finally, a mdl 19 snub

[scooterfiend]

I bought a 19-5 several years ago, 2-1/2" BBL, then sold it soon afterwards. The SA trigger pull was scary light, and of course it wasn't P&R. I didn't know at the time that the trigger may have been an easy fix. Since then I've learned some good things from the forum members here and I have a better idea of what satisfies that particular itch.
Two days ago picked I up this beautiful example of what a 47 year old firearm can still be.
19-3 S/N 8K160XX. Probably shipped in 1975.
It has been fired, but it sure hasn't been holstered. There isn't a blemish on it, the bluing a wonderful deep color.
The box is a little worn, but the documents, waxed paper and tools are all there, even the little plastic sleeve the tools go in. The stocks don't have any wear on them at all. They're numbered, but not the same as the frame. I'm not sure what's up with that.
I put a pair of Uncle Mikes on it and went to the range yesterday and I'm impressed. The first 6 .357 American Eagle 158 gr at 10 yrds went into about 1-1/2 in pattern, low and left but all right together. I adjusted the sights pretty quick, and dang, it's a fun firearm.
The trigger is at least as smooth as the other Smiths I have.
I have a 66-1 snub that I can't shoot that well.
I looks good next to its 19-3 4" safe mate.
So I guess w/ some patience a person can still find what it is we're looking for.
It HAS been fun looking too.
I'll attach some pics.
This is the last time it'll be in a holster while I have it.

 

[sigp220.45]

Congrats on a magnificent revolver!

 

[GF]

Nice 357's you have there.

Shoot 'em and keep 'em clean and they'll outlast you!

GF

 

[Muley Gil]

Those pine cones are non factory.

 

[JohnRippert]

Those pine cones are non factory.

I must respectfully disagree. They look factory to me.

 

[scooterfiend]

Those pine cones are non factory.

As many as I pick up you'd think there was a factory turning them out.

 

[DeafSmith]

I'm a 2 1/2 Combat-Magnumphile. Yep, hard for me to pass them up. I was shocked when I found out Steve McQueen in "Bullett" used a wienie .38 Diamondback! That was a major blow to my liking of that movie.

That is a great revolver you ran into. I have the 19-5 and several 66-1s and -2s. Congrats, they are hard to resist.

 

[SA1911]

Good Morning, scooterfiend,

That is one beautiful gun.

I'd rethink your decision to not holster that bad boy. That baby defines self-defense revolvers. Now I will admit that I'm not a safe queen dude. If I have a gun it has a purpose, so I'll shoot it.

If I had the gun you've just bought, I'd buy a box of FBI rounds and find excuses to carry it. Up in Northern Utah, one can never predict when one might run in to Sasquatch, which would be all the reason I'd need to carry that handsome piece of hardware.

 

[SA1911]

I'm a 2 1/2 Combat-Magnumphile. Yep, hard for me to pass them up. I was shocked when I found out Steve McQueen in "Bullett" used a wienie .38 Diamondback! That was a major blow to my liking of that movie.

That is a great revolver you ran into. I have the 19-5 and several 66-1s and -2s. Congrats, they are hard to resist.

The prop outfit for Bullitt was a union shop that was controlled by commies. Otherwise McQueen would've been packin' a 1911-A1.

Steve McQueen was the King of Cool:

[ame]https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=UZzXHq7gKN8[/ame]

 

[Bubba2014]

These old guns are too nice and to valuable to be holstered. I keep all of my blued guns oiled and in plastic zip lock bags. They are truly an investment and will continue to appreciate in value, unless at some time in the future our government decides to take guns away from law abiding citizens.

 

[LEO918]

Here's a couple of mine.....

 

[saemetric]

These old guns are too nice and to valuable to be holstered. I keep all of my blued guns oiled and in plastic zip lock bags. They are truly an investment and will continue to appreciate in value, unless at some time in the future our government decides to take guns away from law abiding citizens.

Then they will be worth more.

 

[Muley Gil]

Then they will be worth more.

Guns, what guns? I collect bottle caps.

 

[Cocked & Locked]

Ahh, yes...best looking S&W revolvers ever (to me) are 2.5" 19 and 66

 

[SLT223]

They're ok

 

[SA1911]

Muley Gil,

I'll trade you all the bottle caps you want for a Topps Mickey Mantle rookie season card. I might sweeten the deal with Browning Superposed...if I had one!

 

[BAM-BAM]

Told this story before.............

Back about the turn of the last century I realized I'd traded off most of my 19/66s in favor of L frames and autos. My K-frame concealed carry needs were met by a 3" 66 ( and a spare)

Decided I needed to correct the error of my ways and add a 2 1/2 and 4 inch 19 and/or 66 to my accumulation. Figured how hard could that be? For most of my shooting life they were a fixture;new and used, in every LGS!

Not being a online buyer...... it took me the better part of 7 or 8 years to accumulate 4 "nice" 2 1/2 and 4 inch 19/66s.

 

[bananaman]

Ahh, yes...best looking S&W revolvers ever (to me) are 2.5" 19 and 66

FANTASTIC LOOKING pair you have there! Bob

 

[kennethg]

"K" frame snubbies are just plain cool. The 2 1/2" 19's and 66's are great and also nice carry weapons. Great find.

 

[scooterfiend]

As I posted initially, the stocks have some numbers stamped on them, both of them. They don't match the S/N on the gun.
That seems odd to me because everything else about the gun would suggest that it is original. Heck, it seems like it had hardly been out of the box. Although it had been fired it sure didn't seem like it was a firearm that had been tinkered with a lot.
When using the search function I noticed some posts suggesting that magna stocks weren't numbered to the gun, others say they were.
Does anyone here have a thought about this?
Thanks for all the likes and kind expressions.