The New S&W Model 19 Classic ~ A S&W Armorer's Review
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- Опубліковано 22 сер 2024
- Get the true story from a factory trained Smith & Wesson Armorer of over 45 years experience, repairing and maintaining S&W wheelguns, and who competed with the venerable Model 19 in its heyday.
See what makes the the new Classic a distinguished gun that is vastly superior to its forerunner, and is truly a worthy upgrade in so many ways that leaves its predecessor, designed nearly 60 years ago on 100 year old technology, in the dust. GunBlue490 takes you inside this truly classic gun, part by part, as only a working S&W Armorer can appreciate!
The original Model 19 was a modification of a decades old platform and was presented before the Interstate highway system, when Television sets had 13" round screens. See how the new Model 19 Classic looks beautiful as ever, while running on 21st Century technology.
![Дон ДОН, Алаудинов и СБЕЖАВШИЕ из под Курска ахматовцы 😁 [Пародия]](http://i.ytimg.com/vi/dEfCf5IK26Q/mqdefault.jpg)
Living in Springfield way back in the day....Saw a 6 inch 19-3 in the local gun shop, taken in on a trade...the blueing was good, but the the gun had been abused..50 bucks and out the door,,cause the guy liked me..I call Smith and Wesson, thinking if I have to put some money into it I'm still ahead of the game.. Secretary asks me what's wrong with the gun, I tell her...she says "bring the gun over and we'll take a look at it"...I ride over, stop at the main gate, guard comes out,,say's "what's up"?...I hold the gun up and tell him the secretary said bring the gun over...He says "Wait here"...makes a phone call,,comes back out..say's "Go up to the main building..ask for "Fran"...I go in, Fran checks the gun out,,says "let me have this for a while"...20 minutes later, comes back..had replaced the firing pin bushing, straightened the ejector rod,,and checked the cylinder timing..I reach for my wallet...Fran hands gun back, says..."You're all set"...gun hasn't missed a beat since then,accurate as hell,,,loves 38 specials..
Fran Longton ? A great guy. I had a model 19 that bought on my lunch 45 minute break when I worked at Griffin & Howe at 589 Broadway in NYC. Bought it from John Jovino Co. I still own it, TT, TH, WO, RR. We used to call it "dressed." Difficult gun to get in the late '70s. Anyway, making a long story short, I eventually worked for JJ & Co.
and the one thing that bothered me about the piece was that the bluing on the barrel was "purple." I called Fran and told him about it and also that I had it for over a year (back then the warranty was only for 1 year). He said send it and let me take a look. I did and about 2 weeks later it came back with the most beautiful bluing I've ever seen. No charge.
Later on, working for a different company, Alpine Arms in Bklyn NY, I did warranty work for S&W and Colt. Miss that work.
@@patricklozito7042 Never got his last name, but I remember handing him the gun and as he ran his hand over it, checking this, checking that....I got the vibe of some SERIOUS knowledge and experience...but to your point,,my gun has all that stuff too..One of those guns you'd never give up....
Great story, Thank you for sharing
What year was that? :O
Back in the late 80's I mistakenly lent a good, BUT NOT CAREFUL, friend my 6" 586 (to hunt with). Unknown to me he put some of his reloads through it AND admittedly had a sqib followed by a double charge (357 Mag!). both projectiles lodged in the barrel producing a slight bulge. I sent the revolver back to S&W with the aforementioned full disclosure (voiding any warranty). They checked the revolver out, found no other issues other than the barrel, replaced the barrel & sent it back WITHOUT CHARGE including a warning letter concerning 'non-factory ammunition" and "hunting buddies". I was both impressed and very pleased as well as amused by the "hunting buddy" part. Obviously I'm a big fan. That service and little bit of humor sounds like your Fran guy.
Who, and/or where could you go to get such an in-depth professional commentary???
WITHOUT PAYING FOR IT...
I love this guy...
(especially the Nawlins Central Grocery apron he wears... home of the Muffaletta Sandwich)
Those sandwiches are outstanding.
I noticed that as well , I love this guy , he just validated my $926.00 purchase today
S&W marketing dept need to hire this man. I had no interest in the new model 19's. Now I want to get one!
Although we’re from the same generation, when I watch your content I always feel like my father is speaking to me. That’s the best compliment I can give. Thanks for taking the time to do these; I’d watch them regardless of the length, and in fact enjoy the longer ones because there’s so much useful information in them. Stay healthy; you’re doing a much-needed service for gun owners across the globe.
...me too...
Nothing like hearing the truth instead of the usual gun rumor nonsense. Like the reports from gun rental companies, your experience with actual maintenance and repair is invaluable.
Thank you and Merry Christmas!
Gun rental...? What?
@@darinharper5337 rental firearms get a ton of use so rental range operators know from experience which ones hold up and which parts break more often.
Machine guns in Vegas you’ll never regret it
Great video! I looked and saw it was 50 minutes, I said to myself "I'm not gonna spend 50 minutes watching that!", but once I started I couldn't stop!
