Ahhhh noooooo!!! mod 29 really a 28 converted to 44mag

[bill larry]

I thought I found a good deal on Model 29-2 Smith and Wesson with a 4 inch pinned barrel at a pawn shop. I briefly examined the weapon and it was in top notch mechanical condition. They wanted $470 for it, which I knew was a good deal. I have been looking for a 44 mag.

I told my dad about it and talked him into buying it since I am short on dough.

He called me from the store and said..."hey...it says 28-2 inside the crane, not 29". My brain was not working so I told him it must be mis-stamped.

Of course upon examination at home I have realized that this is a .44 cylinder and barrel mounted on a 28-2 frame!

%$#@!

Is this gun safe to shoot? How many of these "conversions" were done and how bad did I get my old man soaked?

I'll get some pics up later tonight.

 

[cyclopsshooter]

i dont know but that sucks- sorry man

 

[raskolnikov_22]

Correct me if I'm wrong, but the 28 is an N frame just like the 29.
In that case, it all depends on the quality of the workmanship.

 

[cyclopsshooter]

the question is if the 29 frame gets a different heat treatment than the 28

 

[raskolnikov_22]

Forgot about the heat treatment. Listen to him ^ I'm out of my depth here.

 

[V45C]

a GS i know has done dozens of these in 41/44/45c with no problems ...
its worth about what you paid for it , maybe even a bit more if in good shape...

 

[tasco 74]

if the barrel is .44 caliber (double check it!) it is a model 28-2 .44 (also check to see if it will chamber .44 spl or .44 magum).......... if it all checks out.... SHOOT HER!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

 

[David E]

Call S&W and talk to Tech Support

 

[cyclopsshooter]

i don't know if this is relevant but many old 38 S&W victory models were converted to 38 special. the 38 special is a hotter cartridge and i have not heard any worry talk about its heat treatment- the problems i hear over and over deal with accuracy... whether the cylinder bores were cut to case speck or all the way through- barrel warping from improper installation...
i don't think you will be able to find your answer here- i would find a respectable smith and ask them to check i out- i have a hunch it is safe but probably not as accurate as a factory 29...

 

[bill larry]

The barrel says Smith and Wesson on one side and 44 MAGNUM on the other side. Inside the crane it is marked 28-2.

Here are some pics of the Franken-gun. The finish is perfect, and like I said, mechanically it is as fine a Smith and Wesson as ever made. Very tight gap, and zero, I mean zero play in the cylinder. Timing is perfect.

So, maybe no full house 44 mag loads in this puppy? Anyone know if the frame is up to it?

 

[V45C]

there should be no problem with any load thats safe in a 29...

 

[Bigkahunasix]

I have two that I have converted- on to a franken 29-2 and the other to a 24-2 (44 special), no troubles/no worries. Just shoot it like any 29, it will be fine. Mine actually out shoots 2 of my factory 29's at 50 yards.

 

[earplug]

Shoot it

Who ever had the skill and tools to do a good job on this swap would know how to do a fine action job.
You problably have a nicer revolver then S&W would have sold at the time.
I had a M-29-3 that was always a bit off in fit on the action parts and cylinder, yoke to barrel fit.

 

[Action_Can_Do]

Why take the chance? Have a good gunsmith check it out before shooting it.

 

[Guillermo]

if that is a Frankengun it is one hell of a job...looks like Smith did the work.

I would talk em down due to the "uh oh" factor and then buy it

 

[ArchAngelCD]

That looks like a really nice job, maybe too nice to not be original. Like mentioned above call S&W and they will tell you exactly what you have. BTW, are you sure that's not a 3" barrel on that revolver? NICE!!! Seriously, call S&W...

I don't know about the laws in your state but here a FFL can't make out the paperwork and put down it's a M29 if it's stamped a M28.

 

[gb6491]

This type of conversion was popular in the mid seventies when it was very difficult to find a M29 (well, at least where I lived at the time). I sold my Highway Patrolman to a friend that wanted a 44 magnum and he had the conversion done on it. If I remember correctly, it was done by re-barreling and reaming the the cylinder chambers out to 44 dimensions. I've never heard of any problems connected to this conversion. In hindsight, I wish I had not sold that M28; it was a great shooting revolver, but my friend was happy with his 44.
Regards,
Greg

 

[Virginian]

I cannot imagine why anyone would have any concerns and be all het up about calling Smith or going to see a gunsmith about that gun. The frame is the exact same size (N) as a 29 to start with, and it is pretty obvious from the workmanship that whoever did the change was no hacker. I wouldn't hesitate to load her up and let fly as soon as I could. You could not have gotten a nicer 29... or 28.

 

[BMF500]

Call S&W at least, I mean it's a free call.....

 

[shameless]

If you call Smith, and they say, "send it in and we will check it out" DO NOT
send it in.
It is very possible Smith made a "mistake". It may well be a 28, with a 29 cylinder and barrel, from Smith. I would get with a S&W guru, and send off for a letter from S&W on the gun.

 

[cyclopsshooter]

no, i saw marring on the barrel pin in the photos- that would indicate barrel tampering- i doubt an S&W employee would miss the matt frame and polished 29 parts

 

[Oro]

There's no point in calling S&W, it's obviously NOT a factory gun. There's no point in wasting time calling or wasting money on a factory letter. What lept out at me was the finish difference. Cyclopsshooter spotted another "tell" I didn't notice - the pin.

The massive finish mismatch between the frame and the barrel/cylinder tell you it's a conversion job. The 28s were not finished to the same level as a 27 or 29. That's obvious from one casual glance that the frame was a 28 to start and not mis-marked. The 44 conversion was done by a gunsmith post-factory to a 28. Mic. the b/c gap in various spots and do a revolver check out. If it's good, it's good. Go shoot.

You problably have a nicer revolver then S&W would have sold at the time.

You may indeed have as "good" a mechanical revolver as possible, but there's no basis to say that it's "better." 29s were superbly crafted guns in the day. They would never leave with a mismatched finish like that.

how bad did I get my old man soaked?

Maybe $50, maybe $0. Looks like they priced if for what it is and they new, or at least whoever priced it did (might be different than the counter person). If it were a 28 in that condition, $450/475. If it were a 29, $550 minimum even with that wear, probably more. As a skilled conversion, I'd say $400 to $425. Now maybe he'd like to go back and dither a bit over the fact it's a conversion, but I wouldn't cry too much.

 

[pmeisel]

As a shooter, it is as good a gun as it is mechanically sound, which from what I can tell is just fine.....

 

[bill larry]

I think we're pleased. This is something unusual we would never have done ourselves but now own.

A range report will be forthcoming!

 

[Bush Pilot]

You purchased it as a shooter, don't sweat it if you paid a couple of bucks too much.