Model 19 and Evaluaters Ltd Quantico VA

Bill Bates

Bill Bates

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I recently picked up a Model 19 no dash with the box. On the box is a sticker that says

Ready for Service
Evaluated
Evaluaters Ltd.
Quantico Va.

Was Evaluaters Ltd. just a dealer or did they do something more and the sticker is a bit of marketing.

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great find and nice condition. don't see many of the early ones with the box and in that nice a condition. someone will be along to tell you about evaluators ltd. in my view that would add to the value of the package.
 
All the guys who are at Tulsa can tell you a lot more. I think Evaluators was a jobber, but may be wrong about that - maybe just a dealer. Given the flavor of the "local clientele," I suppose they had a staff gunsmith who checked out the product just to be sure they were all in good shape before turning them over to the various customer LE-types, thus the "Ready for Service - Evaluated." The company name frequently turns up in S&W stories from the 60s and 70s.

That is certainly a nice looking specimen you have there. You didn't mention it but I assume the holster came with the gun... ?
 
Beautiful gun B.B. - if you decide that you don't like it or won't shoot it, please drop me a line. I have a 19-2 that would pair up nicely! :)
 
Evaluators Ld. was a Winchester distributor and may have also been a S&W distributor. Owned and operated by USMC General Van Orden(Retired), and his wife, Flora.In my collection, I have a Winchester Van Orden M70 Sniper Rifle shipped through him to the 1954 National Matches and sold to the US Army. Nice to have docs as this is a pretty famous Marine. Docs are always good to prove provenance. Need more info, send me a email. Big Larry
 
M29since14 said:
That is certainly a nice looking specimen you have there. You didn't mention it but I assume the holster came with the gun... ?
Click to expand...

The holster which is also stamped Evaluater Ltd. did come with the model 19. When I slid the 19 into the holster I think it was the first time the holster had seen a gun.

I don't plan on parting with this 19 anytime soon and I will shoot it now and then. I've been looking for an early Combat Magnum to long to let this one go.
 
Evaluators Ltd. was a S&W distributor & supplied military,CIA,FBI & other
like minded individuals with firearms,holsters & related items.Some other members,likely Tulsa bound at the present, may weigh in with more info.
Your M 19 is outstanding-congratulations.The holster shown was made by Heiser-Evaluators sold Heiser & Berns Martin holsters marked with their stamp & frequently marked "Quick Draw".I have a S&W All Models circular stamped
Evaluators Ltd. & a number of holsters bearing their imprint.I also have a copy of a file of US Navy trials conducted in the 1950's evaluating revolvers & holsters for pilots' survival use-Evaluators Ltd. provided the revolvers & holsters for the trial & a fellow SWCA member is to be thanked for sharing the file with me.
Evaluators Ltd. was a fascinating quasi-military/spook outfitter-the sticker is unusual & I would prize it if it were mine,especially wrapped around a box with that .357 in it.
Regards,
John Witty
turnerriver
SWCA # 1426
NRA Endowment Life member
 
I had a 1955 K38 that lettered as coming from Evaluators Ltd. I contacted the original owner of the gun (which is who sold it to me) and asked him about it. He said it was a retail gunshop back in Quantico and that he bought it from them when he got out of the Navy back in 1956.
 
turnerriver said:
Evaluators Ltd. was a S&W distributor & supplied military,CIA,FBI & other
like minded individuals with firearms,holsters & related items.Some other members,likely Tulsa bound at the present, may weigh in with more info.
Your M 19 is outstanding-congratulations.The holster shown was made by Heiser-Evaluators sold Heiser & Berns Martin holsters marked with their stamp & frequently marked "Quick Draw"...
John Witty
turnerriver
SWCA # 1426
NRA Endowment Life member
Click to expand...

I, too have a Berns Martin holster, some say the fastest revolver holster ever, which is marked with the Evaluators' stamp. I was told at a VA gun show that they furnished items such as this for the FBI, and this holster certainly looks like it was used by someone to carry a typical 4" K-frame service revolver. It was just a skosh short for my M-66 (no dash) 4 1/8" revolver until I ruined the holster's originality by removing a little leather horseshoe shaped spacer in the bottom. OK, I admit I'm a Philistine, but it was almost current back then, and I needed that holster for that gun! That's my story and I'm sticking to it! :rolleyes:

Froggie
 
The model 459 holster first appears in Heiser's number 50 catalog which I believe is their first post WW II catalog.The description says "F.B.I. Holster designed for Federal Bureau of Investigation." The holster's predecessor,the model 457 first appeared in the number 32 catalog,sometime in the mid 1930's,also "designed for the F.B. I." The model 457 is the same holster without the hammer protector.Again,thanks for showing us your revolver & holster.
Regards,
John Witty
turnerriver
SWCA # 1426
 
Fantastic Model 19, I'm envious! This is one of my favorite models.
I've researched some info on Evaluators but everything I know has already been posted above by John Witty and others.
Enjoy that one, it's a real gem with some nice provenance.
 
Thanks everyone. It has been interesting learning about the holster and a little more about Evaluators Limited.

You know one of the fun parts about collecting is the wondering where and why of some guns. Here we have a near new Model 19 with a new holster. These were working man's tools from a dealer that sold to working men and woman. Yet, this piece never saw one day of work in its 50 or so years of life.

Why, why was it put away? What happened, what's its story. Was it a graduation gift and the owner couldn't bare to use it. Did something happen to the original owner and they never had a chance to use this fine old revolver. Who ever put it away still lovingly cared for this fine revolver. Even guns sitting in the box if neglected show the years of neglect. They make me wonder as I hold them.

It is kind of to bad these fine old guns can't talk.

Again thank you all for the information.
 
I have some gun's that lead me to believe that I don't want to know their past. But I figure it's at no fault of their own. And leave it at that. Yet I have others that I wish could tell their tail.
 
Here is an original Evaluators Ltd. receipt for my M70 Van Orden Sniper Rifle. Does not get much better than this for provenance. Big Larry

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You know, I looked at that holster again, and don't see the adjustment screw of the Sloan model. I think it's just what Turnerriver said, a Heiser model with a hammer protector.

I have seen a few FBI holsters by Heiser, but don't think the leather came up high enough to protect the coat lining from the hammer. This was evidently just an alternative version, with a hammer protector.

That Combat Magnum/M-19 is gorgeous, and in wondeful condition!

T-Star
 
That is a beautiful Combat Magnum. I also noticed the tapered tip sight adjustment tool. Those are much harder to find than the later hollow ground tip tools. Given the rising prices on the hollow ground tip tools, I hope the tapered versions don't go the way of the black knurled handle tools and start selling for close to $100 !
 
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