About to buy 19-3 in CA, what do you think?

[leviathon]

Hi all,

I'm about to purchase this S&W 19-3. I had to sell my favorite S&W's, including my absolute favorite (a 696 no dash) when I moved down here to southern CA, so I'm trying to a get my 4 favorites back...this is definately one...

What do you think of the price/condition at $700, considering im in CA also?


Looks like there is some carrying wear to the blueing near the hammer, but does that look like the blueing has worn on the left side near the cylinder release?

BTW- I cannot order to my FFL from out of state-Just found out about something called the "roster" in California. Only certain models of handguns that are otherwise legal to own here are allowed to be imported into the state. It is entirely based on what the DOJ decides to put on it. Most older guns are retired from the roster. It is REDICULOUS. This being said, I can only buy FTF in southern CA.

 

[P&R Fan]

Looks in pretty good shape, but if I was buying it I wouldn't go over about $450. Maybe a bit more in some areas.
Jim

 

[leviathon]

Jim- I hear you on that. I wasnt expecting to pay this much for a model 19. I bought a near new 66-2 in WA state 2 years ago for $550, and that was a steal..I know the stainless versions are worth more so I'd expect to pay around $700 for the 66 in California, but not for a blued model. Then again, I really havent been in the gun markets in CA at all. Any members from CA know if this is a decent price?

 

[rebcussion]

I'm in S. CA too and I think $700 is way too much. This seems to be a common gun and you should be able to find one at a gun show or off the web from a CA seller. I did. Off roster guns can be purchased in a private party transaction at an FFL. Check Cal Guns web site.

 

[jpage]

Think I paid around $500 for a 6" 66-2 in Socal 2 years ago, $700 seems high even here in the PRK..........

 

[leviathon]

Ok that seals it for me. Thanks guys. I almost offered $650 out of shear panic that I wouldn't find another one in the Peoples Republic.
Rebcussion please keep an eye out for me in socal for a 696, 586 or 66 in short bbl lengths....

Any gun shows in so cal soon?

 

[murphydog]

Agree, that seems a bit stiff even for the CA market (especially in this economy).

Ah, what fond memories of the "not unsafe" gun list and 49 year old prohibited imports...

 

[KLYDE]

The price seems on the high side but only you can make the purchase decision. I live in MA. Only one step behind CA in gun control laws. My philosophy is that if the gun is available and I want it then the high price is a concequence of residing where we do. Sort of like an extra tax. Who knows when you will see another one.

 

[Bruce51]

I think that the days of $500 model 19's are about over in Ca.

Most shops are asking $700 and with DROS and taxes you are looking at $800.

You should at least make a lower offer of $550 and see if the shop or owner will lower the price.

You can also check GunBroker to see how current auctions are going and SO CAL Guns, San Diego and Turner's lists used inventory online.

Prices are only going up, so if you really want the 19 go for it.

Bruce

 

[JCS&W]

Being that you are in CA, I do not know what to tell you about CA pricing. In my area, $475 to $575 will get you a nice M19-3, 4", blued. Maybe a little more if nickel, and less if 6". One thing that caught my eye. I have not seen a M19-3 with speed loader target stocks. The ones I see have the football cutout. Now, it could be a very late issue, but I think that is something to check out as well.

 

[leviathon]

I asked the owner if he'd be willing to go down a bit in price....
I am on the look out for a 66 in 2.5inch bbl length, a 586 in 3inch bbl length, and a 696 also, so I dont want to spend too much on the 19 which should be the cheapest of the four...

BTW- I goofed, the asking price is $750

 

[Malpasowildlifer]

Yeah, it is a little high; too bad it is not pinned & recessed. If it was and I was still in CA and it AND it locked up tight, i'd do it. How many 19's out there that haven't been shot a ton? I haven't seen too many.

Like the others said, it is the cost of living in a lib state.

