Questions about S&W 29-3

Your revolver should be equipped with a hammer block that prevents the hammer mounted firing pin from reaching the cartridge primer unless the trigger is held back making it safe to carry with all six chambers loaded and hammer down. (Assuming everything is working properly. The main thing to watch out for is that the revolver will operate with the hammer blocking bar missing. Look for a little bar that rises up in front of the hammer if you hold the hammer back, pull and release the trigger and allow the hammer back down slowly.)

The part that mystifies me is the 6.5 inch barrel. A dash 3 ought to have a 6 inch barrel.

If all is as it should be, I'd say the price is such that neither buyer nor seller should complain.

Terms: The piece that swings out carrying the cylinder is the yoke if it's a S&W, it's a crane if it's a Colt. There will be no half cock notch as found on most SA revolvers.
The serial number is on the bottom of the grip portion of the frame and probably hidden by the grips. On later production revolvers such as yours the serial number also appears on the frame under the yoke, but in the freakishly rare event the numbers don't agree the one on the bottom of the frame rules.

I am so envious of you. I was traveling this morning or I may have beaten you to that one. :banghead: You got a great deal.
(If you want to make a quick $75 profit this week let me know )

Measure the barrel from the front of the cylinder to the muzzle. it should be 6".
The other numbers in the crane are assembly numbers with no real meaning. I don't have my book with me to lookup the exact changes, but a 29-3 is not one anyone should talk bad about.

It is safe to carry fully loaded. The hammer has only two positions cocked and down this is case for all modern DA smiths.

Marcas Recistradas is normal on the S&W roll markings. This was added many years ago to differentiate from counterfeits.

Oh, and did I mention :banghead:

rocinante said:

jhvaughan2 i assume you are a GONer too. I live a couple miles from the seller. I bought a couple mausers from him last summer too. He has another 29 but I don't know if he is selling it. send him a message. If you shoot at bullseye in cumming or the range in norcross meet up with me and i'll introduce my new baby to you.

I have been doing some reading here on 29s and some think you shouldn't shoot really hot loads in an N frame. I also get the gist that in some of the 29-3 and later 44 magnums they added enhancements to handle hot loads better?

I am just sitting here with it propped up against my monitor. Sho nuf is purty. HA I never thought I would see the day when I thought guns were prettier than girls but this one is a beauty.


One thing puzzles me about S&W revolvers. Why aren't the hammers and triggers blued too? They look unfinished.

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They are case hardened.

Marcas Recistradas is normal on the S&W roll markings. This was added many years ago to differentiate from counterfeits.

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Correct, it was added about 1921.

rom the time when S&W was owned by a brazilian company

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S&W was foreign-owned by an English firm during the 90's (they are the ones who made the deal with the Cilnton DOJ). S&W was never owned by a Latin American company. For a while the company that owned S&W also took a controlling stake in Taurus. But they were an American company.

One thing puzzles me about S&W revolvers. Why aren't the hammers and triggers blued too?

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Because those parts are subject to more wear than the cosmetic sides and external elements of the revolver. Case Hardening (or flash chroming on some models) offers superior hardness and durability. A blued trigger would wear the finish off in no time, and the sear and wear areas internally would wear out of spec in short order. if you ever see a S&W revolver re-finished with a blued trigger/hammer, run away.

The Model 29/629 were just never enjoyable for me to shoot. I wish I could afford to shoot them more than I have, but they are expensive. They'll also handle any factory load (which is plenty hot), but they're not as robust as the Ruger Redhawks. Alas, most factory loads aren't particularly accurate based on grouping sizes I've seen published.

Your Model 29 is fine and you got an excellent price. The fellow you bought it from may very well be willing to sell the other one, as the older one generally gets, the less they enjoy shooting it. Elmer Keith was a notable exception!




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Doing a little research there is some dissing this model because it changed some of the manufacturing and features from 29-1 and 29-2 generations.

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It is just less desirable to collectors because it did away with the barrel pins and chamber recesses as cost cutting measures, and also came from a time when S&W became foreign-owned. It does not affect its usability or shootability at all.

The Lone Haranguer said:

It is just less desirable to collectors because it did away with the barrel pins and chamber recesses as cost cutting measures, and also came from a time when S&W became foreign-owned. It does not affect its usability or shootability at all.

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+1

The 29-3 is a fine revolver. The 29 is a dream to shoot with .44spl, or mag cases loaded to .44spl levels. Hot loads well loosen the screws and are really pointless.

...and, as you get older, if you want to shoot it, you can always load up with .44 Specials.....not as big a BANG or as much recoil, but just as much fun...........