Incomplete 1970’s Model 19-3

[Efoehn]

Hello All,
I'm new to the forum and this is my first post. I need some help with a gun I inherited and I figured this would be the best place to go for help.

So my dad used to be a police officer in the 1970's and 80's and when he passed away about 10 years ago I inherited his old sidearm. The gun is a Smith and Wesson 357 magnum and the model number engraved says 19-3 and the serial number is 9k42264. The problem with the gun is that it's not complete. I guess when he retired from the police department he disassembled his gun to keep it safe from my sisters and I. So needless to say, when he passed away 10 years ago the location of the missing parts was lost with him.

I'm not familiar with gun terminology at all but I know the gun is missing the cylinder and some of the extraction parts. This is where all of you Smith and Wesson experts come in. I need some help identifying all of the missing parts to the gun. Also, I'd like to know if there is a way to acquire the missing parts to make the gun functional again. I look forward to finding out more about this gun and hearing any information you can give to me.

 

[Sgt 127]

You are missing, at the least, the cylinder assembly and the yoke.

Cylinder assembly would be the cylinder itself, the extractor star, the center pin, the ejector rod and a couple springs.

The yoke is the part is pivots on.

I would call Smith and see if they can fit it up for you. It will not be a drop in fix. Try REALLY hard to see if you can find the original parts. I am guessing it will be over $200 for Smith to get you fixed up.

 

[Camster]

The gun was made in 1976.

 

[Efoehn]

Thanks for the information.

So if I send it to Smith and Wesson and have them fix it then it might cost over $200? Would that cost more than the gun is worth when it is fixed?

Do you have any idea where I might begin to look for original parts?

 

[smitholdtimer]

M 19 parts

I'm willing to bet the missing parts are all together in a cigar box somewhere, is the front side plate screw in the revolver? (it is the one over the trigger) that screw would have been the only screw to be removed to dissemble what is missing. You and your Mother could do a scavenger hunt and possibly turn up these missing parts, hope they were kept in a controlled environment so as not to be rusted beyond use. Good luck with your search.

 

[Camster]

The complete gun is probably worth in the 4-500 range.If the replacement parts are not a good match in terms of finish or wear,adjust downward.
Obviously for sentimental reasons, it may be worth spending a few hundred.Otherwise, it might be an option to sell as is.I would imagine the 200 figure quoted is very likely-the shipping expense can be a considerable amount too.Fedex and UPS want them to go "Next day service".

 

[pharmer]

It's your dad's gun. Do what it takes to get it running. Numrich might be a good place to start. A local shop should be able to make a list of the parts you need, maybe even put it together properly once you get them. I'd look through his stuff again, I bet he didn't can the parts. What a neat quest. Good luck. Joe

 

[Efoehn]

@Smitholdtimer, Yes, the front side plate screw is there. It looks like there are a couple little scratches around the screw from when it was taken out or put back in.

When my dad passed my family went though his stuff and didn't find any gun parts that I know of. I was too young at the time to go though anything. I've had this gun since I was 13 and just recently took interest in it. I'll ask my family if they know anything about the parts but I don't think I'll have any luck.

 

[SPDGG]

+1 Agree with the above. I would think the missing items would be near the same area as where the revolver frame was found. I'd check all your father's areas of the house; attic, garage, basement, etc.

IMHO: Anything handed down would again be handed down later on.
- Also, Your S&W Model 19-3 is a Great Revolver. You will not find anything currently made like the one you have. Worth keeping

Hope everything works out & Good luck. Please keep us posted.

Have a great one

 

[tom turner]

Hi,

That revolver is a really nice one. Better yet, it was your dad's . . . and a strong link with him and his past that you'll come to treasure more and more through the years.

I too believe you may be able to find the parts. If not, there are a lot of good members here who may be able to help the "kid of a cop" get his dad's gun up and running again. Truly wonderful people here!

But first things first . . . if you can somehow talk to relatives and find that yoke and cylinder (the entire assembly was probably just removed via that one screw and simply backed out fully assembled and stored), you can reassemble that yoke into the gun in oh . . . about FIVE SECONDS if you are slow!

Truly, it is a simple job you can do and the gun would be PERFECT again. I'll bet your dad left that yoke+cylinder assembly intact so the gun could be reassembled and fired in seconds, should the need arise. After all, he was a cop!

Best of luck . . . and stick around. I believe that gun will get back in good working order in no time!!!

Tom

PS: If you can post some larger photos of the revolver it might help us see the condition of the revolver should you end up needing a yoke/cylinder assembly . . . so it could be best matched up with good used parts that might visibly match well! Keep in mind, with this second option, it is no longer simply a case of "dropping the parts in." Sure, it would only take mere seconds, but a gunsmith will have to set the gap correctly of the barrel and cylinder and this takes expertise . . . and a step that MUST be done.

