I just finished doing an article on the new S&W Model 19 Classic. First off it is NOT meant to be a duplicate of the old Model 19, which nowadays would be impossible, but it is reminiscent of the Combat Magnum so many of us carryed as LEO's back in the day. I didn't do a shoot-off between the new and old Model 19's, but I finally bowed to temptation and shot what I called the .38 Wadcutter Challenge. This pitted the sixguns mano-a-mano at 25 yards from the bench, shooting SA, three 5-shot groups with .38 Special mid-range 148 gr. wadcutters. The Model 19 Classic won. Here are a few pix that'll be in the piece. I'll announce when the article will be published on my Facebook page THE FIRING PEN.

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S&WCA #2815
Gun Scribe

I'm sure the new model 19 is a fine product. I just don't have any desire to own one. I'm very content with the few true classic model 19's I'm lucky enough to have.

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Always Stay Strong!

Doesn't interest me but I have no problems with folks getting one.

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Mike
S&WCA #3065

Looking forward to the article. Having owned the old and now the new should be an interesting read. I like the new 19 as much as my old 19.

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I would like one. I could semi retire my original.

Good looking gun , it seems to be a pretty good shooter also .How does one go about getting a job helping you evaluate ( read free shooting ) those fine firearms? By the way I like the old school ammo loops .

I haven't had a chance to shoot my "classic" 19 yet, things like "work" keep getting in the way, but I'm impressed by the look and feel. Now I just need to get it to the range.

Thanks for the report.

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John 3:16 .

Very nice photo. .

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S&WCA #2815
Gun Scribe

Actually after a number of years, I finally got my son a gig taking my photos and he's even had two articles of his own assigned! I just lucked into this in 1988.

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S&WCA #2815
Gun Scribe

How does the sleeved barrel look? Is it noticable?
Is the action tight and clunky compared to older ones?
Finally: are all k frame holsters compatible with it? I’ve heard the frame is “taller” slightly to make up for the added strength to the force cone

Danggit! I need one of those! Thanks for the great pics.

My model 19-2 is a very smooth trigger pull and one of the best I've felt. Although I've found newer 686's to be similar. I am not adverse to the new 19's or any other new one for that matter.

Wonderful pictures and I would love to read that article.

I don't find the two piece barrel objectionable at all. It's noticeable from the muzzle, but otherwise...it just looks like a barrel.





I have shot it since I last posted. Only once, and that was for 50 rounds of 357 factory ammo. It shot just fine.

I'm not really the guy to ask about triggers. I can tell a BAD one, and I can tell a really good one. I don't think this one is any worse than any of the other Model 19's I've handled. The action is tighter than any of the old ones I've handled, but it's also the only brand new one I've handled in 40 years or so. It operates smoothly.

Mine fits in the holsters I've got for K-frames. The L-frame Model 69 won't fit into them.

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John 3:16 .

great review thanks its on my list ive got over the lock and min parts smith makes the best wheel guns

That’s probably the nicest looking new revolver currently available. I like the two piece barrel and no weak spot at 6 o’clock in the forcing cone. Cant wait for one to show used in the lgs.

There is another recent thread on the new 19. Opinions range from VERY positive to the usual negatives, no need to repeat them here! Also, dismay that Jerry Miculek, in his video, is selling us out by endorsing this new mfg. Oh well... He did say, however, that the new 19 was built stronger than the old ones. I found this interesting.

Also glad to see S&W put it's logo in the proper place, on the left side of the bbl (bbl sleeve), plus the caliber designation on the right side.

Kaaskop49
Shield #5103

Unfortunately, with the exception of the new Colt Cobra, that’s probably true.

This new classic Model 19 and the classic Model 10 are probably the best brand new currently made revolvers on the market today. They look the best and probably have pretty halfway decent actions. Sad our choices for brand new revolvers are so limited (and somewhat lacking).

I had the fortune to handle a Model 10-12 last week (lock, internal pin, rubber grips, tight action, etc)...and all things considered...it felt great compared to everything else in the store. Had I had $500 to spare, I’d have bought it.

