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S&W Revolvers: 1961 to 1980 3-Screw PINNED Barrel SWING-OUT Cylinder Hand Ejectors WITH Model Numbers


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Old 01-15-2014, 07:28 PM
MN2944 MN2944 is offline
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Default When "the hunt" gets old.

I've been doing the weekly check at my 3 local gun stores, watching GB, etc for a couple of years in search of that really nice 19-4 for my collection. Nothing. Despite the occasional post on this forum and others where someone stumbles across a NIB specimen at an estate sale for a ridiculously low price, I just don't seem to have that kind of luck. The hunt is getting old. From what I can tell, there are a few dealers out there that stock some really nice ones, but they command a price 2x average.

Any suggestions of reputable sources?
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Old 01-15-2014, 07:42 PM
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What's your price range, configuration (service, combat or target trigger; plain front sight or red insert; etc.); and accoutrement, i.e., box, no box, etc.?
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Old 01-15-2014, 07:52 PM
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As soon as you change your focus,they'll come out of the woodwork.Look for colts for awhile :-)
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Old 01-15-2014, 07:57 PM
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Don 't let the "hunt" discourage you. It's supposed to be half the fun of it! We that are afflicted with this disease know that happiness comes to those who wait (or are patient) because we know that sooner or later what we've been searching for will raise it's pretty head. Good luck and don't give up!
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Old 01-15-2014, 07:59 PM
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I feel your pain. I've got a couple of nice 19-4s, but not collector grade. My 4" I bought sight unseen from Kittery Trading Post in Maine, a place I stumbled on when looking for a Ruger SR1911. NIB 19-4s are almost as rare as unicorns. My approach, since catching the K-Frame bug, has been to get the best examples I could find and afford, then keep a patient eye out for better examples on the rare occasions they become available.
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Old 01-15-2014, 08:32 PM
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I never find what I want, when I want it.
I only find it when I'm not looking for it.
Once I give up on it, one drops into my lap.

So, I'm not looking for any nice Smiths.
That way, they'll drop into my lap.
It's how I ended up with all my Smiths.
Pure, dumb luck.
Maybe I should quit looking for a million dollars.
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Old 01-15-2014, 08:40 PM
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Ive been focusing on early fifties mark I Rugers because the early k-17s and k-18s have become so expensive.A '52 combat masterpiece fell in my lap the other night :-)
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Old 01-15-2014, 08:41 PM
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Expand your search, include 19-3's as well. Don't go beyond 19-4's as that is the last of the Pinned barrels.
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Old 01-15-2014, 09:22 PM
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What's wrong with 19-2's ?
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Old 01-15-2014, 10:31 PM
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I'd take any nice 19, especially no-dash to -4.
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Old 01-15-2014, 10:44 PM
Hapworth Hapworth is offline
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Quote:
Originally Posted by 125JHP View Post
What's wrong with 19-2's ?
Not a thing. Personally, I'll take a Combat Magnum, pre-19, 19-2...anything up through, say, a 19-8 -- so long as it's in high quality condition.

I don't buy into the "better era" myths.
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Old 01-15-2014, 11:59 PM
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Yeah, focus on other collectible guns. I'm looking for an early
Colt Cobra in .38 special to go with a H.H. Heiser 457 FBI
holster I picked up on Ebay. It's in excellent condition and was
made in the 1950's for that particular gun.

One time I went into a LGS that deals mostly in AR-15's and
black plastic semi-autos. I went in to pick up some gas rings
for a Colt bolt. I just happened to look in their miniscule used
gun case (6-7 guns) and lo and behold there was a S&W 65-5
with Tyler grips for sale at $449.00. Man, I jumped on that
thing like you wouldn't believe. And, I wasn't even looking
for one!
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Old 01-16-2014, 12:40 AM
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What are Tyler grips? Post a pic of that bad boy!
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Old 01-16-2014, 12:48 AM
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Have you tried a WTB here on the forum? Both times I have I got something better than expected for a little less than anticipated, oh it took a month or two, but it worked out well for me.

Here is my problem. I too would pull into every pawnshop when I was out of town, GB 2x's a day, other sites, blah, blah... Really hours a week. At some point what is your time worth? If I were retired with cash and did that as a "hobby", then the chase might well be worth it. Sometimes it might just make more sense to drop the cash and move on to tracking down another one.

Just my worthless rambling thought of the day I guess.
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Old 01-16-2014, 01:18 AM
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Some of my best scores have been by happenstance. As much as I enjoy those moments, I prefer the absolute joy of finally acquiring that one gun I wanted above all others at that particular time in my life. I won't say that a real excessive delay in finding that one elusive model makes the moment that much sweeter though.

I figure the fault lies with me. Why want a Marlin 1895 STP .45-70 when a standard 1895 costs a quarter of the price, or a P220-1 in .38 Super when the euro models are easy to score and so much cheaper?

That said, I absolutely sympathize with the OP. I'm a big .41 Mag fanboy and shoot it a lot, because I cast and load for it. I even carry a Model 57 regularly when off duty. I've been actively trying for some time now to find a nice M58 or 3" 657, but I'm having zero luck. I found a mint STP which is one of only five hundred, but I can't find the right M58 and there were around twenty thousand of those produced.

