beemerrider
Member
Some will laugh and some will cry when I unveil this true story.
About 3 years ago, a good friend of mine, who is a Police Officer in West Linn, OR, stopped by my house to see if I wanted to own a Model 19, which the executor of an estate wanted to "get rid of", as none of the relatives wanted a gun. He said it was in pretty good shape and added that everyone should have a model 19.
He stopped back at our place a couple of days later and unwrapped a towel, which held the 4" revolver. It was in great shape, and I definitely wanted it, never having had a 19 before. It was and is about a 98% gun, with very small and faint muzzle wear. I asked how much they wanted for it, and he told me they had left that up to him, they just wanted it to have a good home. He said; "How's $150 sound?" Before I could spit out an excited "You bet", he said, "Naw, I think $125 is better."
I peeled off the cash and he got a "Hot" call and had to leave right away.
I took it inside, admiring the size, weight, deep bluing and good fit in my hand. I then hung it on a gun hook on the door of my safe and never got into shooting it. The reason for this is I had caught a very severe case of ".41 Magnumitus" and had acquired 4 model 57's and 2 model 58's. I just loved shooting those and my model 29's so much, that I just never got around to giving the Model 19 it's due.
Two days ago, I was looking at the 19, admiring it's feel and deep blue finish. Earlier tonight, I was again fondling it, and decided to look it up in the Standard Catalog. Checking the Model number, I found it was a Mod 19 "no-dash". I then proceeded to the back of the book to check the serial number, K3430XX, and lo and behold it was born just 8 years after me, so I guess that make's me it's big brother. With that, of course, comes the responsibility of getting to know it and taking good care of it, which will includes letting it stretch it's legs with some careful shooting at my range down in our woods. Unfortunately, that probably won't happen until May or June, since I'm in a cast after my most recent ankle fusion operation.
Reading on in the Std. Catalog, I thought I should do a "screw count", so I took off the grips to ensure there was a 5th screw beneath them; there is.
Unfortunately, someone replaced the Diamonds with the later model stocks, so now I'll need to go on a search for the correct style, but in the meantime, I don't think little brother will mind me putting rounds down range with those that are on it.
Yeah, yeah, I know; I probably paid way too much with the incorrect grips, no box, tools or instructions, but I'm just going to suffer along as best I can, knowing the true rewards will be in the rounds downrange with this beautiful Smith & Wesson.
As I think about how fortunate I've been, the oft quoted truth that "Even a blind pig finds an acorn, once in a while" will come to mind. Now that I've discovered what I have, albeit three years late, I feel very lucky and I will repay that luck with careful handling and judicious shooting; after-all; that's why S&W craftsmen made em, and why we buy them.
I thought about keeping my mouth shut, since many might think, "What an idiot; he didn't even know what he had, and missed 3 years of good shooting with it. Well, as my Mom was wont to say; "If the shoe fits, wear it." It does, and I will.
I hope all of you have experienced a similar "find", but if not, keep your head up, it'll happen; someday, somewhere, when you least expect it, someone is going to say "Smile, you're on candid Smith & Wesson."
Happy Hunting,
Beemerrider
About 3 years ago, a good friend of mine, who is a Police Officer in West Linn, OR, stopped by my house to see if I wanted to own a Model 19, which the executor of an estate wanted to "get rid of", as none of the relatives wanted a gun. He said it was in pretty good shape and added that everyone should have a model 19.
He stopped back at our place a couple of days later and unwrapped a towel, which held the 4" revolver. It was in great shape, and I definitely wanted it, never having had a 19 before. It was and is about a 98% gun, with very small and faint muzzle wear. I asked how much they wanted for it, and he told me they had left that up to him, they just wanted it to have a good home. He said; "How's $150 sound?" Before I could spit out an excited "You bet", he said, "Naw, I think $125 is better."
I peeled off the cash and he got a "Hot" call and had to leave right away.
I took it inside, admiring the size, weight, deep bluing and good fit in my hand. I then hung it on a gun hook on the door of my safe and never got into shooting it. The reason for this is I had caught a very severe case of ".41 Magnumitus" and had acquired 4 model 57's and 2 model 58's. I just loved shooting those and my model 29's so much, that I just never got around to giving the Model 19 it's due.
Two days ago, I was looking at the 19, admiring it's feel and deep blue finish. Earlier tonight, I was again fondling it, and decided to look it up in the Standard Catalog. Checking the Model number, I found it was a Mod 19 "no-dash". I then proceeded to the back of the book to check the serial number, K3430XX, and lo and behold it was born just 8 years after me, so I guess that make's me it's big brother. With that, of course, comes the responsibility of getting to know it and taking good care of it, which will includes letting it stretch it's legs with some careful shooting at my range down in our woods. Unfortunately, that probably won't happen until May or June, since I'm in a cast after my most recent ankle fusion operation.
Reading on in the Std. Catalog, I thought I should do a "screw count", so I took off the grips to ensure there was a 5th screw beneath them; there is.
Unfortunately, someone replaced the Diamonds with the later model stocks, so now I'll need to go on a search for the correct style, but in the meantime, I don't think little brother will mind me putting rounds down range with those that are on it.
Yeah, yeah, I know; I probably paid way too much with the incorrect grips, no box, tools or instructions, but I'm just going to suffer along as best I can, knowing the true rewards will be in the rounds downrange with this beautiful Smith & Wesson.
As I think about how fortunate I've been, the oft quoted truth that "Even a blind pig finds an acorn, once in a while" will come to mind. Now that I've discovered what I have, albeit three years late, I feel very lucky and I will repay that luck with careful handling and judicious shooting; after-all; that's why S&W craftsmen made em, and why we buy them.
I thought about keeping my mouth shut, since many might think, "What an idiot; he didn't even know what he had, and missed 3 years of good shooting with it. Well, as my Mom was wont to say; "If the shoe fits, wear it." It does, and I will.
I hope all of you have experienced a similar "find", but if not, keep your head up, it'll happen; someday, somewhere, when you least expect it, someone is going to say "Smile, you're on candid Smith & Wesson."
Happy Hunting,
Beemerrider
Last edited:
.
