Two years ago today I posted about finding an extremely clean 19-3 Texas Ranger commemorative. It was just the revolver and I didn't feel bad about shooting it LOL. The gold fill was gone but I had that taken care of.

Here's the original thread:
**Refreshed photos in post 18**19-3 Texas Ranger

A few months later something else shiny caught my attention so the TR went to a friend. I reached out to him last week to see if 1) he still had it and 2) if he'd sell it back. He never shot it, just admired it.

I just got back from picking it up and I'm so happy to have it. I got it at the price of a standard 19-3 would have sold for, sold it for the same and paid the same today (plus the stupid Colorado mandated ffl fees for the background check and transfer which the shop only charged me $25 for both-this time as well as the when I sold it).

Couldn't be happier to have this one back. It shot unbelievably well with an amazing action. It'll mostly see .38spl with a few 158 .357 thrown in now and then. Here's a quickie cell pic.

Fantastic!! But, I want the holster!!

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Richard Gillespie
FBINA 102

Great choice of wood for that Smith.

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Have Fun/Stay Safe

Beautiful grips. I just bought one and the presentation targets are so plain they’re ugly. Got the seller to knock off $100.

This one checked all the boxes when I initially found it. It was local too but the shop never heard back from the guy they bought it from asking about the box etc. Yes the wood on the grips is just outstanding.

***Barbarian-CBX I was unable to reply to your pm, your box is full***

A lot of gun folks bad mouth commemorative guns, even some here, saying they would never buy one. But, I think this TR 19-3 revolver is the exception to that.
Larry

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Miss My Buddy crsides!!

Interesting.

While I would not ordinarily pay more for for a commemorative gun since they’re not commemorating anything involving or significant to me, I ended up buying a Texas Ranger commemorative because it’s in “perfect” condition and the price was less than what I’ve seen similar condition non-commemorative P&R M19s go for. And it’s the M19 I’m buying.

I do like some of commemorative markings or badges, some less so. The Texas Rangers the most of those I’ve seen, with S&W Fan’s taking top billing. The grips on mine are just so uniformly plain that their unattractive.

Yep, I too am a big fan of the TR Model 19-3 (s/n TR6362)! This was shown in another post recently, but I don't mind showing it off again. I really like the cutaway trigger guard, the smooth target stocks, the action, and the beautiful fit and finish. The stocks on mine are not quite as dramatically figured as yours, but they are nice. I did re-do the gold bronze lettering and I refinished the case. Although I don't collect commemoratives, this Model 19-3 is one of my favorites and it's a shooter.

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Agreed and seconded. A commemorative that commemorates something of no interest to me is… of no interest to me.

If the alleged value of its “commemorative-ness” is a significant amount, it will get a hard pass.

OTOH, a desirable model with a little extra “scratching” on it, but used and priced as a shooter, well here’s where I jump in! I’d say your TR checks all the boxes (except for having the box ) and you did very well, IMHO to grab it twice!

Congratulations and enjoy it. Just try to hang onto it this time!

Froggie

Froggie, your words are taken to heart LOL!! The features of the gun are what drew me to it the first time-minus the "scratches" haha. Love the trigger guard treatment, the grips really are beautiful, being p&r with the red ramp/white outline sights and that wide smooth trigger.

This gun had not seen many rounds when I got it, I only put about 75 of .38spl 130gr fmj and 12 158 gr .357 when I got it, cleaned it and put it in the safe. The action on this gun is amazing, still locks up like the proverbial bank vault haha.

I have a quantity of 158gr .38spl flat point fmj that may just get used on a weekend soon with this!

S&WFan I've let too many go that I've later regretted.My brother has done the same.Several years ago we got to comparing what we lost and vowed that from that day forward if we own it we keep it til we're gone and hopefully our sons and grandsons keep them too.Glad yours came back.

Never let it go again, man. That is great!

You folks that have re-done the gold/bronze lettering, how does it hold up to cleaning your gun after shooting it? Do you clean as normal, or kinda clean around the re-done areas?

I agree what what has been said about not being interested in commemorative guns that commemorate something of no interest to me. In my case, I have never known any Texas Rangers, and never lived or even been to Texas, but my interest in this model is solely because I love their history, mystique, and their portrayal in books, movies, and TV. I enjoyed reading "Texas Ranger The Epic Life of Frank Hamer, The Man Who Killed Bonnie and Clyde", and watching Lonesome Dove and Laredo which were terrific to me! Believe it or not, I even watch Walker, Texas Ranger sometimes. I want to be a Texas Ranger when I grow up! Not sure when that will be since I am 61 years young now. We can dream can't we?
Larry

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Miss My Buddy crsides!!

As stated in other threads I bought my TR Commemorative because I got a great pistol at a very good price. My gun shoots good and the action is silky smooth. I do know a few Texas Rangers and got to say I'm a bit envious of the job title. What could be more Texan that being a Texas Ranger? One of the oldest and most prestigious outfits in the US. Cimarron arms produces Lonesome Dove Walkers in honor of Augustus Mcrae and Woodrow Call. Thought about buying one just to have it

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I have used MPro 7 to clean every gun I’ve owned since I became aware of it and Break Free for lube for as long as I can remember. My ‘smith advised to just wipe down the areas of the fill with a soft clean cloth. Not hard to do as those areas don’t get much if any residue from shooting.

