Don't shop for a used Smith & Wesson revolver until you watch this! Aging S&W wheel guns are rife with problems and should be fully inspected by a trained eye before laying money down. Equip yourself with a trained eye and be educated!
When the gentleman who has worked in many of the biggest firearms manufacturers factory’s in the United States for many years tells me what to look for before buying a firearm , I watch , I listen and I learn real good. Thank you sir. Have a great day. Cheers 🍻
@@conservativesniperhunter7439 I know you sound ridiculous saying stuff like that about your man-crush… good god that’s so cringy. Has nothing to do with what he knows or I know.. it’s just too much.
Thank you so much for these videos. I’m a bit of a youngster, but I was talking to one of the senior experts in my profession the other day and we were both worrying about a seeming lack of interest among millenial or gen z people in becoming impeccable in a given field. Your expertise is really impressive and whenever I see someone taking the time to teach and train younger people that they themselves will not be reimbursed by, I am very very grateful. I don’t think the millenials or zoomers are uniquely lazy or faithless among the generations, but one of their disadvantages that has led to their problems is that they were often not trained, encouraged, or parented. Keep up the good work Gunblue! It really makes a difference. We can’t get this information elsewhere.
I really relate. It's like I always had a sense that my parents had their own drama to deal with. I've had different sorts of mentors and teachers / professors throughout my adulthood. The best advice I ever got was "find the expert in that field and go to them". A lot of knowledgeable ppl don't have an ego in the way bcuz they love the subject so much that they naturally want to share it because knowledge requires ppl to know it and pass it on.
@@tomhendricks1337 The 51 problems relate to specific repairs that only a trained armorer can understand. The manual without that training is entirely undecipherable and is of no value whatsoever, and can cause misunderstanding and damage. Many of the terms used in the manual are unknown outside the S&W factory. Sorry, but I cannot sell it.
They say you never forget your first, and my first duty issued firearm was the S&W Model 15 Combat Masterpiece when I joined a Federal law enforcement agency in the 1980's. It left a lasting impression on me and despite the fact I carried semi-autos throughout the remainder of my career, I always carried a revolver off-duty, and today my EDC in the 442-1 I purchased new in the winter of 1996. I have a amassed a decent amount of S&W revolvers over the decades, and your vodeo is a must watch for anyone looking to buy a used S&W revolver. Thanks for sharing your knowledge.
BUYER BEWARE!This video is a great reminder about potential pitfalls when buying used guns. You can easily end up with a worn-out, defective, or even a dangerous lemon🍋if you're not careful. Thanks for yet another informative video.👍
This man here has forgotten more about guns than I will probably ever know. I’m just a GM-trained armorer myself, but good to know things like this because even in our great gun community we have those tryin to get over on another. I know, surprising lol thank you sir! God bless~
I didn't know 99.9% of what you showed even though I've used them since 1974, on and off duty. Now I'm afraid to check a couple of used ones I have (might be POS). They all shot well but I will give them a good looking over ! Thank you very much for your service and expertise.
It's interesting to hear a knowledgeable S&W enthusiast talk about the recent updates and changes to the designs as "improvements" and that the guns are now "much improved" compared to the legacy guns. Most people pooh-pooh anything that has the "hillary hole" or that isn't "pinned and recessed" but it's refreshing to learn about the modern improvements. Thanks so much for this video.
Thank you, sir! I just bought a pinned-and-recessed, 4-inch, 28-2 Highway Patrolman that I saw while buying .22LR ammo. I was a S&W revolver armorer for my Department, but it's been many years since I've applied that knowledge. I came home, took this refresher course from you, and returned to the shop the next day. Cosmetically, the gun obviously was carried for years. Mechanically, she's perfect and the action is _really_ smooth! She wears the original grip panels, also showing quite a bit of history but still in great shape: usually, the right panel on old police guns is beat all to heck. I love the feel of those older S&W grips. The price, though not cheap (What is, these days?), was a real bargain. Since I live in California, I have to wait ten days to bring her home. I wish she could talk.
