S&W Model 19

[ATR]

I bought a used model 19 about 10 years ago, blue,  4 inch barrel.   The gun has such a great finish like blue glass, were all the blue 19's like that?   Inside the grip is stamped 1978.
I have my share of guns but thats one of my favorites.
Anyone else own a 19 or a 66 ?

[Dee]

8 or 9 Model 19s. Wore two out shooting light 38s in them doing exhabition shooting. One of, if not "the' finest duty weapons I ever carried. Power, and balance at it's best. The automatic did nothing for L.E. in the way of patrol officers, that a Model 19 and a well trained officer carrying it could not have done. The fire power issue is SELDOM an actual issue in police shootings even today in the United States. Illinois HP started this trend, in the late sixties early seventies, with the adoption of the Model 39 9mm, in a attempt at getting better marksmanship out of their troopers with a less recoiling pistol. The 39 was a dismal failure, but the firepower myth was born, and lives today.MO

[Graybeard]

Have owned several 19s and 66s over the years and still own a couple of 66s but no 19s.

[Mikey]

Dee:  one of the major issues with the Illinois HP was the power levels of the 357 ammo they were using in their 6" Colt Pythons.  On more than one occasion the 150 gn armor piercing bullets used in high speed car chases, or the 158 gn 357 jacketed soft points would penetrate completely through the intended target and cause injury or undue 'concern' to innocent bystanders. 

I specifically recall a couple of shootings where the 158 gn 357s completely penetrated their targets (bad guys) and went on to injure bystanders.  I also recall the famous Thanksgiving Day car chase where the troopers wound up firing at the bad guys by using the armor piercing bullets for the 357s - one bullet penetrated completely through the vehicle and continued on to penetrate a house and impact a roast turkey that was on the living room table with the family around it - nobody injured but the turkey took a real beating and that was one of the 'concerns' that began the initiative for the IHP to find a new duty firearm. 

The IHP actually wanted a 38 Super caliber for it's power but none were made in double action/single action semi-autos, so the decision was to find a suitable 9mm.  And, as I recall, Paris Theodore of SevenTrees Holsters chambered a M39 to shoot a 38 Super round in hopes of adding something to the mix of considerations, but I think this was long after the decision had been made. Thought was also given to the Walther P-38 and it was generally favored, but it was a foreign made weapon and foreign manufacturers could not be counted on to be dependable if replacements or parts were required.  The only handgun left in consideration was the M39, which was fine as long as you used fmj ammo - the guns started giving the IHP fits when they went to the use of hp or soft point ammo.  I think the M59 helped cure that problem with the double stack mag that made chambering more positive, but I'm not sure.  Mikey.

[Dee]

Although I am not privy to the COMPLETE history of the Ill. HP, I based my statements on them from info, garnered as an instructor, in the seventies, and their ILL HP study data. As for the shooting incidents you have described, it would seem they needed more instruction on good judgement and the fact that a 357 magnum will have little effect on the terminal life of a car of any make.
I will agree with you that the Model 59 was FAR superior to the Model 39 in the realm of reliability, however to the chagrin of the fans of it. It was still a 9mm, and a failure in my experience, and others of being a RELIABLE stopper.

[Keith L]

What, 9MM not a reliable stopper?  And just a few months ago I was chastised for saying a 22 long rifle was not a reliable stopper, and was told the only reason police didn't use them for duty weapons is that most police officers didn't know what they were doing.  Go figure.

[Mikey]

"As for the shooting incidents you have described, it would seem they needed more instruction on good judgement and the fact that a 357 magnum will have little effect on the terminal life of a car of any make." 

HAHAHAHAHAHAHA.  That is soooo true.  Thank you.  Mikey.

[Drilling Man]

I bought a used model 19 about 10 years ago, blue,  4 inch barrel.   The gun has such a great finish like blue glass, were all the blue 19's like that?   Inside the grip is stamped 1978.
I have my share of guns but thats one of my favorites.
Anyone else own a 19 or a 66 ?

