This Old Gun: 1972 Smith & Wesson Model 19

Found this 50 year old beauty at a local shop and snagged it for myself! It is a dash 3 version of the S&W Model 19, which makes this referred to as the Model 19-3. It is chambered in 357 magnum and has actual blued steel. I believe the grips have been replaced with the later dash 4 (model 19-4) grips as they have a sort of cut out for easier loading and unloading. In any case, it is a low mileage beauty, probably owned by a little old lady in Pasadena,
that only used it on Sundays, LOL. I feel lucky to have found one this nice!
P.S. The latch for opening the cylinder was a little loose in the video, and I tightened it again easily.
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[@michaelsouza3582]

Bought one used from an Oakland, California motorcycle cop in 1976. He had it worked on and is still the smoothest gun I've ever shot. Hope my grandson appreciates it when he takes possession.....

[@DanYarbroughIV]

I recently bought a Smith &Wesson model 19-3 from a good friend and it is absolutely beautiful and is a joy to shoot. I am very lucky to have gotten it from my friend who bought it from the original owner so it is in flawless condition.

[@Mr89siR]

My dad passed away 1 week ago today.i inherited his 28-2 highway patrolman and it's close to the condition of yours here. I sure do miss him alot.

[@palerider964]

My condolences.😔

[@troyspurling1910]

"To have and hold". Absolutely! I have a few of those too. Thanks for this video. It's nice to appreciate guns from days gone bye, when we live in the world of plastic and cerekote

[@stevendeatley4878]

My friends think I'm weird because my handguns ,are as they tell me all old blue or nickel steel old Colts and Smith&wesson six shooters ,but I have always loved the old revolvers ,I just can't get into the plastic guns.I think the glock pistols are great handguns but my breath just catches when I see a old Colts single action .plastic,caint hold a light to walnut and steel.

[@Blackened88]

i agree. there’s something really special and one of a kind about an old revolver that modern hand guns don’t have. but the modern handguns like the VP9, FN 509, Walther PDP, etc… are still exceptional firearms. However I’m not a fan of the “classic” line up from S&W. A Model 19 produced today is no where near the same as a 19 from the 70’s and before. That old school appeal is missing.

[@felixcat9318]

What an absolute beauty! I would much prefer an older Classic in good condition than their newer model. Not a fan of things like MIM parts or ketholes in the side of the frame. Your gum fired as beautifully as it looked.

[@gwidwock]

My collection includes 5 model 19s. 1 19 4" (no dash 1958) 1 19-3 4"(1970) 1 19-3 6" 3Ts (1974) 1 19-3 2 1/2" (1972) 1 19-4 4" 3Ts Nickle (1978) All are in 98% blue book condition. As you can tell, the old model 19 is the favorite in my collection. I have more of these than other models. Thanks for the video. It's good to know that others see the beauty in a fine crafted firearm as you do. You got yourself a gem there. Thanks for the video.

[@clplusp8762]

Ive easily got about three dozen pistols, only two of which are revolvers. And one of those revolvers is a 19-3 which my wife gave me for father’s day… it is BY FAR MY MOST BEAUTIFUL PIECE. When i got it I was mesmerized and just held it and looked at it. I still kind of get that effect to this day

[@capt.mike73ahoy14]

A work of art.

[@thomasosteen6027]

I couldn’t agree with you more. I have the same model 19-3 and it’s by far my favorite revolver. Thanks for the video and take care.

[@d7dun1010]

Carried two of those on-duty at different times for many years! One was issued in blued and I bought one in nickel. Both just outstanding! Never felt outgunned or under gunned EVER! The 125gr Speer Lawman load was the issue and they were very very hot, uncomfortably so! Most of us carried the first two chambers with .38 plus Ps and the remaining four .357! Had a Safariland speedloader pouch that held four of their speedloaders. The guns were carried in an issued Nelson Front Break Holster. Liked it better than the Hoyt that was also popular at the time with CHP. Sorry to hear you won't be shooting it a lot? Great gun that begs to be carried and shot. Your gun. Your choice. Thank you so much! This content took me back.