In 1997 I turned 21, I bought a Kimber 45 on my birthday. It was one of the early ones. At the time I was working behind the counter in a gun store because I had major surgery on my arm and I could not do electrical work. The second hand gun I bought was a Smith & Wesson model 36. It was practically brand new and I picked it up for $200. It was absolutely gorgeous with bluing so dark it looked like it was carved out of a piece of onyx. It's action was so smooth that even a novice like me couldn't help but smile every time I dry fired it. It was tiny, yet there was so much quality. I was hooked. Over the years I owned many revolvers, but only a Smith & Wesson would do. This is a terrific video and I think it will serve people well for many years to come. Thank you for sharing a tiny bit of your knowledge.
The Ruger Six series has so much less of these problems; the only screw it has merely secures the grip panels. I'm a Smith-Wesson revolver adherent, we own them over Rugers two to one, but I also appreciate the Ruger/Sentinel inspired wheels, too! Thanks for all the information! 👍
The Ruger Six revolvers are the absolute best in my opinion. I own plenty of both but if I had to keep only one during a zombie apocalypse it would be my stainless Police Service Six.
At the 1998 SHOT Show, I had the experience of my life. Ruger had a huge display that was set up like a living room with overstuffed chairs and a fake fireplace. They also had a coffee service there. They advertised that there would be a window of time where you could come sit down with Bill Ruger Sr. to ask questions about Ruger firearms. I anticipated a huge line. Unfortunately for Ruger, Glock was doing the same thing at the same time with Gaston Glock. Everyone seemed to go there. The result was that I got to have coffee and more than 30 minutes alone with Bill Ruger, Sr. He was a true gentleman. This surprised me because i was only a small time FFL dealer. In the course of our conversation, I asked him what he thought his best gun design was. Without hesitation he replied it was the Security Six family of revolvers. So I asked him why it was discontinued. He said, "I never figured out how to sell one for more than it cost me to make it." He freely stated that he did not think the GP-100 was necessarily a better gun, but that it was also a fine gun, just cheaper to produce than the Sixes. He also told me that the additional strength of the GP-100 was a by-product of how it was produced, and wasn't really necessary over the Six series revolvers. I'm a huge fan of the Security Six, Speed Six, and Service Six, and it's nice to know these were Bill's favorite guns as well.
Thank you for these videos. My first issued duty weapon was a model 10. Eventually graduated to a 686 before I switched to a semi auto, a Colt 1911. I still used a model 60 as a backup and I recently sent it in to S&W for a yoke problem. I bought it in 1984 and I never knew that I had end shake until I was cleaning it recently and I had problems getting the yoke screw out. I finally got it out and found that the Yoke button was damaged. The screw appeared fine. I not only enjoy your videos and I learn new things about my revolvers even though I thought I knew my guns. You have also been teaching me about my other guns as well. Can't thank you enough.
An outstanding video. I knew about 30% of the issues that you brought forward. But I'm always eager to learn more from someone that is willing and able to share their knowledge. I'll be watching this video prior to going to any gun show or visiting any gun shop. Thank you so much.
Excellent video sir. My first duty weapon in 1976 was a S&W mod 28. What a tank it was. I own two S&W mod 19's, both made in the mid 70's; a 4" and a 2 1/2". I carried semi-autos during most of my 37 year career; but since retirement I have reverted back to my wheel guns. I will leave the .45 to my son. Thank you for the video...Look forward to more.
Captain, thank you for taking me through a tour of one of the neatest handguns ever made and helping me understand what to look for should I come across something I like to buy. I would have surely goofed it all up had I not seen this . I feel like I know more from this video than I ever knew about the Smith& Wesson revolver. It's a very handsome handgun.
Thanks for the great information. A few years ago I called Smith and Wesson about working on a gun made in 1948. They told me that they only work on guns made with model numbers starting around 1957.
