Educate me

[Burnston]

I have an opportunity for a S&W Mod 19 for a very reasonable price which, according to the original receipt and serial number, was manufactured between 1978-1980.

I recently read in an article by Jim Wilson that he and other veteran shooters consider 1957-1977 as the "Golden Years" for the 19; that after that, quality diminished and shortcuts became the norm at Smith and Wesson. What quality problems began occuring at this time, and are they significant enough that I should not buy this pistol? 
I would ask Sheriff Wilson to elaborate, but I've bent his ear mercilessly over all manner of gun questions that I fear he may change his number and email address should I impede upon his existence once more.

I need some of you old hands to educate me. 

[mobjack]

That date is about the time S&W did away with pinning the barrels, and counterboring the chambers of the magnum and rimfire revolvers. According to Wikipedia the 19-5 came out in 1982 and removed the pinned & recessed function. wikipedia article here  So who knows?

If you get a price you are comfortable with, buy it. The Model-19 is a fine pistol, just be gentle with it, and avoid a lot of full-bore loads. Treat it like a heavy-duty 38 Special, and it will last till your grandkids get it.

Mobjack
Owner of a 40 year old mdl-19 that will go to my grandkids.

[cas]

Probably better than one made today.

[needsmostuff]

Over the years many benchmarks have been claimed , come and gone. Some are simple manufacturing changes that turn out to be simply that . Sometimes it really is lapses in assembly quality . Perhaps, by reports, that is going on right now ?
The end of S&W was predicted by the advent of the Bangor Punta era and later by the Lear Siegler period. Then came the lock and/or MIM debacles and that still goes on and on.
My personal benchmark is that gun in front of you . Know what it is suppose to be and check it out.
There is no magic year to year measuring stick and turds are possible from every era. By the same token new metallurgy and machining can make some outstanding guns.

[CraigC]

I'll take a Bangor-Punta era S&W over anything they make today. No question.

[cmh]

Yes Sir if you could take the metallurgy of today and the fit and finish of decades ago what a Smith it would be.... but yhe way things are Id choose the older Smiths handsdown....

[bradshaw]

Since Wayne Baker and Freedom Arms assumed manufacture of DICK CASULL’s single action in .454 Casull, Freedom Arms has maintained a nearly impossibly high bar in firearms manufacturing. Without proximity to the plant, yet weaving a thread of hot lead through a generation of these revolvers, it amazes me see maintained such a high level of consistency. yes, this is a “production” revolver. No, it is not spit out on a production line where the philosophy says, “if you can close the box on it, ship it.”

The Smith & Wesson Model 19 K-frame .357 Magnum spans an era when the company was owned by cut-throat parent name of Bangor Punta. The Teamsters under Jimmy Hoffa came very close on a vote to capturing labor on the shop floor. But that was only a symptom, not the problem. The owners put an gun-ignorant anti-gunner in position to execute anyone at S&W who raised his head. Then, at a stockholders meeting in Greenwich, Connecticut, the chairman of the board called for federal gun registration. Most gun rags sat silent. Not Elgin Gates. After reading quotes of Bangor Punta chairman in as I recall the New York Times, I called Elgin. Gates ran the chairman’s pronouncement in the THE SILHOUETTE, the monthly publication of the IHMSA. Within a very short span, dealers across the country refused to buy Smith & Wessons. Shooters refused to buy. A vice president at S&W told me we cost the company millions. Wrong, S&W’s owners have stabbed the American shooter in the heart.

When you kill labor you kill civilization.

Fabulous revolvers along with junk were produced and shipped under Bangor Punta. Smith & Wesson continued to prove that it is possible to chamber revolver cylinders with close to ZERO chamber-to-bore runout on production machinery. Unappreciated at the highest level, incredible quality continued to come off the shop floor. But bad examples seeped in, and a sharpshooter cannot abide a gun which doesn’t shoot. By shoot we mean SHOOT. A good Model 19 is good for 4-inch groups @ 100 yards----stock with iron sights.
David Bradshaw

[ezekiel38]

Have owned 15-20 19s. The worst was one I bought new in 1971 as a rookie cop. Cylinder not square, neither was the forcing cone. After 5 rounds of magnums the gun would lock up on the cylinder and barrel mating. Hammer nose broke around the second box of 50 Magnums and I returned to an issued Colt Python.

Best 19 I ever owned was made in in 1973 and it was a six inch and it shot like a laser, including hot 110 S&W Magnum ammunition, by Smith and Wesson. 50 yard ground squirrel shots were routine.

Have a 66-3 4" today and love it! At my age will probably be my last!

[robrcg]

I enjoy two 19s, one nickel and one blue, plus one of their stainless cousins a 66. They are fine revolvers. Thanks Mr Bradshaw for helping to bring attention to what S&W management was calling for. 

[oddshooter]

The model 19 has to be one of my all time favorite sixguns. I have non-pinned and recessed and I have later models. They are all spectacular. The K frame with target grips is the one that fits my hand the best of all the Smiths. I have a scoped 19 that may be the most accurate pistola I have ever touched.

and like always, WOW, thank you Mr. Bradshaw for your always unique take on history.


Prescut
It has always been a large regret that S&W never put a 8 3/8th barrel on that 19. The model 14 and 15 K frames had it.

[450ak]

We went from model 39s to model 19s because of the brass badge genius's.....
I was asked to help go thorough the 125 model 19s. Seven would not fire, several more failed for various reasons. This was in the seventies probably 78 or 79. In my opinion the model 39 Smith and Wesson was a dandy police officers pistol. Mine never failed and thought it was a bull's-eyes pistol. And yes I shoot bullseye pistol with my duty pistol.
The model 19 was a good revolver, accurate and handsome just slow to reload compared to the auto. Loved them both.