[@guaporeturns9472]

What was the logic behind carrying the first two +p and the others 357?

[@d7dun1010]

Good morning! I'll try to keep it short. The issue S&W m19 in 4" is a medium framed .38/.357. Due to it's relatively lighter weight it was a joy to carry as opposed to the much heavier but easier to shoot S&W N Frame guns. Both could be had in the same caliber. The issue round was a Speer Lawman 125gr .357HP. Great round but a barn burner with a lot of flash, blast and heavy recoil. Again, great fighting round and gun but not a lot of fun to shoot. With that said and to your point, it was the common thought to load the first two or all of the chambers with the .38+P+ also known as the Treasury Load or similar. Great load with a great reputation for fight stopping. The benefit was a really good fight stopping load without all the blast and recoil of a full bore .357. Two fast and arguably more accurately placed rounds of +P+ should stop the fight. If not, here comes the big boys and cancel Christmas for the the bad guy! This loading seems to work well for us and gave us a lot of confidence and comfort. However, if you didn't like that there was we had the option to go full bore .357. Hope that explained why we did that then? Thoughts?

[@guaporeturns9472]

@@d7dun1010 makes sense . Thanks

[@yukon4545]

My 19-3, 1975, has the 'football' stocks. Bought it new in '75. I was lead to believe that the scallop stocks didn't appear until later.

[@22Phanatic]

You sir are Correct!

[@jerryg4688]

Yes, those grips didn't come standard until the 19-5. Someone probably changed the grips

[@kylewood8327]

Excellent find! I’ve had my 6inch M19-4 since 1982. And it’s still in pristine condition too.

[@FCV0511]

There's nothing quite like a lovely, pre-lock S&W. Especially with in-house made wood grips, lustrous bluing, and the rest of the features that come with it. Congrats on finding this one - it's a beauty!

[@almanji8046]

Beautiful, gorgeous handgun. 💯🙂👌👍🙏

[@Broken_Arrow58]

Appreciate you leave politics and drama out of your reviews. It's to the point that your gun channel will be the only one I don't unsubscribe from. Cool revolver, BTW.

[@johnspink6557]

Bought mine 1977 from the famous Colosimo’s gun shop. I was a rookie cop. It was a four inch 19-3. We were issued model 10’s with a bull barrel. Sometimes I carried this wonderful firearm with the only ammo we were issued, 38 specials 158 grain lead semi-wadcutters. Anemic at best but boy could that gun shoot. Whatever I put that sight on is where the bullet went. I sent it back to S&W and had it re-blued. It has an unbelievable royal blue finish that I don’t want to score the cylinder shooting it. Glad I still have it.

[@iCANT_BELIEVE_YOU_SAID_THAT]

All I did was blink and didn't even see the trigger move. It's like magic.

[@jameswilson1407]

Back when S/W made quality firearms!

[@craigakey1523]

I love my Smith & Wessom 19-3. It is a great Revolver and a piece of history. It was my Father's service revolver in the 70's. Great and flawless.

[@lawrenceflater3300]

Oh yeah! More of these please! Great video.

[@mikedgg2]

It's a beauty!!

[@jameskringlee8974]

I have noticed on that vintage model 19 some flat cuts on the bottom of the forcing cones remove noticeably more metal. "The Smith & Wesson L-Frame Story" includes the best model 19 "cracked forcing cone” problem explanation I have found. Using the right, meaning heavy, bullet and the right burning speed powder, ?, some grizzly bear powerful loadings can be used, in moderation, even if your barrel forcing cone has the "flat" cut on it's underside, unless it's a "bad manufacturing day excessive flat cut" or during the excessive "over-cut" vintage mid to late 19-3 early 19-4 when S&W made a decision to move the gas ring to the yoke and for a time after the gas ring was moved back to the cylinder until they adjusted back to the less severe flat cut again possible with the cylinder mounted gas ring. "-A weakened barrel extension, caused by the aggressive milling of a flat at the 6 O'clock position (which was required for the models with yoke-mounted gas rings, but unnecessary-yet still continued-for later 19-4 / 66-1 models with cylinder-mounted gas rings), and;".... from "The Smith & Wesson L-Frame Story"

[@billbaker3565]

A great find in excellent condition. Congratulations on finding it.

