Gun Library find: Model 19-4 2.5" ***NEW GRIPS***

[olivehead1]

This gun had been hiding for a while apparently; they had it on hold until the guy backed out and then put it in the case. Saw it yesterday when I went there to see what I could get for one of my guns I was ready to part with. There's one guy there with some honesty and professional integrity so I wait until he's working to go in. Anyway, I left with this gun and a check for $100. Without the trade involved, it would have cost me $450 OTD. I'd say it's probably close to 95% based on the photo guide in the Blue Book. Very handy and interesting guide for percentages. (If you don't have a BBGV, I recommend going to Ebay and finding the previous year's edition for pretty cheap. The current edition brand new will run you anywhere from $40-55 plus shipping, but a few months ago I got the previous year's edition, brand new and still sealed in plastic, for exactly $20 delivered using "Make an Offer.")

It came with PGS smooth grips, which I'd heard of but never seen in person. Not my cup of tea, so I was going to put on some round butt Pachmayrs I thought I had, but turns out they were for square butt. I did have an extra set of the current production SW grips, so I put those on there for now.

Interestingly, my other 19-4 2.5" has a black front sight, while this one (circa 1979) has the red insert.

I should be able to just pass up a model gun I already have, but when you find a vintage blued SW revolver without freckling or pitting or dinged all to hell, hasn't been dropped on the front and/or rear sight, and a finish you can still kind of see your reflection in, and at a decent price, it's hard to let it go.

 

[MyDads38]

I wouldn't have passed that up either, for the price you paid! I never find those kind of deals at the Cabela's I frequent.

 

[olivehead1]

I never find those kind of deals at the Cabela's I frequent.

With Cabela's it's always been hit or miss, but especially so since Bass Pro sunk it's claws into it. There was a guy here for 10 years who ran the library, and you could go in and get a fair price, maybe haggle a bit, and get out of there in 20 minutes. Maybe 30 minutes if you were trading and picking up something new. Then he left, and that combined with poor management of Cabela's in general meant usually a little less for your gun and a little more for the stuff they were selling.

Now a few years after that, Bass Pro has imposed even more stupid and arbitrary rules (which aren't universally applied, I can tell you--apparently depends on day of the week, whether it's raining or sunny, etc.), and I hear they're only more willing at the end of this year to sell stuff at a little better price because profits are down from last year and they can't figure out why.

And there's no rhyme or reason to pricing. I picked up a LNIB GP100 7-shot a few months back for $499 because I thought that was reasonable, etc. Meanwhile they wouldn't budge on a LNIB Match Champion that was out for $750. Those guns are about $80 apart on MSRP, yet "they" felt a $250 spread on these two used guns of comparable condition was reasonable. My guy there finally told me (and you hear this a lot at the library and pawn shops) that "they paid too much for the gun." Where's all this rampant over-pricing when I bring in a gun?

A new "manager," I suppose you'd call him, of the GL came in recently and a couple weeks ago he "fairly" priced two guns for me, each at $275. I thanked him and left, then traded in one of those on the King Cobra for $500 (my extra Model 66). I can see why Cabela's brought that guy in. If I see him again I'm outta there and will wait for the respectable guy.

Anyway, sorry to go off into the weeds on my own thread.

 

[one eye joe]

This gun had been hiding for a while apparently; they had it on hold until the guy backed out and then put it in the case. Saw it yesterday when I went there to see what I could get for one of my guns I was ready to part with. There's one guy there with some honesty and professional integrity so I wait until he's working to go in. Anyway, I left with this gun and a check for $100. Without the trade involved, it would have cost me $450 OTD. I'd say it's probably close to 95% based on the photo guide in the Blue Book. Very handy and interesting guide for percentages. (If you don't have a BBGV, I recommend going to Ebay and finding the previous year's edition for pretty cheap. The current edition brand new will run you anywhere from $40-55 plus shipping, but a few months ago I got the previous year's edition, brand new and still sealed in plastic, for exactly $20 delivered using "Make an Offer.")




