I am looking at this 19-3. It looks to be in nice shape, but I haven't had a chance to inspect it. I have offered $650 for it, if it checks out. I know these have brought more, but I am interested in thoughts given the current market.

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I don't know what the current market is, but $650 is a fair amount less than I gave for my 19-3 four years ago, and it's as good looking as yours is. I can't really tell from the picture, but does that one have the target hammer (wider spur)? Cylinder on that one is nice and clean, no line from the locking lug. Does it have the original box with it?

My only thought is that the grips may not be original. I say this because I have a 19-3 bought new in 1974 and the Goncalo Alves Target stocks have the football shaped speedloader relief cuts.

No box or papers. A friend of mine owns it and I want be fair to him without paying too much.

The 19-3 you have made an offer on is a very nice example (the spots on the side plate may be of a concern and impact value). However, the stocks are not original and should be those described by noshow in post #3. The revolver has a standard hammer and trigger.

If the spots on the side plate are artifacts, $650 is a fair price. A period correct set of stocks will cost $50 to $100 or so and you may want to take that into account with your offer.

Bill

Doc44, by artifacts, do you mean "rust" or another permanent blemish. If the marks wipe off, should I offer more? Are the grips wrong for all 19-3s or were they possibly used on early or later examples?

Yes, they are wrong for all -3 variants. The -3 went out of production around the end of 1976. The speedloader relief on K frame target stocks doesn't show up until 1978 at the earliest. That's well into the -4 range.

__________________
Jack
SWCA #2475, SWHF #318

$650 is a fair price, the grips should be football targets.

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Pine_Worker
Ex-LEO, NRA Life

Does anybody know? or can help me with what year was my revolver made
It is serialnumber? 7K62793

7K62793 dates to 1975.

Bill

The colors on the hammer and trigger look oddly dark. Especially the trigger. Possibly cold blued ? If those spots on the sideplate are pits that affects the value negatively.

Remove the stocks and examine the frame and barrel finish in good lighting, if rust has penetrated through the finish its relegated to a shooter grade gun.

Also open the cylinder and examine the barrel forcing cone at the "6" O clock position for any signs of cracking as that is the Model 19's Achilles heel.

Also a good idea to watch a few videos on youtube showing how to inspect SW timing, lockup, lockwork , barrel gap, cylinder end play or othher issues that can adversely affect a revolver (there are plenty).

Stocks are easily replaced but those other things can be pricey to repair.

If I saw a shooter grade 19-3 with finish issues and wrong stocks for $650 at a gunshow I would keep walking, that being said $650 for LNIB example at the same show would get my attention.

On a side note not all 19-3's are created equal, the ones made before 1970 have the old style separate FS ramp pinned to the barrel, In general (not always) the earlier stocks are usually nicer looking than ones made at the end of the run as well.

Lastly if your looking specifically for a "Shooter" IMO the 19-4 nudges out the 19-3 .
The 19-4 revision relocated the gas ring from the yoke to the cylinder which was an improvement in its design.

On the other hand if you are planning to shoot alot of magnums and want to shoot lighter faster bullets probably better to be looking for an L frame 586 / 686....

lastly if you do plan on doing alot of magnum shooting you might wanna even consider getting something produced after S&W adopted the lifetime repair policy since those guns generally cost as much used but will generally be repaired at little to no cost if they brake where a 19-3 definitely will not.

In Model 19s the dash 4 restored the gas ring in the cylinder where it had been for about 75 years before S&W cheapened the K frame revolvers. K frames only had the gas ring on the yoke for about a year and a half. The gas ring on the yoke is more honestly described as no gas ring at all. Only the end of 19-3 production did not have a gas ring in the cylinder.

Since I like to shoot lead bullets DA I strongly prefer the gas ring protruding from the cylinder. It deflects fouling from the B/C gap away from the center of the cylinder.

[QUOTE=Doc44;140744460]7K62793 dates to 1975.

A realy big thanks to you Bill,
Best regards from me in Sweden

Good price. Wrong grips. If you care,you can sell those grips on Ebay for $170 (depending on condition) and put that money into a set of correct football grips.

Here’s proof you can get $170 out of your grips, if they are nice:
Smith & Wesson Checkered Goncalo Alves Target Grips J Frame Square Butt S&w for sale online | eBay

Can I ask the experts here on the value of a 19-3 nickle 4 inch? 90%. Very very clean and tight one scuff. Correct grips.

Here is one that matches your description (except the stocks - see below). I paid $425 for it about 10 years ago. I would not sell it, but if I did, I'd probably want $600 for it now.

When this picture was taken I was using this revolver to teach young people the art of handgun shooting. They needed the smaller Magna stocks. But it is the best photo I have available of this particular Combat Magnum.


Here is another shot of it, wearing correct target stocks. In this pic, it is paired with its brother that the factory finished in blue. Not the best picture in the world, but you get the idea.

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Jack
SWCA #2475, SWHF #318