What is value of a smith Wesson 357 mag model 19 4inch barrel nickel never been fired and brand new condition?

Answer 1

When I entered law enforcement in 1979, I bought a S&W Model 19 as yours is, brand new in the box. I have converted the grips with Hogue, as the weapon has a tendency to want to cause blisters using full 158 grain loads in the right hand webbing. I purchased mine new, in that year, for $317.99 in the box, with the weapon wrapped in a kind of cut-rite yellow S&W icon paper type cover. Today, if NEVER fired, and since it WAS the F.B.I. issue weapon for their special field agents until they went to Sig Sauer and Heckler in the late 80's, the weapon also has a "history." BRAND NEW, you are looking at a weapon that would enable you to sell it at a price of nearly $1,000.00. (one thousand dollars) due to the fact it is no longer manufactured, it has never been fired, and it is made as strong as the Ruger SP 101 357 magnum handgun that is still available today. If you are going to a gun show and going to sell the weapon, the worth price is approximately $675.00 (six hundred seventy-five dollars.) DO NOT take anything less than $600, or you will be basically "giving it away" and the buyer, will take it right out, and re-sell it, at a huge profit. Anything over $100 in my opinion is considered "huge" in the industry. WHY you are going to sell it is a mystery. That weapon, is a work of art. Mine is nickel plated. They do not plate weapons with nickel any longer at Smith, and the only way to get it done would be to send it to thei factory, and then pay through the nose to get it done. Since the base metal would not have been primed properly for the nickel application, the job would come back and not look half as good as had it been originally set up to be nickel plated originally. The weapon itself is enough to "scare" someone half to death in appearance alone. Firing the weapon, with rubber grips as a replacement for the original walnut grips supplied, makes for a "comfortable shooting experience" and I have fired approximately 10,000 rounds through mine, and the ONLY issue I have EVER had is with the adjustable sights. Since they never made a 19 without adjustable sights, the closest you could have come would have been a model 681 in a 2.5 inch barrel, of which only several thousand were produced. Many departments, when deciding to "beef up" went to the 681, to replace their model 10 heavy barrel 38 special S&W revolvers. The weapon is a beast. It is MADE to handle 158 grain cartridges as though they are it's regular diet, and the weapon will fire with a very smooth trigger pull, and is still...the most impressive weapon in my arsenal, of which there are many variations of Smith revolvers. It is built on the K frame, which even female shooters can be comfortable with. Although the weight of the weapon is slightly more than most would be comfortable with, it is still concealable, and anyone on the receiving end would be hard pressed to return fire, since the 357 round, is still #1 in the one shot stopper. The 45 acp caliber has been "mentioned" as the #1 round, however, this has been disproven. The 45 has a slower travel speed, and the 357 is faster than the new 40 cal S&W introduced several years ago. I hope that this information is not overkill (no pun intended) however owning one in nickel, and using one in stainless, due to the beach conditions, I can say that it is the "only" weapon that has not been replaced, and is still my original 1st purchase. The ONLY downside I can find with the weapon, are the adjustable sights. As a concealed carry item, the sights can get hung up on clothing, or cause issues in trying to keep it in any type holster. Fiddling with sights is cumbersome at best, and a fixed sight weapon allows the shooter to "engrain" into the shooter memory how to project the front sight, and not have to worry about windage/elevation, or other issues. Respectfully, R3 I would enjoy it and keep it while you can. WHEEL GUNS WILL BE THE LAST THAT THE ADMINISTRATION WILL BE ABLE TO TAKE FROM US, WHEN IT HAPPENS. IT'S NOT AN "IF" ....IT'S A "WHEN." The only thing you have at your defense is the NRA. If you are nota member, I would join as soon as you read this, keep the weapon, and remember, that if you have 50 semi-auto weapons, and your model 19, the wheel gun will still be in your hands as your semi-auto's are all confiscated by the government. I would also recommend buying as much 38 special plus P ammunition as you can find, practice with it, use it, break it in, and practice once a week with 158 grain magnum ammo so you don't get the "shock" of the recoil wheh conversion on carry occurs. The fireball alone, especially at night, is better that the fireworks at your local county fair, and the fireball again, will be in most cases, enough for someone intent on doing you harm to rethink their entire objective, when they see a ball of fire exiting a 2.5 inch barrel with a projectile traveling at approximately 1,000 feet per second. The box of 357 ammo, and manufacturs, will rate a 357 at 13-1400 feet per second, but remember, those stats always come with a 4 or 6 inch barrel weapon. Buy as much ammo as you can afford, if you can find it, keep it, and practice with it, using the 38 special +p ammunition to engage your sights to a condition that will allow you to be "on target" when you are ready to engage that milk jug, watermelon, pop can, or burgler, whichever condition may exist. Smith shows this weapon at $875 new in the last catalog they had when the weapon was still manufactured; its now considered an "item."