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Classic M19 review Gunblue490

Dewy12

Well-known member
Joined
Mar 20, 2015
Messages
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I’ve been looking for an older pinned & recessed 19 for quite a while. I also follow gunblue490, so I was pleased to find this review. If any of you have time, watch this review and give us your take.
 
I watched this video and found it very informative. The man used to build the guns at the SW factory and then was an armour with a police force. He seems to know his stuff. He seems very critible to me.

When he indicated all of the positive improvements in the newer guns and relates the issues they had building and maintaining the old guns, his opinion that the the new guns are better makes sense to me.
 
That is my thought as well. There really is something to the old ones. Most of mine are pre 70’s and I love them. But if I’m going to buy a 19 for the range and the woods, I’m now leaning toward a new one. Sure wish I lived close to gunblue490. He is a wealth of knowledge.
 
My sentiments as well regarding the Classics
and other new S&W revolvers.

I have and love numerous older Smith wheel guns
but my shooting mostly is with the new ones. I
don't have to worry about breakage and virtual
non replacement of parts for the older ones.

I noted he mentioned the breaking of the hammer
noses or as I still think of them the firing pins.
Got a Model 66 one time and after six shots, no
longer had a hammer nose. It had broken off.

The biggest myth or myths that has shown its
face on this and other forums is about how
"perfect" the older guns were compared to the
new ones.

I've noted many, many failures of the older guns
that included poor rifling, poor cylinder gap,
out-of-line hammer or trigger or both because of
the fragile pins they rested on being slightly bent
or not properly installed. And on and on.
 
I wish every revolver fan on this forum
would view this video.

I don't say you have to agree with him,
you don't have to like what he says and
one can certainly reject his views/expertise
in favor of the older guns.

But I do wish the critics of everything new
about S&W revolvers would at least digest
a little of it.

It might at least temper some of the intemperate
comments often repeated about the MIM/revised
revolvers of this day and age.

One can still admire the often excellent workmanship
in many of the older guns. I know I certainly do.
 
In the 90's I had a NIB M18 that would not even fire a round because of end shake slop. A shim or two solved that but extended the cylinder gap. Also the forcing cone would fill up with lead fouling after just twenty firings destroying any hope of recreational accuracy. I have been skeptical of ever since. Any time I examine a used S&W I factor possible repair costs into the asking price. But still I love them anyway.
 
GunBlue 490 seems to have a no-nonsense viewpoint fully backed up with experience and knowledge. He is worth watching! Thanks for posting the link! I am astounded at the technical skill and knowledge those old-timey gunsmiths had to have in order to make the guns function properly!
 
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Hapworth, Thanks for the link. I understand what you mean about the thread being moved to the 1980+ forum, but he is comparing the new gun to the ones that fit in this forum. I wanted to get the opinions of other old guys like me.
Dewy
 
My first thought was, why doesn't he just get an older M19 "with issues" - and FIX the issues? I get that the 19-9 is better for many people, but an expert S&W armourer can make anything work right, so why not get the older Model 19 he is actually nostalgic about?

My other thought is maybe the magnum revolvers from that era have more issues than the .38 Special and .22lr models I own and enjoy. Mine seem to work great, but I'm no expert.
 
Well, Lobster Picnic, perhaps even though
Gunblue knows the ins and outs of the older
revolvers, perhaps he just didn't want to
bother.

For about the same price he gets a
new gun which should it have problems
will be taken care of under the warranty.

I thought it neat he went into a new
Model 19 and declared it pretty darn good
and was able to point out its advantages
over the older models.

He did an earlier video in which he took apart
a more vintage Model 29 and explained the
care of that piece. I didn't agree with everything
he said or did but it was very informative and
can give a lot of people something to think about.

While I don't practice what he preachedf about
oiling a revolver, I think he had a very valid
point.
 
Gunblue490 is one of my favourite Youtube-Channels as the infomation provided is very balanced whereas many other experts may only serve as examaples for overconfidence...

Although I do not always agree with his point of view (especially in terms of gun cleaning and oiling) he provides very valuable imulses!
So since Gunblue490 published his video I started looking to find some spare parts for my Combat Magnum M66-1 (2,5") just for the case something brakes.
It is just a precautional measure but as I live in Germany this might be reasonable as the availability of spare parts here is limited.

Gunblue490 mentioned that the hammer nose sometimes causes issues. Consequently I put this item on my list.
Do you have any recommendations what other parts should be considered...

Thank you so much.

Best regards.
 
Nice review ,
IMO its kinda like comparing a 1970 Dodge Hemi Challenger to a new one,
While there is zero commonality of parts, they do look similar outside,
Although the new one has more modern design, more safety features and a factory warranty making it easier to own and use daily collectors prefer the older versions which tend to go up in value where new ones go down.
 
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This thread needs a lot more traction on the forum. That video was one of the most interesting and informative that I've seen in a long time. Also I think this should be placed in the "Revolvers: 1980 to the Present" section since he is reviewing the modern version of the model 19.
 
I've said it before, I'll say it again. Older S&W revolvers for light shooting and collecting, newer S&W revolvers for heavy shooting.
 
I've said it before, I'll say it again. Older S&W revolvers for light shooting and collecting, newer S&W revolvers for heavy shooting.

This is America, you can say anything you have a mind to. I would like to see documented evidence pertaining to your statement.
 
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This is America, you can say anything you have a mind to. I would like to see documented evidence pertaining to your statement.


Did you watch the posted video? Plenty of details given as to why the Classic Model 19 is an improvement over the original design.
 

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