[Spartan1039x]

I recently acquired through a trade a S&W model 19-3 4" blued in great shape. No box but I love the gun a lot. I've handed and shot quite few revolvers but this one is the one (I know I sound all mushy lol). However, this is my carry gun and a working gun as well. With that said this will be my SHTF sidearm. Problem, in such a role tritium night sights are a must and this smith in particular has the front sight machined onto the barrel. The sights I want to put on are the Meprolights made for K and L frames. Is it blasphemous to buzz off the front sight blade and install the mepro? I plan on buying a 6" Nickel one later on as a show piece to make up for this. Also.... I've given some thought to Duracoat for protect from rust as I can't have this thing rust on me but that's a whole other discussion as that can be removed without any permanent alterations to the gun.

 

[ManyFeathers]

I'll give you my first 3 thoughts on the subject........none of them worth anything.

1. No, it's not blasphemy (you might want to look that word up)

2. Sounds to me like you bought the wrong weapon for your needs

3. It's your money and your gun, do what you want

Tritium sights are a convenience....not a must. Durocoat goes on easier than it comes off as far as restoration.

People have carried and used S&W and others for many, many years without tritium and rust being a big issue. I'm one of them.

The biggest complaint I've heard about (never experienced) was blood causing pitting on the metal. This is a maintenance issue like rust.

Granted, I have a stainless snub for IWB, sweat being an issue.

I wouldn't buy a used S&W someone else has already tried modify

FWIW, that and $2 might get you a cup of coffee somewhere

 

[whirlibird]

One of the major makers used to make a pin in place stirrup style front sight combined with a rear sight blade specifically for the solid front sight guns.

As far as refinishing goes, leave it alone until you really wear it down/off. You can go years by simply wiping the gun down nightly with an oily cloth. Even holster wear with decent holsters is ignorable normally.

Unless you're using your gun like Elmer Keith and having to reblue a pistol 2-3 times over several decades, you can ignore coatings unless you live in truly humid and nasty areas.

 

[vicdotcom]

The amount you are going to pay for gunsmith to do this won't make it really economical viable. Also, the bluing is a protectant from rust. In fact it IS a form of rust. Now if you go and buzz off the front sight, you will have and exposed patch of steel that will be more open to rust. Unless you re-blue this area first. Then either dovetail or drill and tap the barrel to be able to fit the new sight.

Again, it is your gun. But to do it right you are going to have to shell out a bit of money (price varies between locations but I would expect about a $200+ job). Might be a better to get a different gun with removable front and rear sights.

 

[Fort Knox]

Sounds like a nice gun. It's be a shame to muck it up, but it's your's so do as you please. Tritium sights are nice, I'll give you that. I wouldn't worry about duracoat unless the finish is real bad already. You could always look for another revolver modded how you want or just spend the money and have the sights done by a reputable 'smith, but it'll be spendy. Either way good luck and post some photos when done.

Kyle

 

[Spartan1039x]

I'll give you my first 3 thoughts on the subject........none of them worth anything.

1. No, it's not blasphemy (you might want to look that word up)

2. Sounds to me like you bought the wrong weapon for your needs

3. It's your money and your gun, do what you want

Tritium sights are a convenience....not a must. Durocoat goes on easier than it comes off as far as restoration.

People have carried and used S&W and others for many, many years without tritium and rust being a big issue. I'm one of them.

The biggest complaint I've heard about (never experienced) was blood causing pitting on the metal. This is a maintenance issue like rust.

Granted, I have a stainless snub for IWB, sweat being an issue.

I wouldn't buy a used S&W someone else has already tried modify

FWIW, that and $2 might get you a cup of coffee somewhere

I asked if it was blasphemous (sarcastically I might add) to do this to a classic S&W. It seems as though the consensus is that it would be. The duracoat was a passing thought more than anything but the sights are pretty important as getting a good sight alignment in low light is pretty hard and I've tested this already. I chose the gun I chose because it has features within its price range you can't get in another revolver.

1) Its weight is only 36 oz and compared to 40+ oz it is a better gun to be lugging around in a survival situation.

2) The trigger is much better than you get in a factory Ruger

3) To have night sights and a trigger job done to another revolver to still have something that weighs more doesn't make sense.

4) The only revolvers that have all the futures I want cost $1000+ whereas I can have the work done to this S&W for a total value (as I traded to get it) of $700.

 

[Nomad 2nd]

I'd get someone like David Clements to replace the front with interchangeable ramps. One of which was a gold bead, and one with a tritium vile. (I say him because I know he does good work... Having a couple of his guns, and I know he's done this because he did a single action like that for his son who is a friend of mine.
I'm sure many other people can do so.

- it was done for his son for different bullet weights and different ranges when his some was shooting out past 300 with his blackhawlk... The other blades were just gravy.