It came with PGS smooth grips, which I'd heard of but never seen in person. Not my cup of tea, so I was going to put on some round butt Pachmayrs I thought I had, but turns out they were for square butt. I did have an extra set of the current production SW grips, so I put those on there for now.

Interestingly, my other 19-4 2.5" has a black front sight, while this one (circa 1979) has the red insert.

I should be able to just pass up a model gun I already have, but when you find a vintage blued SW revolver without freckling or pitting or dinged all to hell, hasn't been dropped on the front and/or rear sight, and a finish you can still kind of see your reflection in, and at a decent price, it's hard to let it go.

CONGRATULATIONS---THIS IS A VERY NICE REVOLVER ! ! !

IMHO, ITS CRYING OUT FOR A SET OF PC MAGNAS, AND A BLACK GRIP ADAPTER. BELOW IS A PIC OF MY 2 1/2" 686, WITH REFINISHED PC MAGNAS, AND A TYLER-T, SO THAT YOU CAN CHECK OUT THE CLASSIC LOOK.....

IF YOU OPT TO GO THIS ROUTE, I WOULD SUGGEST THAT TOU TRY A BK GRIP ADAPTER. THEY ARE LESS EXPENSIVE, AND THEY FEATURE 2 SETS OF COPPER TABS, HOLDING THEM T0 THE FRAME OF THE GUN, INSTEAD OF THE 1 SET ON A TYLER-T......

THE OTHER VERY IMPORTANT BENEFIT IS THAT YOU WILL RECEIVE YOUR BK ADAPTER, IN A REASONABLE AMOUNT OF TIME---WHILE YOU ARE STILL PHYSICALLY ABLE TO FIRE YOUR REVOLVER. AT MY AGE, I DON'T EVEN BUY BUNCHES OF GREEN BANANAS......lol

 

[The Gila Bender]

Nice buy! I just picked up a minty 19-2 blue 2.5", no box, serial number dates to 1966. I'm normally an N-frame guy but this one was too nice to pass up. I knew the original owner who passed away many years ago, so it has a personal connection. Are short barrel 19's common?

 

[olivehead1]

Are short barrel 19's common?

I can't tell you how many were manufactured relative to the number of longer barrel models, but nowadays I see twice as many 4" as I see 2.5".

 

[Chukar60]

I can't tell you how many were manufactured relative to the number of longer barrel models, but nowadays I see twice as many 4" as I see 2.5".

I agree with Olivehead.The 2.5" is not uncommon. The 2.5" get bought up quickly if priced correctly. The 2.5" fetch a significantly higher price than the 4". The OP got theirs or what I would consider a bargain price.

 

[olivehead1]

The 2.5" get bought up quickly if priced correctly. The 2.5" fetch a significantly higher price than the 4".

I'd agree with the first statement, the second not as much.

I've seen out in the wild in the last two years 3 different 2.5s, along with 2 distinctly lesser quality examples at a gun show, which I don't really count as "out in the wild" since that's a transient thing (that's just my definition--I consider gun show vendors separately from brick and mortars). I bought the 2 nicest of those for an average of $400 OTD each. In that same time I've seen twice as many 4" examples. I've personally gone through three 4" Model 19s (I only have one now) that cost an average of $465 each.

I've only seen one minty 4" with box and papers out of that bunch of 19s, and it sold for around $900 plus TTL.

YMMV.

 

[Coaltminer]

Cabelas 19-4

Great looking gun. I've never found them to offer ****on a trade. Had a Colt 6920 NIB. They offered $500. For those not familiar, it's a AR15 in 223/5.56. Walked with it, however I traded for a Ruger Vaquero old model in 44 Magnum even. Lord I am a sucker. Well, I don't want to break tradition!

 

[olivehead1]

It's now my Joe Hallenbeck edition Model 19, except that I cheated because (a) his was a 19-5 or -6 and (b) his had Pachmayr Compac grips and these are the Compac Pro. At least the front sight has the red insert.