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S&W Hand Ejectors: 1896 to 1961 All 5-Screw & Vintage 4-Screw SWING-OUT Cylinder REVOLVERS, and the 35 Autos and 32 Autos


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Old 06-27-2020, 02:58 PM
skittle76 skittle76 is offline
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Default Model 29 Serial number and year

Hello. New to forum. My dad has a Model 29 but he doesn't know any details on when it was made and such. After doing some research, the S17...serial tells me it is early, but that's about all I can find on this. It's very frustrating. No Serial no. db's that I find work either. I was wondering if you all could help us out. Serial number is S179083. 6-1/2" barrel .44 Mag. This is also mint condition and never been fired. Please see pics. Any information would be greatly appreciated. Thank you for your time.
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Old 06-27-2020, 03:05 PM
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Welcome! Member Doc44 is the local expert on these and will probably be along shortly.

The SN dates its manufacture to 1957. Does it have three or four screws on the sideplate (four would have one visible on the upper section, in front of the hammer)?
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Old 06-27-2020, 03:06 PM
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It shipped in 1957. Model Numbers started at S179000 so it was one of the earliest shipped with a Model Number.
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Old 06-27-2020, 03:06 PM
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Hey, thanks for response. I believe there is only 3 screws. I know pic doesn't show, but I don't remember seeing on up high near the hammer.
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Old 06-27-2020, 03:08 PM
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Welcome to the forum. Can you post a photo of the grips?
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Old 06-27-2020, 03:16 PM
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Won't let me upload good pic of side shot. Here's a screen shot of the pic of the grips.
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Old 06-27-2020, 03:21 PM
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First, there were no Model 29 revolvers (marked as such) that had five frame screws. The top sideplate screw was gone by the time model numbers were applied.

Second, it is a near certainty that this gun shipped in 1958. No model marked .44 Magnums shipped until January, 1958.

Sounds like a very nice piece.
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Old 06-27-2020, 03:28 PM
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Thank you very much. This is more than what I could find. Dad will appreciate the info as do I. It will be mine someday and I intend on keeping it in the same condition.
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Old 06-27-2020, 03:38 PM
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Quote:
Originally Posted by skittle76 View Post
Won't let me upload good pic of side shot. Here's a screen shot of the pic of the grips.
I see some damage on the stocks near the rear of the trigger guard but it looks like it has coke bottle target stocks/grips which would/could be correct and original to the gun. If you remove the stocks there might be part of the guns serial number written in pencil on the inside of one of the stocks.
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Old 06-27-2020, 03:45 PM
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Think it might just be the lighting and the slightly fuzzy pic. Thank you very much again.
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Old 06-27-2020, 04:46 PM
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Your 44 Magnum (Pre-Model 29) most likely shipped in mid-1958. It has a 4-screw frame (three screws in the side plate and the cylinder stop plunger screw in front of the trigger guard). The stocks on your 44 Magnum are not damaged as that is how they were made at the time. Your 44 Magnum is one of the guns with a barrel that has the roll marks approximately one inch forward of "normal". Collectors vary on the impact of the location of the roll mark on value as some find it an interesting variation while some find its location unappealing.

Assuming your 44 Magnum is 99 percent, I would value it at $1750 to $2100.

Since you are planning on keeping the Magnum in the family, you should consider obtaining a letter of authenticity from the Smith & Wesson Historical Foundation issued by Dr. Roy Jinks. The letter will confirm the configuration of your 44 Magnum (barrel length, bright blue finish), and tell you when and where it was shipped by Smith & Wesson. It will be interesting and potentially valuable information to have in the years to come.

Bill

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Old 06-27-2020, 05:22 PM
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From my list, I agree it is likely to be a pre-29 which shipped sometime in mid-1958. I list a SN several hundred higher, a pre-29 which shipped in July 1958. I can't pin down exactly when N-frame model numbering started, but it seems to be in the low S18xxxx range, probably not much beyond S181xxx. I have a notation saying that it's around S183000, but that is unverified. Does anyone have a more exact starting SN?

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Old 06-27-2020, 05:54 PM
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Quote:
Originally Posted by Doc44 View Post
Your 44 Magnum (Pre-Model 29) most likely shipped in mid-1958. It has a 4-screw frame (three screws in the side plate and the cylinder stop plunger screw in front of the trigger guard). The stocks on your 44 Magnum are not damaged as that is how they were made at the time. Your 44 Magnum is one of the guns with a barrel that has the roll marks approximately one inch forward of "normal". Collectors vary on the impact of the location of the roll mark on value as some find it an interesting variation while some find its location unappealing.

Assuming your 44 Magnum is 99 percent, I would value it at $1750 to $2100.

Since you are planning on keeping the Magnum in the family, you should consider obtaining a letter of authenticity from the Smith & Wesson Historical Foundation issued by Dr. Roy Jinks. The letter will confirm the configuration of your 44 Magnum (barrel length, bright blue finish), and tell you when and where it was shipped by Smith & Wesson. It will be interesting and potentially valuable information to have in the years to come.

Bill



Doc, Thank you very much. That sounds like something that I'll look into on the Cert. I appreciate your time and info. Take care.
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Old 06-28-2020, 09:53 AM
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Quote:
Originally Posted by DWalt View Post
... I can't pin down exactly when N-frame model numbering started, but it seems to be in the low S18xxxx range, probably not much beyond S181xxx. I have a notation saying that it's around S183000, but that is unverified. Does anyone have a more exact starting SN?
Don't know about N-Frames in general, but specifically for the M29, this is from the SCoS&W, 3rd ed.:
29 (1957): Stamping of model number at approximate serial number S179000
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Old 06-28-2020, 10:07 AM
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I don't know about N-frames in general, but for the 44 Magnum, MOD-29 began to be stamped in the yoke cut of revolvers in the high S183000 serial number range (late 1958).

Bill
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Old 06-28-2020, 10:25 AM
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Quote:
Originally Posted by Doc44 View Post
I don't know about N-frames in general, but for the 44 Magnum, MOD-29 began to be stamped in the yoke cut of revolvers in the high S183000 serial number range (late 1958).

Bill
Mine's not a Model 29, just a model 28 that shipped Oct 1958 S182666
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