 

[rice paddy daddy]

I guess i'm old school. Sell the classic Model 19 to someone who enjoys S&W revolvers for what they are and buy a Taurus to hack up.
Just my opinion, it is your gun, do with it as you wish.

 

[Spartan1039x]

I guess i'm old school. Sell the classic Model 19 to someone who enjoys S&W revolvers for what they are and buy a Taurus to hack up.
Just my opinion, it is your gun, do with it as you wish.

Problem is the Taurus won't do what the Smith does and I've seen waaaaay too many Taurus with alignment issues. If their was a way to lighten up a GP100 to 36 oz, get night sights and a trigger job for under $700 I'd do it but their isn't.

 

[vicdotcom]

Problem is the Taurus won't do what the Smith does and I've seen waaaaay too many Taurus with alignment issues. If their was a way to lighten up a GP100 to 36 oz, get night sights and a trigger job for under $700 I'd do it but their isn't.

Try a ruger security six. Prices are still decent at about 500$ for a great model. Weight is 33.5 ounce on a 4inch barrel. But it has a removable front sight and an adjustable rear. Definitely within your weight specifications. Trigger job and springs? Sure an extra 75$ But really not that necessary.

 

[Spartan1039x]

Try a ruger security six. Prices are still decent at about 500$ for a great model. Weight is 33.5 ounce on a 4inch barrel. But it has a removable front sight and an adjustable rear. Definitely within your weight specifications. Trigger job and springs? Sure an extra 75$ But really not that necessary.

Some (including myself) would say that would be equally as blasphemous. I do love the Ruger Six series and am actually trying to track one down for my Dad. At this point I may resolve to just buy another Model 19 6" Nickel and keep it as my showpiece and use this one as my working gun. I may also instead get a Ruger Six gun and keep it as an heirloom gun as well. Who knows.

 

[whirlibird]

Night sights
#387-000-042WB
S&W K,L,N Frame Exc Mtn Guns(Adj fact rear & pin-on front)

 

[vicdotcom]

Some (including myself) would say that would be equally as blasphemous. I do love the Ruger Six series and am actually trying to track one down for my Dad. At this point I may resolve to just buy another Model 19 6" Nickel and keep it as my showpiece and use this one as my working gun. I may also instead get a Ruger Six gun and keep it as an heirloom gun as well. Who knows.

The only difference is that the sights can always be reverted back on the single six if you don't want the tritium anymore. You don't have to grind the front sight as you would a model 19.

 

[13Fox150]

Your gun your coin. This is MURICA and we're known for cutting up beauties and making them ours. I love a good hotrod.

 

[rabiddog9]

Model 19 "Combat Magnum" is an S&W classic and has become a very popular piece sought after by Smith collectors. For that reason I would hesitate to alter it. Of course it belongs to you and you can should do what you want. I keep mine as is…. Good luck with it.

 

[Spartan1039x]

The only difference is that the sights can always be reverted back on the single six if you don't want the tritium anymore. You don't have to grind the front sight as you would a model 19.

Excellent point, plus the Security Six would be capable of shooting the 125 grain 357s that are so plentiful. Seems I can't find really hot 158's in stock anywhere.

 

[rice paddy daddy]

Your gun your coin. This is MURICA and we're known for cutting up beauties and making them ours. I love a good hotrod.

Yeah. Hurray for Bubba. I managed to get a 1917 Danzig Mauser Gew98 for $188 because it had been "sporterized". Only in America can a guy take a rifle worth maybe $500+ and cut it's value to a third of what it should be. At least he didn't drill and tap the reciever for scope mounts. I got a nice shooter, anyway.:thumb:
But, it's his Model 19, if he wants to actually invest money in order to reduce it's value by all means that's his perogative.

 

[Spartan1039x]

At this point I am probably gonna leave it as is or trade for a Ruger Security Six and put night sights on it. Thanks for the input everyone.

 

[13Fox150]

Yeah. Hurray for Bubba. I managed to get a 1917 Danzig Mauser Gew98 for $188 because it had been "sporterized". Only in America can a guy take a rifle worth maybe $500+ and cut it's value to a third of what it should be. At least he didn't drill and tap the reciever for scope mounts. I got a nice shooter, anyway.:thumb:
But, it's his Model 19, if he wants to actually invest money in order to reduce it's value by all means that's his perogative.

I got my Argentine Mauser the same way. It was an older chop job and was nicely done. Complete sporter stock not a cut up original. The barrel was cut down behind the front sight and it was tapped for a scope mount. There's no going back for this one.

 

[rice paddy daddy]

I got my Argentine Mauser the same way. It was an older chop job and was nicely done. Complete sporter stock not a cut up original. The barrel was cut down behind the front sight and it was tapped for a scope mount. There's no going back for this one.

When I saw that Mauser on the rack I got the same feeling as when I go to the pound to get a replacement dog and see all the ones on death row.
Damn, I wish I could save them all.