New 19 classic (no lock) cylinder hard to open?

[Zimm]

I just bought a new model 19 classic no lock. Beautiful gun. The cylinder seems very hard to open vs my other many S&W's. Is this due to the new "triple lock up" ball detent? I have to push pretty hard to get it to pop open.

 

[b737lvr]

That is not normal. There has been a ball detent as part of the lock up for some time, its just that it was moved from the ejector rod to the crane. If the cylinder is hard to open then it will either break in with time or it won't. But even then it shouldn't really be that hard.

 

[Zimm]

Boo, thanks for the info. I'll at least take it to the range and test fire it before figuring out if it needs to go back.

 

[BoulderTroll]

I just started the paperwork on my new 19 no-lock yesterday, and it was very tight. Not like impossible to open, but certainly stiffer than any previous S&W I've owned, including a Model 66 I had which used the same ball detent. My belief is that these new 19's are just incredibly stiff and tight. I'm not worried about it, I think in time they will break in just fine.

 

[Wfevans4]

I thought the same thing when I first opened the cylinder. I cleaned it, shot it and cleaned it again. I’m used to it now, seems fine to me now.

 

[Bobbysixkiller]

Hoping to maybe pick one of these up. Or the 686 mg. On the fence. But leaning to fall one way or the other. My 69 has the ball detent. I think it just seems difficult to open because it’s different. The ball doesn’t retract when you push the thumb piece so it’s kinda stiff still. I’ll add a neat tidbit. Model of 1899 has a similar detent built into the crane but you can’t see it without pulling the cylinder/crane from the frame.

 

[SWFan27]

Yes. I have a 19-9 and they do seem to lockup tighter. Even tighter than my 66-8 locks up, but the ball detent is in a different location on the 19-9. Smith and Wesson may very well check it out a say there is not an issue. If you are expecting it to feel just like an old one, it won't.

 

[SWFan27]

I just started the paperwork on my new 19 no-lock yesterday, and it was very tight. Not like impossible to open, but certainly stiffer than any previous S&W I've owned, including a Model 66 I had which used the same ball detent. My belief is that these new 19's are just incredibly stiff and tight. I'm not worried about it, I think in time they will break in just fine.

the 66-8 locks up in a different location than the 19-9 and the 19-10. You can see the lockup on the 66-8 when looking at it externally, but you have to open the cylinder to see the lockup on the new Model 19's.

 

[BoulderTroll]

the 66-8 locks up in a different location than the 19-9 and the 19-10. You can see the lockup on the 66-8 when looking at it externally, but you have to open the cylinder to see the lockup on the new Model 19's.

How certain of that are you? The Model 66 "Combat Magnum" I gave my daughter had a ball detent in the exact same place as my new 19-10. It was not visible from the outside...

 

[BoulderTroll]

Hoping to maybe pick one of these up. Or the 686 mg. On the fence. But leaning to fall one way or the other. My 69 has the ball detent. I think it just seems difficult to open because it’s different. The ball doesn’t retract when you push the thumb piece so it’s kinda stiff still. I’ll add a neat tidbit. Model of 1899 has a similar detent built into the crane but you can’t see it without pulling the cylinder/crane from the frame.

When I ordered my new 19-10, I was not aware that the 686 MG was coming out. Mine is now in the waiting period, but I have to say, I kind of wish I were buying the MG instead.

 

[SWFan27]

How certain of that are you? The Model 66 "Combat Magnum" I gave my daughter had a ball detent in the exact same place as my new 19-10. It was not visible from the outside...

With my 4 inch barrel I can see it when looking at it externally. Maybe the 66-8 snubbie is done differently. I can post pictures of my 19-9 and 66-8 tomorrow.

 

[BoulderTroll]

With my 4 inch barrel I can see it when looking at it externally. Maybe the 66-8 snubbie is done differently. I can post pictures of my 19-9 and 66-8 tomorrow.

I found this photo in a Lucky Gunner article. This is the style detent my 66-8 had, and it is in the same place as the 19-10:

 

[SWFan27]

I found this photo in a Lucky Gunner article. This is the style detent my 66-8 had, and it is in the same place as the 19-10:

And here is my 4 inch 66-8.

 

[BoulderTroll]

And here is my 4 inch 66-8.

Wow...that's kind of an unsightly design. Not trying to be rude, and I'm sure it works just fine, but I'm honestly surprised that design ever got approved.

 

[stansdds]

You may think the lock in the crane recess is unsightly, but it works a heck of a lot better than locking the tip of the ejector rod.

 

[MSD2343]

When I ordered my new 19-10, I was not aware that the 686 MG was coming out. Mine is now in the waiting period, but I have to say, I kind of wish I were buying the MG instead.

Well there’s always the “buy both” solution. Acknowledging that this might not be a practical short term answer, hopefully the trend will be for an extensive broadening of the no-lock line, giving you many more attractive options in the not too distant future.

 

[Tinkertech]

I'd rather have it on the tight side than the loose side of this equation.

It can always loosen up with use but never tighten up.

 

[BoulderTroll]

Well there’s always the “buy both” solution. Acknowledging that this might not be a practical short term answer, hopefully the trend will be for an extensive broadening of the no-lock line, giving you many more attractive options in the not too distant future.

The thought crossed my mind, for sure. But honestly, if I were to have two new revolvers, it would be the 686MG and the Model 10, not the 19. It may not make sense to anyone but me, but I see the 19 as a compromise between the two. I wanted a nice, light 357 (the MG is actually lighter, even though an L-Frame), but I wanted the nostalgia factor of a blued revolver. Well, the M10 is oozing nostalgia, and in my opinion, is the best-looking revolver ever made. So, the 19 sort of serves both roles, but doesn't do either job as well as the two separate revolvers would.

 

[SWFan27]

Wow...that's kind of an unsightly design. Not trying to be rude, and I'm sure it works just fine, but I'm honestly surprised that design ever got approved.

I guess that is a subjective opinion. I am referring to the lock up design on the M66 snubbie and the new M19, at least aesthetically. Old S&W 19's and 66's never had a lockup there by the model and serial number stamp. My 66-8 with the 4 inch barrel looks more traditional to my eyes.

 

[SWFan27]

I just bought a new model 19 classic no lock. Beautiful gun. The cylinder seems very hard to open vs my other many S&W's. Is this due to the new "triple lock up" ball detent? I have to push pretty hard to get it to pop open.

That is one pretty looking revolver. I am still debating getting a new no-lock Model 19-10 since I recently purchased a 19-9. I love my -9 and plan on keeping it. But I do want the -10 also. It probably won't be added to the approved California handgun roster until later this year at the soonest. I should receive the Coke Bottle target grips next week that I ordered from Altamont for my 19-9.

I have not heard any complaints about the new no-lock Model 19 other than people getting use to the new cylinder lockup. I guess I have been looking for reasons to justify spending over a thousand dollars for something that I do not really need but do want.