M19-5 Buy or no buy? Pictures added

[epj]

Ran across a 19-5 4" over the weekend. It is a sort of plain model with target stocks, black sights, standard trigger/hammer. Looks like it spent 20 years riding in a poorly fitting holster. Lots of finish wear on the cylinder, and a bit on the front of the barrel. The frame shows little wear at all. Carry up, endshake, lockup, etc. are all fantastic. The recoil shield shows only a very faint cartridge head mark. Almost couldn't see it at all. This one probably has truely been carried much and shot little.

It has been priced to me at $250 plus tax, which in this neighborhood is a robust 10%. Comes to $275 total. I think that's a little much. Got to factor in a bottle of cold blue too . I'm thinking of going back with $250 cash, or maybe even $225 cash and making an offer, with the full intent of walking if not accepted. What say ye all?

As you can see, most of the finish damage is to the cylinder. The bit of the front of the barrel doesn't particularily bother me.



The forcing cone and the recoil shield are in pretty pristine condition.





The stocks look like someone used the gun to hang up wanted posters.

[Harrison]

I have seen junk model 10s, one the cylinder would not even open, going for $250 in this part of the county. I paid $425 for a nice 95% model 19 4", and thought I had stolen it. What you are describing is some worn bluing which has nothing to do with function. I guess it depends on wheather you just want to look at a pistol, or go shoot it.

[murphydog]

A very good price as stated, if you don't mind the finish or will touch it up anyhow.

[bamabiker]

Hey epj, where's this shop around here?...just kidding. I'd offer the $225 and go from there if I wanted it for a shooter. Even at $275 that's not a bad price for a M19. The Alabama Gun Collector show is next weekend and I doubt you'll find a K frame 357 there for that price, even in like condition. Really comes down to if you want it.
You going to the show next weekend?

[epj]

Hi, Bama. One of the local pawn shops over in Midfield. If I don't buy and you want it, I'll forward the location. I have to work Saturdays and Sundays for the next four months, so I won't make it to any shows before November.

[bamabiker]

I bet I know which shop. My friend Billy told me the other day they had a M19.
I just got a M65-5 LS the other day so I'm done for now,unless I run into a special deal. Good luck.

[kenpofan]

I'd buy it and shoot the living **** out what sounds like a ( for my kneck of the woods ) super deal..


Patrick

[Mule88]

Sounds like a great shooter and very fair price. Id buy it!

[jmark1651]

Blued 19's are not common in my stomping grounds. Just picked up a nice blued 19-2 from a friend for 375. It was sporting some finger groove smith grips which seem to be 150.00 lately. So I guess I got a deal. I really like a blued combat magnum. It was my first magnum purchase many years ago. I think you would be getting a great deal even at 275.

[cp1969]

Everybody need a gun that they can treat as a gun, not an investment, not a museum piece, not as a collector's item.

Buy it. Shoot it. Learn it. Live it. Love it.

[Samuel Adams]

I have a 19-3 in similar condition which I got for the same price. It shoots great and I use it regularly for IDPA. Buy it.

[epj]

Well, the M19 is mine. Had to pay more than I wanted, maybe more than I should have. $265 out the door. Will post pics a little later when I get it cleaned up a bit.

[cp1969]

You got a bargain. Now go shoot and enjoy it.

[cuad2001]

Originally Posted by epj

Well, the M19 is mine. Had to pay more than I wanted, maybe more than I should have. $265 out the door. Will post pics a little later when I get it cleaned up a bit.

I love a happy ending ;-)

[Bat Guano]

My daughter put me onto the trail of a 19-3 in about the same shape recently. I was able to pull the sideplate and give it a good checkout, and cheerfully forked over $250 for it.

These days that's a screaming bargain; they're not making any more of them.

[thomashoward]

its a shooter. jump on it

[SOUTHERNGUNNER]

It sounds like it has a lot miles left on it The price seems fair for a shooter, if I was to find a $250.00 M-19 that seemed tight and not a lot forcing cone erosion it would be mine.

