Update: Bill verified that the barrel is indeed post 2006, and therefore not original.

This gun is represented as an all matching parts original pre-model 29. I knew the stocks were off right away but something else about it bugged me.






Am I being paranoid, or should the .44 magnum and Smith & Wesson be on the opposite side of the barrels, and not in such a big font?

Is this fakery?

It looks perfect to me but it is hard so see with all the drool on my I Pad.

I also suspect a replacement barrel; it doesn't look like any of my Pre-29's. Doc44 should be able to clear up what era that barrel is from.

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Mark

I believe a pre 29 should have the Smith & Wesson on the left side and have a lazy ampersand. I suspect a later replacement barrel, probably to address a muzzle bluing wear condition.

Your not paranoid. That appears to be a modern barrel with lettering font differences and the front sight pin looks modern, not polished down like a pre 29 quality would be. The front sight pin looks like a small diameter roll pin on my screen.

It is a either a barrel from the internal lock (-6) era that someone went through the trouble of drilling for the barrel pin, or it is the original barrel that was factory refinished and re-stamped with a modern rollmark. From the contour of the ejector rod shroud I suspect a newer barrel. Doc44 will be along shortly for the definitive answer...

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Alan
SWCA LM 2023, SWHF 220

See the round "rib" on left side of shroud?
That ain't right.
The old shrouds are flat on the left side.

Attached Images

027.jpg (69.2 KB, 253 views)

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Regards,
Lee Jarrett

The barrel dates to 2006 or later.

Bill

Thanks for the tip, this brings that seller to the top of my #### list.

Thanks guys, I was pretty certain that's what was going on but I can't think of personally having seen many smiths faked with quite this much effort. I guess that's what happens when these guns start bringing really good money.

The correct barrel would have Smith & Wesson on the left side and 44 Magnum on the right side. The newer barrels are reversed. The ramp base would be pinned to the barrel with two pins that have been polished flush to the barrel rib. The newer barrels (actually beginning around 67 for this barrel length) have the ramp base forged with the barrel and the red ramp pinned to the base with a single pin.

Bill

Any explanation as to how the serial number was stamped in the ejector rod cutout? That would seem to be overkill after just replacing the barrel.

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Alan
SWCA LM 2023, SWHF 220

Since we don't know what the seller does or does not know, we'll hold off on the legal rulings and character assessments.

It is quite possible that he does not know.
More than a few collectors have been "spoon-fed" some whizzed up guns by dealers over the decades I've observed the game.

If you're gonna play in the big leagues, learn what real baseballs look like.

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Regards,
Lee Jarrett

I agree. That's actually why I asked before messaging him, wanted to make sure my facts were straight.

Unless you stamped the numbers in there to claim all matching. Those numbers are the bit that bother me personally.

Please post his response.

Well he never responded to my polite email regarding the issues with the gun, the bid is up to $1,924. Man this bugs me.

I messaged him as well and got no response. This pretty much tells us what we need to know about the seller......

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Kris
OGCA, NRA LM

Search the seller's name here on this forum for some more interesting reading.

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SWHF #448

I emailed him about both this and the incorrect Combat Masterpiece box he listed as original on his 6" K38. He responded to the box question but would not touch the question about the rebarreled 44 Magnum.

Dang, I see a forum member is winning it right now. I sent just him a PM with this thread linked in it. I don't want anyone getting hosed.

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Kris
OGCA, NRA LM

Hello All,,,this is why this is the best forum. I did not spot it the barrel problem , but did notice that the front sight is different and not the same as the other pre 29 I own. I thought it might just be a change in S and W later pre's which are done as we all know. At any event , I have asked to have my bid removed. Thank you 410bore for the heads up and to the rest of you for your input. Blessings.

He will not remove the bid,,,, says he cannot. He does admit to reading what my concerns were but nothing more. Anyway , if not outbid , I will not be paying for this one . I have been gone too long from the forum, battling Agent Orange and Radiation exposure problems , now starting the Stage III Cancer treatments. I can still happily say..............GO ARMY.............. Thanks for all the help and post and for your heads up 410bore. Blessings, Bill

He himself can not remove the bid. But he can ask the bid be retracted thru the gunbroker system. I have done it several times when a bidder has asked for his bid to be retracted. Hopefully the seller will honor this and not leave bad feedback.

And good luck with your treatment. I have said some prayers and hope all goes as planned.

Well awesome, I'm glad 410bore could give you the heads up on that.

Also, the worst thing that can happen to you if you win it and refuse to pay is negative feedback, which Gunbroker will remove because the item is clearly misrepresented. If you do win it you just save some other poor fellow from ending up being cheated, at least until he relists it.

Well, I also contacted the seller right after Sixgunstrupet started this thread and sent him a link to it. He did respond and said as far as he knew the gun was all original.

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Get off my lawn!

too funny. the scamster has been contacted and informed by half a dozen different well educated individuals that his pre 29 is NOT original yet he claims that as far as he knows it is. maybe he got hosed, I suspect he did, but once informed, he can no longer claim ignorance.

I haven't heard back from seller. I asked Bent Twig his thoughts, he was leary.
To good to be true.....

from the Rules-

10. NO Links to current or upcoming auctions or promotion of current or upcoming auctions or discussion of current or upcoming auctions, even in vague and general terms, or GunsAmerica ads, Guns International ads, or other internet listing sites should be posted without permission.
Links to CLOSED auctions and ads are permitted.

Do you see any exceptions listed for that rule?
I do not.

I let this thread run as a 'public service' even though we had to edit out references to the auction and even direct links.
I obviously made a mistake.
So, in the future, we'll simply ding and delete any thread about a gun currently at auction or on one of the listing sites.

The rule has a purpose-
If we allowed discussion of active auctions or ads, it would be very simple for every seller on the net to have his buddies post "questions" about the item being auctioned to advertise the the auction.

You know-
"Hey guys, take a look at this one and tell me if you think it is original <direct link here>"

You would have to look through three pages of "questions" about auctions to find a thread legitimately discussing the S&W's we all love.

Edited to add-
4 more posts deleted with auction or ad links.

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Regards,
Lee Jarrett