29-2 advice

I'd shoot it, but that's just me.

I'd probably vacillate for a while, then shoot it. Shooting it after that wouldn't be such a hard choice

I'd shoot it and think of my Dad every shot. It's a way of connecting with him in a way unique to only the two of you.

The only reason not to shoot it is if you're going to sell it.


Shoot it.

If your dad didn't shoot it nor would I. A great gun and all you would do is devalue the gun. He must have bought it for the value.

Tough call. I really don't know what I would do. If you have the funds, by a well used 29, fire it, and keep your dad's as a show piece.

Zundfolge said:

The only reason not to shoot it is if you're going to sell it.


Shoot it.

Click to expand...

This. I suspect you well be keeping it, if so go shoot it.

You didn't mention finish, is it nickel or blue?

I ask because if it is a pristine nickel finish I wouldn't shoot it much if at all. In my experience a nickel finish won't stand up to lots of shooting and cleaning solvents over the years the way a blued finish will.

If I had purchased my own nickel-finished gun I'd shoot it and maintain it as best I could........but if I inherited a mint nickel gun from dad I'd not shoot it and I'd keep it polished like a mirror in his honor.

.....this is just my opinion though. Others might certainly disagree.

I differ from most on things like this. To me, there is little or no sentimental value in something Dad bought, put on a shelf and never used. I have fond memories of Dad teaching me to shoot with his old, well-used Hi Standard H-D Military in a gorgeous floral carved H.H. Heiser holster. As well as him hunting small game and taking it to the range. I have fond memories of Dad shooting running pigs with his Ruger Bisley .44Mag. I have fond memories of having the loudest pistol on the range when we shot the Automag II and him knocking over rabbits with it. Those are guns I will inherit when he passes, hopefully a long way away and I could never even consider selling them.

I have zero fond memories of anything he bought and didn't use.

In your situation, that S&W is worth a lot more to a collector unfired in its box. The 8 3/8" barrel has little appeal to me on a bull-barrelled N-frame. I would make the decison to either shoot it or sell it and buy something I 'would' shoot. Maybe something like a 4" 24-3 or Elmer Keith commemorative.

That said, there is little sacred about a 35yr old NIB S&W. Yes, it might be worth a couple hundred more to a collector unfired but really, who cares??? For example, I bought this NIB 6½" 24-3 almost two years ago and paid the princely sum of $850. Did I put it on a shelf? Hell no, I swapped the stocks and took it right out and shot it. I'll keep shooting it and enjoying it and eventually hunt with it. Why? Because life is too short and I'd rather spend it pretending to be Elmer Keith than looking at an unfired and unloved S&W, saving it for a nameless/faceless future collector.

Blued with light cyl. drag > Go ahead and shoot it some with a good cleaning it will lose no value IMHO. It is pinned and recessed (P&R) and that is what will hold up the value. I LIKE 8 3/8 29-2s . and while mine is well worn after 35 years of use it still shoots like a rifle. After thousands of rounds it went to S&W in the early 90s for an action rebuild, they wanted to refinish but I declined, I like it the way it is ! It wuz carried mostly in a Bianchi shoulder rig, many miles hiked when I wuz young! It is back in it's old Mahogany box it came in, the 6" 629-2 and 629 Mountain revolver replaced it , sigh !

You aren't going to sell it! Your dad "saved it" for you to shoot, so SHOOT it!

DM

I agree.
You said you don't plan to sell it?
So shoot it.

If you don't shoot it, somebody else will.
When your kids sell it at your estate sale for $150 bucks!

I also agree with the others that if it already has a turn line, shooting it, followed by proper cleaning will not hurt the value.
If you are worried about it loosening up with a steady diet of .44 Mag?
Shoot lead bullet .44 Specials in it.

It will stay tight about 350 years with them.

rc

Shoot.
It is no longer ANIB with a turn line, so any future buyer will think it has been shot.
I second rcmodel, use .44 Special as the early .44 magnums didn't stand up well to a constant diet of magnum ammo. Engineering changes in the mid 80s changed that.