One of my relatives found a 19-2 2.5" nickle for sale locally. I have not seen the gun yet. I am told it does have the silver box and paperwork. If it is in 95 to 100% condition does anyone have a idea of a fair price to offer for it? I have not kept up with the 2.5" pricing at all. I have mostly been watching 4" models over the past year. The BB of 2014 shows $450-$750 but I know that is just a guide. I will post pictures when they become avaliable.

Whoever is selling that gun will get the high figure on your pricing without a problem.

Re: 19-2 with 2.5" barrel. In my opinion this is either a rare or uncommon gun.

19-2 was made circa 1961-1967.

According to SCSW 50 Model 19-2 were manufactured with a 2-1/2" barrel in 1963 with a serial range of K544672-K544721. If the one you are going to see is in this serial number range it could arguably be considered rare.

Per the SCSW the 2-1/2" barrel was introduced in 1966.
My interpretation of this information is that a test run of 50 were made in 1963 and the 2-1/2" barrel was probably (?) a standard or catalog item in 1966. This is just speculation.
K frame serial numbers for years 1966 and 1967:
1966: K658987-K715996
1967: K715997-K779162
However, with just 2 years of the Model 19-2 in a 2-1/2" barrel and considering the less common nickel finish I would arguably suggest if it falls into the 1966-1967 serial number range it is uncommon.

It should have diamond grips which were eliminated 1968. You'll want to determine if it's the original finish. It should have a N, designating factory nickel finish, stamped on the left side of the butt frame under the grips. It should have a N stamped on the back of the cylinder. Another thing to try to determine is if the barrel is original to the gun or is it a replacement barrel. You'll want to look for refinish stamps/marks on the gun: on the left butt frame RN or R-N (maybe in a rectangle) for refinished nickel, or a star stamped by itself or near or with 3-4 (rarely 5-6 consecutive)numbers that give a month and year (rarely day of week). The hammer and/or the trigger being nickeled would suggest a refinish.

If the seller knows what they have and if it's original and in excellent condition with original box and tools I could imagine an asking price of $1000 - $2000 but that's just speculation. I recall postings of a couple of Gun Broker auctions showing more common Model 19's in a 2-1/2" barrel in nickel auctioning in the $2K range however I think those were anomalies.

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Scoundrel & Ne'er-Do-Well

Here's my track on the model:

Smith & Wesson 19-3 and later 2-1/2 inch barrel. Revolver in .357 Mag. Blue Book of Gun Values (35th Edition) indicates between $325 in 95% condition and $650 in 100% condition for this gun and adds $20 for nickel finish. I have 111 recorded prices for this model gun from $395 to $1055 over a period of 5 Yrs 7 Mos ending November 1, 2015. The average price as of that date was $609. No refurbs, no refinishes, regular sights. All represented as 95% or better. No distinction for engineering revision, if any, no special editions, no distinctions for box, papers, tools. Current or last MSRP is $457.

The last 10 prices I have for this model since 3/18/2015 range from $625 to $775 averaging $690. Average price is increasing.

The BBGV values earlier versions of the model slightly less and adds this:
Add $9 for 4 in. or $14 for 6 in. (disc. 1996) barrel.
Add $35 for white outline rear sight (disc. 1994).
Add $20 for nickel finish - disc. 1991.
Add $60 for TS, TT, TH, RR, and WO - disc. 1991 (6 in. barrel only).This model was supplied with a round butt on 2 1/2 in. barrel. The 2 1/2 and 6 in. barrels (blue finish) were disc. in 1991 along with the 4 and 6 in. nickel variations.
There were 8 engineering changes to this model.

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Bob

That's a good analysis.
Compared to 19-3 and newer, it seems like the 19-2 and older seem to go for even more and then the .357 Combat Masterpiece (i.e. pre-model 19) even more yet.

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Scoundrel & Ne'er-Do-Well

Thanks, g8rb8.

There are five 19-2s in my price history for whatever that's worth. The BBGV for dash two and older are kind of scattered with the dash two valued roughly the same as the dash three comparing highest percentages, then increasing with the dash one and no dash, respectively.

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Bob

Thanks for the further input. I wish I could find a nickel 19-2, 2-1/2" barrel for "$650 in 100% condition for this gun and adds $20 for nickel finish."

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Scoundrel & Ne'er-Do-Well

Ha ha, you'd need a Wayback Machine, I think.

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Bob

$1000 plus

Sorry for the let down. He just sent me a picture of the box. It's a -3. .
It does come with box and papers though so I still want to see the gun. I'm still on the hook a little. Thanks guys for your input.

Still at least a decent deal, even a very good deal. As alwaysoutdoors posted, a top notch dash two, dash one or no dash is gonna climb to $1000 or more .

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Bob

I haven't chased guns since our last daughter graduated college (debt free, thanks to guns) some twenty years ago.

Short story. When Dirty Harry was the rage in the seventies, I got hold of four 4" 29s at a discounted dealer price. Kept one sold two at about triple money, let a sheriff friend have the last one at a really friendly price.

A couple of days later, he called me wanting to dump the . .44 for most anything. ,he had shot it! I told him the only thing I had at the time was a nickel 2 1/2" 19 that was my plain clothes gun but really nice. The 19 was about $40-45 less than the 29. Sheriff glanced at the 19 and ask if I could ease the pain with some ammo. Done. Sold the 29 to a car dealer a few days later for enough to buy three 19s, but I did not do that. Wife or kids needed something.

Who would have thought that forty years later a nickel 2 1/2" 19 would bring twice the price of a 29, condition being equal?

Jack