[@mikemc330]

One of my favorite firearms. Excellent review. Thank you.

[@lylesmith5079]

I have two 19-3s. A 4" and 2.5". The best guns ever made IMHO.

[@johndilday1846]

Gorgeous gun. Congratulations on such a nice acquisition! Nice shooter, too!

[@maeve4686]

I bought my model 19 new in box in 1972 , with a LE discount, for $110.00! in San Diego area, as I was on the college Pistol Team . We won many competitions and as early women police candidates I think we were something of a novelty. We were included in the Men's categories as there were so few of us. We were in the beginning category, but probably shot well enough to advance. Still have my baby, & with all the hundreds of rounds through it, the firing pin is still MOSTLY there...lol

[@jameskringlee8974]

$135.00 - as I remember, for "civilians" in 1974

[@maeve4686]

@james kringlee LOL...college had some perks back then. We were taught & trained under 2 San Diego Police Sargeants. Both from Homicide. Fun times now that I'm 70 & left with memories. Those I've not forgotten...yet!

[@dannyp2267]

Great find!

[@motorosso3349]

I have that exact same gun. Mine isn't for sale either! Best looking gun in my collection.

[@lewissmith8743]

Thank you for a great review and history of that beautiful old revolver. I had not heard of the method you mentioned on closing the cylinder to prevent the drag line. I will do it when using my revolvers. Thanks again.

[@leewatts5956]

Great find. Yours also had a trigger stop installed on it. The recessed chambers were really a safety feature against cartridge case blowout. Pretty common back in the day. The only flaws in these old models was the ejector rods were prone to unscrew as the cylinder rotated. Later on Smith and Wesson reversed the threads on the rod. If you seriously carried and shot these you made sure all screws were tight after cleaning. I have loved Smith and Wesson K frame magnums for over 50 years. New ones are stronger, but not as sleek and classy as the old ones.

[@guaporeturns9472]

Never heard of case “blow outs” being a problem. Anyway sweet revolver

[@lynnkramer1211]

I got mine from a retired State Trooper in Idaho. I paid $350. I got it for shooting it. I have since had it Cerakoted black. It is a well loved gun. Guns that have done the job, and had a history are my favorite ones. You got a fine shooter. It would serve well competitively too.

[@Disraeli82]

Great info. I need to get a 19. My Dad carried one when I was a kid and I’ve been wanting one in the collection forever.

[@alanaliyev456GT]

19 is good collectible but for use Full loads 357 rounds. 586 is a best value. And i prefere look of old registered magnum. ( easy to recreate with small grips in 6" )

[@scottydouglass1892]

I have a -4 model. It has a tiny bit of holster wear on the end of the barrel. It is (please lord don't strike me down) as smooth as my python. It is large and really gets peoples attention. I love it. And .357 magnum is a monster of a cartridge. .38 is sweet and you can shoot it all day long.

[@SamWalk-hu8mo]

I can remember when these were rather common in gun shops. I believe they were introduced around 1955-56, and referred to as the police officer's dream gun. I thought of them as rather generic. In the seventies a fine blued revolver was no big deal. I bought one new and eventually traded it off. Now days a really nice one is a little hard to find as many were used as duty guns and are now somewhat worn. Smith stopped making the original version about 1999. The new one's don't seem quite as nice.

[@smithn.wesson495]

This video shows how the triggers from the old, or original, models are better than the factory triggers now. You can get an outstanding trigger on a new S&W, with a spring kit and full trigger job.

