Why do Model 19's get a bad rap?

OldSkoOL

OldSkoOL

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I've always wondered why Model 19's get a bad rap. They don't really blue book for too much, and every time you talk to dealers about trading or selling you here the words 'police trade ins'. There were plenty of Smith models that cops used over the years that seem to bring more money and/or you don't here the cop trade in comment in the market than 19's. Model 27's, 28's, 13's, 36, 10's, etc.
I have issues with the blue book values that you see for Smith revolvers I think they are low and outdated, and I really hate how all the models P&R, or not, are more or less lumped into the same price range; but that is a different issue...
I just traded a beautiful nickel 19-3 that I can guarantee was never carried by any cop but the blue book gave it a value of $400ish, the nickle on it was worth that much. I traded for an awesome 27-2, I thought it was a fair trade but really the only way I could get much value from the 19 was to trade it to an individual. Any thoughts on this?
 
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My only thought is Gun Stores take advantage of these blue book values being so low...Check the Forum here for correct pricing...Or what the Market Is Paying...Check Gunbroker...Not what people are asking, but what people are paying....

A LNIB 24-3 Lew Horton one day will sell for 2 grand..Then last week one even nicer sold on gunbroker for 1100.. Blue book says in 100% its worth 850 if you have the holster, 750 if you dont....I would buy a 100 at that price...
 
The Model 19 is one of my all time favorites. The only problem with it is that it is built somewhat lightly for a 357 magnum; however that was its main selling point and advantage.

A model 19 can "loosen-up" more quickly than an L or N frame revolver by shooting too many maximum (or over-maximum as they did regularly in days of yore) loads.

The model 19 (and the other K frame 357's) is vulnerable to the forcing cone splitting. This is only associated with firing full magnum loads with bullets of 125 grains or lighter.

You should closely inspect the gun for a evidence of a cracked forcing cone. Also check for a generally solid lock-up. I would also suggest carefully feeling along the cylinder chambers for the slightest signs of bulging, although that is rare. Other than that, check as you would any other S&W revolver.

If it passes inspection (which most will) you are set for a lifetime of pleasurable shooting from your Model 19. Do not shoot any full-powered 357 ammo loaded with 125 grain or lighter bullets. I would also suggest not shooting many full-powered magnum loads of any weight in it, although many folks do just that.
 
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The only gun I may have "worn out" is a 4 inch model 19 I bought used in the early 70s. It has thousands of rounds through it when we didn't know a steady diet of .357s might hurt them and a good share of .38s too.
I replaced the worn out main spring when I got soft hits on primers and now the timing is a little off. It's been reblued so value is gone so don't shoot it much and will keep it.
If that's the worse I ever do on a $165 investment and all the use it's had I'm a happy owner.
 
The only folks who try and put a bad rap on the model 19 line are the ones who want to cheat you out of the one you have for sale. These are the same dogs who will expound for hours on what a classic revolver the model 19 they have, for sale.

The model 19 is one of the finest production revolvers ever produced!!!!!!!!!!!!
 
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Apart from the problems associated with over use of .357 Magnum ammo with bullets that are too short in length driven at very high velocity (read 125 grain JHP at 1,400 fps - the famous Remington M1 load which got great results on the street), I have never really heard of a problem with Model 19s.

Stay with 38 Special for most practice, and use .357 Magnum loads with bullets at least as long as the 145 grain (such as Silvertip) or the original length, the 158 grain, and you will be fine.

If you are trading one in, a gun dealer will try to lower the value by saying it is fragile, not made for .357s, that the forcing cone will crack, that revolvers in general are not popular these days, that K frames are less so, etc.

The next day, when your revolver is placed in the case for sale, it becomes a "rare, collectible, discontinued and desirable" model and the price tag is about $500.00 more than you got on trade.

The Model 19 is the revolver everyone wanted, and not everyone could get in the 60s and 70s, for various reasons. If you can get one, and it passes inspection, go for it.
 
My friend, you have discovered the disadvantage of trading a gun in. You will always do better selling it yourself. You come out ahead and so does the buyer. The retailer will give you around 50% on a trade-in of what they think they can resell it for.
 