There is no rhyme or reason to any of it I reckon. It will happen eventually, but patience makes all the the difference.
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Old 01-16-2014, 11:39 AM
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There are a lot of "on line" auctions now. Actual live auctions with Proxi-Bid availability. Unfortunately the biggest one, Rock Island Auction has a nasty habit of lumping 2-3-4-5 guns into one bid where you have to buy several unwanted guns to get one you do want. I guess that's the only way they can get through their auctions in only 3 days. Don't overlook local gun only auctions. Where I live there are now 3 different auctioneers that have discovered how lucrative these auctions are. I have all 3 within the next 9 weeks, and they usually do 2 per year each.
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Old 01-16-2014, 12:06 PM
BAM-BAM BAM-BAM is offline
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As I've posted before; the turn of the century found me without any 2.5 or 4 inch 19s or 66s. In the late 80s I had acquired 2 3inch 66s which met my "everyday" k frame needs. (L-frames had become my .357 mag. guns)

The 2&4 inch 19/66s I had ...... got traded off on other things I "needed"...LOL...... I could always get another!!!!!!!

I decided I had some extra cash and space in the safe...... so off to the lgs I went to buy some 19/66s....... I mean last time I looked for one every shop had at least 5-6 for sale........ what I found was...... nothing!!!!!

I'd have to go back through my records but I would estimate it took me 6-7 years to collect "nice" 2.5 inch 19-4 and 66-?; and 4" 66,66-1 and 19-4.

I don't think I've seen a really nice 19 or 66 in any of the local gun shops in at least 3 maybe 4 years....... "a few" shooters (85-90%) but nothing in the +95%range.

Hang in there ....... it's only a matter of time until some 20 something brings in his late Dad's "sock drawer" LNIB, P&Red Model 19 to trade for a Glock!

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Old 01-16-2014, 01:16 PM
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Keep looking and be open to other ghg's(gotta have guns). I lost out on a 19-4 NIB three years ago and finally located one that was just right last year. in the interim, I managed to scoop up several other guns that were on the list, and found a few that I had not considered. I admire the guys on this forum that can focus on a narrow spectrum of the Smith world. I cannot and do not even attempt it.
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Old 01-16-2014, 03:49 PM
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Watch Armslist too. At least in my area, you can occasionally find a nice old Smith or two. I've swapped a couple Glocks for some.....
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Old 01-18-2014, 12:33 AM
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Just posted my first thread today entitled My Christmas 19-4. I was not looking for anything at the time but I had seen this revolver in the LGS online "for sale" list over 3 months before I actually visited. I was amazed that it was still there. Then again, this is California and our laws are much more restrictive than many other states: FTF transactions without using an FFL dealer are illegal and all transactions using a dealer require the payment of sales tax as well as the state background check (what is called DROS, dealer record of sale) fee of $25. And, of course, the 10 day waiting period.
Good luck on your search but know that "all things come to he who waits"!
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Old 01-18-2014, 12:56 AM
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Quote:
Originally Posted by MN2944 View Post
I've been doing the weekly check at my 3 local gun stores, watching GB, etc for a couple of years in search of that really nice 19-4 for my collection. Nothing. Despite the occasional post on this forum and others where someone stumbles across a NIB specimen at an estate sale for a ridiculously low price, I just don't seem to have that kind of luck. The hunt is getting old. From what I can tell, there are a few dealers out there that stock some really nice ones, but they command a price 2x average.

Any suggestions of reputable sources?
Here is a like new unit at $850...I have bought from this guy before and his descriptions are spot on.


1980 Smith Wesson 19 4 Inch In The Box : Revolvers at GunBroker.com
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Old 01-18-2014, 01:13 AM
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Talking

It can get frustrating looking for one gun in a specific dash number and it can take a long time to find what you are looking for. The options like others have said to look for any model marked Model 19 that are -4 or older in the barrel length you want. Or expand your want list to more then one model you want and see what happens. When I was trying to build a collection of Model 27-2's and I wanted a 4 inch which are rare I often times ran into say a 5 inch in nickel to add to my collection as I had a blued 5 inch Model 27-2 already in the collection so I bought it.
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Old 01-18-2014, 02:04 AM
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What always happens to me is that I look for while like you are doing and don't find exactly what I am looking for. Then I purchase one that is not exactly but almost what I want. Shortly thereafter you can almost be assured that the one that I wanted, or more of them, will show up for the same price .

One way you can get what you want is The Tulsa Gun Show. You can bet it is probably there and in the configuration and condition you want. However it almost certainly going to carry a premium and some cases a premium plus price.

I have a long association with one of the ffls and my gunsmith local shop here. I can tell them if they one at Tulsa, and in this range, grab it for me. And they will. A couple of times they had to call and give me the price and get an Ok. At least a couple of couple of times I did it, and a couple of times I didn't.
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Old 01-18-2014, 08:04 AM
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I second placing a "WTB" add in the classifieds here.

I got tired of trying to find a Registered Magnum at a price lower than what I bought my first house for. I was looking for a few years. I placed a "WTB" here and a member responded the next day. He had (had being to key word ) two of them.

IMHO, this is a good time to buy as Christmas bills are coming in and you might find someone looking to move one to help fund them.

Good luck in your quest.
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