Call me old-fashioned, but they just don't make 'em like they used to. Case in point: this Model 19-3 Combat Magnum, shipped in 1976. Nice size. Not too large and heavy, not too small and puny for a .357. Beautifully done nickeled finish. Pinned and recessed. Carefully fitted. Beautiful rosewood presentation smooth grips. No stupid "lock thingy" to mar the looks or go wrong in a pucker situation. This one dates from 1977, 35 years ago, smack in the middle of what I call "the golden age" of S&W revolver manufacture. I betcha if S&W could make something similar today, it would sell like hotcakes. The only way to get one now is to scour the gun shows and the internet auction sites - and, trust me on this, these guns will only become more and more valuable in the coming years. Treat them nice, preserve them carefully, because these relics of a time gone by are money in the bank. I got mine, and I'm a happy camper!

John

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- Cogito, ergo armatus sum -

That is certainly one nice speciman!

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Ken

I have to agree with you. My collection has a 1967 mfg 29-2, but otherwise is completely an early to late 80's exemplar. Some newer of course, but none with the MIM, lock, etc.

Mid 80's 13-3

Couldn't agree more. I've got a nickel 19-3 that looks just like yours except mine has checkered target grips.

I have seen people come to the forum and state that $XXX.00 is too much to pay for an older S&W.

I believe that even paying a bit more than what the "supposed" price for an older S&W is still getting a better quality handgun cheaper than what a currently produced S&W sells.

Nice M19-3, I have always felt that M19s really look great in nickel.

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Have guns...will shoot'em.

Whats a "MIM" ?

That stands for Metal Injection Molding - a manufacturing technique currently used compared to the old forging method. Metal combined with a plasticizer is injected into a mold; when released from the mold it shrinks slightly to very precise dimensions. It's quick, but scorned by those who appreciate the older, more laborious hand-fitting methods.

John

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- Cogito, ergo armatus sum -

Very well said. Hopefully, this newer generation of shooters will stay enamored with their "black plastic", and overlook shootin' irons like the one pictured.

Nice Model 19, BTW!

Nice gun!
When you staetd the good old days I thought you were referring to the 1950's & 1960's (tells you a bit about my age).

"I got mine, and I'm a happy camper!"

I think a 4 inch K frame Mod 19 is about as good as they ever got it...





... and yes, it is good to have one already.

GF

Those Rosewood stocks are exquisite!

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Pat Henson

Great looking revolver and you are have figured what many have of us have known for a while.

Beautiful nickel 19!

I have a few 19s, but only one that is nickel.

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Memory of Randy Freas-Rimfired

My thoughts exactly!
They really make that gun look great!

John, I do not know you, but man, we think alike. I was having this very conversation on Sunday with a couple of "plastic" gun lovers who are friends. I do not have a 4" M19 yet, (yours is beautiful BTW) but I will sooner or later, hopefully sooner. However, I do have M19/66's 2 1/2" versions, and I really like them. My nickel M19-3 is one of my favorites.

Beautiful in its form. Beautiful in its simplicity. Beautiful in its function.

Simply.........beautiful. Great post PALADIN85020. Regards 18DAI

My accumulation of S&W's ended with 1991. And, I agree the Mod 19 is one of the best of the bunch.

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H Richard
SWCA1967 SWHF244

I don't have a nickle 19 - yet, but has a nice blued one that is finished so well, that in the right light, it almost looks nickle. They finished them really well then.

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ASA/NSA 67-71
NRA Benefactor

John,

Great looking Model 19. You are so correct with all you said.

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I am a sheep dog!
1601 (ret)

I will be the first to admit that I've never been fond of nickel plated revolvers. I've always thought they were awfully ostentatious....having said that ....

For quite a while I've been looking without much success for a nice older 4" S & W .38/.357 revolver to shoot in I.D.P.A. matches (6" barrels are not allowed and barrels much shorter than 4" are not practical). Then I ran across this one at a local shop - M19-4 Combat Magnum DOB 1980. I thought the price was high especially since the nickel plating had faded to about the color of dirty dishwater. But what finally sold me on the gun was the trigger work. Who ever did it knew what they were about - there is absolutely no "stacking" on double action - perfect for competitive combat/action style matches.* I brought it home and then went after the finish with some flannel patches and Flitz and boy did the Flitz make the nickel "POP" .

The target stocks had already been altered somewhat ( a portal hole was drilled through the stocks so that the mainspring tension screw could be accessed without removing the stocks) so I didn't mind relieving the left hand grip to allow for speed loader clearance. I took away a fair amount of wood with a Dremel drum sander and then stained the bare wood to match the rest of the stock. I would have liked to have sanded a little more but I was right up against the medallion.



. Kind of changed my mind on nickel plating...

Hoppe's no.10

* I'll only use Federal primers in my reloads with this handgun.

Oh I do love Nickel Revolvers! Here's it's twin



And their big brother

I'll be honest. I have been stung twice buying used revolvers (both Blackhawks .44). I made the change to S&W and never looked back. LOL that was 45 days ago. Now I own 3 Smiths and the new one is from 1986.

I will be 47 this summer, so I feel weird calling myself old fashioned, but I make it a point to open doors for women and treat those older than I as Mr. and Mrs.. I know what respect is!

S&W can keep building revolvers with hollow triggers and a hole in the side. Somone will buy them, but it won't be me.
Yeah, I too am old fashioned and the M19 just made my list of S&W revolvers that I will own someday.

Nickel 19? Hey I think I've got one of those.


Yup! I do!!

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Eccentric old coot

I gotta get me one of those.

So do I!!

For those that cant decide which flavour try the Combat Magnum Neopolitan ....
Or would that be a Pinto?


