S&W Model 19 Coming Back

chief38 said:
There are still "Real Vintage Classics" in the marketplace but you must be selective and scrutinize what you purchase. A new issue would be a S&W marked "sort of reproduction" at best. If you have ever seen, shot and handled a vintage M19, I doubt a "new Classic" would appeal to you much. The real shame of it all (at least to me) is that S&W is fully capable of producing a real M19 once again and why they don't is totally beyond me, because there would be a line around the block to order them!!
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I have said this time and time again. They are the best revolver company in the world with really no competition. Their sales are off 25% and profits down 75%. I is time they put some gun people back in charge of the company and make the product that so many want in the configuration they want it. I think they have too much of a black plastic product line, and to me their website is not user friendly. If they are not careful they will be in the same hole as Remington and Colt
 
crazyphil said:
Nothing wrong with my old 19-4
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Who is the maker of that knife?

I have had the 4.25" 66-8, stainless version of this new 19, Good gun and stronger in all the places the old ones needed it.

The problem is that they are not consistent in their quality control. I bought the 2.75" not long ago, my LGS took it back.

Not sure if I would try one again as long as old ones are still out there.
 
chief38 said:
The real shame of it all[/B] (at least to me) is that S&W is fully capable of producing a real M19 once again and why they don't is totally beyond me, because there would be a line around the block to order them!!
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They don't because the cost to produce one like they used to would put it beyond what most people would pay for it. We have MIM, two piece barrels, only round butts for the same reason they did away with pins and recesses. Ease of manufacture which translates into less cost. Posters are complaining that the new 19 is just south of 1000 bucks. How much more would you be willing to pay to go back to one piece barrels? Smith is never going to go back to tool steel parts that need to be hand fitted. Colt is never going to produce a hand fitted Python like they did in the 70's. General Motors is never going from fuel injection back to Holley carbs. I really think that most people would not pay the increase in price if they did.
 
S&WsRsweet said:
They look good in the photo layout .If I were in the market for a powerful revolver to use and carry as a working gun it would be on a short list especialy with the lifetime warrantee . I can honestly see in some situations where the lock would be a good safety selling point for folks with small children for instance and I still believe a good DA revolver is the best handgun choice for most folks who aren't going to truly get into guns .I know as aficionados the lock is not appealing but from a marketing standpoint say a husband wants a good handgun and wife is on the fence due to safety concerns the lockable revolver might just be the ticket to a sale.
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I'd bet dollars to donuts that under a stressful situation, one could unlock a standard cable style gun lock faster than the S&W integral lock. The cable type locks are much larger and easier to operate simply because they are much bigger and less dainty. PS: cable locks never just lock up accidentally, let debris into the Frame and make a Revolver look ugly. Cable locks are also probably cheaper to manufacture and come with almost every new gun sold, so the price of new S&W's could actually drop if they came without the I/L and with a Cable Lock.

It is my personal belief that the owners of S&W are really being naive as to what gun owners and enthusiasts really want and would be willing to pay for! I do not believe that they pay much attention to Forums like this one and think they would be better served if they did.

As time goes on, it is a natural occurrence for older guys to fade away and then younger unexperienced people enter into this hobby who know very little about products. They buy something just because of the name and former reputation without really doing research and having true knowledge of exactly what they are buying. Many times they don'y understand the true differences, manufacturing techniques or pluses and minuses - they just get exited and run out and buy something.

There are many times I've spoken to young people entering this hobby and some do listen while some don't. Some care while some don't - as long as it goes bang. To each his own I suppose.
 
After having compared a friends new production classic Model 17 K-22 to my orginal from the 70s, I will stick with my 70s era model 19 over any new production one. I did buy a new production 617 last year and have to say that I am happy with that pistol though I had to get Altamont conversion grips to set it up the way I wanted as the current ones have round butts.

