19-3 to fire or not?
- Thread starter junedog
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Art Doc
SWCA Member, Absent Comrade
"I am a shooter"
Why did you acquire it if not to shoot? What else do you want me to tell you how to use?
BTW- The 19s didn't come in the wooden box so it's not original to that gun.
Why did you acquire it if not to shoot? What else do you want me to tell you how to use?
BTW- The 19s didn't come in the wooden box so it's not original to that gun.
diamonback68
US Veteran
I feel the same way, if you are a shooter, when you traded for it, you must have intended to shoot it,sooooooooooooooo.
They didn't come with presentation boxes as SP said.
They didn't come with presentation boxes as SP said.
Sir, with all do respect you just answered your own question. Take care of it, but enjoy it as it was meant to be enjoyed.
I agree, take it out to range and enjoy it!
robctwo
Member
I acquired a nib 19-3 some months ago. Circa 1972
I traded out the springs with a Wolff kit, put Ahrends retro combat grips on it and fired another 250 through it this morning. Light weight .38 Specials. Busting clay birds on the hill side at 35 yards, with regularity.
I traded out the springs with a Wolff kit, put Ahrends retro combat grips on it and fired another 250 through it this morning. Light weight .38 Specials. Busting clay birds on the hill side at 35 yards, with regularity.
GyMac
US Veteran
If it hurts you to fire it, you should sell it to a collector and buy one that you can fire painlessly.
Engine49guy
Member
Im pretty sure that only comemorative models came in wood cases.
Otherwise the original box would be blue cardboard.
Model 19's are still pretty plentiful but an unfired gun is worth slightly more than a fired one.
NIB unfired dash 3 guns are not so common but without the original cardboard box papers and tools I would shoot it and enjoy it and come back with pictures and tell us how great a time you had.
PS...Robctwo....Dont throw away the original grips they are awesome.
Otherwise the original box would be blue cardboard.
Model 19's are still pretty plentiful but an unfired gun is worth slightly more than a fired one.
NIB unfired dash 3 guns are not so common but without the original cardboard box papers and tools I would shoot it and enjoy it and come back with pictures and tell us how great a time you had.
PS...Robctwo....Dont throw away the original grips they are awesome.
robctwo
Member
The original grips are sitting on my newish 18. It came with magnas, and I like the others better. It shoots lights out.
stantheman86
US Veteran
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It will go up in value as a "unfired", but I don't think it will be worth enough in any of our lifetimes to worry about.
I have dozens of S&W's, so what I would do is probably let it sit in the safe for a while, while I "debated" whether to shoot it or not.......then it would bug me to not know how it shoots or even if it shoots.......and I would eventually put some .38's through it.
I have a 6" 28-2 that looked unfired, or had maybe a few rounds on it. No signs of shooting whatsoever. I didn't feel an increase in a couple hundred bucks over the next 20 years was worth having an unfired gun laying around so I fired a few boxes of .38 through it. IMO shooting .38's through a Model 19 won't hurt it a bit, I just wouldn't run a bunch of .357 through it.
I have dozens of S&W's, so what I would do is probably let it sit in the safe for a while, while I "debated" whether to shoot it or not.......then it would bug me to not know how it shoots or even if it shoots.......and I would eventually put some .38's through it.
I have a 6" 28-2 that looked unfired, or had maybe a few rounds on it. No signs of shooting whatsoever. I didn't feel an increase in a couple hundred bucks over the next 20 years was worth having an unfired gun laying around so I fired a few boxes of .38 through it. IMO shooting .38's through a Model 19 won't hurt it a bit, I just wouldn't run a bunch of .357 through it.
Back when I bought my very first Jeep, the owner of the dealership, a crusty old fellow came out as I was getting in to drive off and told me..."Now you take it right across the road here, and drive down that fire trail, and find the biggest mudhole you can find, and drive right through it and get it over with NOW. If you don't you never will."
It only hurts to shoot it the first time.
It only hurts to shoot it the first time.
Thanks guys, tomorrow weather permiting i'm going to fire it for it's first time. I have never had one this nice and I was just hesitant whether to fire it or not. By the way it is a full target with 6" barrel, just forgot to mention that. Thanks again.
lagavulin62
Member
june,
my first pre-lock gun was the exact same gun you have. if mine was shot it was very little. absolutely no wear can be detected. we all wish we could buy that exact gun new today. most in here have memories at least but to shooters who came to the hobby recently this is the only way to experience one of these in new condition. so you should enjoy it and not worry about the cash. have the time of your life.
my first pre-lock gun was the exact same gun you have. if mine was shot it was very little. absolutely no wear can be detected. we all wish we could buy that exact gun new today. most in here have memories at least but to shooters who came to the hobby recently this is the only way to experience one of these in new condition. so you should enjoy it and not worry about the cash. have the time of your life.
lagavulin62
Member
ok memory fails me. it may have been my 2nd pre-lock?
pistolairo
Member
I don't think that there is such a thing as an un-fired gun. Are they test fired @ the mfg? I purchased a new S&W model 40, from the dealer. It was nickel and you couldn't hide the fact that it had been fired. I have seen clean up's on some ever so slightly fired guns that make them look like new. Then there is the cylinder turn line, if that's missing you could bet that just a test fired round had been thru it. I would rather have a pistol that has been fired & not abused than damaged by being played with.
SHOOT IT, SHOOT IT. It Will Be Here Long After Your Gone. If You Want An Investment Buy Gold.
SHOOT IT, SHOOT IT. It Will Be Here Long After Your Gone. If You Want An Investment Buy Gold.
Col Defender
Member
You have a serious problem but I will come to your rescue and relieve you of all the stress from which you are now suffering.
Send it to me immediately and you will no longer have to worry about all this.
Send it to me immediately and you will no longer have to worry about all this.