I have a new 19 and an old 19-4, I love them both.
Thank you for a great review! I too am a retired LEO, who carried a S&W from my first day on the job. I have a original 19 6” with pinned barrel, and a recessed cylinder that I competed with in the 70s that has over 200,000 rounds through it without a fail. I also have a K22 6” in a Gold box, a 2 1/2 mod 66 that I carried as a detective and a newer 66 6” w/o lock that I now use to give my original 19 a rest. I also have an original 60 and a new 60 2”, a 5906, a 3913, a 659 and I love them all and wouldn’t sell any of them.
The original 19 has been back to the factory to check for wear and metal fatigue and passed with a clean bill of health. I have never had to send any of my guns back to S&W for repair. I will tell you this back in the day they spent a lot more time on machining detail, like the ribs cut on the back straps and the barrels or the mortise for the adjustable sight being cut square to precisely fit the square sight as opposed to radiused to fit a round sight. The finish was always second to none. Many of the changes were cost cutting practices that kept S&W in business, The fact that they had to have their parts hand fitted also made them smoother and more desirable! I used to practice dry firing my old 19 by putting a dime on its front blade sight and see how many times I could dry fire without it falling off, that’s not possible with the newer guns until they have been reworked by an expert fitter like you. So there is a lot to be said for the old ways as well as the new!
back in the late 1970's, I began my career in law enforcement, as a deputy sheriff . My career was 30 years in length . My first weapon was a S&W 4 inch model 19 . Since then, I have also purchased a model 66-1 . I need to come up with one more, as all three of my sons each will have one . Great channel sir . From one retired LEO to another, enjoy your retirement, stay healthy, and keep up the great channel . 808 will be 10-42.
I carried the old model 19 when I was a leo. I loved that gun. This new gun looks spectacular. I've started buying wheel guns again, my first was a Charter Arms 32 H&R magnum. This S&W model 19 will be my next. Thank you for a wonderful presentation. Have a Blessed Christmas...
@Cliff Yablonski Accounting for inflation, they've stayed pretty much the same price forever from the factory. Of course a modern polymer wonder 9 will be much cheaper to manufacture but Smith revolvers really are a bargain for the amount of work that goes into them.
Somewhere in Shooter's Heaven, Bill Jordan is smiling.
Elmer Keith too !!!
Carried an S & W on duty for many years and it never let me down.
Having handled and dryfired a mix of wheel guns at gun shows, S & W was always hands down the best for smoothness and quality of trigger pull!
GB490 has forgotten more information about guns than most gunsmiths will ever know...
Thank you once again for giving us all this valuable information for free... You are national treasure!
Smith & Wesson should pay you for promoting their gun. Very good detailed review, thanks
Wow am I happy that I found this channel! I carried a model 19 for 20 years as a federal agent and I always thought that the old guns were so much better. Much hype to drive up the prices of vintage guns. Thanks very much for your insight, terrific video!
@@ts440syour comment is nonsensical. A “fudd” would think the opposite, they would think only the old ones were any good.
I love old guns, if you averaged out the guns I own in my collection is probably 60 years old. That being said, new smith and Wesson revolvers are actually pretty darn nice in most cases, and I own several old ones.
CALL ME "OLD SCHOOL" BUT HAVING SPENT TIME WITH COL. JEFF COOPER, A REVOLVER WILL NEVER GO OUT OF STYLE! WISHING YOU AND YOURS, A VERY MERRY CHRISTMAS!
Wasn't Cooper a 1911 guy?
HE WAS A 1911 GUY! BUT WHEN MANY DEPARTMENTS WERE ISSUING 9 MM SEMI AUTOS, THAT'S WHEN HE TOOK A STANCE IN SUPPORT OF THE REVOLVER.
I have the model 19 classic. What a fine shooter. And now I know, beyond a shadow of a doubt, that it’s a keeper. Thanks and I hope Benny is rockin’ along in good health.
Thank you for another wonderful video. I think that you hit the nail on the head regarding the debate over old vs new Smith and Wessons. A lot of people think that old is automatically better than new, and although this can be true, many times it is not. Harley Davidsons produced from about the late '60s through the early '80s were a byword for garbage. You probably remember well how AMF nearly destroyed Harley Davidson, with bikes that would leak oil on showroom floors and break down minutes after being bought and driven down the road. A new Harley is miles ahead of anything theh made during the AMF era. The 1960s and 1970s were the era of conglomerates, and you probably remember that Smith and Wesson was owned by Bangor Punta for quite some time. I read in a gun magazine once that probably 50% of Smiths made during the Bangor Punta era had to be fixed at the dealer by a gunsmith. I own a four inch 586 Classic, and I have no doubt about it being a better built gun than its predecessor. The accuracy is phenomenal and runs like a clock. And the wood stocks are beautiful. A new Ford Mustang is undoubtedly a better built car than a Mustang from 1968. New skis made by Rossignol or Völkl or K2 are going to be leagues better than skis from the '70s. Vintage products are cool, and fun to have, but I think most people don't realize that back in the day there was a lot of fixing and upgrading the stuff that the guys at the factory missed or let slip through. A new Winchester Model 70 made by FN will outshoot any of the old pre-'64 guns, yet we still overpay for a pre-'64 M70 that is not even a Super Grade, just the plain Jane model in a super common chanbering like .270 Winchester or .30-06 SPRG. CNC machining was a huge game changer, and we have better guns and vehicles for it. Thanks again for a great video, I was wondering if you would be willing to do a comprehensive video on the great Sako rifles of Finland one day? I quite enjoy the Finnish rifles and would be interested in learning about the history of the company and the various models. My Dad used to own two Finnbears, one in .30-06 and one in .300 Winchester Magnum, and he told me they were the finest rifles he's ever owned. Merry Christmas to you and your family.