Bob
 
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I've been putting money aside for one of the new 19 PC versions, and when they come available I will have one. I have a 586 L-comp and it is a pretty sweet piece, the 19 will be a good companion piece.

As far as old vs. new goes, I've been buying and shooting Smiths since the late seventies, when I was bout 18. Manufacturing wise, my collection spans from 1961 to 2018. I shoot competitively, for fun, and concealed carry. As far as I'm concerned as a tool, the new ones give up nothing to the old ones, aesthetically maybe they do, but performance wise the new shoot as well as the old, and arguably are more durable. I shoot thousands of rounds through various revolvers and have no issues with any.

Back in the seventies, "Bangor Punta Smiths were junk", you needed to buy pre Bangor Punta, then in the eighties,"Lear Seigler Smiths were junk", you need to buy Bangor Punta I'm sure 20 years from now the models they are making now will be considered wonderful and the current versions will be junk!

The only one I have ever had to have repaired is a 29-2 I bought new when I was 20 and shot the snot out of.

Full disclosure though, I have had to send some new ones back when new to be "tweaked" but they come back in a couple weeks fixed and are fine from that point on.
 
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Just wondering if these new models would withstand a steady diet of full house magnums? Stated another way, wondering how many full house magnum rounds down the tube before excessive end shake (> .002") develops?

Curious of the "stoutness" of these new models...

Bayou52
 
I have the new 19 PC carry comp. I also have some old K frames. I like the full sized forcing cone that hasn't been filed down.
 
Saw a Model 19 Carry comp at one of my local LGS yesterday. It was priced about $980. It looked and felt the same as my 586L-comp which holds seven rounds and is a really nice revolver. I have no complaint about the lock but I really wish it was not there and Smith & Wesson should leave them off all their guns but especially the Classic series.
 
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Yrs ago I had a DW snubby , with the 2 pc barrel design . I really liked it . Now , you did need to ck the barrel nut on the end of the barrel occasionally to remain tight . it was very very accurate . I eventually traded if off for something .
So , I would like to try one of the new " classic " 19's . I have a couple of " classics " in 44 magnum and couldn't be happier . Regards, Paul
 
R*E said:
I have the new 19 PC carry comp. I also have some old K frames. I like the full sized forcing cone that hasn't been filed down.
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I'm interested in the new Model 19 PC Carry Comp. Would you mind giving us some of your thoughts on it? What you like and dislike? Were you happy or disappointed with it?

Thanks,
Fox
 
Struckat said:
Who is the maker of that knife?

I have had the 4.25" 66-8, stainless version of this new 19, Good gun and stronger in all the places the old ones needed it.

The problem is that they are not consistent in their quality control. I bought the 2.75" not long ago, my LGS took it back.

Not sure if I would try one again as long as old ones are still out there.
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Knives in the 2nd & 3rd frames are both by Sharps. Not very
expensive, but good photo props. The folder in the 4th frame
is a Case Hammerhead.
 
I bought a model 19 new in 1975 and paid about $140 for it. That's worth about $660 today so the price that you will be able to buy one of these new ones for really is not out of line. That 1975 model 19 turned out to be a piece of **** by the way. It just would not stay in time. I ended up trading it away. (I have had a couple of others from about that time period and they were fine.) What is the point? The point is that everything is relative. I think the new ones will be fine. I think the old ones are great too. I will say that I dislike the square grips on the round frame. It looks to me like someone took and old set of grips out of the draw and made them fit on a gun they were not made for. But that's just me and it wouldn't stop me from buying one if the price was right.
 
My opinion doesn't count as I'm too biased. If it isn't P&R, it don't come across my radar screen. Finish doesn't look good, has MIM parts, stocks look like ****, and if any of them have any hint of a lock that's just more bad gravy on top. Lastly, they cost more than a mint 19-3 or 19-4..I just don't get the appeal. I've never had a problem with a forcing cone in an older K but that's just me and my .02

Earl
 
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