I have been a GunBlue490 fan for years but this video was of particular interest to me. I have all my five S&W revolvers laid out on the desk here beside me. They are: a Model 10-6, a Model 19-3, a Model 19-5, a Model 60 and a Model 629-5 Mountain Gun. Thank goodness that they all passed the tests with flying colors. All were purchased used in like-new condition with the exception of the 629, but it and two of the others have been back to the factory for issues. I do love the vintage Smiths and sold any Ruger revolvers years ago. I do appreciate the fact that you are a hunter and have been willing to share your great wealth of knowledge and experience with us. Thanks and God Bless.
Thank you for sharing this knowledge on youtube for free. I love these types of videos where highly experienced people share info that you won’t find anywhere else in one place.
Glad to see more of these. I've only been into Smiths for 7 years or so, but I've learned something new every video about them from you. I did finally find a new model 19 classic that wasn't rough or overly heavy. Took going through 4 including the new 66s. I like it. Its about 85% of the quality of my old one, but a design I'm not scared of shooting as much
You Sir are an excellent teacher and presenter. I sincerely hope you keep making these videos. My first ever handgun of any kind was a 686 + mountain gun 357. 4 inch pencil barrel and sloped underlug. No lock. Those go for a pretty penny. I was an absolute fool with that rare revolver. I slammed the cylinder, bent the ejector rod, marked the knurling up with a leatherman on the rod. I cringe when I think about what I did to that Ole girl. She always kept running great, even after my foolishness. I've loved smith ever since. Just wish modern quality control was better. Still love em. Like an abusive relationship I keep coming back 🤣🤣🤣
I carried a Model 10 as a personal weapon while serving as a Cold War Dustoff flight medic 77-80 in W. Germany. A black underarm holster was attached to my survival vest. About 15 years ago I was on a nostalgia trip and sought out a very nice Model 10-5 with a serial number (D343xxx) indicating manufacture in 71 or early 72. It is about as pristine as they come and an excellent shooter. Glad no one was shooting at us back then, a .38 is marginal for self defense. I wonder if any units still have them on the TO&E. I suspect not.
Great and informative review! Went through last Armorer’s Class at S&W with Jim Contros as police officer/armorer who later went on to FBI. Still work on them and have great respect for legacy…thank you!
Great video, I learned a few new to me points. One thing that I always check for that you did not mention is checking to be sure that the barrel is not canted off to a side.
I like the K-frames size and weight a lot and I prefer 38spl for most use but I've had timing issues and don't consider them reliable. My 686 model hasn't had any issues and is phenomenal but its larger and heavier. Same with my Ruger GP100 and SP101, they've been trouble free. Had great success with the model 29 and 629 just as my uncle Elmer had.
Useful information - I inherited a fine 1905 4th Change Hand Ejector .38 Now I can ensure it's safe to fire and in good mechanical condition. Rewatching this once again. God bless. Editing this with an update - Went through the checklist as the video played - everything looks excellent besides a little bit of slop in the cylinder side to side. Glad to see it. Beautiful revolver, nickel 6 inch with fixed sights. Finish is worn, but it's a family gun.
Thanks a lot GunBlue490. I appreciate your no nonsense approach to checking out the S&W and how they have improved through the years. And, everyone loves Benny, so it's nice to add his wherabouts too.
I found this video very informative. My dad raised me on Smith and Wesson revolvers and like you, I like them a lot. You went much deeper than I knew, especially with details of engineering changes and reasons behind them. I’ll have to check out my vintage 29 for those trouble spots.
The new Smith revolvers are wonderful out of the box...they come with a premium price for a reason...their CNC machining is state of the art , and tolerances are constantly inspected
That’s all there is to it the man said. Oh my, I’ll watch it three more times and hopefully it sinks in to my sponge. Thank you so much for sharing knowledge
Not usually in the used gun market, but it is good to know in case I run across something. In the last week we have had over 2 feet of snow, so no range time for a while, so it is a good time to install some sights, change out some nylon slings with cotton slings, and other maintenance items.