GJH77.. Those proud front site pins and LH ejector is it a 19 dash 1 or a dash 2 ?

You wanna talk about the "Good Old Days" ?????

Love those early pinned and recessed model 19's.
You'd be hard pressed to beat an earlier K-frame
for shootability, reliability, and overall good looks.
Here's my 19-2 snub from 1968/69





chuck

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They hold no Quarter

Good eyes- it is a 19-2, about 1966 vintage. It doesn't look at nice as most of the others here, and my photography on nickel really does need some work.

I've been collecting S&W's and firearms in general for almost 40 years. I've been fortunate to have acquired many nice pieces. At present I have in the safe somewhere around 50 - 60 Smith's. Of those approximately 20 are NIB 'Safe Queens' the remainder are higher end examples with a few 'woods guns' in the mix. I don't own any truely fine examples of Registered Mag's or 5 screw 29's like a couple of our Experts (but do enjoy looking at thier pictures!), but the ones I have span a time frame from an early .32 Wcf 4th model to models made in the mid/late '90's. Many P&R models and pinned examples, I've tried to buy the best condition that I could both afford and find.
I do not nor would I own a 'lock' model gun. To me they are just about the most hideous thing out there, why S&W could not have integrated the lock into the cylinder release (if they had to put one on at all) where it would be much less noticable, is beyond me. It would have been easy to drill that hole dead center in the cylinder release and accomplish the same thing.
I'm digresseing from my point tho', that being that the price of higher grade S&W's is, I believe, somewhat undervalued. When you look at the MSRP of new 'lock' models, hovering around $900 or so and then look at a pristine or NIB models that are 'pre-lock' and realize that you can still find one for around 60% or so, it puts things into perspective. No serious collector likes the Lock, but many bemoan the fact that an excellent example without it is commanding the prices they are.
I don't like paying the current rate for high grade guns anymore than the next man, and sure miss the days when $300 would buy you a very nice .44 mag, but those days are gone and aren't coming back. Sooner or later folks will realize that, then where are we going?
I have a 97% Model 57, when I bought it the price was $275 OTD, what would that gun bring now? What is the price of a 'Classic' lock model? See where I'm going with this? If I were to offer this gun at $750, which when compared with what is out there now, people would howl that I'm asking too much, but compare the new 'Classic' with this one and ask yourself would you pay the $900 if it were the same gun? Yes, you would. You wouldn't like it but you'd pay it if it were pinned and recessed and made with the quality of the old ones.
I'm glad I was able to get into the hobby when I did and look forward to continueing in it, but there will come a time when the supply/demand chickens come home to roost, and I'm not happy with that, but don't know what to do about it other than pony up a little more now, for what will look like not so much then.
RD

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Got a Phd from Hard Knocks U

Yup I found one of them hanging out in my safe.

19-4

Yep, I seem to have a 19 also.

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Let the youngsters keep happy with tupperware, it keeps the prices of fine older guns from going through the roof.

I desperately "need" one of those to complete my nickle gun trio. It would look great next to my snub Model 10, and my three inch Model 13.

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MARK

Nickel 19-3 My favorite K frame!

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John 1:17
NRA Life Benefactor

Great post on a great revolver. Lots of beauties showing up and they all look great!

Gotta love them K frames, especially the older ones!

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V/R
Roger / SG

The younger crowd seems to favor a pistol with the capacity to aim with the magazine but never use the glow in the dark sights they insist on. A six round cylinder would never do with that method of shooting (yes, I have tried it, no, it does not work well). While I do enjoy having a Model 19-2, I believe that revolver shines when fitted with a 2 1/2" barrel and has a round butt. For a 4", I'll stick with the Highway Patrolman, with a five screw, a four screw and a three screw to choose from.

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I know my 19-4 will never be sold.

The people who talk about how expensive firearms are have forgotten that "back in the day," our paycheck was proportionatly smaller. In my humble opinion, prices are in line with my income and some are actually less expensive.

19-2 from 1968




19-4

I will take a S & W K or J frame any day! 28 years on the force and sent to the KC,PD. firing range 4 times a year made me an expert marksman with my old service Model 15-3 combat masterpiece. It is all I carry because I am not expecting a zombie apocalypse. The six rounds should be sufficient unless you are in a gang shootout, or just an average shot with one of these. Actually I prefer any S&W revolver.

the height of nickle plating on aM15

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ASA/NSA 67-71
NRA Benefactor

I have to agree with GF, nicer and better balanced than the L-frames that have replaced them. And you can keep them shooting forever simply by being prudent with what you shoot through them.

Paladin and GF, I have to admit to never having been a fan of nickel revolvers but those two M19s are sufficiently beautiful to change my mind. Very nice revolvers, thanks for sharing them. (Yes, and Lobo and Pilgrim too).

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"Sacramento" Bruce Conklin

Here is a question I used to ask my students when I was still instructing regularly. "What are all of those bad guys doing that you want to shoot? That's right, they are shooting at YOU. More bullets in your gun isn't going to stop that, you need to find cover!"

The question was not always well received, the lure of all that extra ammo just so seductive.

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"Sacramento" Bruce Conklin

I just have this one mdl.19.It is a 19-1. (1961)
Dick

B E A utiful! Ain't nothing like a flawless nickel S&W revolver. Smooth rosewoods are just icing on the cake.

My own grail-gun is a 3in factory nickel M-19. I have only ever seen 2.

great looking K frames cant beat em.

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God save the SOUTH

Gorgeous guns. I've got two 19-4s, a 4" and a 6", but a really, really need a nickel 19. Unfortunately, from now until after 10/1/13, all my gun money's going on things I can't legally buy here in MD after that date. So far, they haven't banned old revolvers.

Very nice!

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Cheers, Charles
SWCA #2442