He Who Hesitates...M19-4 Story

[Double-O-Dave]

I was at a gun show a few months ago when I spied a used Model 40 that the seller wanted $400.00 for. It was nickeled, but the finish was worn through in a few places. It appeared that it had been carried much, and shot little, if at all. Remarkably, it only had a 3 digit serial number. I asked the seller about it and he stated he had bought it new a long time ago, placed it in the glove box of his truck and "kinda forgot about it". I talked him down to $350.00, but he wouldn't go any lower. A few hours later, I walked by his table again and the Model 40 was gone. He explained, with a sheepish grin, that after we had talked, he had decided he really couldn't part with an old friend. Sometimes, the hesitation can be beneficial. I didn't blame the seller at all.

Best regards,

Dave

 

[hittman77]

Been there and done that. Seems I regret far more I DIDN'T buy than ones I DID!

 

[Gunsandguitars]

Like SemperFi71, I'm entering my late 50's and realizing I have less time here left than I have already spent, so I'm trying not to deny myself my one true vice...well, not too much anyway.

I have amassed a nice, though small, collection of S&W's all dated from my heyday, the early to mid 70's. But I simply can't afford to buy every one I see, so I pick and choose carefully. If lacking cash I will trade, and even take a beating if it's something I really want...I just have to choose carefully.

Living within your means is a bitch! :0)

 

[DAdams]

I pulled that bonehead move once. once only.

 

[RobC2]

In general with good deals, if you snooze you lose. It goes the other way too though. I saw one of those random postings on a gun board once where there was this "unfired" gun at a shop way below the market rate. I really wanted one, so I figured out his time zone and called him just as he was coming into the store and even as I was buying it, people were calling him on it, I could hear them. Well, I got it and it was not all that. Considering you saw it in person, that removes a lot of the risk, but even so, sometimes it takes time to consider if the gun in question is something you really want right now, or if it is just a good (probably just fair) deal.

 

[Bat Guano]

I'm usually pretty philosophical about the ones I miss out on, but I was up in a little gunshop in Paradise CA in 1966 picking up a rifle when I spotted a 4" Triple Lock .44 Special in the case. It was decent, and the price was $85. Being in the service at the time and bound overseas, I walked away from it.

I partially redeemed myself about ten years later when I spotted a seriously underpriced 5" Triple Lock Target at a gun show. I was broke at that time as well, but talked the seller into taking $25 down on it and sent him a check for the balance Monday morning.

With the kids educated and launched, and a mad money fund, I can occasionally be mad and impulsive and get away with it.

But that Triple Lock in Paradise still taunts me.

 

[Kavinsky]

Well this may be some cold comfort but I wouldnt have gone for a dash 4 because of the gunblast article called use of magnum rounds in K frame smith and wesson found here

Use of Magnum Loads in S&W Model 19 and Other K-Frame Magnums

So as far as I'm concerned I would think the earlier the model 19 the better, any anything post dash 3 is to be avoided because of the crush fitting practice that was implemented latter down the line, along with using anything under a 150 grains in it

still even then a model 19 is a model 19 and thats one of the few smith and wessons that I've shot where it didnt feel like the grips needed to be replaced to properly fit my hand when I shot a fellow range goers 19 - 4 awhile back.

one thing was for sure though, Keith was right 4 - 4 3/4ths of an inch is just the right barrel length for a .357 magnum like it was on that 19 and the sad thing is I knew the original owner of it who traded it in on a glock, half regretting it all the while.

little wonder.

 

[Cpt. Obvious]

On the other side of this coin is the fighting the urge to settle on something. I had been looking for my first revolver/s&w, be it a nice 27 or 19. Well there was a 4" 686+ for sale locally, and while I liked it and it was at a fair price, I thought I should still wait. So I gave it a couple weeks, and that 686 had no takers, still doesn't. Kept telling myself I shouldn't settle. Lo and behold, someone offered to sell me an unfired 19-6 for less than the 686, essentially what I wanted. Would I have been happy with the 686? Probably, but still would be wanting that shiny 19...

 

[Fishslayer]

I've missed quite a few because I didn't know what I was looking at.

A 3" M66 leaps to mind.

As does an 8 3/8" nickeled M29.

A $700 Garand that was in great shape.

I don't actually remember the gun, but the owner of my LGS was gone for a week. I made the decision to buy and was there about a half hour after he opened with cash in hand. He had a phone message that somebody left with CC info & all....

 

[125JHP]

I was at another gun show and spied a Kimber Ultra carry II with a $650 price tag. Trouble was there was a fella lookin it over real close while his 2 buddies ooo'd and awww'd over it. I could see the itch in his wallet and he took the longest time trying to make up his mind. I pretended to look at another gun on the table but continued to listen as he tried to talk the dealer down... nope, not more than 20 buks would he budge. The guy just had to think about it and as he left and was 2 steps away I had my cash out and the UC in my hand.... now it is one of my favorite EDC pieces. I think the dealer mentioned later that the guy came back for it...

 

[mooshoo]

I walked into a pawn shop and came across a model 17 didn't look to bad, walk out and went to the credit union got some cash got back and it was gone, asked the guy at the counter what happen to it he said right after I left some body walked and bought. funny thing is the owner sad no had looked at it for six months! the told me if had said something he would have held it for me. now if I want it I say something

 

[squidsix]

Two weeks ago I saw a model 10 in a local shop. It was labeled "Four inch .38 special S&W"
It was, in fact, a FIVE inch PRE model 10, and the hogue rubber grips on it made me sick to my stomach, but the price was $295.
I looked it over, noted to the guy his mistake and the five inch barrel. I left to hit the ATM, and came back and it was gone.

 

[Firearmsrookie]

Hesitated over a 681 with LE markings, went back and it was gone. Still kick myself over that one.

 

[Rule 303]

Once upon a time, in the early 1980s, my best friend and I were at a gun show in Amarillo, Tx. I was wondering down the isle and I spotted a S&W Model 650 with both the .22mag and .22lr cylinders for $300.00. It had a three inch barrel and fixed sights. I took a step down the table to look at another gun and said to myself, you'd better buy the 650. I turned around to step back and what did I see. My best friend laying out the money for the 650.

The gun went to his wife's new boy friend when my friend unexpectedly died. Infact I'm sure she gave him most of my friends guns to the boyfriend......

Rule 303

 

[jimmyj]

Model 19-4 2.5" for $400.00 !!!
Do you have a wife and children that you could have "Pawned"?
You could have sold the kitchen stove and cooked over a camp fire or eat with the neighbors.
I agree with not selling the dog. a good dog is harder to come by than a Model 19-4 2.5"

 

[jimmyj]

Once upon a time, in the early 1980s, my best friend and I were at a gun show in Amarillo, Tx. I was wondering down the isle and I spotted a S&W Model 650 with both the .22mag and .22lr cylinders for $300.00. It had a three inch barrel and fixed sights. I took a step down the table to look at another gun and said to myself, you'd better buy the 650. I turned around to step back and what did I see. My best friend laying out the money for the 650.

The gun went to his wife's new boy friend when my friend unexpectedly died. Infact I'm sure she gave him most of my friends guns to the boyfriend......

Rule 303

Is she still available?

 

[Hondo44]

Two weeks ago I saw a model 10 in a local shop. It was labeled "Four inch .38 special S&W"
It was, in fact, a FIVE inch PRE model 10, and the hogue rubber grips on it made me sick to my stomach, but the price was $295.
I looked it over, noted to the guy his mistake and the five inch barrel. I left to hit the ATM, and came back and it was gone.

Once you clued him into what he really had, he may have decided to put it in the back, look it up and reprice it. I've seen that happen.