My first Smith & Wesson was a brand-new 6" Model 19 that I bought in 1979. I liked it so much, I bought a 2 ½" M-19, in nickel, a few months later. I couldn't hit anything with the 2 inch, and didn't like it at all. I thought the sights were defective, or the barrel was bent or something. I sold it to a fellow officer without mentioning the poor accuracy. He later told me that it was one of the best shooters he ever had. In fact, he routinely scored 100's with it on qualifying day. Reality checks can be hard on your ego.
I sold the 6" when my kids were old enough to explore the house, and have friends over. I didn't want any handguns in my house during that time.
For the past dozen years, I've been buying, shooting, and, tinkering with used, inexpensive K frame Smith & Wessons. It's become a not-too-costly hobby, and I've put together a fairly nice representation of older K frame revolvers. Noticeably missing from the bunch was a Model 19. Until now.
The first thing I noticed when I picked up my (circa 1984) Model 19-5 from the FFL was its heft. The wide ribbed heavy barrel and shrouded ejector rod made it seem a LOT heavier than my other K frames. Then I noticed the long hammer spur. It just seemed easier to reach than my other guns. The action was super smooth, and this is the only gun that I have that doesn't have a trigger shoe attached. The .4" target trigger is just right. It came to me with Pachmayr grips, which I replaced with my favorite kind of grips, and it now fits in quite well with the rest of my rag-tag collection of shooters, beaters, and misfits.
I'm on record as saying that the M&P .38 from the mid '50s is the ultimate Smith & Wesson revolver. This new gun has me thinking that that honor should rightfully go to the Model 19.
I sold the 6" when my kids were old enough to explore the house, and have friends over. I didn't want any handguns in my house during that time.
For the past dozen years, I've been buying, shooting, and, tinkering with used, inexpensive K frame Smith & Wessons. It's become a not-too-costly hobby, and I've put together a fairly nice representation of older K frame revolvers. Noticeably missing from the bunch was a Model 19. Until now.
The first thing I noticed when I picked up my (circa 1984) Model 19-5 from the FFL was its heft. The wide ribbed heavy barrel and shrouded ejector rod made it seem a LOT heavier than my other K frames. Then I noticed the long hammer spur. It just seemed easier to reach than my other guns. The action was super smooth, and this is the only gun that I have that doesn't have a trigger shoe attached. The .4" target trigger is just right. It came to me with Pachmayr grips, which I replaced with my favorite kind of grips, and it now fits in quite well with the rest of my rag-tag collection of shooters, beaters, and misfits.
I'm on record as saying that the M&P .38 from the mid '50s is the ultimate Smith & Wesson revolver. This new gun has me thinking that that honor should rightfully go to the Model 19.
