I own a 50th Anniversary "Dirty Harry" .44 Magnum. According to the Wiki-pedia page for this model it was manufactured with the internal lock. My question: Is there any visual way to identify the internal lock on the pistol? Thanks in advance

You see that round black hole just above the cylinder release latch? That's it. It's where you put the key to lock it. You can't miss it.

You mean to tell us you can't see the Hillary hole?

i call that lock above the cylinder latch a lawyer lock because some group of gun hating lawyers probably got a few wild hairs up there butts and demanded smith and wesson put them on there revolvers

This is a safe queen-never looked at it that closely-see it now though. I didn't get the key when I purchased the pistol.

S&W put out separate revolvers for the Dirty Harry commemorative and 50th Anniversary commemorative. I would think you either have one or the other. They are not one in the same. The Dirty Harry commemorative revolver is a model 29-8 manufactured in 2003. The 50th anniversary commemorative is a model 29-10 manufactured in 2006 and it has a 24ct. gold plated anniversary logo inlaid on the sideplate. It also came with a mahogany presentation case, cleaning kit, screw driver and was fitted with African Cocobolo wood grips. Just thought I'd help you with that information.

Also, I hope I didn't come across as an anal retentive smart alec, but to some serious collectors that peruse this board, using the terms "Dirty Harry" and "50th Anniversary" together can be confusing to some that are not as familiar with the different production models produced over the years.

I have the Model 29-10 version-didn't realize there was a Dirty Harry Commemorative-learn something everyday. Sorry for the confusion.

How about a picture? Go ahead Make your day. LOL

Here are several photos of the pistol.

Attached Images

	50th Anniversary Dirty Harry .44 Magnum 008.JPG (140.5 KB, 317 views)
	50th Anniversary Dirty Harry .44 Magnum 010.JPG (144.1 KB, 344 views)

I would leave it like it is if you are going to keep it as a safe Queen. Other wise I would "PLUG" it .

Damn, how do you oil the gun after you plug the lube hole?

nah, I'd screw the hole.

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Greetings forum members! I just ran across this forum after picking up my Model 29-8. This is an unfired 2003 Dirty Harry commemorative. Will I will shoot her? You betcha!

My curiosity about the dirty harry commemorative can finally be answered. Is there any markings anywhere on the gun that is different than another 29-8 besides maybe the 6 1/2 inch barrel? Thank you

Sent you a message. Will post over the weekend. Stay tuned...

Would love to know more about the Dirty Harry commemorative. It looks like it doesn't have the lock? Anything distinguishing about it other than it was shipped with a badge? Haven't heard of this one before, I'm intrigued.

Supposed to pick it up tonight. I remember seeing this gun in a American Rifle magazine years ago and have never heard or seen one since then. When this came up for sale, I was able to buy it at a fair price. Since I was looking for a Model 29 anyway, what better one to have than the Dirty Harry commemorative?

What little I know from cruising the web is that it is a round butt N frame, sold in 2003 for the cost of $700, and yes, it does have the lock on it. I don't give a rats about the lock since I won't use the gun for home defense. My German Shepherd and Mossberg handles those duties.

I will post pictures and details over the weekend, along with all the DH stuff that comes along with it. It's just plain cool!

Okay, the Mdole 29-8 is in hand. Disassembled the gun, gave it a good cleaning, and it's oiled and ready for it's first shot. Gun has never been fired and the bore is new. Only slight scar around cylinder. Other than that the gun is mint.

I've looked through the shooter's bible and some other documentation, but have not found any details about how many were made, special features, etc. I contacted S&W and they confirmed the commemorative but had no other information other than the list price ($700).

I would be interested if anyone else on the forum has one and could pass along some information.

Now, in regard to markings...

1) There are no markings on the gun that indicates it is a DH commemorative, although the serial number may offer some identification CFTXXXX. The serial number appears on the inside of the frame where the cylinder arm folds into the frame and on the very bottom rib of the bottom of the butt.

2) There is a 004 scribed on the cylinder arm and the right heel/butt of the frame. This may have been the fourth one made. Anyone know?

3) There is a D1 on the bottom left side of the butt frame on the bottom front part.

