Forum and S&W noob. 19-4 Nickel

[rdfact]

I have been lurking around here for a while and absorbing as much as I can. I have wanted an S&W revolver for some time - I almost bought a new production 686 but felt if I waited a while I could find a pre-lock. My only other revolver is a Ruger Blackhawk SA .357 pre-safety from 1967. Does mentioning a non S&W constitute an immediate ban?!?

So how did I do for my first, and likely not my last, S&W?
Model 19-4, Nickel, 4", pinned and recessed.
Serial #50K96XX (1980?)
Target hammer and trigger. I am told this was a factory option and not an add on.
Did not come with a box original to this gun but from a 19-3.

Love the reflection in this pic:

Double-struck "A9" mean anything?

 

[Jimmyjones]

You did real good.

Beautiful Model 19, P&R, Pinned and Recessed,

The A9 only meant something during manufacture.

 

[rwsmith]

I think...

I think that is a real beaut. And no, most everybody here realizes that Ruger is a quality gun, just a different philosophy from S&W. Just a note that the model 19 is a K frame and not made to continuously digest full .357 rounds. (Not that everybody wants to do that) An L or an N frame would be best for that. It's great that you started out with a model 19. That's a desirable gun. I'd highly recommend the 686 next.

 

[rdfact]

I did read posts about Model 19's and a steady diet of .357. I doubt I would shoot too many for it to be an issue. I also have a Marlin 1894C lever action in .357 that I can blast away with.
Any info on the DOB/ship date based on the serial #. 1980-ish?

 

[whataboutbob]

1978/ 79 25K0001-56K9999

 

[M29since14]

I'd say you hit it out of the park. That's a great looking 19, one of the best models S&W ever made. The -4 guns were generally good ones, especially if you shoot lead. You were wise to wait.

 

[Art Doc]

The stocks are incorrect being the post 1982 style. Pretty gun.

 

[whataboutbob]

Nice snag.I have it's sibling;only a few hundred serial #s off 51

k11xx http://i1226.photobucket.com/albums/ee406/whataboutbob1/sampw19005_zps3409cde9.jpg http://i1226.photobucket.com/albums/ee406/whataboutbob1/sampw19006_zpsf69ce2f2.jpg

 

[sophie]

Very nice M19-4 and welcome to the forum.

 

[Doubless]

Very very nice... It mirrors one in my safe.

Just a thought: a bit of Flitz work on that revolver and the timing lock mark on the cylinder looks like it might just about go away. It is very light...

Great find!

 

[BigBill]

That's really purdy I love nickel finished guns.

 

[rdfact]

I finally had a chance to take this beauty to the range yesterday. It feels great and is very accurate.
I did have issues with light primer strikes. I shot about 20 rounds of .357 and 40 of .38 special. I had 8-10 light strikes that barley dimpled the primer. Seemed to happen more during the 20 rounds of .357 than on .38. These are reloads but I have never had any light strikes before. I also shot a bunch of this same batch of reloads in my Marlin 1894 and had no issues. I put the rounds with light strikes back in (1 at a time) and they all fired the second time.
EDIT: These were all fired SA.
This got me thinking about what if I wanted to send this to S&W for a tune up. I am in California and this is an off-roster gun due to the lack of lock (I guess, who knows with our nimrod politicians). Would S&W refuse to return it? Would they ruin this by putting a lock on it?

 

[rdfact]

Thanks for all the info.
I did some searching and perhaps the light strikes were caused by a high primer - first strike pushes the primer deeper and second strike fired it?
Or could he the strain screw not in far enough?

 

[Iggy]

Thats a great gun. I have one just like it.

Looks like that strain screw might be a bit loose. It should be tight.

 

[Art Doc]

Sending the gun to S&W would wind up costing a couple hundred bucks by the time you're done. Really? I would give it a thorough cleaning and I bet there's nothing wrong with it needing that much time and money. That gun does NOT look like it's been used enough to wear anything out.

If you insist on doing it there should be no legal question since the gun is not changing owners. You still own it while S&W has it and they would return your property to you.

Sorry about living in CA. I fled in 1992. The wife talks about moving back but she'll have to to do it without me. I would be crazy from the liberal politics or dead in a hail of cops' bullets in short order.

 

[M29since14]

Tighten the strain screw against the frame and your problem will likely go away.

SP is correct. That gun does not appear to have been used enough to have anything wrong with it. Let's hope.

 

[rdfact]

Thanks for the info Saxon, or is it Mr. Pig? [emoji6]
The question about sending to S&W was more of a "what if". I'll check the internals and tighten the strain screw a bit.