This seems to be a mystery model 29

[aHFo3]

I found this S&W model 29-6 44 mag for sale locally. It seems very standard since it's blued with a 6.5" barrel. The interesting part is the unfluted cylinder. I only ever see them on the full lug barreled guns.

I am going to get it if it checks out, but what is it exactly?

Thanks!

 

[Drail]

S&W made numerous runs of unfluted cylinders, mostly on .41 and .44 Mags. It simply adds a small amount of weight. I have both types and I wouldn't make a decision to buy based on unfluted or fluted. They have the same amount of strength. Some people just really love the "look" of the unfluted cylinder.

 

[Kernel]

A half-lug and undiluted cylinder. That is different. Maybe a Lew Horton special? A -6 means it's not that old. I think -6 is still the current dash number. Is there the original box with it?

 

[aHFo3]

Turns out it is a -5 with a 6" barrel from '89. I think -10 is the current production. Even with the correct info, there's nothing in the book about it.

 

[Bullet Bob]

I remember in 1989 S&W came up with a "gun wheel" they gave to dealers to keep up with the flood of variations they were coming up with.

The Standard Catalogue of S&W, 3rd edition, has a29-5 with a tapered 6" barrel and unfluted cylinder on page 202. If the one you're looking at has a tapered barrel, it's one of 9, better grab it.

 

[aHFo3]

I saw that one. It is NOT a tapered barrel. Too bad

 

[Kernel]

-10 is the current production

Yea, your right. I was thinking 629. I assume there's no box. Did you get a s/n? What are the first five?

 

[aHFo3]

Bez69**

 

[Kernel]

I think it was made in early 1990. From my N-frame s/n collection:

BEN67XX …………. Dec 14, 1989 (M625-3 .45A 4“) RB 100925 1pc-box 9348
BFA68XX …………. April 19, 1990 (M610-0 6.5“) RB 103576 nils 1pc-box 0109

I don't have a N-frame BEZ but it should be right there before BFA. Was wondering if it had a special s/n which might help nail it down as a limited edition, special run, Lew Horton kind of thing. 1990 was right in the heart of S&W's famous "Gun of the Week" period. In that time frame they put out lots of interesting small run stuff, to my knowledge, a lot of it is not well documented.

I do have a BEZ in my J/K/L-frame collection. N-frame s/n's typically precede them by a few weeks or months.

BEZ17XX …………. April 24, 1990 (M631-0 2“ 32M) RB nils FS 103664 1pc-box 0114
BEZ29XX …………. June 19, 1990 (M631 4“ .32M) RB AJS 1pc-box 0170