Take a look & tell me what you see.

S&W 44 Magnum 4 Inch Barrel | eBay

Can you see why I bought it?

Ned

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Devil's afraid I'll take over.

Because it's a 5 inch?

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USAF AMMO

Here is why.







Brand new, not a mark on it, never fit to a gun.

Here is it's new home.


I can hardly wait.

Ned

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Devil's afraid I'll take over.

A 5" .44 is about the best made.

Congrats.

A Post '81 5" barrel. Interesting! (Not only no pin slot, but the thread terminus at the shoulder is reduced diameter.)

Another Ebay seller who can't calibrate a ruler. :-) Even Numrich (Gun Parts Corp) went through a phase where they were selling barrels on Ebay and forgot how to measure them.

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Chris
SWCA #2243 SWHF #292

Wow, just wow! Since you already have the gun to put it on, you are definitely good to go. That combination of N-frame, 44 Mag, and 5" barrel is hard to beat. Congratulations on your good eye.

Froggie

OK - someone has to ask - why does the ebay image have an ivory insert on the front sight, while your images show a red insert? Just curious. Do you do your own barrel changes? I do not have the equipment or the nerve to try.

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Gary
SWCA 2515

It's red on ebay, just bad lighting.

Oh man, that is about the ultimate...the 5" barrel is the perfect compromise on the big bore revolvers. Nice snag!

It is red on Ebay.
I change barrels whenever it suits me.
I don't think it is a post '81 barrel, it has never been fit to a gun & has not had the pin groove cut yet, but, I could be wrong a third time. The first 2 times I called weddings


Ned

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Devil's afraid I'll take over.

I owned this one for 15 years. Member SigKev owns it now.



No handgun has ever felt as good in my hand as that did.

Ned

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Devil's afraid I'll take over.

This is really strange. When I use that link, it takes me to a sold barrel that sure looks ivory???

BTW - great looking S&W!

Attached Images

s-l1600.jpg (99.9 KB, 138 views)

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Gary
SWCA 2515

I would put that barrel on a 29-3. Keep the old gun as is.

Neat barrel....
IMO definitely post 81 barrel from lack of barrel pin groove and lack of "Melting" at the front of the ejector rod shroud on right side.

4 IMPERIAL inches.

(Imperial gallon=5 quarts, Imperial inch=5 quarters)

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Certified Curmudgeon

Nice score...Congratulations on your find and enjoy YOUR gun in whatever configuration pleases you!

Sorry to be a contrarian here, but you folks concerned about “ruining collector value” are just plain out in left field. First, it’s his gun (and barrel) to do with as he wishes and to enjoy in the present. He can’t take it with him when he passes on and should be allowed to enjoy HIS gun in the manner in which HE wishes. Second, if he keeps the original,unaltered barrel with the gun, he can pretty much reverse the “sacrilege” at any time he wants. Finally, if THIS gun is altered then the original examples you naysayers are holding onto and worshipping become that much more rare and valuable!

So once again I say to Nedroe, “Congratulations on your find and enjoy YOUR gun in whatever configuration pleases you!”

Regards,
Froggie

I have avoided comment on this thread for three days, I am so jealous!!!
I have wanted a 5 inch barrel for my old 4 inch gun I have had since the 1970s.

Congratulations on a great find!! When you get it mounted, would you show us your result?

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Richard Gillespie
FBINA 102

Engine49guy, I heard a story about a lot of these barrels ending up at Numrich & being sold as 4 incher's. This barrel came from that area. The lack of pin groove could be for a number of reasons. It may have been pulled before it got to that step. The lack of the "melt" tells me it is not a pre-60 barrel. IMO it is a -2 barrel minus the groove. The 501 Harris guns were spread out thru -2. I have never seen or heard of anything later than that.

Green Frog, thanks for the kind words. These guys aren't gettin' on me. They are entitled to their opinions, & I value them. Many members here have been a source of inspiration for me. Thank you all. Doc44 posted some pics of a fixed sight, 3 inch, round butt, Model29. Smith only made 3, ever. I've made 2 myself.


4SCREW, this gun shipped April30, 1958, to H.H.Harris


Member SigKev took a better picture of it than I ever did.


I suppose I could put that barrel on this one.


Ned

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Devil's afraid I'll take over.

