about or think about their parents passing, especially with them. Always listen to what they have to say when they feel the end is coming. You will need that advice once they are gone. They'll tell you what to do if you'll listen. It's hard to do but you must do it.

Mom gathered all the girls the Christmas before she passed and divided up her jewelry. Dad spent his last few years telling me what to do with their estate. I know that both of them went out knowing that it was going to happen on their terms. There's comfort in that.

Celebrate the life, don't mourn the death. It sounds like you had great times with your dad. May those fond memories bring you quickly thru the grief of his passing.

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Robert
SWCA #2906, SWHF #760

My Dad has been gone for a while now and I will see a rifle or deer head or some other little thing and my mind will go to some little thing that we did together and it will cause me to smile. Most of the time, it isn't some big event that I remember but just a moment in time where he and I were together and doing something. I hope that these moments never end. Like others, I will still talk to him occasionally telling him about one of the memories that come through.

Sorry for your loss. Mom passed away 18 years ago, Dad ten years ago in April.

You can still talk to your loved ones through the Holy Spirit. Not odd at all.

I have a ninety-six year old aunt that went into a hospice situation this past Monday. We went to see her yesterday, about a three hour drive. What I saw was a beautiful old lady that is at peace with her situation both physically and spiritually. She laughed and talked for two hours about life and about dying. We reminisced about family, especially about my mom who was close to her.

As we left, there were no tears from her, but she knows that she will leave the care home feet first. She is prepared to meet Christ.

When my time comes, I hope that I can go as happily as she is leaving. I too have had a blessed life. I told her to tell Mom hello for me. I still talk to my folks from time to time.

Dad gave most of his few guns to his only grandson who bears his sir name. I got his old beat up truck gun, a Ruger MkI. Brother got his minty house gun, a Ruger Standard model. My choice BTW.

MEMORIES,

Jack

Somehow I missed this post before.

Joe was about the best man a person could ever hope to meet. The world is a lesser place without him.
I was proud to call him my friend.

Oddly enough, your dad's 19 was the one responsible for my love of S&W revolvers too. I know you'll honor and cherish it.

Thanks old buddy, means alot to me