New to me mint Model 19-4 - Pic Heavy

[scruffy]

Came out of a local gun show yesterday with a gun I have lusted after for a very long time. Model 19-4 with 6" barrel, TH, TT and TS. Came in the original box and is claimed to be "unfired". I went through it after a very light cleaning and wiped down with a light coat of Rem Oil and believe the "unfired" part to be true, though no way to prove it. Probably paid too much, (cost of a new "19 Classic") but worth it to me given the condition.

From my OCD perspective: Finish is completely unblemished save for a very faint vertical scratch on the cylinder between two chambers. No wear of any kind and the bluing is perfect. Turn line is barely visible. Mechanically, lockup is the proverbial vault and timing appears perfect on all 6 chambers. Cylinder to barrel gap is a tight .003" all around. Trigger is a clean 3.5 # slightly and D/A is super smooth, but above 10lbs (probably 11-12 lbs, my gauge doesn't go that high). Grips are in great condition with no chips, cracks.

Box with proper label is in great shape with S&W wrap paper, ammo, holster literature and service center listing. It's missing the manual/spec/parts sheet and cleaning kit.

I would like to know date of shipment if anyone has the S&W book. S/N is 43K7485. I'm guessing it's sometime in 1978 which is why I posted in this forum. Detail pics are prior to cleaning:

 

[Narragansett]

Very nice OP, a real beauty!! I have the exact same example, pristine in a 4". Sorry no pics at the moment. need to take some.

Enjoy it!!!

 

[stansdds]

Outstanding! Unfired? Could be, but three chambers should have evidence of a factory test fire. If all 6 have "burn rings" on the front of the cylinder, then it has been fired outside of the factory. The recoil shield certainly does not look like it has seen much in the way of firing.

 

[TheTinMan]

I would take that gun over a Model 19 Classic every day of the week and twice on Sunday.

 

[bob richardson]

Beautiful 19-4

19-4's are beautiful wheelguns and you have a fine example.I own them with 2&1/2",4" and 6" blue and Nickel.Great find.

 

[Bald1]

A19-4 for price of a Classic is a deal in my mind. It's a nicer gun and going up in value.

 

[scruffy]

Outstanding! Unfired? Could be, but three chambers should have evidence of a factory test fire. If all 6 have "burn rings" on the front of the cylinder, then it has been fired outside of the factory. The recoil shield certainly does not look like it has seen much in the way of firing.

You may be right. In normal light, I was unable to see burn rings on the front of the cylinder on any of the chambers. When I rubbed a little Rem Oil on the cylinder face and angled it just right I could see what looks like very, very faint burn rings on all 6 and only if I had it angled under a strong light. There is no indication of firing on the recoil shield or above the forcing cone on the top strap so who knows? Not concerned as it will get fired the first decent day (weather wise) I can get to the range.

 

[dobegrant]

That was a great find, very nice looking revolver, they have 1978/79 lumped together 1978 starts with serial number 25K0001 and 1979 ends with 56K9999

 

[Hair Trigger]

Came out of a local gun show yesterday with a gun I have lusted after for a very long time. Model 19-4 with 6" barrel, TH, TT and TS. Came in the original box and is claimed to be "unfired". I went through it after a very light cleaning and wiped down with a light coat of Rem Oil and believe the "unfired" part to be true, though no way to prove it. Probably paid too much, (cost of a new "19 Classic") but worth it to me given the condition.

I would like to know date of shipment if anyone has the S&W book. S/N is 43K7485. I'm guessing it's sometime in 1978 which is why I posted in this forum.

I'd guess 1979, based on where the SN falls in the 1978-79 range, but the football cutout target stocks would indicate earlier, maybe? I'm thinking those started being replaced by stocks with the extended speed loader cutout about that time.
If you got the box, papers and accessories along with that gorgeous revolver, and paid what the S&W website says the Classic retails for, you didn't overpay at all, and you also got a much better firearm, IMO. Congrats on your find.

 

[chief38]

Nice! Fired a little IMHO, but certainly not extensively. That said - I would be firing it anyway so that would be a non issue to me. BTW, just a heads up, but you might want to check where in picture #7 there might possibly be rust forming (crane/under-lug area).

Shoot it well - looks like a keeper!

 

[scruffy]

Nice! Fired a little IMHO, but certainly not extensively. That said - I would be firing it anyway so that would be a non issue to me. BTW, just a heads up, but you might want to check where in picture #7 there might possibly be rust forming (crane/under-lug area).

Shoot it well - looks like a keeper!

Thanks, I appreciate it. I agree and it will be shot as I bought it strictly as a range toy for local club target shoots. No carry, nightstand or self defense use. I have other guns for all that. I did check#7 and it was just old oil with the light making it look orange. All cleaned and a drop of new oil in it's place.

 

[Hair Trigger]

Thanks, I appreciate it. I agree and it will be shot as I bought it strictly as a range toy for local club target shoots. No carry, nightstand or self defense use. I have other guns for all that. I did check#7 and it was just old oil with the light making it look orange. All cleaned and a drop of new oil in it's place.

I shot PPC on my prison unit's pistol team back in the late 1970's. The gun of choice was a M19 or M66. Most of the guys who didn't use a 4" barrel and shoot in Service Revolver class would take a 6" model and modify it with a slab barrel and do an action job, and they were punching quarter-size holes (and smaller) on the X in the 10 ring at 25 yards using wadcutters. My first revolver was a 6" M19-2, but I couldn't afford the mods, so I sold it after a year and got a 4" M66 for Service Revolver class. I wish I'd had ESP back then, I no longer have either of those guns and wish I did. I do have a M19-3 and a M66-1 that I got several years ago to sort of replace the earlier ones.

 

[PauldL]

That's such a nice 19-4!
Congratulations!!

 

[DeplorabusUnum]

Congrats on a nice find. I have a 19-4 6" that's not quite as pristine as yours but no less fun to shoot.

 

[Farmer17]

Beautiful gun and pics! i just bought a 19-6 4" with Pachmeyers in about 97% condition for $700 and am thrilled with it. I put some nice football target grips on the gun and have not put it in the safe yet, I just keep picking it up and admiring it.

 

[local_dirt]

Nice piece and great deal. I'd have been all over that and I have many 19's and 66's.