Hey Folks!
Been getting the itch for a S&W 44 mag without the under lug. I absolutely love the deep bluing on the 29 and also enjoy the looks of the 626 wiout the under lug.
Now the question, besides the difference in material, is the any difference in quality, smoothness etc? The reason I ask right now I can buy a 629 for less than a 29 and it doesnt make any sense .
Thanks in advance of all you all comments and suggestion.
Take care and God Bless...HT

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Jesus is Lord
John 3:16

I have carried my 29-3 since I bought it new in 1985 in all kinds of weather mostly in a Bianchi cyclone 111 holster with no ill effects other than minimal blue wear. The gun also has had literally 1000's of rounds through it and is now a tad out of time if you cock it slowly but still shoots as good today as it did 25 years ago...probably better.
I never personally cared for the stainless guns as I like the deep factory blue finish, but in reality it is probably better for woods carry. If you can buy a 629 for less, buy it I dont think you'll regret it.

I agree with 29Aholic, the stainless provided in the 629 is super for woods use.

That being said....I've got one heck of an itch for a nib or close M29 6.5". I guess I saw too many Dirty Harry movies in my formative years and must have one.

They're both excellent sixguns, superbly fitted and finished. The steel from which they're made is the only difference, so get the one that you like best. Or get them both. As for weather issues, I live in western Washington, one of the wettest places in the world, and a little basic care keeps blued guns looking just fine.


Okie John

While I really like the looks of the blued revolvers, the stainless to me is a better choice.
Once the bluing gets warn on the 29, you can either leave it that way or have it re blued.
On the 629, a little polish and it is back on the road.

I deer hunt with my 629-1 and I think it has an easier of mind to carry on the woods cause of it being stainless. With that said the 29 is more nostalgic to me so I guess it comes down to where you carry it.

Stainless makes more sense for a working gun to me. I like nice blued weapons too but ever since stainless became available my hard use revolvers are SS.

I have been using the same 6 inch 29-2 in nickel from the time I bought it in 1980. I have another 29-2, 629 and 629-1, but they remain unfired. If I ever wear out my 'shooter' then I have back up.
I like the 29-2 much better than the stainless. Stainless has little soul!

I've carried My blued guns, including My Colt Diamondback & Trooper MkIII, for years out in the weather. They still look and function great.
I always made sure to keep the gun under My coat, and after the hunt, I always wiped the gun with a light coat of gun oil.

As the SW stainless guns began to appear, I bought a number of them, and it's only been recently that I've acquired a few blue finished pieces again.

As others have said, stainless offers piece of mind, and fwiw, if You're staying at a deer camp for a week or so, the stainless guns were created just for that type of neglect.

If a particular revolver feels real good in Your hand, and the price is right,
that's probably the gun for You, regardless if it's blued or stainless.

As long as you live in a low humidity part of the country and don't get it wet you could go either way, here in Florida the humidity is so bad the stainless guns are what most people want and they bring more money. I wish I had my choice of either, the deep blue is nice but stainless is the way to go for the long run.

Gee.............it comes down to which one grabs ya. I prefer the look of a blued gun but most of mine get little real use and when one gets carried for any reason it's a 629 that gets selected.

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Lynnie, Professional Pest

I'm surprised no one has yet really answered your question. Unless there's more to this story, there are a couple possibilities for the price difference. First is that the seller(s) are into the different pistols for different amounts of money (and therefore need to recoup their investment). This has little to do with any substantive difference between the pistols. The second possibility is that the seller(s) know what they've got, and the more expensive one is a better dash number (like with full endurance package, but before lock & MIM parts) or maybe there's a condition issue you're not yet aware of. Look on this site for a thread about what to look for when buying a used S&W revolver. Look on john taffin's site for the article that explains the engineering changes in the various dash numbers. Arm yourself with that knowledge and you'll make the right choice between those two pistols.

Ditto. Better to get the Endurance Package on a shooter rather than worry about the type of steel. SS is easier to maintain the finish, but blued guns do just fine with the proper maintenance. It all boils down to availability, personal preference and price.

I really like the looks of blued guns but almost all of my handguns are stainless.
I have noticed today at a gun show I went to all the 29-2's were $750 and up and the no underlug 629's were $700 and up. These guns are all in 90% condition or better. I do not know why the blued models are higher than the stainless guns. I was wondering that myself today on the drive home.

John

I like the durability of the stainless but the looks of the blued. Quality SHOULD be the same otherwise.

Not an answer to the orginal question but we all know that having both the 29 and the 629 would be the answer... Certainly appeals to me.

My opinion, if you love the nice bluing and just plan on shooting and carrying go for the blue. Buuuuutttt, if you plan on doing work, hiking, etc. You want the 629. Take it from me if you mess up the finish on one of the blued guns you won't forgive yourself ha-ha.

^^^This. It's all in the model & dash number. When you understand that then the price differences will make sense.

Stay away from the 629-1 or -2 and go for the 629-3 or -4. Much better lock up and timing and NO reverse cylinder rotation. The -4 is also factory drilled and tapped for a rail for scope or optics. But that is just my opinion. I have 4 inch 629-3 and 3 inch, 4 inch and 6 inch 629-4.

There's nothing wrong with buying both of them and enjoying both for different reasons.... my ¢2

Umm, maybe in the past 5 years the op made a decision.

LOL I noticed that date too. LOL If Hot Toddy is still out there let us know what you decided to do!

Lmao! I'll have to start checking the dates on comments next time?

Yup... that's what I tell myself every time I do that.

Worse is when I reply to an old thread I replied to the first time. I have CRAFT...

LMAO.....I do that too!
John