With the old stuff not being made anymore, and unless you're a cop, you can't have non approved list stuff shipped there. The old stuff is going just exponentially increase in price in the state (I think.)

 

[scout II]

I think the $750.00 price is a little high even for CA,but I have seen a few sell for that much.Now if it has the original box and all the goodies,you might want to pick it up at that price.Model 19's don't sit around to long for sale in my part of CA.

 

[Bruce51]

Yeah, it is a little high; too bad it is not pinned & recessed. If it was and I was still in CA and it AND it locked up tight, i'd do it. How many 19's out there that haven't been shot a ton? I haven't seen too many.

Like the others said, it is the cost of living in a lib state.

With the old stuff not being made anymore, and unless you're a cop, you can't have non approved list stuff shipped there. The old stuff is going just exponentially increase in price in the state (I think.)

The 19-3 is clearly pinned and recessed and the cylinder recess is visible in the photos provided. The 19-5 model change was to non pinned, non recessed.

Still $750 is way high unless it is NIB with the box and goodies.
When the SCSW was written in 2006 $450 was the NIB price.
However if you check the cost of gas you soon realize that everything is going up.

If you really want to shoot .357 magnums the 586 or 686 will be a better choice.

If you only want to shoot .38 level loads then a model 14 or 15 would serve you well.

Just keep looking as you will find something that suits your needs at the right price.

Bruce

 

[rromeo]

That's high. Another option is single action. If you find one out of state that will shop to California, he can remove the DA sear.

http://www.google.com/url?sa=t&rct=...k4G4Cg&usg=AFQjCNF_bMY5wrivcHv1IpIotnKCILju4Q

 

[GM4spd]

If you want it---you need to buy it---price may be high here
in CA but you MAY take awhile to find one in the same
shape and even if it were $100 cheaper---wouldn't you rather
have it now? Pete

 

[leviathon]

Case closed on this one. Its nice....but not $750 nice. I realized I would not be able to enjoy a $750 M19 no matter what. They arent rare after all.


$450 686 4 inch at Signal Hill Turners for you SOcal residents.....can;t afford currently im on the line already

 

[old bear]

You can pay $700.00 (which is a boatload to much) for a decent looking M-19 now, or you can wait 12 -18 months, and regret not paying the $700.00 for one now.

 

[roaddog28]

A person can buy a model 19 for under $500 in California. Less than a year ago I purchased this model 19-2 4 inch for $450 plus fees at Turner outdoormans. Be patience.
Regards,
Howard

 

[Gunhacker]

My friends think I'm completely looney tunes ( a fool and their money....) for doing it, but when I come upon a handgun for sale that I don't see offered for sale that often, if I like/want it, I buy it even if the price seems too high. Why? Because my experiences have shown that:

A) Someone else usually happens along and buys it without any reservations while I'm still trying to make up my mind about the price.

B) I end up waiting for another one that never materializes and the ones that do, are usually way too far from me to be practical for doing a PPT on it (I'm in Nor-Cal and they always seem to come up for sale in So-Cal).

C) The next one that becomes available will have an even higher price tag.

D) You can never tell what will come next with California anti-gun politicians, in general they are constantly thinking up new law(s) to throw at us or it's a knee jerk reaction to some wacko's actions (no matter where), to prove to their
constituents that they are "on the job" by sponsoring some new restrictive legislation (like SB249 that thankfully did not pass this time around) that if passed, will worsen matters for buying handguns in this messed up state.

But... as I mentioned in B), the odds seems to be much better in So-Cal for something else actually coming along (possibly at a better price) with the higher population densities there, so you do have an advantage.

I've said this before in other posts, but when I look at the total number of S&W's I've purchased during the past 8 years (when I seriously got interested in accumulating S&W's) and divide them by the total cost I've paid, the cost per individual gun averages out to be lower than what I paid for even the most expensive one among my herd... that's why I don't sweat too much over paying a "reasonably" higher price, this not to say that I don't have a limit, the keyword here is "reasonably" high.