Got a message from my friend on a what must be a model 29

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au_prospector

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Friend of mine wants to sell me a revolver. He is not a revolver guy and doesnt know much about them.

It has to be a model 29 from his description. New in box fired one cylinder and put it away. He says black smith and wesson revolver long bbl 6 inch or more 44 magnum. $800
I asked what model it was and he got a blank look on his face.

Its gotta be a 29..... Or maybe a 629 Hunter. Going to see on Thursday.
 
I would guess a S&W Model 29 as the 629 would be stainless steel and not "black" as he calls it, wouldn't it? Anyway for a minty older Model 29 I would go $800. Mine is a 29-5 with the unfluted cylinder and I always liked that gun.

Ron
 
The 629 Hunter *IS* black. Well, some type of black coating similar to the "black" 686's that were produced once upon a time
 
Reloadron, I've found it a good practice to never say never when it comes to S&W
There's a crazy amount of small runs and dealer specials plus the transitional guns that have an abnormal set of attributes of both later and earlier models
 
gotboostvr said:
Reloadron, I've found it a good practice to never say never when it comes to S&W
There's a crazy amount of small runs and dealer specials plus the transitional guns that have an abnormal set of attributes of both later and earlier models
Click to expand...
That would be true. I have seen a few strange guns bearing the S&W Logo and wondered myself "what the heck is this"? :)

Ron
 
Howdy

Tell your friend to open the cylinder. Then tell him to look on the frame under the hinged part (yoke) that the cylinder is attached to. The model number of the gun will be stamped there on the frame. It will say something like Mod 29-3, or something. That is the model of the gun and will take all the guess work out. If it is a newer gun, the Serial Number may also be stamped there. If there is no Mod number stamped, but just numbers, it is an older 44 Magnum made before S&W changed over to the model number system in 1957. In that case the numbers stamped on that spot of the frame are assembly numbers and are meaningless.
 
It couldn't 'possibly be' a 28 if it is a .44 Magnum.

The Model 28 was and always will be a .357 Mag Highway Patrolman.

rc
 
rcmodel said:
It couldn't 'possibly be' a 28 if it is a .44 Magnum.

The Model 28 was and always will be a .357 Mag Highway Patrolman.

rc
Click to expand...
Yeah I realized my mistake immediately after posting it RC. I was in the process of correcting it as you were typing.

Forget the model 28 comment I originally posted. I must have had a small stroke or something.
 
Offer $700.00 and have cash money in hand if you really want it. Years ago I bought a 29 in the big display case unfired with the cleaning stuff for $600.00.
 
RC back in the 80s we had a local gunsmith that was building 44 mags on model 28 frames. If my memory is correct either Numirch or Sarco had a batch of model 28 frames minus the cylinder and barrel.
No idea where he got barrels and cylinders from or how well they stood up with full tilt 44 mag loads. This was not long after "Dirty Harry" came out and the standard model 29s were in short supply and scalper prices.
 
Yay, another happy Model 29 owner. :) I like my 29-5 sans flutes. While stout the 44 Magnum in a Model 29 can be enjoyable to shoot. Enjoy your new to you Model 29.

Ron
 
I just added a 629-6 Classic with a 5" barrel to my collection. I was able to shoot it this week. No regrets with my purchase.
 
picked it up for 8 bills...

So what I got was a 29-6, circa mid 1990's. According to my research it should have a Hogue mono grip, it does. It also is early enough to not have MIM trigger and hammer parts. Also it is pre lock. There are no scorch marks on the cylinder or the forcing cone. The inside of the barrel is the same black shiny color as the outside. Not a hint of anything going down the barrel. There is barely a turn line and it does not penetrate the blue. It appears unfired or fired very little as my friend promised it was. There is still some heavy grease around the ejector rod and star.

The revolver comes with the matching number blue plastic case with all paperwork plus the red coated padlock and the original factory fired case. Also included were 6 rounds of RP semi jacket hollow points as my friend says "Its of no use if its not loaded."
 
Enjoy it. like I said I would have went the eight bills in a heartbeat. :) Mine has the Hogue grip and it makes the gun much more pleasing to shoot. I tried some wood and they tend to sting.

Ron
 
I was willing to bet on Model 29 as soon as I heard "fired on cylinder full and put away". I wonder how many were sold under those exact conditions? Truckloads, I'd wager.
 
Does the factory fired case have a label telling you when it was fired? That should give you a pretty good approximation of when it came off the line.
 
1911 guy said:
I was willing to bet on Model 29 as soon as I heard "fired on cylinder full and put away". I wonder how many were sold under those exact conditions? Truckloads, I'd wager.
Click to expand...

I'd wager 70% of the ones I've seen have had less than 50 rounds through them. They often come with a vintage broken box of ammo.

If the cost of the ammo don't get them, the recoil will. Why the inexperienced buy these has always been a mystery to me. They are just completely impractical for the general population.

The good news: more good condition guns for us!
 
walnut1704 said:
I'd wager 70% of the ones I've seen have had less than 50 rounds through them. They often come with a vintage broken box of ammo.

If the cost of the ammo don't get them, the recoil will. Why the inexperienced buy these has always been a mystery to me. They are just completely impractical for the general population.

The good news: more good condition guns for us!
Click to expand...
I don't know that I would say 70% less than 50 Rounds but granted some people buy the 44 Magnum based on the lure of Dirty Harry and those days should be long gone. Granted at 66 years old I really don't shoot the heavy rifle calibers much anymore but my enjoyment of my Model 29 with full house loads has never diminished. Must be my love of the cartridge as I have no desire to shoot the 500 S&W or for that matter the 454 Casull. I have even taken a few deer with the cartridge.

SW%20Model%2029.png

The gun, with the Hogue grips is not that punishing to shoot and over my short few years have shot plenty of guns I do not wish to shoot again. :)

Ron
 
I think that's just it. Those who bought them for the "cool" factor were generally either new to firearms (or at least handguns) and relatively unskilled in their use. For someone with even a little bit of experience or instruction, the .44 Magnum in a decently weighted handgun isn't that bad. It's about my upper limit for comfortable shooting, though. I've shot a few of the "big boys" a friend owns. .454, .460, .500, etc. Full house loads can be rough on the hands. .44 Mag, though, I can shoot a lot of. Well, I could if my wallet was bigger.

ETA: Someone once offered to buy me a case of beer if I'd shoot his handgun. The item in question was a derringer chambered in .45-70. I told him he could keep his beer.
 
When it rains it pours.... A second Model 29

I now have the chance to buy another.

This one a model 29-2.
Again minty again the price is $800

Should I?
 
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