I am still leaning toward an older M19 (i’m even leaning towards looking for a non-pinned and recessed one from after 1980), but I look forward to checking out the new classic M19 before I make my decision

I saw that too the other day. I get what he’s saying, and I’m sure S&W, via the bew barrel design, has addressed the cracked cone “epidemic” that has hit the internet over the last few decades regarding the older M19.

It looked like in his demos, the full 4 inch barrel made a difference in power noticibly doing more damage to the painted steel target with each shot compared to the shorter barreled one with the muzzle compensator.

Where did you get that nice looking gun belt?

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Fear only God

Don't confuse me with the facts. Must have been the red insert. My 19-3 is the best. Always will be the best. I don't care if the facts say otherwise.

S&W Model 19-3 "Combat Magnum" in 357 Magnum.




My 19-3 is the best, because I want it to be the best.

And, the 19-3 is prettier!! By golly!

Can I get an "AMEN!"

God bless,
Birdgun

If the frame lock ever goes away, there will be several new S&W revolvers that I will buy.

It’s strange how my M&P2.0C 9mm has no frame lock, but a classic six gun is so “unsafe” that it needs a frame lock.

S&W's semi-auto pistols have a magazine disconnect safety. There really is no way to incorporate such a "feature" into a revolver, so we have the action lock in their revolvers. It's silly, but it was a decision made by S&W.

That was to appease Clinton back in the 1990s. S&W caved to political correctness and it offended Americans. You’d think, in the current climate of things,S&W would be interested in redeeming itself with a lot of people and boost sales by getting rid of it.
But anyway, as it is, if I bought a new M19, 10 or 29, I’d just disable/remove the lock for my own safety (which I understand you can easily do without voiding the warranty) and shoot and carry away.

Main concern is action jobs on modern S&W tends to be super tight and clunky. With all the talk about MIM parts, would a do-it-yourself action job to lighten things to pre-1990s standards...or is that asking too much?

I say just plug the lock if it bothers you. I really like this new Model 19. I think it's kind of cool that it's a 4.25" barrel. Although nothing wrong with 4" even.

What gets me is that someone just posted in another thread he wanted to get some work done on an older Model 19 and the factory said they couldn't do it. That was surprising. I'm sure someone can work on it but first off, it's irritating. But secondly it does make you think, hmmmmm, maybe I should go with a new one, to at least have the factory option if there was a problem.

No magazine disconnect on my M&P 2.0c 9mm.

No lock of any sort either.

The lock prevents a lot of revolver shooters from getting new S&W revolvers. It doesn’t many any form of sense.

Another point, if it matters to anyone, and it might.......I got a newer 586 in a trade with a friend about a year ago, and it really was a beautiful gun. Nice deep blue and gorgeous wood grips. Classic series? Anyway, I really wanted to like it, but I just couldn't get past the ugly distracting lock. Plus, dry firing it made a slight ringing noise my old ones don't. Didn't like that either. So I went to trade it off, and took three gun shows before I could find a dealer willing to trade at a somewhat decent price. Nobody wanted it unless they could get it for 300 or less, and they all said it was because of the lock. Just a point to think on if you think you might want to sell or trade it down the line.

Me?

I made the belt, holster and ammo slide myself.

Does the factory not work on older guns anymore?

I just go through having my M-28 Highway Patrolman barrel rolled back and timing corrected less than a year ago

It might depend upon what needs to be done to a particular firearm. I'm sure that S&W has run out of some of the old parts and if they need a part that they do not have, then they cannot repair the firearm.

Someone in another thread in the last few days said he sent his Model 19 back and they wouldn't work on it. I forget what the problem was. But I think it was something internal. And I think they cited just as the last poster said. Out of parts or something like that.

So, yeah, it probably depends on the model and the problem. I shouldn't have made it sound like a blanket statement. But it's concerning to see that happening at all. I thought that was one of the bonuses of buying a Smith is being able to have the factory still work on your gun.

But I guess with any manufacture, if a gun has been out of production for a long time, there is a chance you can't get the factory to work on it. I've heard this for Ruger and older Speed Sixes. Etc. I guess it's like old cars. You may have to find parts at somewhere other than the factory. Only difference is a factory mechanic may still work on a 1975 camaro. As long as you can get the parts you need.

The belt and holster is from El Paso Saddlery.

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S&WCA #2815
Gun Scribe