Brought the nickel 19-4 home after a 5 day waiting period here in Florida,(3 days not including weekends). Had a chance to really look it over and a few questions popped up. It is a real beauty, however, please look at the pictures and see if this is a factory nickel job or a re-nickeled job. Letters look crisp but there is a few small holes on both sides and a little waving in the nickel. Did they leave the factory like that? Also there is no N on the butt frame but a few marking that I am not familiar with. Hoping you can tell me what I might have here. I can post more pictures if needet.
Thanks. Pete

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A few more pics.

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The sideplate fit screams "refinish," and not a factory job.

The Model 19-3 shown below has a factory nickel finish. Notice the tight fitting sideplate in the first picture and the flawless surface in both photos.

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Jack
SWCA #2475, SWHF #318

I’d agree that it looks refinished. But still a fine looking model 19. Carry and shoot it proudly.

Refinished...
The cylinder and the butt under the grips
would/should have a N stamped on them.

REFINISHED FOR SURE. ALSO I DON'T BELIEVE ITS NICKLE. I THINK ITS BUMPER CHROME. WHERE I USED TO WORK A LOT OF GUYS WHEN THEIR GUN GOT WORN OR RUSTED WOULD TAKE THEM TO THE LOCAL PLATING SHOPS. WHEN I 1ST STARTED THE PD IN 1983. IF YOU WOULD BRING IN THE GUN DISASSEMBLED. THEY WOULD PUT THE PARTS IN A BASKET AND WALK DOWN THE LINE. DIPPING IT IN ALL THE STATIONS. I'VE SEEN LITERALLY DOZENS OF GUNS THAT LOOK LIKE THAT. AS A MATTER OF FACT I'VE GOT A PRE MDL 15 THAT EVEN HAS A CHROMED HAMMER, TRIGGER AND REAR SIGHTS. JP

Thanks Gentlemen. refinished? I missed that by a mile. Chrome, I missed that by 10 miles. I guess I don't know what the hell I'm buying. I'm really bummed out. Pawn shops, KMA.....This is the last GD gun I ever buy.

I was wondering if the extractor star is plated or blued...I believe a factory finish would have a blued extractor either way......Ben

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Cogito, ergo BOOM!...

peterdeb

May I suggest you take a deep breath and relax a bit? The refinish eliminates collector value. It does not ruin the gun. It is still a fine tool and will continue to serve its owner well. All of us have made purchase errors in our lives. In this case, you ended up with a S&W revolver that retains functionality and plenty of user value.

Learn from the situation and enjoy what you have for what it is.

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Jack
SWCA #2475, SWHF #318

^^^^^^^^^this exactly

Very wise and well said. Still a great gun Pete!

Todd

Let us know if you want to sell....it looks like a good shooter grade gun with a finish that's easy to care for. they did good keeping the hammer and trigger case hardened, lots of refinished gun have those refinished too.

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Even older, even crankier....

Definitely an aftermarket plating job.

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VCDL, GOA, NRA

Thanks for the reminder, Jack...I needed that......Ben

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Cogito, ergo BOOM!...

My gun show partner is always showing me guns he buys. When I start pointing out obvious flaws or areas of non-originality he shakes his head and walks away. Then I ask him if he checked the bore.

When I see a beautiful blued 19-4 sell here for $675 it makes me even more furious at myself for paying $800 for this refinished one. Also mad at the gunsmith for saying how tight the side plate was, lockup and push off very tight and shot little. Going back there this week, and I will be polite, but will make my point to him and the store manager.

And A10, if you want to buy it for what I paid, $800, I will ship it free to your FFL.

good luck and keep us posted!

I feel much better this evening after showing the S&W to the gunsmith. He admitted he missed it being a refinish. Showed the small pit marks, the swirl marks, etc. He went through all the functional checks again and it is tight as a sealed drum. The manager was called over and he also admitted he did not notice that it was refinished. He offered three options.
1>a full refund
2>a full store credit and the gunsmith pushed for #three
3>a concession, he worked out a partial refund of $200.00
I decided on the concession as the pistol is still very nice and is functional perfect.
So, I have only $600 in it now. Good deal, bad deal?? It's a done deal.

Any time money comes back to you is a good deal, I'm a-thinkin'. Plus, your peace of mind has returned. That in itself is priceless.
Glad you followed up with them and it worked out.

Todd

$600 for a nice looking M19 that has an almost indestructible (chrome) refinish isn't a bad deal at all, as long as you want the gun for shooting, rather than as a collectable.
Me, I like shooters, so that seems like a decent deal.
JMO and YMMV.

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Send lawyers, guns & money...

For $600, I think it is now a good deal for a high grade shooter Model 19. Enjoy it, just don't beat it up with full power magnum loads using bullets weighing less than 140 grains.

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VCDL, GOA, NRA

It worked out for the best I think. It's gonna be a great packing gun!

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Even older, even crankier....

Peter
Chrome, nickel or colored with a crayon. I have a soft spot for .357 Combat Magnums and Model 19's. Use it carry it, remember, if you feed it once in a while, it will be loyal and not let you down.

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Don Mundell

That is really nice to hear, that the pawn shop manager and gunsmith were stand up guys. Sounds like a place you could return to with better knowledge and confidence.

I'll weigh in.....

To me it has all the classic looks of a re-Nickeled revolver. There are what looks like pit marks, scratches and dents that have been Nickeled over.

Professional refinishers (applies to many items, not just guns) always know that the prep work is the most important part of a refinishing job. Any defects and sins not taken out will also not be hidden after the new Nickel or bluing is applied.

I have seen Nickeled guns that left the S&W factory that were "supposed to have" been stamped with an N, but do not have one. In this case, I believe it was refinished and not a factory oversight.

I have never had any waiting period here in Florida? I recently bought a Taurus G3C from Rural king and took it home 30 minutes later when NICS came back.

Do you not have a Florida CWP?

It would cost something but I am sure it could be stripped and redone the right way if it bugs you that much.There are several really good refinishing choices that would look great. There have been many on here for instance that have been done in a satin hard chrome that looks like stainless.