I may do that, as I have owned a number of Sako rifles, all wonderfully made. Your observations of product improvement are exactly correct. As a Smith and Wesson armorer, I can attest that they routinely shipped poorly made guns that I was required to repair before they could be issued. I was told by them that they trained armorers free of cost (all other S&W courses cost police departments big bucks), because it allowed us to handle the repair load, not them! The gun world was rife with bad products, and no companies offered customer service or support of any kind. The notion that guns were superior in those days is nostalgic fantasy that bears no semblance of reality. Caveat emptor...buyer beware, was the byword of the 20th Century, no matter what you bought. You owned it.
Outstanding video. Your best ever in my opinion. You've sold me on the new Smith & Wesson Model 19. :)
Sir, you are national treasure!
What brought me here? My father passed away last year. He was a competition shooter back in his day. My first big handgun shooting was his S&W Model 19 at 12 years old. I also have my own Model 29. We are a wheel gun, lever action rifle family all the way back to the beginning. We started with reloading because we *never* used store bought amunition. Then we went out and never shot under 25 yards. Sometimes we'd try up to 300 yards on an 18 in gong with the Model 19. We hit it a lot.
I just learned more about these guns (I own 4 wheel guns) than I've ever known before. How cool is that? I'm going to rewatch this several more times. It was that good. You brought me a lot of joy by creating this. Thank you.
I enjoyed your comments. Thank you!
Thank you young man. Brings to mind my 19-3, circa 1975, which I still have. After a friend and I goofed it up, I had the good fortune that the State Patrol armorer lived in the same town. WOW! It did and still does ' sing'!
HBWC's took many a gopher.
Thanks again.
Excellent video! I love when someone speaks from experience, and you certainly seem to have that.
I have the mod 19 in the detective version and now I have to have one of the new one's. That was a great job on the internal workings its what I've been waiting to see to make my mind up. You always have great and informative videos. Thanks
Thank you for the thorough and informative walk thru.
Merry Christmas 2019. Hope to see more content from you in 2020
This is the only true gun channel in my book. Blue is truly a gifted man with an incredible amount of knowledge. Documenting his life's work will solidify his legacy forever, and greatly help future generations understand and appreciate firearms on a whole new level.
So refreshing to hear this guy. I’m fairly new to shooting and my first gun was a brand new Smith & Wesson Model 10-14, which I love, and in which I take great pride. I bought a 9mm semiautomatic, and then I bought a brand new Smith and Wesson 686-6.
Since then, I’ve heard nothing but revolver shaming on UA-cam for buying the new “Classic” models instead of seeking out vintage Smith and Wesson revolvers. It’s good to hear from an expert the new models are just as good and probably better than the old ones.
I carried a revolver for the first 20 yrs of my career, which included three on-duty shootings, so I was one of those who believed the old guns were better. This has been a real education, thank you.
I absolutely love that cold black walnut sheen that stands out so profoundly that even the camera captures its beauty. What a tremendously elegant firearm. Thank you for the tour. Absolutely perfect!
I had the pleasure of wearing old issue model 10 out. As well as having armouriers course, was a blast
Were you in the John Contos era?
@@GunBlue490 it was some years ago, late 80 s, early 90 s. Lead instructor was named john, i do not recall his last name. I went there as a member of the Royal Canadian Mounted police, with hopes of getting into armourer course Regina, Sask. Great bunch of fellows on the course.
@@mertonsilliker3686 👍 love the model 10
@@mertonsilliker3686Instead of signing, John Contos stamped his name in 1 inch block letters on the armorer certificate, if you might recall that. He was a rather funny guy with dry humor.
I really appreciate your opinion on the newer S&W revolvers. I've heard so much bashing but I love my 586 Classic and I've never had a problem with it.
Agreed. My 586 classic is truly a masterpiece. The finish is like obsidian glass and the trigger straight off the production line is the best trigger I’ve ever pulled in 30 years. Excellent piece indeed.
Another great video... such a wealth of knowledge that we so desperately need today. You sir have one of the best gun channel on UA-cam. God bless.
