Wanted a 19-3 4 inch and found a rough one on GB and got it for 500. Too much I know but it was the listed by the local gun store my son works at so, no trans fees.





Went over the action and fixed some minor problems with some help from wise ones on this site and she is smooth as glass and shoots great.








12 rounds at 15 yards



Next is a trip to Frank Glenn, Bomar rib and then Ford's for a re blue. Making a "Mini-Me" of my old target 19 Here is a pic of my first handgun ......... bought in 1979.

If that is a "rough" one I'd hate to see what you call one in bad shape. Looks pretty nice to me.

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Mike
S&WCA #3065

Has some complexion problems, but mechanically in good shape.


Ewww


There is a special place in hell for people who let guns rust like this. A pennys worth of oil and 2 mins once a year would avoid this.

( Creeps over to the gun cabinet and checks the children for rust )

Welcome to the FORUM! It would be hard not to buy a 19 at that price. So it it needs a little love. I have a 10-5 that way. Guess what? It sure shoots like a beauty! Enjoy your 19, and keep us posted if you go for the transformation. Bob

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That model 19 of yours is NOT in rough shape.
Just a bedroom nightstand type needing some love , cleaning and care.
I also would of bought in a "heartbeat!!

I would add that one to my other 4 wheeling/hiking revolvers. Just enough wear you don't feel guilty shooting it.

Why the Bomar Rib ?

Unnecessary added cost weight and balance change.

I'd leave it just as is and shoot it often.

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NEVER GIVE UP YOUR GUN

I've come to prefer the cosmetically challenged vs. the ANIB pieces. I just enjoy them a lot more. You can shoot them, fondle them, carry them, and do not care about anything other than the experience.

I have a few 99% guns and it almost pains me to shoot them. I feel guilty for adding wear to them.

That M19 is beautiful, take her to the range often and give it the use it deserves!

Hay bananaman, do you know any details on your trigger? I have one just like it on my 28-2. Thanks
SEMPER PARATUS

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NRA Life Member
CPO

Sorry- wrong thread.

That must be one of them read-headed step child revolvers. It's got lots of freckles.

My 19 no dash is in comparable condition. Not the prettiest girl in the room, but she sure can dance!

Not really. I use my 6" 19 for teaching kids, and sometimes adults to shoot on a regular basis and the added weight and simple 3 dot sights help. Very little recoil with 148G wadcutters. This gun will be used for the same while I refurbish the 6". Plus, I just like the look and having a Mini-Me version of my original 19

I am amazed at how many people have never even touched a gun, much less fired one. My job to fix that round here.


We graduate the new shooters from a Ruger mark II to the 19 and then a colt 1911 or M9 Beretta. If they are really nice we bring the garand. The look on a teenagers face after the banging out a clip on the old M1A it is priceless. "PING!"

To paraphrase Forrest Gump, "Pretty is as pretty does".

The Model 19 is my favorite S&W. For a shooter, it is better to have a little wear on it so that you don't worry about getting it dirty and scratching it, etc. I think your 19 is nice enough considering it is 40-50 years old! I would skip the refinish, and keep it as is and shoot it often. A gun with honest wear has a comfortable appeal.

I bought one with a little better metal, but a set of pac's on it. Paid 450 for and have a set of K frame grips on the way adding another 80 to the total. TT, TH and 4 inch barrel. This gun just flat out shoots great. Love it and shoot it.

I agree. The 19 is my favorite handgun hands down. I have owned 10 different smith revolvers and the 19 is the one that never stays home on a trip to the range. IMHO, best overall wheel gun ever. FYI, Just bought another one today I will post pic when I get it.

My feeling is, if it shoots really good it don't need to look really good. Nice 19, shoot and enjoy.

That's a nice gun. I'd have paid that for the gun as well.
Even if you don't get it a makeover, it's still a great shooter.

That is a fine 19. The wear gives it character. I think you did well getting it. I love my 19 they are great shooters.

If I could have only one, it would be a 4" blue Model 19.
A 19-3 was my first serious handgun in 1970. The 19-4 I recently purchased would be my last.

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Billy
Gunsmith, M/C mechanic

To pay $500 and then a reblue?
For that kind of $$ or less, you could have bought one in mint condition, and not have to bother with it.
Just one persons opinion. It is good you are happy with your purchase.
FYI... I paid $400 for my 19-3 which I bought about 3-4 years ago, which had the bonus "backwards 3" ampersand.

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Bill Jordans idea for a 357Magnum in a K frame for Lawmen was likely

one the greatest tools for them.. l think could be compared with the squad

car and 2 way radio.. Hats off to Smith&Wesson for listening to him..

0le Bill sold TEN Model 19s for every one 44Magnum Elmer Keith hawked.

Model 19 has saved Countless lives, Protected millions of Citizens..

Eliminated BUNCH of bad guys too :-)

Well mini me is done! After about 18-20 hours on the action, sent it off to Frank Glenn to have the throat done,crane lock, internal trigger stop, chamfering the chambers, front sight removed and the Bo-mar installed.

Asked him to go over the action and he said" There's nothing I can do with that." Made me a little proud of my work. Tore it completely down and sent it to Fords to be re blued. Here she is with her big brother.

The finish Ford's put on your 19 is so bright I gots to wear shades to look at it!
Congrats on a nice gun.

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"I gots to know"

Fantastic job on the resurrection. Congratulations!! hardcase60

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You want me to do what?

Looks great with the refinish

Fine looking shooter!

That project turned out terrific! The only thing you should have done is put the wood back on for the glamour shots.

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Miss My Buddy crsides!!

Not bad. Not bad a'tall.

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John 3:16 .

Thanks Guys, that means alot.

I have taken many a trigger out of a S&W revolver, ground off the serrations and then contoured it like the trigger on the OP's M19. I would secure the trigger in a vise, remove the grooves and then used emory cloth to polish it. Do it like a bootblack would polishing your shoes.

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John 3:16
WAR EAGLE!

I missed this thread originally, looks neat
Your Model 19-3 is an early dash 3 (guessing late 1968 to mid 1969) with the older style pinned ramp base which likely made it alot easier to remove and mount the Bomar rib ( 19-3 changed to an integral ramp base by late 1969 to early 1970).

PS dont throw that old ramp away as they are hard to come by and likely someone is looking for one.

Yes, actually, I could use one.

I will IM you my contact. You are more than welcome to it.

Thank you! Will be in touch.

Looks like Ford's Master Blue. I sent them an "experienced" 19-5 a couple of years ago. Can't bring myself to shoot it now, which is ridiculous. Sure is pretty.

Needed to clean some guns today and decided to put the target grips on the 19-4 to see how they looked. They will not be coming off

Beautiful!

I appreciate your passion for a gun that needed a good bit of TLC. That one will please folks for generations to come.

Very nice work.

wgusler, did Frank Glenn have the Bomar rib or did you find it elsewhere?

Good looking 19, enjoy it.

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Billy
Gunsmith, M/C mechanic

Thanks guys!
Bushy, I found that Bomar used and bought it , had some hack work done on it with a dremel repaired by micro welding and re-blued it. Only went thru all that so it would match my other 19.

Aristocrat sells some nice ribs for revolvers here:

Aristocrat Products - Competition Proven Products