Are Blued 2.5" 19-3s and earlier hard to find ?

[M29since14]

In my neck of the woods, I’ve seen way more blued guns than nickel. In fact, I can recall seeing only one 2-1/2” nickel 19-3 and one -5. I’ve probably seen at least 10-times that many in blue, and I am not much on attending gun shows. Most of the blued 2-1/2” guns I have seen appear to have been cop guns. Pretty well worn.

 

[Retired W4]

In my neck of the woods, I’ve seen way more blued guns than nickel. In fact, I can recall seeing only one 2-1/2” nickel 19-3 and one -5. I’ve probably seen at least 10-times that many in blue, and I am not much on attending gun shows. Most of the blued 2-1/2” guns I have seen appear to have been cop guns. Pretty well worn.

I have had my blue 19-3 for quite a while now. The nickel -5 is a more recent pick up. I bought the 66-1 new in 1978. All great guns and easy to carry. The -5 (top right) was a US State Dept. Security Detail gun. Probably one of the last issue revolvers for them.

 

[H Richard]

This is one I had, I found it in a small gun shop, with rust from being left in a wet gun rug. It was just enough it had a few pits. I elected to have a industrial hard chrome finish put on it. That surface wears like iron. Kind of wish I still had it.

 

[45NUTT]

While they are not rare, they are higher than a cat's back! On GI, they start at $1,300.

I am currently browsing for one. I saw a well used blued 19-3 at a gun show recently for $800, but it had a lot of bluing loss and dents & dings. It looked like somebody's truck gun. I'm not a condition snob nor do I have to have the original box, etc, but this one was too rough for me.

EDIT: Revise that $1,300 to $1,400 +!!