I was a scottish police officer in the 80's and whilst we were not armed I was a competetive pistol shooter. The S and W 19 being my first revolver. It was a lovely gun and served me well in comps including the British Police championships in Bisley, England.Very accurate and well made. It was until I had a double discharge and the chambers exploded due to my bad reloading !! I then bought a 586L and whilst it was a fine revolver it was just not the same action as on my 19. Amazing video , great storyteller and nice to see an old officer recounting his halycon days.
I am a 70 yr. young Canadian. Had handguns when I was in my 20’s and planned to own more and take up the shooting sport in retirement. When hearing about our governments 2022 plan to permanently ban the sale and transfer of all handguns and being interested in taking up target shooting as a hobby, I found myself faced with having to try and purchase all the handguns I might like to own and shoot during the balance of my days. Watched a bunch of video and read many blogs about the superiority of pinned and recessed S&W revolvers and the poor quality of more recent versions. I ended up with a couple of older revolvers and a couple of Classics including a 4.25” (4” is banned in Canada) model 19 and a 6” 586. Really appreciate this very informative GunBlue4 video comparing the old to the new. Very informative! God bless America.
My dad has a Model 65 that I purchased back in 1994. I have always loved the S&W revolvers. I've wanted one for years, but the prices have been ridiculous for them. While I am not an expert, my time as a LEO taught me how to really look at a firearm, and I agree that most of the ones out there are not worth the price asked. Watching your video has really inspired within me the desire to buy one of these new Combat Magnums. My father carried one on duty back in the day, and I remember him cleaning it in his bedroom, and putting it in his duty holster before leaving the house. You cannot beat a quality revolver, and I am so happy to see that S&W has improved the quality of its wheel guns. Man, it sounds soo smooth at the end. I wish I could reach into the screen to try it out.
Sorry, sir, but better made doesn't mean better, especially in the collectors' world. If you made this whole gun electronic but looks the same would you like more 🤔 answer that truthfully and you will understand why prices are what they are.
Very good presentation of the model 19. I'm protesting Smith though like a lot of folks do over that Hillary hole. Their missing out on a lot of sales. A lot.
That device is the result of consumer law suits, not politics. You can thank the litigious generation we live with.
I greatly appreciate you sharing your knowledge, through your videos, thank you. This video sealed the deal for me on this revolver, I ordered on yesterday and it is due in next week. The back story is that I owned a M19 for 35 years and loved that revolver, as did our son. Sadly the M19 went out of time and I put it in the safe a few years ago. I decided to call S&W and see about getting it repaired. I was impressed with the way they treated me and I sent the gun back to them, fully expecting to wait 6-8 months. I included a letter explaining the issue and that when returned, I would be giving it to our son as part of his commissioning gift as a 2nd LT in the US ARMY, upon completing ROTC. I got a call from S&W and the nice gal told me that "Jake" read my letter and wanted to work on the M19 himself. Turns out that Jake is the head gunsmith at S&W and liked my M19 as much as I did. Two weeks later, yes two weeks later, it was returned to me as good as new and with all new springs to boot. The gun was like new and i was eternally grateful. I sent a thank you letter to S&W. Our son now owns that M19 and he loves it as much as i did. Forgive the long post, however I am so excited to get the new replacement. Thank you for a fine YT presentation each and every time. Be well sir.
That's a wonderful story. Thanks for sharing.
In 1992 I sent my Smith & Wesson Model 625 in for an "Action Package". It cost me $122.00. The best investment I ever made! The double action trigger pull was smooth as silk. Who knows, maybe you worked on the revolver. Your videos are terrific. I get an education every time I view one.
One of the joys of UA-cam is running across a true expert in his field. These experts are getting more difficult to find, with all the white noise, and posers, but they are out there. This guy is a perfect example. Thanks for the truly informative video.
Thank you for giving me a gunblue fix. Excellent video! The safety has certainly gotten a lot of attention from gun channels. I’m with you. It’s really not a big deal.
You hear something enough it becomes so-called fact, who hasn't heard how crappy new Smith guns are, and how great the tolerances of the old. This video is saved!
My grandfather’s personal favorite revolver. I remember shooting a model 19 earlier generation a lot when I was younger. Often in a 125 grain loading from Remington.
The Model 19 was my side arm when I was a deputy. Also, I was able to shoot 1st place master state champion. I just ordered a new model 19. Looked at the expensive old ones. So glad you explained how improved the new ones are. Thank you, Sir
You're quite welcome! Glad to have helped.
I just learned so many things, Thank You
Sold my 67 no dash and bought one of these. No regrets before this video, and definitely none after. You just reassured my purchase. Thank you.
Fascinating video. Very interesting to hear about the reality of the old guns, when they were used and abused in quantity and not just obsessed over by collectors.