[@MikeMiasuki-vy3xx]

Ole Skeeter and Bill Jordan were right. The Model 19 is the ideal cops gun. For that matter, it is the second runner up to the dreaded "one gun" situation.

[@bosse641]

What a beauty.

[@danielursum5575]

In 1972 the Michigan DNR had opened trapping season on the 10th of November. With that taking us into deer season, I opted to want to purchase a pistol to carry while trapping. Our local gun shop had recently gotten two model19s. I bought one for $145.00, should have gotten them both.. Still have mine.

[@lens7859]

Beautiful

[@danielross2583]

Love this gun!!!!

[@Johnnyjonas274]

Had an issued duty 19 in the 80s. Not sure if it was a dash 2 or 3. Same stocks with the speed loader cut out. Wish I could’ve bought it when we went to autos, but the PD traded them all in. I still have a 19-5 with a 2 1/2” barrel that I bought new in ‘86 for off duty use. Will never sell it.

[@N98858]

Just acquired one (19-3) in similar if not a tad better condition... Love it!

[@andrewpinheiro7202]

You can change the front sight . There’s a pin but it’s just blended so good to the gun you can’t see it.

[@alanaliyev456GT]

I love it with very small grips ( wood , not enveloping frame of grip.... you can see serial number withouth remove grips) for incitation of use Light ammo in K Frame! Your big enveloping grips is good for L frame 586/686. Remember 1970/80 model 19 was designed like COMBAT MAGNUM.... . SELL WITH VERY SMALL GRIPS EVEN IN 6 INCHES ( LOOK OF ORIGINAL REGISTERED MAGNUM WAS BADASS )

[@joenewton2021]

The 19 is great

[@GeorgeHeil-gg6wv]

I've a 19-4 Hands down my favorite sixgun.

[@rickyramirez3483]

It’s a classic…but I’ll go with the new 19 just because I would love to carry it and shoot it!!!🇵🇷

[@totizabayle377]

I have the baby brother combat master piece model 15-3 that is similar which is my pride and joy although I have 15 other classic handguns like Walther PP .32acp, Colt gold Cup .45acp, Colt Mustang .389 acp ,and browning Hi -Power .9mm etc. Although I have the 686 .357, for me , the model 19 was the big fish that got away. Good video.

[@zachb.6606]

Very nice, thanks for sharing. Would love a 6" K frame.

[@bryansimmons4550]

The only classic feature it is missing is the football grip on the left side. I carried a Model 19 before I became a cop, the entire way through the academy, for several years afterwards, when I upgraded to a 66 to better handle Louisiana weather. Both of those guns ALWAYS shot more accurately then I could, and my scores were 299/300. White outline rear sight assemblies are pretty inexpensive and simple to replace. Fingernail polish works well on the front sight ramp, and my favorite color for that is the aptly named "traffic cone" orange. 😂

[@petzouqi76]

So that's why Jigen loves using this gun.

[@BigJon410]

A true safe queen.

[@Blackened88]

i have a nickel dash 3 and a blued dash 4. they are my safe queens and i will never sell them. i feel sorry for the guys i bought them from who gave up such beautiful pieces of history!

[@doranmaxwell1755]

I got a 71 model 19 that was in terrible shape.. surface rust and some minor pitting almost all the blue gone with most of the heavier pitting on the cylinder where it it was sitting on a rag. what is cool is it is a 6" 'Target' model with all the features of the K38 masterpiece. It was not fired much. I have put a couple hundred rounds through it excellent shooter. I shoot cast and coated bullets 158 grain at around 1250 fps.. pretty stout load but cast bullets won't damage the forcing cone like jacketed... I never shoot 38 spl from .357 guns... hate that ring you get in the chamber.. I have never actually seen a shot out barrel on a handgun especially one that shoots cast slugs, Any damage I have seen to a barrel is from someone cleaning the thing to death.

[@de_pin5835]

This and the M66 are fine and balanced.

