WTK: Approximate value of 4 inch 19 dash 3 cut and wearing Farrant's

[Scotter260]

A local has it but is not a gun person - I haven't seen it for some time so don't know the serial but I'd say condition is 95+%. It's wearing darker Fuzzy Farrant stocks and they're the type that require the frame being cut. Don't believe there's a box or any other items with it.

Given the lack of info, would $700 be out-of-line for this?

 

[VM]

A local has it but is not a gun person - I haven't seen it for some time so don't know the serial but I'd say condition is 95+%. It's wearing darker Fuzzy Farrant stocks and they're the type that require the frame being cut. Don't believe there's a box or any other items with it.

Given the lack of info, would $700 be out-of-line for this?

Personally, I'd rather spend the money on a factory original 19-3 with foothball targets in better condition.
A Cut frame would give me nightmares and the only market for those FF grips are another cut frame.
I'd pass and wouldn't consider it.

 

[blackdeuce]

I agree with VM.

Price is a tad high if it were an original gun, but not bad.

Really nice guns (98%+) guns seem to bring a premium on GB, but damaged goods don't bring much if they sell at all. I think buyers would shy away from that one if you had to sell it.

 

[Scotter260]

Is there a price at which you'd consider it or no for any price?

 

[Camster]

I'd rather put the money in the right stuff.
For simply a blaster,I'd say 250.
btw....Isn't it amazing how non gunnies can price stuff? Right there where a very nice example would be? Not like he's saying 200 or 1000,but right in the zone for a quality example.700 was what I got for my minty 19-3,and I had the hoops of shipping it through an FFL,etc.

 

[A10]

700 is kinda high around here for a 95% original 19-3, and 7 to 750 for one with the box, papers, and tools. I'm not real interested in a gun with a cut frame, even if the work was performed by one of the big name gunsmiths. Honestly, I don't think I'd take it for 300 bucks, and that would be on the condition that the frame was reparable. Even at that, I'd end up with 5 hundred into a reblued and rebuilt gun.....second thought, I'd pass.

 

[M29since14]

If the gun is nice I wouldn't rule it out just because the frame was cut for the Farrant stocks. If the stocks are nice and you can use them, then I would say it is just another shooter-grade Model 19 (with a little bit of history to it) and I might pay $300, or even $350 - if the whole shebang was top notch. $700 is out of line, as far as I am concerned.

 

[George_in_SD]

Given what a comparable model LNIB sells for, without modifications, $700 is too much.

 

[05CarbonDRZ]

I would say that if you just have to buy it,$500 is MAX.

 

[-db-]

The cut doesn't preclude the use of other stocks that enclose the front strap and bottom of the gripframe, such as factory target stocks. In other words, if you like the gun but don't like the Farrant grips, you could put factory stocks on it and no one would see that the gripframe is cut. Sell the Farrants to someone else with a cut frame to recoup some of your money.

 

[Harpman]

Nobody (I don't think) has mentioned that the cut on the frame may have removed part of the serial number.

 

[Doug M.]

By "cut frame", do you mean converted to round butt?

 

[shfd368bkt]

Nobody (I don't think) has mentioned that the cut on the frame may have removed part of the serial number.

As the serial number is present in another location on the gun it wouldn't be illegal, but you can't send it to S&W to get any work done because they won't return it with modification to the serial number.

 

[ikor]

By "cut frame", do you mean converted to round butt?

Doug;

The lower front strap of the frame has been cut at an angle for the Farrant grips to fit, as they would be smaller in diameter at the bottom that at the top.

I'd happily buy one and never worry about the grip frame, but I would not pay near what he is asking for it.

 

[Doug M.]

Ok, that's out of my lane. I am not sure why anyone would design a grip that requires such a mod. It's one thing to have a grip designed for RBs, but another to require trimming.

 

[Scotter260]

He's not pricing it at that but would trade for something interesting and the only interesting thing I've got has about $700 into it. I'll have to keep checking for something less interesting.

Thanks for all the input.

 

[highpower3006]

I just bought a 99%+ Model 19-2 for much less than that. It came with the box, tools, SAT and paperwork. The only bummer is the original factory diamond targets are missing.

 

[Joe Kent]

Most everyone above would appear to be collectors rather than users, and as such they are giving you good advice about a good revolver with a modified frame. As a user ,who willing cut more than one revolver, so Farrant stocks would fit , you never will find a better combination of fighting revolver and grips that will not let the gun move in your hand when you are in the mud,the blood and the beer. Currently original Fuzzy Farrant stocks often sell in excess of $200.+ and a good condition{finish and timing} Model 19 is easily worth $400. to $500. Would I cut a frame today, no, because I already have and will keep in my family forever my favorite revolvers with my favorite using stocks. In short if you are comfortable making the trade, do it ,you will not find a better combination for serious use. As was said above, you can always put a set of target grips on and only you would know the frame was cut and as long as you let whoever you are selling it to or trading it to know there would never be a problem. All my very best, Joe. PS, I would buy it in a heartbeat!

