Trigger Job on Minty 19-3

[luzyfuerza]

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?

 

[Jimfern]

I presume you're planning to shoot this revolver once the trigger job is done. That's probably going to add visible wear (turn line) and lower the value from "minty" more than the trigger job, which if done well, probably wouldn't even be noticeable. Keep your receipt for the work because most people are going to want to know who did it.

 

[Dave DeLaurant]

I've no experience dealing with S&W directly, but their Performance Center offers a revolver action service.

https://www.smith-wesson.com/customer-service/performance-center-precision-gunsmithing

 

[trackskippy]

Its not the trigger that needs work, its your DA trigger finger muscles.

Dry fire it DAO every day, and I guarantee you, it will magically and quickly get better.

 

[MrBorland]

I presume you're planning to shoot this revolver once the trigger job is done. That's probably going to add visible wear (turn line) and lower the value from "minty" more than the trigger job, which if done well, probably wouldn't even be noticeable. Keep your receipt for the work because most people are going to want to know who did it

I'd agree on all points. If the buyer were interested because it's minty and will be bought to just be part of a collection, I doubt the buyer would care about a bad trigger. I don't see an action job helping its value to a collector, though, and, as mentioned, unless the work is verifiably done by someone who's known for their excellent work, it may very well detract. OTOH, if you want to shoot it, shooting it would likely decrease its value more than an action job.

 

[.38 Special]

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?

I honestly don't know. Gun collectors can be weird, and what ruins a gun for one would make no difference at all to another.

Having said that, though, it's not hard to "undo" a trigger job. Assuming the 'smith changes springs, ask him for the originals back. Simply re-installing them prior to sale should be enough to throw off all but the most sensitive buyer. And if you really had to, any polished lockwork surfaces can be "unpolished" with a rougher grade of stone. (If you sell it to @trackskippy, something like 20-grit should make him happy.)

 

[trackskippy]

LOL. If you just shoot it, it will take care of everything that's needed, gun and/or shooter.

Then maybe all the trigger anguish and hand-wringing would go away.

 

[.38 Special]

LOL. If you just shoot it, it will take care of everything that's needed, gun and/or shooter.

Then maybe all the trigger anguish and hand-wringing would go away.

One of these days you're going to get red-pilled with a really good trigger.

 

[trackskippy]

LOL. Naw, a trigger is a trigger. Im not hindered by those that seem to defeat so many these days.

The way I see it too is, at least if you put in a little time and effort into it, its not costing you a thing to try, and I truly do believe, you'll come out ahead and with more benefit on the other side, and that benefit only continues to get better the more you do.

If it doesn't work out for you, then spend the money.

 

[silicosys4]

Model 19's need to be truly mint with box to carry a significant premium. There are a lot of them out there in good shape still.
I wouldn't worry about replacing springs.
Accidentally giving it push-off would hurt it significantly, so I probably wouldn't do anything other than springs.

 

[luzyfuerza]

Thank you for your comments!

I'm a shooter, not a collector, so the pleasure a gun gives me comes from the holes in the target, rather than from just the having.

When I bought this gun (maybe 15 years ago) I had an itch for an adjustable-sighted k-frame to shoot a lot of .38 specials through. But after I got it home, I just could not bring myself to take it out and put range wear on it. The finish was too nice, and the craftsmanship too evident. They just don't make 'em like that any more, I told myself.

Maybe I have some collector in me after all.

Instead, I bought some 64s and 10s and put a lot of ammo through them.

But the itch for something adjustable is back.

I think I'll put the 19-3 back into the depths of the safe, and just buy a more modern model 15 or 67 shooter for future fun days at the range.

 

[halfmoonclip]

I think I'll put the 19-3 back into the depths of the safe, and just buy a more modern model 15 or 67 shooter for future fun days at the range.

Back when I was first shooting Bullseye, a 4" 67; old enough it came with the stainless sights. I replaced them with blued ones, tuned it (polish, springs, nothing to the sear). It, coincidentally, improved the double action, but the single action was great. The pistol had the snot shot out of it, and didn't look any the worse for wear.
Working on Smiths isn't rocket surgery, but a big thing is not buggering the screws. Chewed screws are always a dead giveaway to bubbasmithing.
luzyfuerza, perhaps putting that minty 19 on ice is the best move...and I did just find a LNIB 67, like the one I had all those years ago. It even has stainless sights.
Moon

 

[Mark_Mark]

Back when I was first shooting Bullseye, a 4" 67; old enough it came with the stainless sights. I replaced them with blued ones, tuned it (polish, springs, nothing to the sear). It, coincidentally, improved the double action, but the single action was great. The pistol had the snot shot out of it, and didn't look any the worse for wear.
Working on Smiths isn't rocket surgery, but a big thing is not buggering the screws. Chewed screws are always a dead giveaway to bubbasmithing.
luzyfuerza, perhaps putting that minty 19 on ice is the best move...and I did just find a LNIB 67, like the one I had all those years ago. It even has stainless sights.
Moon

Chewing up Screw is a right of passage! teaches people the correct way to use a screwdriver

 

[CoalTrain49]

Its not the trigger that needs work, its your DA trigger finger muscles.