I am pleased that you brought up not swinging the cylinder in to close it, this is done constantly by people that do not know better and especially bad with a fully loaded cylinder and yes, I used to do it my self until I saw another video warning not to do so , excellent video I learned a great deal !
Outstanding! Really excellent. Now I'm gonna dig up my Mod 51 and watch this again following along and putting it through all these steps. That'll help firm up what I've learned here in my mind and check the quality of a newly manufactured S&W. Thank you, Sir!
As I sat and watched this video I had my model 28-2 in my lap and I'm happy to report it did very well on all the tests. Some of these things I knew about it - but many of them I did not know. So, many thanks for the great info. I rarely put 357 though it. Mostly I just shoot 38 spl plus P. in it .....or just plain ol 38 spl. I never owned anything bigger than a J-frame before I bought this thing. Love it.
Ah. The washer/shim. That is one of the reasons I wanted to see this video. I suspected that it is the wrong thing to do but didn't know the truth. Most of the other things you point out I knew. Thanks for the information Mr. Blue.
This is my favorite educational gun channel. I do have a model 1902 38 S&W special and two 1926 pre model 10 38 S&W special. All three guns have zero end shake or any lock up issues. Infract they look unfired. To me it is better to find a mint gun than a wore out pawn shop special. Not worth it in the long run. However like he said, you need to check it out before you purchase.
Love my 29-2. Got a hell of a deal on it at an estate sale. Has the 8 3/8” barrel. May have had one cylinder of ammo shot through it, if that. I can’t stand to see it sitting in the safe, so I put a couple cylinders through it every couple months.
This was very fascinating and interesting. The first 'modern' revolver I ever owned was a nice postwar nickel-plated model 10, purchased from a retired PI, for $65. You might guess, that was few decades ago. I never had any problems with it, and to me, it appears to function perfectly. But I suppose, now I should dig it out and give it a more thorough exam. Ironically, the only magnum caliber firearm I own is a mid-70s 357 Colt Single Action Army. But I mostly run it on 38 special.
I thoroughly enjoyed your presentation and learned plenty. Some time ago I came into possession of a stainless steel Smith and Wesson 2.5" Model 66-3 .357 Magnum. I've yet to fire it but it's a dandy looking piece and am planning to take it out for some range time up here where I live in the mountains of Central Idaho. Your style is reminiscent of instructors I had 50+ years ago while in the military. That is, no baloney, straight info. I do look forward to viewing your other videos.
The biggest issue I have with the lock is that it changed the shape of the frame for the J K and L frames. The N Frames were large enough to where they didn't have to alter the frame to fit it in. For an example in this video, compare the angle of the cutout for the hammer of the Victory model and that model 19. The model 19 has a diagonal slop basically whereas the Victory has a beautiful swoop down and back. Such a shame, as I do believe there have been improvements internally to the design over the years, I just wish they hadn't changed the gun externally so much.
Thank you very much. That was the most informative yet concise lesson on pre-buy examination I've ever seen. I recently purchased a pre-model 10 with 5" barrel. It is in excellent shape, except I have a "stub" in the trigger pull just like the one you displayed. It's not a "deal breaker" for me, and i will continue to enjoy shooting the gun. My model 10-5 is in perfect working condition, thankfully. I am very happy to have found your channel and have subscribed.
Thank you, GunBlue490, for the excellent tutorial on S&W revolvers! It was a refresher video for me. I own 4 S&W revolvers, all stainless steel. J frame, K, frame, and L frame. They are beautiful. I do however have a renewed appreciation for semi-autos, for their simplicities of operation. Particularly Glock 23 G4, my CCW. It's not a classic but, like my hammer in my toolbox which is not too pretty, it drives nails very well. Did you cover the 'hammer push off test' which reveals if the revolver is safe to use, if the sears are still sharp to hold the hammer back in the full cock position?
