The Sickness Carrier - S&W 19-3

[Junior_357]

First, I, by no means am a good photographer...so I apologize for the pic quality.

Here she is...the Queen Bee of my collection: My 1976-vintage S&W 19-3. My first S&W...my first pinned & recessed S&W.

Picked her up used about 5 years ago after 12 years of being a Glock guy, and the rest is truly history. Since I bought this beauty, I have sold off all of my pistols and became an avid revolver collector. This was the first of the seven S&W's I now own. For a while, this was the oldest of my guns, but my Model 28-2 is about 7 years older.

Granted...it's not a mint, unfired NIB gun. There's some holster wear...a little rash on the frame behind the hammer from being carrier in a thumbstrap holster at some point. The finish is wearing a little thin on all the high points. But this is one great shooting weapon...

Just thought I'd share. Well, that, and after seeing JWC's Model 15-3...I felt compelled to clean the crown jewel and take a few pictures. Now...anybody know where I can find a nice set of wood grips for her?

 

[Tazz]

http://www.eaglegrips.com/guns/Medium-K-L-Frame-SW-Revolvers.html
http://www.hoguestore.com/index.php?main_page=index&cPath=22_36
Eagle makes real nice grips and
Hogue makes some real nice wood grips, check out these coco bolo from Hogue on my Python:

 

[Tazz]

By the way, very nice revolver you got there Junior. Those 19's are hard to beat, IMHO the triggers on the 19's are as good or maybe a little better than the Python. I'm working on a guy trying to get about a 40 year old nickle plated 19 snubby away from him..........

 

[JWC]

Ok, I am glad that you decided to clean that beautiful Smith. And yes, she is a beauty. I would love to have a 19-3, but of course, it would have to be nickel. Thanks for sharing Junior.

 

[olchevy]

Yours looks great!
I will be inheriting my step-grandfathers 1982 S&W 19-5 among his other guns....I have done a good bit of work to it and working some really good HD handloads for it for the time being. But it looks exactly like yours Junior....Very nice very good trigger, I even stoned it to smooth it up a little more..

 

[Junior_357]

Thanks, guys.

Tazz - thanks for the links and info. You just had to show me up posting that beautiful Snake, didn't ya? LOL I'm actually looking for a set of S&W wood presentation grips for this gun (or something similar aftermarket). I'd like to find 2 sets...one for this gun, and one for my 65-3. I don't shoot these two guns as much as I do some others...so why not make them pleasing to the eye.

Olchevy - nice to hear that you will eventually have that 19-5. My 'other 19' is a 19-5 snubby that I carry with me daily. I call it 'Ol' Blue'...although it's younger than my 19-3 (obviously). It's one of my favorites...I doubt I could ever bring myself to sell it. It's been tweaked and had Wolff springs installed. That old snubby is accurate enough for me to hit a 12" square at 35 yards...although I hope I never have to do it under pressure.

 

[Junior_357]

Updated pics:

BEFORE:

AFTER:

Found some wood grips that I like...now to find some for my Model 65 as well.

 

[JWC]

Junior, it looks great. I really like the new grips. Never been a big fan of the rubber grips. Wow! I like them.

 

[Rush_Fan]

There's nothing wrong with a little wear on the finish. It gives a gun character, just like those wood grips do. I firmly believe guns are made to be carried and shot- not to collect dust in a safe or under glass like some postage stamps or something.
I, too, like my revolvers:
S&W 27-2

S&W 18-3

S&W 10-5

 

[RIDDLE]

Man those are some nice looking Smiths!