I'd say from a functionality standpoint the new revolvers are superior. You are correct about the metalurgical aspect being improved, though MIM for me can be a mixed bag. A forged, machined piece is always superior, and I do not trust smaller, more heavily stressed MIMed parts like extractors on some modern semi autos. From an aesthetic standpoint, however, the old revolvers are unmatched. The case hardening on the hammer/trigger were superior, the hammer nose for me looked better than the flat hammers, the bluing was much better on the old ones (the new ones look like paint,) recessed cylinders were a plus, and the older grips looked better to me. Not to mention, the old revolvers had that "made by hand" touch that the modern ones do not. Not to say I wouldn't buy a new one, but I understand the love of the older models.
Aesthetics? This is one beautiful gun. Old is better? Only because the lemons are gone and those remaining have been fixed.
@@SB-eu7gb I will tell ya that the way old Colt revolvers were blued, it made a beautiful finish but due to modern regulations ya can't make it like that anymore.
My Grandpa served in Vietnam, seldom talked about firearms - he passed this time last year. I stumbled upon your channel looking for some information on revolvers, considering getting my first firearm for a conceal carry/open carry and found your channel. Thanks for your wisdom and warm personality.
I was only aware of some of the changes in the new Model 19, so I appreciate the detailed look at the many improvements. The one feature I absolutely detest in the new gun is the reshaped frame which was necessitated by the incorporation of a manual lock. This is purely a cosmetic concern, but it has kept me from acquiring one of the new revolvers. I still own a highly tuned Model 19 that master gunsmith Bob Day rebuilt for me in the early 1980s. It's a safe queen these days, though I have long babied it. After watching your video I may force myself to overlook the cosmetic difference and get a Model 19 that is truly mechanically superior and more shootable than mine. Thanks for the detailed analysis.
I'm so glad you did this review on the new classic model 19! Thank you so much! I have been seriously thinking about buying a older 19 but I was so afraid of over paying for a problem gun that would cost me even more to get it functioning properly. I'm not a collector so the new one is perfect for me. I'm so glad to hear that the 19 is better than ever. After watching your series on how to shoot a handgun well I wanted to get a nice revolver. I think the 19 will be perfect for me. I love the old school look and the flexibility of being able to shoot 38 or 357 mag. Thanks again you saved me a lot of time and money and stress.
You're back!..Merry Christmas! As always, informative and educational video..The Best on UA-cam.
Agreed. Best on you tube!!!
I visited Springfield several times in the late ‘70’s, with a fellow LEO. We brought a few guns to have worked on and had lunch with Franie Longtin, Franie was The Boss and a good friend to my detective buddy. A great time, sadly both have gone west. Great video, thanks. S&W revolvers rule.
Dear Sir, I really appreciate your discussion’s of Smith & Wesson revolvers as you truly know what you are taking about. It is a pleasure to watch.
Hands down, this is the best review on the model 19. I think you have convinced that the new guns are good to go. I guess I can live with the lock. Don’t get me wrong I have a 66-3 snub nose in mint condition, it’s a great revolver. If I can not locate and older 19 in good condition at a reasonable price I will go with a new one.
There are aftermarket plugs available to fill in the frame hole and flag slot for those locks.
You can get a lock delete plug that goes in with no permanent changes at all.
Gotta love it when someone who knows what they're talking about puts out content. Old stuff was not necessarily better. It was worked on by hand because the machinery wasn't as good as what we have now. Great video. Thank you for sharing.
Thank you. You are entirely correct. People at benches were required to adjust, file, hammer, and pick assorted parts to fit and correct the wide tolerances created by antiquated machines that S&W had been using since the 1800s. The vastly better quality made possible by robotics (though they replaced too many people's wages) cannot be compared. Modern CNC machine work has literally eliminated the concept of tolerance. That's quite evident to anyone who owned a car 40 years ago that didn't start, broke down, and was a challenge to reach 80,000 miles before the junk yard.
Thank you again sir for the benefit of your vast experience. I wish you, your family and of course Benny a joyous Christmas and may we see more of you next year. Best wishes from Australia.
Fantastic video!!! Thank you for this professional's take on a subject that needed this clarification. I've always been of the mind that the new Smith & Wesson revolvers are indeed better and more robust than the "vintage" models. Naturally a well cared for example of an old model that's in good working order is gonna be sought after from a collector's standpoint. But, these new ones are fantastic!!! I love all of the new Smiths I have and have zero complaints. They are more burly and rugged now than their predecessors.
My 1978 19-4 will perform as well or better that the Classic. My 19-5 isn't as good.
Thank you Gunblue ,your channel is one of the best on gun topics . Its beautiful revolver but I can't get past the Key hOle LOck . Ive tried , I own a few S&W revolvers & I have two with the lock & the trigger on those are noticeable worse then the ones without the locks.
Smith & Wesson Please make this Classic Model with out the Lock. You have done it for the 442
You will have to indemnify them against the first law suit when someone claims they shot themselves because it wasn't there. S&W didn't spend money engineering and installing that lock because they wanted to. Wolves are at every gun makers door.
@@GunBlue490 I did not Know that about the law suit .I will watch what I say about that subject from now on. I worry so much for this Country, seems like everything is upside down . Thanks for the reply and Merry Christmas GunBlue. I'm Praying for this Country .