Dry fire it DAO every day, and I guarantee you, it will magically and quickly get better.

I have a 19-3. I never found anything wrong with the factory trigger. As a matter of fact, I like it a lot.

 

[trackskippy]

I have a 19-3. I never found anything wrong with the factory trigger. As a matter of fact, I like it a lot.

I have three factory stock 19's. Feel the same way.

 

[ontarget]

I have a 19-3. I never found anything wrong with the factory trigger. As a matter of fact, I like it a lot.

You and me both!
I wouldn't let anyone near my 19-3 with tools. She's perfect exactly the way she left the factory.

I'm wondering if the OPs gun might just need some old dried out lube cleaned out of the action and fresh lube applied?

 

[halfmoonclip]

Sorry, fellers. I like one of my 'moon tuned' triggers, really love to roll them through, double action. If I had Jerry Mikulek's trigger finger, I might be able to outrun my rebound slide spring. But I'm not 'ol Jer, and I'm pretty happy with my triggers. YMMV
Moon

 

[luzyfuerza]

I've tackled triggers on stuff that doesn't really matter...like Taurus revolvers. And strikers. I've polished surfaces, experimented with different springs, cleaned and lubed, and learned to avoid buggering screws.

And really liked the results.

But I've not done anything on my older Smiths.

Maybe I'll take the sideplate off the 19-3 for a quick inspection before I put it away. It would be great if a squirt of solvent and a tiny bit of grease could help improve the DA trigger.

 

[halfmoonclip]

I've tackled triggers on stuff that doesn't really matter...like Taurus revolvers. And strikers. I've polished surfaces, experimented with different springs, cleaned and lubed, and learned to avoid buggering screws.

And really liked the results.

But I've not done anything on my older Smiths.

Maybe I'll take the sideplate off the 19-3 for a quick inspection before I put it away. It would be great if a squirt of solvent and a tiny bit of grease could help improve the DA trigger.

Replacing the rebound spring is a good place to start; I've a range from 11lbs to 15 in my springs box. The ribbed mainsprings have always worked well for me as well; give a better double action pull, while maintaining ignition.
Due respect; you know how to get the sideplate off? Smack the grip area with a brass hammer.
Or leave it alone; there's a minty pre-Model 10 in the safe, and I should do something with it...but never have.
Moon

 

[luzyfuerza]

Yep...I have removed several sideplates the right way.

 

[cfullgraf]

An S&W 19-3 is not that rare a revolver. Get a good trigger job done on it and enjoy shooting. it. I doubt it will affect the value much.

If you think it will gain in value over time, do not shoot the gun.

 

[JohnKSa]

You could try a few strategically placed dabs of moly grease (like Brownell's Action Lube Plus) to see if that helps. Sometimes it can make a big difference.

 

[.38 Special]

S&W SA triggers are generally perfection. S&W DA triggers leave a lot to be desired. They are fine for blasting cardboard at a few paces, of course, but when targets get smaller and distances longer, a smoother, lighter pull is the difference between winning and losing.

Short version: ask how many PPC champs are using stock triggers.

 

[.38 Special]

Beyond that, what's the value of a perfect, unfired, NIB 19-3? $1500? $2500? And what's the value of a well-used, well cared-for, well-gunsmithed 19-3? $300? $500?

Let's say the NIB gun goes for five grand, and the modified gun can't be given away. So the value of your estate declines by $5000. Aside from the fact that you'll be dead, does any of that make any real difference to you and yours?

Personally, I'll take the gun with the glorious trigger. If my grandkids suffer financial ruin because of it, then I guess they should have chosen better parents.

 

[stonebuster]

Chewing up Screw is a right of passage! teaches people the correct way to use a screwdriver

That's one of the things that I don't want to see on a revolver I'm considering buying online. If the owner didn't know to use a hollow ground correct screwdriver makes me wonder what else he did once the side plate was off. BTW, S&W sells side plate & yoke screws cheap.