Trigger Job on Minty 19-3

I have a 19-4 that I bought new in 1980. I paid about $800 for the gun. It has had the barrel replaced by S&W due to the forcing cone cracking.

In 2017 and 2018, I bought a used 19-4 2-1/2" and a used 19-5 4" revolvers for approximately $800 each. I bought them for other reasons than they may become more valuable but as you can see, not a good investment value.

I shoot primarily 38 Special loads in 357 Mag cases in my Mode 19's these days. i'm not interested in cracking another forcing cone barrel. I have several L-frames and N-frames that can scratch my full power 357 Magnum itch.

I enjoy getting the Model 19's out once in a while and shooting them. I'll let my heirs worry about their value later.

cfullgraf said:

I enjoy getting the Model 19's out once in a while and shooting them. I'll let my heirs worry about their value later.

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I have a low round count M66 snub, that was back to Smith early in its career for lead spitting. It's been fine since, and it does have a good feel in the hand, while it's heavier than a M64 snub.
Got some H110 and 2400 recently, mostly to feed warmer magnums in an '85 LowWall; a few of those may find their way into the 66 or the M60-1 or the 340SC. But I'm no fan of the blast and recoil of hot .357s in much of anything.
Moon

cfullgraf said:

I shoot primarily 38 Special loads in 357 Mag cases in my Mode 19's these days. i'm not interested in cracking another forcing cone barrel. I have several L-frames and N-frames that can scratch my full power 357 Magnum itch.....I enjoy getting the Model 19's out once in a while and shooting them. I'll let my heirs worry about their value later.

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Pretty much my state of mind as well. I do carry the "K" frames 4-5 times as much as the big "N's" for the weight on the belt difference. All of them shoot well...but a "K" with the old FBI load (158 LSWC @ 950 fps) will fill a lot of purposes here abouts. (And it's fairly easy on my arthritic paws too.) Best Regards Rod.....here's a pair of my favorites.....my modified 'Open Road' & M-67-1, an old Louisville LEO trade-in; both smooth as silk.

luzyfuerza said:

I have a minty 19-3. 4" barrel. Almost no turn line. Original grips are in good shape. No holster or cylinder wear (99% at least). P&R. No box or tools.

But it has a mediocre factory DA trigger press.

My question: how much would a trigger job change the value of this gun to a collector?

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IMO, any modification from how it was delivered from the factory will diminish its collector value to a serious collector. But, a serious collector would also want the original box and accessories plus the paperwork and paper wrapping, so it's already lost value. If you plan to keep it and make a good shooter out of it, collector value means little anyway. If you don't intend to keep it, then don't waste the time and money for a tune-up. If the gun is as nice as you say, chances are it hasn't been fired much, so like trackskippy says, wear it in by shooting the heck out of it and developing your DA technique.

M19-3 isn't rare; of the P&R versions, they had the longest production run (ten years), but a nice example is getting harder to find as they are a popular model. I have a 4" M19-3 of 1974 vintage; the trigger on mine is as good as any other S&W I own and it gets better with shooting it.

Bangswitch, nice to see your 66. Some years ago, mine was nearly traded. It was the house gun, in a lock box (one winter, we were in FL, our daughter was staying in the house while she subbed; something went bump in the night. She called us for the combination. ) Second thoughts led me to keep it; it's a real treat with full charge wadcutters. Mine wears factory grips, with a Tyler adapter.
Moon

luzyfuerza said:

I'm going to clean it, polish the sliding and rotating bearing surfaces a bit, inspect the trigger-to-hammer interfaces for gross defects, and lube it.

And then head out to shoot it!

Thanks again!

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Cool! Let us know how she shoots.

luzyfuerza said:

I'm going to clean it, polish the sliding and rotating bearing surfaces a bit, inspect the trigger-to-hammer interfaces for gross defects, and lube it.

And then head out to shoot it!

Thanks again!

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Wise.