  The mod 19's are one of my fav handguns of all time...  I bought one new the 70's, and i still have it, except it's now converted to 44 spl...  I had to buy a second M-19 to make sure i had one around in 357 mag. too, as the 357mag. round has always been my fav. carry round.

  DM

[Mikey]

ATR:  To answer your question - Yes, I have had the real pleasure of owning a few of those beauties and I can still pick them out quickly on a table with other S&Ws at shows.  I think it is one of the best all-around handguns there is and the finish on all mine has been mirror-like.  I can easily understand why it could be your favorite.  JMTCW.  Mikey.

[Hammerdown]

I bought a used model 19 about 10 years ago, blue,  4 inch barrel.   The gun has such a great finish like blue glass, were all the blue 19's like that?   Inside the grip is stamped 1978.
I have my share of guns but thats one of my favorites.
Anyone else own a 19 or a 66 ?

Yup.. Here is a model 19-4 Unfired. This was The last change before they dropped the Pinned and recessed cylinder. The Nickel is Gorgeous with no Marks on it.. hammerdown

[canon6]

Hammerdown, you collection is amazing.That 19 is pure prime        Doug

[Hammerdown]

Hammerdown, you collection is amazing.That 19 is pure prime        Doug

Hello Doug
I appreciate your Kind words. The model 19 is recently on the rise in collectors Value in my area. It has Lagged behind the Larger-N-frame for Years, But recently it has Taken a Big collectible interest and this has Pushed the prices up. Regards, Hammerdown

[T.J. McSuds]

   I have both, 19 and 66. Both are with the 2.5" barrel.  Great shooters with super slick triggers.

[docmagnum357]

The only thing that keeps the model 19 Smith and Wesson Combat Magnum from being the "ultimate" carry revolver, in my humble opinion, is the model 29/629.  I quit carrying the formewr when i got a proper holster for the other.

[Mohawk]

  No, the only thing that kept the 19 from being a permanent fixture(I carried one), was the availability of the Model 28.......     But, yes, I love my 19. Still have her. She has put a lot of pot meat on the table and kept me safe for years, a nickle 19-5. Currently, she is wearing model 10 grips( Don't ask!!!) but she is still a pretty little thing. She has blued version rear sights among other changes. But still the only daughter I will ever have. Great revolver.....

[bilmac]

I love mine, but it has recessed cartridge case heads which I think is maybe a little less desirable in a combat revolver than one where the rear of the cylinder is open. The tight fit in the 19 seems to me might be more likely to collect some trash and stop the gun.

When our agency switched to autos they gave us the option to keep the 6 shooter which I did. I'm surprised that I was one of the few who did, and the others all seemed to keep their 6 guns because they didn't want to learn a different gun. I kept mine because the revolver is a better gun. I was kind of disappointed in the gun savy of the outfit.

[Mohawk]

  I had a recessed version,19-3, last series that offered that, I think. Anyway, great gun.

[bilmac]

I thought they weren't all that way, I don't keep up with all the models and variations.

 Another reason that I don't see the M19 as the ultimate combat revolver is the small cylinder. When the L frames first came out I was skeptical, just looked like another N frame to me, but then I got hold of one. Carrying one was not that much more than a K frame.  But sticking a speedloader in that big cylinder was a whole lot easier. I may have just been ready, but the heft of the L frame gave me the confidence to finally switch to 357s. With an adjustable sight L frame shooting 125 grain 357s, I finally felt that i had the very best combat beltgun possible. 

[Mohawk]

 Actually I think the end of the recessed cylinder was the 5th change (19-5). My 19-5 not recessed. Not sure about the -4 version. Their was a link floating around somewhere on the forum at one time that listed each change by year. If I find it I'll repost it.


Ok, I found it. Recessed cylinder is called "cylinder counterbore" on the list.

http://www.handloads.com/misc/Smith.Model.Changes.asp