[@denniskennedy3311]

I got a dash 3 in the box

[@TrailBoss1860]

I’ve had several of them and they’re fine as long as you don’t put shoot 357 magnum out because you can’t get the first six out unless you got a board to push against to get them out cylinders are rough. They weren’t hold out you better off getting a 686 or 66.

[@denniskennedy3311]

I got the same exact gun in the box don't think it has been fired yet

[@miguelangelaraya8034]

What a fucking beautyful beast!!!!!👍!!!!!

[@jasonbuck489]

Nice....

[@dannyp2267]

Saw one at pawn shop not too far from me 19-3, 4” for $660. It has some wear and the bluing isn’t the greatest, so I would imagine it was shot some. I wasn’t looking for a revolver at the moment, but it is going to be hard to pass up. I on,y have one other revolver, a Ruger GP 100 .357, 2.5”.

[@craigdamage]

Just stay away from the super high velocity 125gr .357 Magnum loads. You can run tons of lower velocity 158gr .357 Magnum loads with no risk of damage to the forcing cone.

[@cbroz7492]

My dad had one that was at least 10 years older than 1976...

[@a.j.s.8049]

Saw one of these in a pawn shop 3 years ago looking rough for $400. Regrets. 😢😅

[@joegonzales772]

I have one that looks exactly like yours mine is also a 19_3 the only difference is mine has the orange front sight I bought mine at a gun show back in the early eightees the guy there told me it was a NYPD trade in I still have it

[@Mike-ox1bu]

Thank You very very much for this video! I've been looking for the Model # and couldn't find one until watching your video. Mine reads (19-2) and is in excellent condition. Could you please tell me what it's approximately worth and what year You think it is? Been a fan of your channel for a long time. Thanks again for the awesome video!!

[@glennsammon4465]

give the serial number to S&W and they will tell you when it was made. Blue Book Of Modern Gun Values will tell you how much it is worth.

[@Mike-ox1bu]

Thank you!!!!!! @@glennsammon4465

[@royorkesjr.8386]

I have a model 19-3 I bought about 5 years ago in very good condition for 575.00 you won't get them in good condition for that price anymore

[@christianblake5823]

I really wish the Smith & Wesson company can make the old ones again. I really love the old Smith & Wesson revolvers. They were the ones I grew up with, and I am very disappointed. They are hard to find.👎😡😡

[@2VintageRacer2]

It's not an old P&R giu but a modern one.

[@vfirehorse]

😃👍✌

[@TheAlf61]

Beautiful revolver. Way off on price mentioned though.

[@mohammedcohen]

...my dad had one made ca. 1964/65 or so - unfortunately he sold it before he moved from NJ to FL in 1979 - some idiot told him the FL gun laws had to be worse than tyhos of NJ..dad should have talked to me first...I was living here.

[@pete7389]

Please don’t use those snap caps. I had one break apart on me in a chamber, which made the cylinder bind up. As a result I was unable to open up the cylinder, and had to take it to a gunsmith, which costs $. I would have been better off using decent snap caps.

[@gustonzimasheen]

"This old gun of mine been broke a thousand times Each time you break away, I fear you've gone to stay Lonely nights that come, memories that flow, bringing you back again Hurting me more and more"

[@raymondsadowski6080]

I have a 2 1/2 in version and like you will not part with it.

[@108pel]

Unbelievable they make the 19 in the classic line with a 4.25” barrel now instead of the original 4” For me, it totally ruins the Aesthetics of the once beautiful model 19.

[@scottzipperer6146]

I've been buying them since 1980 I have hundreds all pinned and recessed . They are my retirement plans

[@alanlyerly6543]

Are you blind? Of course the trigger movrd

[@outerlimitz67]

In Reality, This gun is a .38 because it was made inferior to Any Ruger .357

[@josephstabile9154]

Actually, superiorly MADE, and superiorly DESIGNED to a purpose, that being a Combat Magnum, like it's forerunner, the Combat Masterpiece.

[@isaiasrobertoblado2753]

Linda historia

[@isaiasrobertoblado2753]

Muy buen alarma