Two things (as noted previously): The thread terminus on -2 barrels does not have a reduced diameter at the shoulder, it's full size all the way. The pin groove was cut before bluing (or even installation) for quite some time, at least from the early '60s onwards. (Pre-WWII barrels were apparently drilled after assembly to the frame.)

So, who's seen a factory 5" 29-3?

Congratulations on a great score .Which gun to put it on ? I wish I had such problems ! Seriously the 5 inch guns I ave handled do seem to have a great balance ,they carry good ,swing easy ,fair sight radius ,what's not to love .

jaymoore,

that is good info. I never noticed so much as I usually relieve them there a little myself.
I don't recall anyone ever talking about a 3 inch -3 or later. Think it was made about the time of transition between -2 &-3? Could be a custom shop thing maybe?

I change barrels like I change socks


Ned

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Devil's afraid I'll take over.

Ned your ability to transform run O the mill revolvers into unique pieces has always impressed me.

Its the tiny manufacturing changes that make S&W revolvers so interesting to collect.

My collection of Model 29's jumps around a bit , just pulled a few to compare with the following observations :
Have a four inch 5 screw pre 29 model with FS ramp pinned to the barrel rib , square uncut shoulder forcing cone,
IIRC the ramp base becomes integral around 1969-1970 ( at least on Model 19's , Model 27's IIRC changed a year later or so but not exactly sure).

My next is a 6.5" Model 29-2 from 1975 which has the melted shroud, square uncut shoulder forcing cone , integral base with fs blade that is visibly pinned to the ramp and polished over. (also have a like new old stock 4" barrel from the dash 2 era with same dash 2 dark blueing, same forcing cone with square shoulders (not undercut) and same pinned blade with integral ramp, has pin slot cut that is shiney, ( draw your own conclusions there).

I had a 3" 29-3 years ago with the shroud melted at front but no longer have its serial stored so do not know its ship date.

My next is a 6" 29-3 from 1988, it has the lighter purplish blue of that era that looks more like your 5", forcing cone shoulders are also square not undercut, non melted shroud, barrel ramp is integral and no visible pin holding the FS blade to ramp.
Also have a NOS 4" barrel for this gun, same light blue, no pin groove cut, square shoulders on forcing cone, non melted shroud, no visible FS blade pin.

Good luck on your project and make sure to post some pics after
Best regards
Brad

PS, with your talent on shortening barrels bet you could easily cut that older 6.5" barrel back, cut the pin groove and cross pin holes then repin the ramp base and recrown the barrel like new for another project.

PS, with your talent on shortening barrels bet you could easily cut that older 6.5" barrel back, cut the pin groove and cross pin holes then repin the ramp base and recrown the barrel like new for another project.[/QUOTE]

My intent when I bought the No Dash 6.5 " was just to cut it down to 5 " I still may go that route. It is easy. The roll marks are off, but who cares. I'm not out to deceive anyone about a gun's authenticity.

Removing pinned sights & relocating them is relatively easy. On the integral ramp barrels, I use an abrasive zip cut blade down both sides of the base to remove it from the barrel section, then flip the sight upside down in the mill & machine a tenon on it like the older sights have. Mill a slot on top of the barrel, fit the tenon to the slot, a drop of super glue to hold it still, turn it sideways, drill 2 holes thru the rib. That part takes time, & breaking a drill bit off is no fun.


The worst operation by far is drilling & pinning a frame & barrel that were not pinned to start with. This is a 13-3 (no pin) with a 3" 19 barrel. It took me a little over an hour to drill & pin the frame & barrel.


My favorite song: STYX, Too Much Time On My Hands

Ned

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Devil's afraid I'll take over.

l appreciate your attitude Ned.. l collect coins... l SHOOT guns

It took me a little while but I saw this 29-4 as an appropriate host.


What do you guys think?

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Devil's afraid I'll take over.

You assembled a great gun. The Cokes are frosting on the cake.

Just plain cool!

Horace & DB would be proud.

Well, that 5" barrel an 'upside' for me compared to a 4". Now I won't have to rush down to the safe and see whether my own 4" 29 still has a barrel!
Congrats on that nice barrel and please do return when it's installed. Drooling one thing, waiting so long I'm in diapers too... Really cruel!
My take