THAT'S THE TRUTH !
Excellent tutorial, I agree the new version is better than the old design, you proved this.. I had a model 19 that was very accurate and a pleasure to shoot for 15 years and it was used when I bought it, unfortunately it was stolen.. I have thought about replacing it, however, I have other models of the S&W and semi autos, so I never followed though. After learning the refinements the new model has I'm interested again.. Thank you, God bless and Merry Christmas...
Happy New Year GunBlue490, Five years ago I purchased 43 acres in Maine not far from the North Conway border. Happy to here someone on UA-cam from close by. For the last five years i have been developing the land and now want to start hunting in 2020. i don't meet to many people that are as knowledgeable like yourself. I just purchased a Winchester 308 model 70 and after watching your video on scopes for shooting in the woods I bought a low powered from Cabela's. in one of your videos I thought you mentioned people Email you about doing specific videos and i did not find any address to do so. Thank You for sharing your knowledge ! God Bless
Fantastic revolvers! I won a good many IDPA revolver matches using the Model 10 and 15. The Model 10 is a classic combat revolver, the Model 15 is a classic target and combat revolver. The Model 19 with a polished trigger for double action. I could smoke targets like nothing. I may not be the best but good enough to be dangerous. There were many Model 19 shooters who smoked targets like nothing and I had learned from them. Yes this was a fantastic revolver.
Thank you for taking the time to explain the differences between the old and the new Smith and Wesson Model 19, I really appreciated the information. I believe I will be buying the new one some day.
Thank you so much for the complete factory tour good sir. I have the new 19 and it’s companion the performance center 19 k carry comp. I absolutely love them and they hold the number 1 and number 2 spots in my collection of 10 Smith & Wesson revolvers that span back to 1988. I agree with you regarding the new techniques and advancements in both parts and manufacturing are indeed improvements over the older gun production methods. As a professional scientist, it is in my DNA to accept and appreciate innovation. I appreciate you taking the time to clearly describe and provide evidence of your claims. Your knowledge does not fall on deaf ears, and although I’m only 46 years old I have been around the firearms circuit for each of those years and have been carrying one or more smith and Wesson’s on a daily basis since 1992. Your insight on weaponry and just being a good guy make your videos wholesome and trustworthy. I look forward to seeing more material from you with hopes of perhaps some range footage so we can see the legend in action. Would you ever consider doing an at the range video for us?
Thank you for posting this. I learn so much about both the past and present history of Smith & Wesson revolvers in those 50 min. Please continue to share your knowledge on these firearms.
I'am glad to see you again,love your videos. Greetings from Norway
Rance here. I was recently perusing your video channel site and came across this video which addressed the exact issue which interested me. This was such a good video that I was so impressed with all of the genius changes S&W made in this revolver manufactor and the millions of dollars required to bring this to fruition, all for a gun type that is not their main revenue producer. This truly has to be a customer focused company. Thanks for sharing your knowledge of firearms with us. Also thank you for being bold and strong in our Christian faith. I did see the religious photo of our Jesus on background wall.
I bought a 4" Model 19 in 1976. The gun writers sold me on the fact that it was the FBI's service revolver and they ought to know. (The FBI actually used the fixed-sight Model 13 M&P with custom 3" heavy barrel and round butt but I didn't know that then.) I still remember my impression of those articles today, 46 years later. Perfect combination of weight, carrying size, and power they said. The Model 19 had a noticeably better finish than the other S&W models in the case. I guess it was competing with the Colt Python which had a mirror blue finish but cost a third more. It seemed like a good deal. My model 19 shot .38 Special really well but it was hard to control with factory .357 magnum loads. I had to shoot it single-action with a two-handed grip. After a few boxes of factory .357 magnums the cylinder began to bind and jam. It also seemed the ejector rod wasn't long enough to fully eject .357 cases. I had to tip the gun back to get them to fall out. I took it back to the gun shop. They kept it for a couple of months. When I picked it up their gunsmith told me to keep it really clean because "it had tight tolerances like a Swiss watch." I'd only had it a few months and I had kept it clean. I gave it another try. It started binding again after just a few more boxes of .357. It still shot .38 Specials with no complaints and quite accurately. I kept my .357 handloads to 1,000-1,200 fps and never had any more trouble with it. I still have it.
Just a few years later the same gun writers that had sold me on the Model 19 wrote that it seemed K-frame guns weren't really up to full factory .357 magnum rounds. The writers said the FBI and other police organizations were having issues with their K-frames. Some had problems with bent/worn cylinder pins or they wouldn't stay cocked on single action. A few had developed cracked forcing cones. Some blamed it on the high velocity (~1500 fps) 125 gr HP Super Vel ammo which was the hot thing with law enforcement back then. Remington came out with a similar 125 gr round that made 1,450fps from a 4" barrel. The underside of the barrel's forcing cone is D-shaped to clear the cylinder gas ring. It cracks on that flat with a diet of high-velocity ammo. Mine didn't crack but I didn't shoot Super Vel. Super Vel had actually gone out of business around 1975 but you could still find a lot of their ammo around. I still remember the yellow boxes. I'm told factory .357 is loaded more mildly these days. The explanation went out that the K-frame was a .38 that could shoot .357. They were intended to shoot .38s for practice and only load .357 for on-duty carry. Now you tell us. The writers said we needed to go right out and buy a brand-spanking-new L-frame. Meanwhile, the FBI went to the S&W 459 auto. After that I took everything gun writers said with a large dose of salt. Fool me once...
