Smith Wesson Model 19 Classic ?

[Phillies]

I've had an urge to get an old school police revolver. Gun shops around here don't really have old revolvers and I'm leery of getting one on gunbroker. So I was looking at the Model 19 Classic. I know it had the lock and a few other design changes on it but overall it looks pretty good to me. Any compelling reason why I should not get one and maybe try harder to find an older one ?

 

[patrol]

I would keep looking.

 

[uncleted327]

There is absolutely no reason to not buy a new 19, especially if you plan on shooting it regularly. They have no ammo worries or restrictions like the older K frames, they are nicely finished and shoot beautifully. I'm sure the lock haters and the new Smith's are **** people will disagree, however. Not for any real world reasons, just personal preference.

 

[Winch]

19 is on my buy list but I recently bought a 586 so later on.

 

[HOUSTON RICK]

The Model 19 is a nice firearm, as an alternative the Model 28 "Highway Patrolman" is generally available for a few hundred less and may fill the same niche for you. I picked mine up at a gun show and it started me on revolvers. Happy hunting!

 

[OFT II]

Get it and give us a report on how you like it. I've been looking at one myself.

 

[Kframerbluvr]

It would be wise to inspect any new S&W revolver before accepting it.
That being said, I ordered a new 442-2 from a cop shop in ‘13 and have had no problems despite the lock even after about 750 rounds fired.
It is my EDC when a cover garment cannot be worn.

 

[Phillies]

I see the new Classic 19 has a 4.25 inch barrel. But didn't the original have a 4 inch ?

 

[Rpg]

The new Model 19’s are generally quite functional revolvers BUT they share very little with the Model 19’s they are named after other than caliber and the fact that they are both revolvers.

Smith has the right to name its products whatever Smith wants.

Smith is notorious for reusing product names as marketing boosts for new products.

For example, neither the newer ‘Bodyguard’ 380 nor the Bodyguard38 are in any way related to the M49 or M38.

 

[Jim1247]

New Classic 4 inch model 19

I can not think of a reason not to --- I just bought one and put 500 flawless rounds through it. 60% 38 special and the rest 357 magnum- a lot of fun. grips are ok with magnum--but may want different grips if thats all your shooting--38 and 38 plus p all day long--fill up a barrel of ammo and have fun!

 

[Rick_A]

The new Model 19’s are generally quite functional revolvers BUT they share very little with the Model 19’s they are named after other than caliber and the fact that they are both revolvers.

That's going a bit far. They're functionally the same and dimensionally nearly identical. Technically the K magnums of today are superior to the P&R variety, as the main weakness of the design has been properly addressed.

For a shooter, they are ideal. I like the classic line. It's owning a modern gun in a vintage style...without worry.

 

[Tom S.]

Two things the new Model 19 doesn't share with the older version and they are pretty important: the forcing cone isn't nearly as fragile and prone to breaking as the original was, and the new model has a lifetime warranty.

 

[67ray]

Also I read that the new 19 doesn't utilize retention at the end of the extractor rod. Instead it uses a ball detent system in the yoke. Anyone confirm this?

 

[Marshal Kane]

"The cylinder yoke locks to the frame via a spring-loaded ball detent system, and the solid, full length ejector rod is unsupported." Shooting Times February 2019 issue, page 46.

 

[FifthWheel]

I see the new Classic 19 has a 4.25 inch barrel. But didn't the original have a 4 inch ?

The 4.25" will comply with Canada and some state laws.

 

[stansdds]

If I were looking for a 6-shot 357 Magnum revolver for carry, the new Model 19 or 66 would be at the top of my short list.

 

[CajunBass]

I've got a new 19-9 "Classic." It's a fine shooter, and looks just fine to me. The grips might be a tad narrow for me, when shooting full house magnum's, but it's not a big enough deal to me to think about changing them. This one came out of the box with a great trigger. I've owned a bunch of P&R 19's over the years, and honestly can't say I can tell a dimes worth of practical difference between them, and the new one.





The front cylinder lock, is that little silver thing just below the forcing cone. It pops out and locks into the cutout you can see just in front of the cylinder in the second picture. You can also see the new and improved forcing cone. No more trimmed down FC. I don't know if it really matters or not. Only time will show if this one cracks under hard use or not I suppose.





And the much "cussed and discussed "two piece barrel." The actual barrel is enclosed in a "sleeve" that fits over the barrel, and is held in place by a nut of some kind. I don't pretend to be a gunsmiith, so I can't tell you how it works.



I like it well enough that I just recently sold off my last P&R Model 19. I've still got a 19-8, but that's sort of an odd duck, being marked as a 38 Special.

 

[Shooting Padre]

I was fortunate enough to run across a 19-7, 6” in excellent condition. I plan to only shoot .38 Special non +P as I got this as a period price and not an every day shooter. I think you get whichever suits your purpose and enjoy it to the max.

 

[ABPOS]

I've got a new 19-9 "Classic." It's a fine shooter, and looks just fine to me. The grips might be a tad narrow for me, when shooting full house magnum's, but it's not a big enough deal to me to think about changing them. This one came out of the box with a great trigger. I've owned a bunch of P&R 19's over the years, and honestly can't say I can tell a dimes worth of practical difference between them, and the new one.

.

Did you switch out the thumbpiece to an older one? I didn't think they looked like that on the new ones.....

 

[CajunBass]

Did you switch out the thumbpiece to an older one? I didn't think they looked like that on the new ones.....

No, the "Classic" models have the old style thumbpiece.