I am pretty sure that the answer to my question has been posted somewhere, but I have done searches and can't find it. A lot of research seems to have been done about the pistol used in the Dirty Harry movie. Almost sure it was a 6 1/2" model 29-2. I have seen the pictures of the one in the NRA museum and it has grips with a badge stuck on the left side. I don't think those are the grips used in the movie.

Now to my question. Which grips were on the pistol used in the movie? Were they the smooth target (sometimes called 'Presentation') grips, or the oversize checkered target grips? Or maybe something else.

The publicity still which most clearly shows the stocks was from "Magnum Force," not the original "Dirty Harry." It looks like dark (probably walnut) standard checkered target stocks (right panel only), worn by Clint Eastwood in a shoulder holster. The example in the NRA museum is a 6-1/2" Model 29 in a case with an engraved shield on the right stock panel (smooth) which was presented to John Milius. Doubtful that was one of the M29s used in the movie.

The stocks used on the Model 29-2 (I believe two were supplied by S&W) in Dirty Harry are N-frame target stocks made of Goncalo alves (possibly rosewood). Similar to those shown below.

The revolver used in Magnum Force was a 4-screw with a serial number in the S207000 range (or at least in that general serial number area). The original stocks on that revolver would be coke bottle type, but I am not sure what was actually on the gun in the movie.

Bill

Pausing each scene where the gun is shown, then zooming in you will find the following. Dirty Harry = Cokes , Magnum Force =Football Target ,The Enforcer = Poor fitting Cokes. The Dead pool = Football presentation .Goncalo Alves appears to be the wood used in all of them.

Millius has said in magazine articles that one of two revolvers used for filming was presented to him. I assume the one in the museum was indeed used in the movie.

__________________
No life story has happy end.

"The revolver used in Magnum Force was a 4-screw with a serial number in the S207000 range (or at least in that general serial number area). The original stocks on that revolver would be coke bottle type, but I am not sure what was actually on the gun in the movie."


The grips shown in the previously mentioned publicity shot for Magnum Force were definitely standard checkered targets, not Cokes. And they were very dark, no visible grain. Allegedly there were three M29s available on set and different guns may have been used in different scenes and publicity shots

I believe the gun to have been a 6 1\2 barrel but a guy in a local shop pulled out a book of s&w history stating it to be 8. But you can't always believe what you read! I still think it was 6 1\2!

@Dwalt

The target stocks from Magnum Force have some of the best grain I have ever seen on factory stocks. Not sure what you are looking at to see no grain.