Yes, you are correct on all counts. My Smith and Wesson instructor explicitly told us that the K-frame simply did not have sufficient mass to withstand routine magnum firing. That was also his admonishment regarding the N-frame Model 29 with regards to regular use of .44 Magnum loads. The current production of their guns are far stronger and made with advanced design that has addressed the weaknesses of the earlier models, however pretty they were.
Thank you for all the GREAT info. Love the model 19 and I am glad to hear it’s still made very well. Love your videos!
Absolutely fantastic!! Thanks again for your knowledge.
A couple of years ago, a friend of mine traded 2 model 19s for a Kimber 45. I picked up the better one of the 2 for about 600$ A nice 6" target. One of my favorite shooters.
Thank you for sharing such a wonderful "Christmas gift" of knowledge . Zero issues with my extremely low round count 19-5 . Can now see how truly worth the cost the new ones actually are . As well as all the improvements in fit & function . And busted myths .
May you , your wife , and your entire family including Benny have a very Merry Christmas and Happy New Year .
God bless and a very Merry Christmas and a Happy New year to you and your family.
Thank you for this video. I have owned a Model 19 and I absolutely loved it. But I had purchased it used and it obviously had a hard life.
It still shot well and very accurate. But it had been shot loose.
I sold it with the intention of buying a better model 19. I have yet to find one in good shape for a reasonable price.
I still may buy a cream puff as an investment. But I want a good safe reliable model 19 that I can shoot and carry.
I will be picking one of these up. I love the ones I have now. A model 10, 64, and a wonderful model 14. But still miss my 19
I'm surprised there was no mention of the forcing cone thickness improvement. The old ones had a chamfer for clearance that forced S&W to remove material off the bottom of the forcing cone. The new ones are uniform all around. I saw some pics of the old ones cracking at the bottom likely due to abuse of heavy home loads. Still, the new design is better in that regard.
Yes, you are correct. The old style gas ring required clearance and a flat cut under the barrel extension. The new design allows for an uncut barrel, which is also a tougher stainless steel. That weakness is eliminated.
I appreciate you very much Mr.Gunblue. You are such an inspiration to me. I love firearms, and the knowledge you have taught me is priceless. Thank you so much for everything! I pray for you, your family and Benny boy. Have a very Merry Christmas!
I wish I could meet you. What an honor that would be. You have forgotten more than most people have ever learned. God Bless.
You've confirmed everything I have abided by when it came to purchasing the evolution of design rather than chasing vintage handguns that do not employ the sort of engineering improvements in the modern S&W revolvers, many that you pointed out here. More people should watch this video and I am sure many will be swayed to buy a new classic over the vintage revolvers without the evolutionary improvements. Well done !!!
I just purchased a S&W 686 plus Pro Series and I started my journey in law enforcement, in 1991, when the semiautomatic pistol was the norm. When some people see a revolver, the think old and out dated, but as the old saying goes, "be aware of the man with one gun, he may know how to use it!" The awesome power of the .357 magnum, is not to be taken lightly.
Years ago, I knew a deputy sheriff, who carried an M16-A1, looking for a murder suspect, who had escaped from jail. From a distance of 300 yard, the deputy dropped the escape, with one round, on a dirt road, suspect was shooting at other deputies. That's when I learned the...be aware of the man who owns one gun, because he may know how to use it.
Love your videos!
Thank you. You restored my faith in S&W revolvers. The new cylinder is beautiful.
So glad to see you back and well. What was old in now new again in the gun world. Great review of this classic from a true expert. Merry Christmas and a Happy New Year to you and yours.
I probably bought some of those used S&Ws you passed over :( With your skills, you could have easily fixed them of course. I think the "feeling" people have about the older S&Ws is about tradition. A reasonable comparison might be sixties vintage Triumph motorcycles, compared to current production ones. Do they look similar, yes. Do they perform better / are more reliable and durable? Yes. Are they the same, no. The market has had access to 'better' revolvers for some time (they have their problems) from the Ruger catalog. That said, I appreciate your thorough review of the modern production S&W. It seems to me S&W is navigating a difficult balance between taking advantage of their provenance to grab market share, but at the same time making reliability and ease of manufacture changes. Your review offers proof they're being successful at that. I hope they keep making the new ones...despite the fact that the market is pretty miniscule. Thanks for the video.
I appreciate your videos and the time you take and the effort you put in. Thank you so much for all of it. This one in particular was much needed.
Super! I was considering a used old model, and now I'm ready go modern. Many thanks.