 

[scooter123]

Just to clarify things, the parts that are missing must be "fitted" to the gun. Which requires expertise and knowledge. For guns of this vintage, S&W refers to these items as requiring "factory fitting". Which means they won't sell you the parts, they will require you ship the gun to them. However, a very good gunsmith with the proper experience can also do this if you have one in your area.

Now for costs. A complete cylinder assembly will probably run in the range of 250 dollars if purchased all new. Haven't ever seen a Crane (or Yoke) offered for sale but suspect it's a 75 to 100 dollar part. Labor for fitting everything together will probably add another 100 dollars. so, ballpark to replace the missing parts is in the range of 400 to 450 dollars. Just about what your gun is worth on the used retail market. BTW, shipping it to S&W will require that it be shipped via UPS, 2nd day Air in both directions, so having S&W do the work will probably run an additional 100 dollars or so.

Is it worth doing this? In simple economic terms the answer is a big NO. However, it was your fathers gun and the model 19 is probably the single most noteworthy S&W of the last 60 years and one of the most desirable revolvers ever made. IMO, those two factors make it a worthwhile project even if is a loss in economic terms.

 

[Engine49guy]

repair option

You probably have figured that you cant repair your gun for anywhere near what a complete used revolver costs.

I see two practicle options unless money is no object.

(1) If you want to fire your dads gun .
Look for a used model 19 with a bad barrel, bring the parts to a gunsmith and choose the most cost effective route to swap as many of your old parts so that you have a functioning firearm.

Model 19's had a tendency to split the barrel at the forcing cone and replacement barrels are very hard to find.
A used Model 19 with bad barrel should not cost more than $150 to $200.
You may be able to barter the leftover parts with the gunsmith or sell them on this forum .


(2) If you do not intend to ever fire the gun but want a piece of memorabilia that looks complete.

Buy a used parts kit for $99.00 that would return the gun close to its original appearance .

A cylinder and yoke from a 38 caliber Model 10 parts kit from JG sales should fit but it will never be able to fire.
Also would not require any gunsmith or dealers as it could be mailed right to you and installed with only a flat head screwdriver.

Smith & Wesson Model 10 "Parts Kit" - NO FFL

It would necessitate that you take steps to make sure it could NEVER be fired (like removing the firing pin) so nobody would ever mistakenly try to shoot it and be hurt.

For what it is worth I would probably put dads old grips on a new used gun.
Hope you eventually find the old parts.
Good luck either way.

 

[Efoehn]

Thanks all. There sure is a lot to consider. Is there anyone that could tell me all of the parts that are missing in a list or something? Or maybe, does anyone have a diagram of an exploded view of a model 19? I'm going to contact a gunsmith but I'd like to get a better understand of what all is missing.

Also, I won't post the link because I'm not sure if I can but there is this auction on gunbroker.com that has a lot of miscellaneous 19 parts and I was wondering what you guys think about that as an option. Thanks.

 

[Pilgrim]

Here's a schematic of the parts you need from Numrich website.

you need 1-9 and 31, I hope I didn't miss anything.

The parts you mentioned on gunbroker would be a real good start.

This is mentioned for a 19-5 but they're the same parts needed as yours.

Hope this helps.

schematic

 

[M29since14]

If you can get those parts, it will give you what you need to work with. I doubt S&W has any M19 cylinders so finding good used parts is your best bet. A good S&W armorer can probably get your Dad's gun running again with a set like that. Sometimes the yoke does not match the contours of the frame. If proud, the two can be dressed together and of course, refinished. If the other way around, you just have to live with the mis-match (or actually remove metal from the frame in the dressing process).

If you absolutely cannot find the original cylinder and yoke, you are on the right track with buying a 19-3 or 19-4 parts set, in my opinion. I also agree with others that the cost of restoring the gun to working condition is worthwhile. Would be to me, anyway.

 

[desertdweller]

Since I noticed you are in Flagstaff you might try Gary Reeder Custom Guns. He does a lot of custom work and often times puts unfluted cylinders in his guns.
He might have what you need on a back shelf somewhere!

 

[Efoehn]

So if I can get these parts from the auction I could take them to Gary Reeder Custom Guns and they could fix it all up for me?

 

[Pilgrim]

It looks like the extractor and a couple of it's parts are missing, in that gunbroker pic.

 

[snw19_357]

Gary (or Kase) Reeder can definitely fix it up for you.

 

[Efoehn]

Update!

I went ahead and and got those parts from gun broker that I posted above. They arrived today and I'm very pleased with the parts. As far as I know it has everything I need, including the extractor parts that appeared to be missing in the picture. The condition and finish of the cylinder is almost an exact match to my gun.

All I need to do now is take it to a gunsmith to have them assemble the gun and make sure everything is working properly. The gun hasn't been fired in at least 23 years and I don't even know how often it was fired before then.

This is pretty exciting for me and I'll post some new pictures as soon as I can.

Thanks to everyone that gave some input.