[Beemerguy53]

Originally Posted by epj

Well, the M19 is mine. Had to pay more than I wanted, maybe more than I should have. $265 out the door. Will post pics a little later when I get it cleaned up a bit.

A Model 19 in perfect working order with just some finish wear for only $265??? That's a steal, IMO...in this area that revolver would be priced at least $100 higher than that.

You got a great deal, and should have no second thoughts about it at all. Enjoy!

[carbofan21]

if it's mechanically sound and only has some blueing wear, anything less than 3 bills is a gift

[RobertJ.]

Several years ago I found a 2.5" 19-5 for $400. It'd been my "holy grail" handgun for quite some time. I jumped on it then and I still would. Pinned and recessed? No, but neither is my Colt Official Police, and the Colt is my best shooting revolver. Uh, does that qualify as blasphemy on this site?

[epj]

Took the sideplate off and throughly cleaned and lubed the gun. There was no evidence of wear at all. The forcing cone area is clean as a pin. There are very faint carbon marks on all the cylinders, so it has had at least a few rounds down the tube. Very few though. The recoil shield looks essentially like a new gun. How did this gun come to have so much wear to the exterior and so little trigger time? The best I can speculate is that it may have been used by a security guard who carried it extensively in a poorly fitting holster, yet was seldom or perhaps never required to qualify with it.

I'm gonna get some cold blue and touch up the cylinder as best I can, then shoot the hound out of it.

[Samuel Adams]

Originally Posted by epj

I'm gonna get some cold blue and touch up the cylinder as best I can

Leave it as is.

[epj]

Originally Posted by Samuel Adams

Leave it as is.

That's a thought. I wouldn't have to worry about damaging the finish.

[gunlovingirl]

Forget the cold blue. Buy it, shoot it, enjoy it! It's well-loved pieces like these that make the best shooters. You don't have to worry about wear and scratches. Personally, I think $250 is a great price!

[Last of the Mohicans]

Even up here in Kanuckistan, where the market for handguns with such barrel lengths has been artificially crashed due to government interference, and where it really is a buyers market for same, a 4" Model 19 for that price would be considered a steal. I can only wish for such a price. The best I've been able to do is a 4" Model 586 for $325...plus 13% tax of course.

[hsguy]

I think $265 was a good deal for a shooter in the shape described. You could not buy a high quality new revolver for anything near that price, I would think you would be at least double what the 19 cost.

[Model29Lover]

Originally Posted by cp1969

Everybody need a gun that they can treat as a gun, not an investment, not a museum piece, not as a collector's item.

Buy it. Shoot it. Learn it. Live it. Love it.

I couldn't have said it better myself!!!

[roaddog28]

Hi,
Bought a 19-4 6 inch with some lite rust for $269 out the door. After cleanup looks pretty good now. I would buy the revolver assuming the lockup is tight and has a good forcing cone.

Regards,
roaddog28

[epj]

Originally Posted by roaddog28

Hi,
Bought a 19-4 6 inch with some lite rust for $269 out the door. After cleanup looks pretty good now. I would buy the revolver assuming the lockup is tight and has a good forcing cone.

Regards,
roaddog28

That one doesn't look bad at all compared to the one I bought.

[thomashoward]

Originally Posted by epj

Took the sideplate off and throughly cleaned and lubed the gun. There was no evidence of wear at all. The forcing cone area is clean as a pin. There are very faint carbon marks on all the cylinders, so it has had at least a few rounds down the tube. Very few though. The recoil shield looks essentially like a new gun. How did this gun come to have so much wear to the exterior and so little trigger time? The best I can speculate is that it may have been used by a security guard who carried it extensively in a poorly fitting holster, yet was seldom or perhaps never required to qualify with it.

I'm gonna get some cold blue and touch up the cylinder as best I can, then shoot the hound out of it.

Cop gun seldom fired, all holster wear. Probably an unlined holster . They are rough on bluing.
I have seen them in San Jose, California for $550.

[epj]

Doubt it was a "real" LEO. They have to qualify at least once in a while, and this gun doesn't appear to have been fired that much.