Merry Christmas & thanks for another amazing video. Your background, skills & delivery make your videos a go to source for education. I was amused by the great prices for vintage phonographs compared to great prices for vintage Model 19s. (buyers & sellers coming together) Enjoyed by Model 629 6" today, reloading for it and away we go.
I love your knowledge of firearms and have learned a lot! I'm 63 and have been around firearms all my life but have been awakened by your videos to things I've done wrong over the years. I have a Model 66 (1986) and is one of my favorite guns. I think it's in really good shape, very little cylinder / yoke movement and it sings. Probably less than 750 rounds through it. I did replace the original grips with a 1986 Pachmyer grip but still have the grips on the original box. Love that gun! Rob in GA.
Thank you for all the great content - helped me a lot in 2019. Merry Christmas from across the Atlantic! God bless you!
Great video sir. Thank you for the hard work and good information.
Thank you for a well made and informative video. It is a breath of fresh air to get the truth from someone with real experience presented with honesty and style.
I have an old model 10, 4 inch. And a 586 in .357 8 inch, with an 8 inch barrel and the 4 position front sight. A couple Taurus revolvers in .38 and .357. I grew up reading Elmer Keith and Bill Jordan, I couldn't grow up without loving wheel guns. There will always be a .38 and a .357 in my cabinet.
Thank you for clarifying. This was a very engaging video.
I recently got back to my first love - S&W revolvers. I was shocked. I had sold mine and thought they would just be there as always. I know better than to do any real work on the metal but spent a lot of time with the Jerry Kunhausen manuals. I was glad to see the rebound slide still there. The redundant safeties are great. I could not believe it when I saw that floating sear. And that trigger lever. I do notice a hump in the middle when cocking single action. Does not bother me.
So many of who love these guns did not know what to think about all the changes.
This is priceless knowledge.
My 2nd revolver was a Model 19-4" in 1965 a beautiful gun. Merry Christmas Mr. Gunblue.
I bought this model about 5 months ago. It’s a classic beauty. I like the dark grips but mine came with a very light colored grip. Thanks for the great video.
Excellent video as always, thoroughly enjoyed it.
Greetings from Australia
In the early 70's in Southeast CT. a starting Patrolman had to work at least two or three double shifts and work a Day-Off if they were married with kids! Single guys, (I say guys, no female cops back then in our city), would work probably two double shifts. Low paying job. But, time moved on pay got better. In the 70's a few guys were "Part-Time", to supplement their regular jobs. Revolvers were the only gun carried either S&W or Colt!
*Very nice to see you back!
I carried one for 3 yrs as a State dept. Special Agent guarding the Secretary of State. I loved the gun, when you pulled the trigger it always went boom, never failed to fire.
I know someone who has a S&W .327 Federal Magnum. The cost was $700, and I have noticed that the asking price for those has soared. That is one fine handgun.
Merry Christmas and God bless ! Thank you for sharing !
I am the son of a mechanical engineer (dad's speciality was designing new machinery and upgrading / improving existing designs). One of my great joys in life was seeing and understanding dad's work. Although I'm not an engineer, I have designed and occasionally improved a few mechanisms myself (for my own use, not commercially). I say that to say this, "Your clear and careful explanation of the mechanisms you described were clear, logical and well filmed for illustrative purposes." I've owned all frame sizes of S&W revolvers , older and more modern and love each one for its own purpose. While I've never had any issue (other than an ejector rod that wanted to work loose in one particular revolver) I can certainly see how S&W have improved my favorite model. As for the metallurgy and MIM / investment casting, your explanation parallels everything I've read about the processes in recent years. (One of my favorite knife steels - S30V - is a particle steel and is made in essentially the same process. The best golf clubs, as you probably know, are now investment cast.) Thanks again for taking the time to make a somewhat long, but very informative video that every revolver aficionado should watch carefully. - Ray Wallace, in the wilderness near Durango, Colorado - and new subscriber!
When I was young I was a woods bum to the extreme. If I was not fishing I was hunting. My thing was to get into remote areas of Maine NH and Vermont. I quickly determined angry moose and hungry black bears in remote areas were not nearly as afraid of humans and I bought a 66-1 the day I turned 21. I shot a ton of small game and a few fish if I was really hungry with that revolver on many adventures. Fast forward I inspected that old gun that I still use against your 51 point checklist and it is beginning to show the start of several of the problems you pointed out. Since it is really a classic and I wanted to preserve it I bought a 66-8 based on what you say in this video. It really is a much improved design.The round butt, smooth trigger and pinned front sight (now a Dawson precision fiber optic) are worth the upgrade by themselves. I also like the internal lock. Sometimes you cant always keep your gun on you when traveling, so having a way to disable it appeals to me.
Thank you for your review. Good to hear positives being said about this pistol. Happy New Year!
Awesome job explaining about the Model 19. I was hesitant to buy the new Model 19 Classic, I have heard the scuttlebutt but no facts. Now with your awesome review I feel confident getting a new one. Thanks again