Hello. I'm new to the forum. But I have questions and you all would be the people that could probably answer them. I have 2 Smith & Wesson Model 29 44 magnum's. Their value should be pretty straight forward, which I should be able to get through blue book, however I'd like to know the value of these guns together, as they have sequential serial numbers. Serial # S208001 and S# S208002. Model 29's (no dashes). Question is does the value of these guns go up because of the serial numbers? and if so, how much? I would rate both of these guns in excellent shape. They have been fired. Also, they have some grips on them, obviously aftermarket. I have no idea if they are ivory or not, with 3 initials carved into the bottom of them. I would rate both guns in the area of 95 to 98% condition. The guns were inherited, so I dont know much more about them.

So I'm looking at your thoughts on value on the guns, is the value really effected by the fact that the serial #'s are sequential. Also, how can I tell if these grips are ivory or not. Also, can anyone tell me what year these were made?









I can post more pics if it would help anybody to answer my questions. AND, I'm hoping I'm posting this appropriately in the right section. Forgive me as I'm new. I want to do this correctly.

Thank you all for helping.

Barry

This would justify the letters to see if they went to the same place. Consecutive numbers are rare and may indicate a special order or VIP buyer.

You need to determine stock material. If ivory then they have substantial value.

Yes, I would imagine having them numbered together would greatly increase value to a serious collector.

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Welcome to the Forum.

I think factory letters are in order to help determine value. Because of their age and no-dash guns, I think keeping them together will help value in this case.
IMO, you can throw the blue book away for these guns.
Can you provide more info about the guns? What are the initials on the grips?

Ok, I'll contact S&W to try and find some history on these two. The initials are JEA. Unfortunately my Step father died many years ago and I haven't been able to find anything / papers / etc. on these guns. I'm really looking for a value to determine what I should insure them for, or other possibilities.

Sergeant215...The photos show two very nice Model 29s that probably date to late 1960 or early 1961 with what appear to be carved ivory stocks. If the stocks are ivory, and the 29s are nearer to 98 percent, I would value the pair at around $3,200. If the guns were actually ordered and shipped as a pair, I would add twenty precent to their value.

If the stocks are imitation ivory or micarta, I would substract around $800 from their value.

This is just my opinion and is somewhat conservative. An individual collector who really wants a consecutive pair of 29s may be willing to pay more than my estimate.

Bill

I'm inclined to say that they are ivory grips.There is a test involving a hot pin applied to the unseen side-plastic will melt.Others can advise you more on this procedure.

Tomorow, I'll pull the grips off one of the guns to see what they look like on the inside. Thank you Doc44, on providing me with some numbers so at least I know what I'm dealing with here and too all you others. I appreciate your knowledge and postings. I'll have to find out about this hot pin test, but for now, I'll just see what they look like on the inside.

Welcome to the forum. You have inherited some very nice M29s.
I don't know much about values for such guns but I've been around here long enough to know when Doc44 talks about M29s you can take it to the bank.

The guns are great, the stocks are great, and I would think that the two together as a matched pair have greater value than the aggregate of each sold separately. What I'm not so sure about is the value kick of consecutive serial numbers. As somebody once said about something else, "That's the kind of thing that impresses people who are impressed by that kind of thing."

Maybe I'm alone here, but if I had a chance at a pair of guns with something significant in common, consecutive numbering would probably not make me dig any deeper into my wallet. If someone could prove to me that two guns were special ordered at the same time by someone of note, that would catch my attention whether the serial numbers were consecutive or not.

To my mind, the JEA connection might carry more value than the consecutive numberings. But I acknowledge that the 001 and 002 terminations seem to suggest some premeditation on the part of the person who ordered them. If you can identify JEA, that may be the source of the greatest value increase for the set.

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David Wilson