 

[Twiki357]

If it makes any difference to you, I just bought a 19-3, 4" bbl in good condition for $400.

 

[snake803]

Correct me if I'm wrong, but didn't Fuzzy do the modifications because round butt .357 weren't available at that time?????
Just askin'...
JIM..............

 

[Joe Kent]

snake803, round butt snub model 19's came into being in the 60's and I believe Fuzzy made stocks into the 80's or possibly the 90's. I have stocks that he made for square,cut,and round butt guns and quite frankly like them all. Tho for hard use when your hands are wet with whatever and your pulse is racing and making that critical shot is all important , nothing and I mean nothing beats a double swell checkered pair of Fuzzy's Birdshead stocks on a cut frame Model 19 or 66 4in. 357 magnum. For me it is and was my constant companion in my younger days. I currently have a couple of pairs of his stocks on my round butt 681 performance center 357 and also on my 696 44 that I carry when I am prairie dog shooting out west{loaded with 44 shot cartridges}. When I hear that unmistakeable "buzz" at my feet,believe me, Iwant to be able to hang onto what might seem like a "full auto" revolver. All my best, Joe.

 

[Joe Kent]

Gentlemen ,we are drifting away from a question of value. For me who is a believer in the stock pattern for using ,the revolver with a cut frame is of value because it is already cut and as I said above ,today, when they are not making anymore of most of our favorite models of guns ,I would not think of cutting a frame, here is a perfect opportunity to aquire the perfect packing pistol ,to borrow a saying from John Taffin, already set up complete with custom stocks also no longer newly made. For someone who is actually going to carry and use the revolver, how much better can it get! Joe.

 

[Derosa]

It is only worth whatever value the purchaser places on it. I believe that anytime a weapon is altered in any way, the ultimate resale value is altered, too. For better or worse, again, lies in the viewpiont of the pocket book of the buyer. If you like it and it fits and you deem it worthy of seven bills - do it. Your satisfaction and happiness has a value unto you alone.

 

[Joe Kent]

As an aside to shfd368bkt's post above, my first Model 19 that I carried and used hard,{shot the hell out of it and banged up the sights getting in and out of a car} I returned to S&W in the mid 70's to be tightened up , red ramp front sight to be installed , rear sight to be replaced with a white outline and the gun to have its blued finish replaced with nickel. Not only did S&W do everything that I asked, they restamped the cut off portion with the correct couple of numbers missing from the serial number. Different times I know, but I wish we could be in similar times now. Also , you need to remember,in those days most guys using Fuzzy's , and for that matter, Hurst's, Stark's and similar patterns, were police officers and were not even aware that they were doing anything wrong in modifiying their revolvers to be more easily used. I know I wasn't.

 

[Keith Brown]

I'd say in today's market a nice set of Farrant stocks would bring 200.00 pretty easy and pushing 3 would not be out of line for a near perfect set in nice wood. The gun alone is worth 400.00 IMO so 600.00 all in I'd say would be fair. I've cut a few frames long ago and also have a set of original Farrant grips in Ebony for a J frame around here somewhere.

Keith

 

[Joe Kent]

Always nice to have one of the Master Stock Makers chime in. For anyone who wants a masterful made set of stocks, Keith is the go to guy. While I have a number of Farrant and others, my last 4 pair of custom made stocks have come from Keith. All my very best, Joe.

 

[Retired W4]

A local has it but is not a gun person - I haven't seen it for some time so don't know the serial but I'd say condition is 95+%. It's wearing darker Fuzzy Farrant stocks and they're the type that require the frame being cut. Don't believe there's a box or any other items with it.

My computer is going crazy/un controlled! Sorry.

 

[Retired W4]

A local has it but is not a gun person - I haven't seen it for some time so don't know the serial but I'd say condition is 95+%. It's wearing darker Fuzzy Farrant stocks and they're the type that require the frame being cut. Don't believe there's a box or any other items with it.

Given the lack of info, would $700 be out-of-line for this?

To add my $.02, that 19-3 in the condition described should sell for less than $700, un-modified. That being said, It is my understanding that Farrant, and many others, believed that the change in grip angle would improve the shooters accuracy, as the gun would point more naturally, and that could only be achieved by cutting the grip frame (on S&W revolvers). I think that is what they believed.

I have seen FF's work and I have seen several want-to-be's (outside the FF contemporaries in the LA area). Who did the frame modification and who made the stocks should make a difference in value I think. I don't know that any marks were applied to grip frames or stocks by the big boys. No expert here, just my 2 cents.

 

[Joe Kent]

Retired W4, to the best of my limited knowledge, none of the stock makers like Fuzzy did the cutting unless maybe it was for a friend. Most users like myself just cut the frame ourselves. Everyone that I knew at the time used dremel tools and then a fine cut file to clean it up followed by some cold blue. Joe.

 

[TAROMAN]

A cut up Model 19?
Maybe $350, maybe.