4) Trigger is smooth S&W target trigger and very light.

5) S&W Case indicates this is model #161234

Oh... and yes Dirty Harry's shield is mint and a hefty piece of brass. "Make my day" ...it made mine!!!

Are there any other Dirty Harry items in the package aside from the badge? Any literature, anything like that?

No other items except I believe the grip is unique. Of course the original case had DH Badge on it, model number, etc.

I would have liked to have kept the article I saw back in 2003 but who knew.

This is what my DH 29-8 came with. Serial number was in the normal "ABC1234" sequence. Grips were Ahrends.

Excellent! Did you take off the grips and see if there is a number peened into the left bottom part of the frame? I have 004 peened into the cylinder arm.

Do you know how many of these were made?

I replaced the grips for shooting it. It had several numbers stamped into the grip frame, just like any other Smith. I don't recall noticing any unusual sequences though. Sold this a year or so ago. I can't recall the exact production quantity of these.

Nice looking guns, I think S&W could have done more with it, like put "Go ahead, make my day" on top of the barrel with "The most powerful handgun in the world" on the sideplate (even though it's not anymore) If they made it "cool" like that people would be clamoring for them.......

I agree... it is really curious why S&W didn't do more with this since the gun is such an American icon. If I remember correctly, the company was in a very bad time in its history and perhaps this was a feeble attempt to capitalize on the legend. There wasn't a lot of R&D money invested in this promo except the badge, grips, and 4 screw side plate so it wasn't a big capital expenditure for this commemorative version.

I'm also curious why they did this in 2003. Maybe this was the swan song before they thought they would discontinue the model. Well, at this point it is past history and doesn't matter anymore.

Like I said in my earlier posts, there is very little information available for this model and, when I googled, I was very pressed to find any information about this particular edition. Even the shooters bible did not make mention of this commemorative edition. Google is how I ended up at this site.

Well, I am very happy with my purchase, its exclusivity, they way it feels in the palm of my hand, etc. Today I take it to the range to try it out...

Don't mean to hi-jack thread but can anyone tell Me this, I have four S&W guns with the IL and it seems that all the locks work with any of the keys. If this is so what good are they? Stay safe and healthy kingcobra07

No problem... I kind of hi-jacked the thread.

The locks are designed mostly to keep "curious" hands from firing the gun, like children. The truth is, it's CYA for S&W. If Smith had different keys cut for each gun the cost would rise by hundreds of dollars.

They aren't supposed to be true "locks" like a burglar isn't gonna steal your S&W because "Oh **** these guns are locked".....they're gonna steal them and worry about the lock later.......so yes, if someone carries a S&W "key" thay can unlock any new IL gun on the planet......

Just curious.Do these late Model 29"s have the firing pin on the hammer like the originals or are they like the rest of the new Smiths?

They have internal frame mounted firing pins, I'm not sure of the year I think it's 1998-2000 timeframe, every S&W wheelgun made after that has the frame mounted firing pin.

As an "aside" the frame mounted firing pin is FAR from a new idea......



These Austrian Gasser 8mm revolvers were Austro-Hungarian military sidearms from 1898 through WWI, and I believe were the first production revolver to use them. There may have been others but the 1898 Gasser is known to be the first of any note.....so, everyone who likes or dislikes the Ruger and now S&W system of the frame mounted firing pin, can trace the origin back to these 100+ year old revolvers. I was gonna sell both of these, but held on to one of them, just to have an example of the revolver that started the whole idea of spring-loaded frame mounted firing pins.

If you are going to shoot it a lot contact S&W and get them to send you the key, or ask around and get one from somebody.

Or see my post in the "are they getting rid of the IL" thread, with pics about how I removed the lock within 10 minutes.

I was in the "ignorance is bliss" category, content to just leave the lock alone.......but once you see how light and fragile it is, with one tiny micro-spring holding the flag under tension.......sure people have fired 1,000s of .500's through their guns with no lock failures, but at a cost of 0, and an investment of a few minutes the lock can go bye-bye with no harm to the function of the gun. If the hole is an eyesore, I think those "the plug" things are about $20. For now the empty hole doesn't bother me.