A very good friend was in the same SF Army Guard unit as a guy that was a Ranger, now retired. Got to bend elbows with him a number of times. Great guy, he approved of the gun when I first got it and more than appreciated the fact I shot it.

boykinlp: I normally clean with Hoppe's No. 9, and finish with some Ren Wax. I do take it easy on the gold/bronze areas and just use a microfiber cloth with light pressure since those areas don't see a lot of fouling. Just FYI- if the gold/bronze fill does eventually wipe away, I have plenty of the Bonanza Gold fill kit material (Forster Products; from Midway or Brownells) to do about 30 guns! It's a fairly quick application process so I don't really worry about it.

That looks great!

Hawg Rider,
I must've done something wrong when I did mine. I believe I followed the instructions to the letter. After applying the bronze powder, it basically covered the engraving completely. After waiting the allotted amount of time, I attempted to remove the excess as directed. Every time I did it (3 times if I remember correctly), it always removed too much from the engraving. Because of that, I tried a lighter touch on the additional tries. But, to remove ALL of the excess, invariably I would remove too much. Did any of you folks have the same problem, and if you did, how did you rectify it? Thanks.
Larry

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Miss My Buddy crsides!!

I have a set o various colors that are like crayons (which I've used before) that I got from Brownells.

boykinlp: There was a discussion about this topic on another TR Model 19-3 thread last week...one or two Forum members had the same problem as you. They were thinking that maybe the impressions (engraving) on their TRs were not as deep as they should have been, and therefore would not hold the gold/bronze fill material. Not sure what to suggest...if at first you don't succeed, try try again(?).

I got a look at my new TR 19-3 yesterday doing MD paperwork. 7 day wait.

The “gold” fill on the frame is faded, it’s fine on the barrel. Thanks yo you guys, I ordered the Bonanza kit and one of the gold “”crayons.”

The grips are not nearly as plain and boringly ugly in person than in the seller’s photos, but I have a couple sets of more attractive grips on the way.

I only hope I can get my revolver looking nearly as nice as S&W Fan’s.

ETA: Like an idiot I forgot to get photos, but recall the serial number as TR4???. Also, it came with a TR knife, but SNs don’t match. The gun case does not have a place for the knife, which came in a similar wood case. No sheath.

Of the 10,000 total Texas Ranger Commemoratives (1823-1973) made by S&W in 1973, there were 1,950 TRs that were sold as just the 19-3 revolver in the case, and 50 were Class A engraved with knife and case. The other 8,000 were the sets that included the 19-3 and the bowie knife with sheath (SCSW 4th Ed. Page 219). Since the s/n's don't match and you have presentation cases for both the revolver and the bowie knife, it sounds like you have one of the 1,950 that were sold as just the revolver and case, and a previous owner picked up a TR bowie knife and case separately (see SCSW 4th Ed. Page 472). There were 12,000 TR bowies sold separately.

We do need to see some pics when you can post them. I believe that you will be very happy with your TR 19-3! Enjoy!

Hawg Rider, thanks for the very informative post! When I first got mine I searched for a knife but quickly realized I could buy a whole lot of ammo for what the knives were, and I assume still are, bringing.

Just to bring this full circle I did check with the gunsmith today and he too used the Forster's kit. He said he didn't do anything special to apply the fill. In all honesty the fill on the sideplate looks like it has diminished a bit while it was in the temporary care of the guy I sold it to. In the barrel markings however it looks the same as when I got back from the smith.

JP, let us know how the kit or crayons work for you.

Do any of you folks that have the complete package know if it originally came with a cleaning kit (SAT, MOP, brush, cleaning rod)? Not sure if commemorative guns did. Thanks.
Larry

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Miss My Buddy crsides!!

Thanks for the education!

I can pick the revolver up Thursday, I’ll start a new thread with photos.

I will definitely post results. There are the TR medallion on the right and the S&W medallion on the left, so an opportunity to perhaps try both options.

boykinlp: I bought my TR set used, so it probably didn't have everything that was included with a "new" set. For example, the bowie knife sheath was just placed in the presentation case, it didn't have separate packaging. There were no tools included, either. But as you can see from the pic, there are no cutouts in the case's inserts for tools so I can't say for sure whether or not a set of tools was included. The SCSW 4th Ed. doesn't mention the inclusion of cleaning tools or SAT.

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Nice revolver, and the gold is pretty. What I want to know is who made the holster? What a beautiful combination of holster and revolver!

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Kevin in Oregon

Thank you. The holster is from American Classic Gunleather. I have a couple of his and they're really nice and well made.

I have had one of his floral carved holster's for a few years for a 6.5" N frame. He does nice work, especially his floral carving. The only thing I wish he did was to add a welt to his holsters. He didn't do that years ago, does your holster have one?
Larry

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Miss My Buddy crsides!!

Thank You. I will try to look them up.

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Kevin in Oregon

JP, did you ever try the kit and crayons?
Larry

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Miss My Buddy crsides!!

As for buying commeratives, I have two, a Texas Rangers and 44-40 Wagon Train. I bought both at Pawn shops, I think I paid $300 for the Ranger and $250 for the Wagon Train. I bought the Ranger because I live in Texas and the Wagon Train because it is the only modern 44-40 that Smith made. When the Wagon train came out I bought a new one for $500, Three weeks later I saw a used one in a pawn shop for half. I planned on shooting the 44-40 so I sold the new in the box one and got my money back. Only other commerative I have ever bought was a 94 Winchester Teddy Roosevelt carbine. I kept it for 8 years and didn't shoot it so I sold it. You have to keep a commerative a long time to recoup or make money.
SWCA 892
PS, I walked into a LGS and in his junk pile I saw a Wagon Train presentation box, Picked it up for $20

I bought a gold LA-CO Industries lacquer stick from Amazon and it works like a champ......Ben

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Cogito, ergo BOOM!...

Got any pics?
Larry

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Miss My Buddy crsides!!