Very nice - I've always known my Model 15-1 and 19-2 (both of them "pre-loved" and older than I am) were sweet guns in good shape, but after following along with this inspection, I'm even more certain about what truly fine pieces they are. Absolutely worth every penny I paid for them. True classics of the art that have stood the test of time. The closest thing to a "problem" either of them have is just-barely detectable cylinder end-shake. Yoke end-shake is nonexistent for both, but both cylinders can be moved just enough to be able to tell that I actually am moving them when I apply the wiggle-fore-and-aft test. I think I'll keep 'em. :-)
Very interesting, thanks! I’ve owned two Model 19s over the past 60 years. The first, a -2, named Combat Magnum, disappeared (stolen when my car was stolen) at about the 6 year point probably had 600 to 800 rounds through it. The second one was a -3, no longer named Combat Magnum probably doesn’t have 200 rounds through it. As a safe queen, it is in excellent condition. Not looking to sell it, my heirs can take care of that if desired.
THANK YOU so very much!!! I have a few S&W revolvers, purchased used, which seem to be properly tight. I would like to purchase some more of these, and your video has helped to make me a smarter shopper!
Than for another excellent video . Especially on one of my personal favorites ( S&W revolvers ) . As far as shooting full house loads ,that’s why God created Bill Ruger .
Thank you for this video! I feel I've learned more about revolvers in the past 45 minutes than I have in the past 45 years! I've owned revolvers in the past, including a beautiful S&W Model 1917, but, sadly, sold it a few years ago while in the process of switching to semi-auto pistols. I regret it now. There is something about a revolver that I find more pleasing to look at than semi-autos. I am considering purchasing a used S&W Model 66, and with the knowledge I've gained from your video, I'll be well prepared to evaluate it. Thanks again.
Cool to see Bill jordan's book and him talked about. I have one of bill's holsters from his estate as well as a nodel 19 (not 100% sure it was one of his but holster was)
My brand new 629 is into warranty repair for the 2nd time. Single action mode broken. First time it was stubbing, not functional out of the box. Got it back, they had replaced trigger and hammer. Stubbing problem fixed, but now there was a tick in the trigger pull. I'd be squeezing the single action trigger at the range, and it would have an audible "click" in the trigger pull where the hammer would move a little but, but not fall. The hammer would also sometimes slip past the sear and fall without the trigger being touched. I sent it back again, they received it the first week of May 2024, and I'm still waiting to recieve it back as of today, June 15th.
Thank you so much for your videos! I have several. S&w hand guns that I will be examining while I stop and go with your video. Say hi to Benny for me. Thanks again
my first gun was a 44 magnum and it was the model 29 i just turned 25 and i treated my self. i wanted to take gun safty but the only place in my town cost $175 my father was UDT in the navy so i got him to show me a few things. and the first thing he did was check the cylinder wobble and i had some 44 magnums to shoot but he was like no use only 44 specials. and he did let me fire a couple shots using the magnums than we swapped over to 44 specials and i really liked how it shot
That model 19 you show is a modern version. I can take 357s all day long. S&W fixed the issue of the original 19 on the forcing cone and also added another lock on the crane. Also that 629 can take 44 mag all day. Early 29s up to the 29-3 had issue with steady diet of 44 mag. Another thing to note modern 44mag is not loaded as hot as it used to be back in the 70s. Great video with good information
Thank you for the video. I really enjoy the S&W M&P and model 10 series. They are so much fun and easy to shoot. I picked up a nice looking GBrkr S&W victory model that had been refurbished by Parker Hale at one time. Still in 38 S&W caliber and has an England front site. Cool looking gun. The yoke has a lot of wobble and it does not lock up as it should always, sadly. It wasn't costly and shoots but not a combat gun any more. I should probably give S&W a call and see it they can do anything with it. I don't mind if it is just for the romance for this one.
When I was in the NG in the 80s one day they emptied out a few hundred Victory Models from the state arsenal. They laid them out on tables in an area and they allowed guard members to pick one out and buy it. 75$. The condition was variable so you picked and choosed. Seemed like a good buy at the time.