The 19's weakness has been greatly exaggerated thru the years. Yes , it might 'loosen up' after many thousands of hot .357 loads. I think your finger joints might go first though.:D

Can't say I've ever heard of a catastrophic failure of a 19/66 or any K-frame .357 mag from using SAAMI-spec ammo.

Self-proclaimed experts on other forums will tell you that you shouldn't even use .38+P in a K-frame .357. :rolleyes:
 
If I saw a pristine nickel 19-3 for $400, I would buy it immediately, then post here bragging about the great deal I made. Gun shops aren't going to pay you anything close to full value. I don't blame them; they are in business to make money, but they aren't the best place to sell or trade a gun if you want to maximize your return. And there's NOTHING wrong with the model 19. They are one of the best guns S&W ever made.
 
I agree, dealers 'use' the blue book 'values' to their advantage. They will give you what it says, but turn around and mark it up $2-$300 before you walk out the door. The Blue Book either needs to catch up with the times or it needs to go away-- But even the Standard Catalog of Smith and Wesson has values in it that are too low also. It's frustrating to me that people will give $600 for a **** Glock, that you can replace in 20 minutes but they won't give you a honest price for a 98% condition Smith that will never be made again.
 
Don't know where you are hearing disparaging remarks about the Model 19, but is is a highly sought excellent revolver for the purpose it was designed for. Saying there is something wrong with the Model 19 is like saying a Mercedes-Benz is a cheap foreign car.
 
I don't think anyone has said anything is wrong with the 19 here, just that the values given are not what they are worth.
 
Nice 19s priced right don't stay in the cases around here too long.

A 19 is still on my "wish list", although I haven't yet found what I want(4" P&R blue) for a price I was happy paying. There are a couple for sale locally, although I'm not in a hurry to pay $650 for one.
 
Model 19/66's

mkk41 said:
The 19's weakness has been greatly exaggerated thru the years. Yes , it might 'loosen up' after many thousands of hot .357 loads. I think your finger joints might go first though.:D

Can't say I've ever heard of a catastrophic failure of a 19/66 or any K-frame .357 mag from using SAAMI-spec ammo.

Self-proclaimed experts on other forums will tell you that you shouldn't even use .38+P in a K-frame .357. :rolleyes:
Click to expand...

I totally agree with this, that K frames fragility is greatly exaggerated....I instructed model 19's and 66's for several years at the academy level, and was responsible for over 200 of them at one time as an armorer....Our training guns had thousands of full throttle magnum rounds through them, and after years of use and years of high intensity loads, they did show wear and tear, but I never had to " red line" one due to any structural failure.
We shot 125 gr's and 158 gr's....and after thousands of these through a revolver you would see some forcing cone erosion and some flame cutting on the top strap.....Having said that, I never knew any citizen shooter or most Leo's that ever began to approach that level of use with full power magnums in their personal K frames.
I have a model 65 that I bought new in 76, and shot it intensively, averaging 500 rds monthly thru the gun for ten years..if you do the math, you will that this K frame had a lot of rounds thru it..over half of these were 357 magnum loads of 13.5 of 2400 driving a 160 gr SWC.....the rest were 38 spl's....
The untold story with this gun, is that for every live round that was put thru it, it was dry fired hundred's of times....did it need periodic maintainance? yes. Did I have to replace parts over that ten year period? yes.....Do I still have it? Yes. And with a 38 wadcutters I can shoot a "rat hole" at 15 and 25 yds with it.
Don't believe all of the "fragile" K frame stories....K frames can be shot and shot a lot....
 
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The only 19 I ever bought was in about 1969, for a young Marine friend on his way to Vietnam. I remember that back then they were as scarce as proverbial hen's teeth, but I somehow managed to find one NIB at list price. He never came back, and I've often wondered what happened to his revolver.

The Model 19 was viewed mainly as a LE revolver that would be carried a lot and fired very little. As a result, I think many felt it was too weakly constructed to withstand much use with full-power .357 ammo.
 
I just recently traded a blued 4" 19-4 and some cash for a new SW1911 at my favorite LGS. Model 19 values have gone up in recent years IMO. I'm happy with the trade. I never thought I'd own a S&W 1911 either!
 
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