Alright, I did some searching and I can find all sorts of information about certain models of Smith and Wesson 629's having an endurance package installed (post 629-2) but can't seem to find exactly what the changes were? What is different about these endurance 629's that early 629's didn't have?
Smith and Wesson "Endurance" Package?? What is it?
- Thread starter mini14gb
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It's not something that can be "installed", it's small changes in certain areas incorporated into manufacture of the affected model variations.
The gun either has it from the factory after a certain date & model dash, or it doesn't if made prior to those changes.
I've not bothered to chase down the specifics, but the changes were designed to address longevity & cylinder lockup.
Denis
The gun either has it from the factory after a certain date & model dash, or it doesn't if made prior to those changes.
I've not bothered to chase down the specifics, but the changes were designed to address longevity & cylinder lockup.
Denis
Master Blaster
Member
The cylinder locking notches and the cylinder bolt are longer and deeper on endurance package and post package N frames. This is one I notice on my pre and post N frames.
Worth reading about this:
SMITH & WESSON'S .44 MAGNUM
...JOHN TAFFIN
http://www.sixguns.com/range/SmithWesson44Mag.htm
SMITH & WESSON'S .44 MAGNUM
...JOHN TAFFIN
http://www.sixguns.com/range/SmithWesson44Mag.htm
BobWright
Member
I had an early Model 29 that I returned to the factory for installation of the endurance package. Part of the correction included the hammer and trigger pivot pins, not sure what the modification to them was, but it was a redesign to prevent their shearing off under recoil; also, as was pointed out, lock-up was changed to keep the cylinder from unlocking, and to keep the hammer from coming back under recoil.
I had had considerable trouble with mine and S&W told me to send it in. Got a brand new barrel in the process, too. After all was said and done over my gun, all problems ceased.
This was the barrel I got out of the deal:
And, after being cut back to 6" by Bob Mason, gunsmith.
Bob Wright
Just read Taffin's article and just remembered what Joe Mooney at S&W told me, the pivot pins were radiused for stress relief.
bw
I had had considerable trouble with mine and S&W told me to send it in. Got a brand new barrel in the process, too. After all was said and done over my gun, all problems ceased.
This was the barrel I got out of the deal:
And, after being cut back to 6" by Bob Mason, gunsmith.
Bob Wright
Just read Taffin's article and just remembered what Joe Mooney at S&W told me, the pivot pins were radiused for stress relief.
bw
Dunno what they told you, and you did get some upgrades, but the entire package is not installable or retrofittable.
The S&W people who deal with the public have been a bit confused themselves on exactly what that package consists of over the years.
You can call several times & get more than one answer.
Denis
The S&W people who deal with the public have been a bit confused themselves on exactly what that package consists of over the years.
You can call several times & get more than one answer.
Denis
BobWright
Member
Dpris:
Again, the main studs, that is, the trigger pivot pin and the hammer pivot pin, did indeed shear off, not once, but several times in my Model 29. And these were replaced with the newer pins. I'm not sure what process was used to get the sheared off stubs out, but they were replaced. And when I was at the factory, there was at least one other Model 29 having the endurance package installed. Maybe there were some things not done, but as to my gun, the shearing of pins stopped, the opening of the cylinder stopped, and the dual firing pin indentations on the case head stopped. The gun went on for around 15,000 rounds or more before I sold it.
Incidentally, I did not call them, they called me.
Bob Wright
Again, the main studs, that is, the trigger pivot pin and the hammer pivot pin, did indeed shear off, not once, but several times in my Model 29. And these were replaced with the newer pins. I'm not sure what process was used to get the sheared off stubs out, but they were replaced. And when I was at the factory, there was at least one other Model 29 having the endurance package installed. Maybe there were some things not done, but as to my gun, the shearing of pins stopped, the opening of the cylinder stopped, and the dual firing pin indentations on the case head stopped. The gun went on for around 15,000 rounds or more before I sold it.
Incidentally, I did not call them, they called me.
Bob Wright
BobWright
Member
That's quite true ~ I got a new trigger, hammer, hand, locking bolt, reworked cylinder and barrel. Not sure about the rebound slide.
Bob Wright
Bob,
Not disputing S&W rebuilt your gun for you, but what I'm trying to get across, for the benefit of anybody mis-reading this & getting the idea they can send an older 29 in for an Endurance Package re-fit, is that they can't.
The EP is not a retro-fit deal.
It is not a "package" you can order done to your gun, as some makers & custom shops offer.
It's a manufacturing change that goes beyond pins & springs.
Denis
Not disputing S&W rebuilt your gun for you, but what I'm trying to get across, for the benefit of anybody mis-reading this & getting the idea they can send an older 29 in for an Endurance Package re-fit, is that they can't.
The EP is not a retro-fit deal.
It is not a "package" you can order done to your gun, as some makers & custom shops offer.
It's a manufacturing change that goes beyond pins & springs.
Denis
The Endurance Package is what S&W called it when SAAMI castrated factory .44 mag ammo to keep S&W fans from buying Ruger Super Blackhawks.
That ought to ruffle a few feathers.
BTW, I'm a Smith fan. However, they should never have sold a revolver that couldn't stand up to a steady diet of their own cartridge.
If I ever happen upon a nice OLD 29 for a price I can afford, I'll buy it.
Today's glorified .44 Spl won't hurt it at all.
That ought to ruffle a few feathers.
BTW, I'm a Smith fan. However, they should never have sold a revolver that couldn't stand up to a steady diet of their own cartridge.
If I ever happen upon a nice OLD 29 for a price I can afford, I'll buy it.
Today's glorified .44 Spl won't hurt it at all.
BobWright
Member
Dpris:
Well, this is the story of my Model 29, for whatever its worth:
I had sent my Model 29 in for repairs and the thing broke down again. I was getting unlocking of the cylinder, dual firing pin imprints on the primers, and general lock-up of internal parts. They repaired the gun and returned it, and it broke down in a few rounds. I contacted customer service and was told to return the gun.
After they (S&W) had my gun about a month or so, Joe Mooney, from the engineering department called me and said, as best as I can remember:
"Bob, since your gun left the factory we have developed an endurance package. We are installing the machinery now and won't be able to work on your gun for about six weeks."
I agreed to this, and after about two months, Joe Moony called me again and said they were just getting ready to install the endurance package in my gun. He told me at that time about the radiused pins as being a new part of that package.
It was at that time S&W had just introduced the full lug barrels for the Model 29 and I inquired about the possibility of having one put on my gun. Joe agreed it could be done and that they had a brand new 8 3/8" full lug barrel. When I asked the cost, he told me: "Mr. Wright, as long as we've had your gun, it will be on Smith & Wesson."
I got the gun back about three weeks or so after that, as I've shown in the photo.
My work order shipped back with the gun detailed the work done as "Edurance Package" and "Full Lug Barrel installed" and N/C.
I can't locate the correspondence just now, but my log book shows the first failure was the trigger pin sheared off in June of 1984. In February of 1989 more problems occurred, and the gun was in the factory from April until September 1989.
So call that what you will.
Bob Wright
Well, this is the story of my Model 29, for whatever its worth:
I had sent my Model 29 in for repairs and the thing broke down again. I was getting unlocking of the cylinder, dual firing pin imprints on the primers, and general lock-up of internal parts. They repaired the gun and returned it, and it broke down in a few rounds. I contacted customer service and was told to return the gun.
After they (S&W) had my gun about a month or so, Joe Mooney, from the engineering department called me and said, as best as I can remember:
"Bob, since your gun left the factory we have developed an endurance package. We are installing the machinery now and won't be able to work on your gun for about six weeks."
I agreed to this, and after about two months, Joe Moony called me again and said they were just getting ready to install the endurance package in my gun. He told me at that time about the radiused pins as being a new part of that package.
It was at that time S&W had just introduced the full lug barrels for the Model 29 and I inquired about the possibility of having one put on my gun. Joe agreed it could be done and that they had a brand new 8 3/8" full lug barrel. When I asked the cost, he told me: "Mr. Wright, as long as we've had your gun, it will be on Smith & Wesson."
I got the gun back about three weeks or so after that, as I've shown in the photo.
My work order shipped back with the gun detailed the work done as "Edurance Package" and "Full Lug Barrel installed" and N/C.
I can't locate the correspondence just now, but my log book shows the first failure was the trigger pin sheared off in June of 1984. In February of 1989 more problems occurred, and the gun was in the factory from April until September 1989.
So call that what you will.
Bob Wright
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Boxhead
Member
Nice piece Bob. I have a freebie warranty covered full lugged M29-2 as well.
stu1ritter
Member
As I remember my Smith history, the non-Endurance package 629-2 was then called the 629-2E when the change was put into production and the 629-3 and onward all contain the package.
Stu
Stu
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