One thing I like about collecting S&W's is that you run across a lot of small interesting changes.
I've added pictures a few posts down....

I have a pair of 29-2's; one is a 6.5" made in 1977 and the other is an 8-3/8" made in 1978.

I noticed that the 8-3/8" gun (1978) has a pinned front sight blade while the earlier 1977 model doesn't. I couldn't find any mention of pinned vs not pinned (sights) in the SCSW.

Both guns are blue and identical in every other way except for barrel length.

Anybody noticed pinned vs not pinned on Model 29-2 front sight before?
Just wondering.....
All comments appreciated.

Another example of S&W never discarding usable parts.

They obviously used up pinned front sight barrels they had on hand even though the engineering change went to front sights milled integral with the barrel forging.

So are you thinking that both of these guns would have been normally pinned?

To tell the truth, I haven't noticed other 29-2's from that era having a pinned front sight......but I'll be looking more closely from now on.

The long barreled guns have never sold as well as the 6.5" or 4", so it stands to reason that S&W probably had several barrels to use up that still had the pinned in front sight. They wouldn't throw anything away, especially a major part like a barrel.

"I noticed that the 8-3/8" gun (1978) has a pinned front sight blade while the earlier 1977 model doesn't."

Are you positive? The pins running thru the ramp are sometimes very difficult to see. I was under the impression that the non-pinned front sights started when Smith standardized the barrel lengths at 4", 6" and 8 3/8" and did away with the pinned barrels.



Bruce

Here are the pics......my eyes are old but I'm pretty darn sure there's not a pin in the earlier gun. I just refinished the grips on the 8-3/8" gun. They were pretty bad when I got the gun. I used tung oil on them and think they came out just fine.

Here's the front sight blade on the 8-3/8" (1978) showing the pin.


And here's the front sight blade on the 6.5" (1977)


Ok...I can't stand it...Here are pics of both of them.
First pic 29-2 SN 457xxx w/8-3/8" Bbl, second pic 29-2 SN 402xxx w/6.5" bbl. The 6.5" gun is almost as new....the pictures don't do it justice.



Thanks for the comments. I learn something here everyday.

It was mentioned that the pins can be very difficult to see. Here's a picture of my 25-2. The front sight pin is barely visable on one side. This gun was mfg in about '72-74 time frame.

Wow......we're getting down to nearly microscopic examination but I think you are right. I took another look and I think I see a faint circle where the pin should be.

Now I'm thinking there is a pin there.

Here's a close-up with the area in question circled.

Thanks for clearing that up. I mentioned earlier that I learn something everytime I come here. This was a good one.

Thanks...

The photo of the 1977 29-2 also shows the pin (although it is nearly invisible...as you point out in your later post). The pinning of the front sight blade on 6 1/2-inch Model 29-2s started around 1967 at serial number S275000. This was not phased in for 4-inch and 8 3/8-inch 29-2s until late 72 or early 73.

Bill

That appears to me to be a sight pin, abiet very nearly invisable.

Thanks to all......it's a real pleasure to be able to pose questions to the experts.

I haven't owned a model 29 since the mid-70's and this site peaked my interest again....hence the 2 that I posted pictures of. I'll be looking for a 4" early next year from the same time frame.

When I picked up my latest yesterday (the 6.5" from 1977), it looked so nice that I had second thoughts about even shooting it. There is a barely perceptible turn line and it just doesn't look used at all. But after thinking about it.......I got it to enjoy and to do that it's got to be shot.

I'm going out this morning to find materials to refinish the flocking in the presentation box (or alternately some other velvet type lining).

Thanks again....
Craig

I had no idea that the partridge front sight was pinned on my 25-2. I could not see any pin. At the Service Center, I had a ramp installed. The service tech told me they shear the pin with just the right blow of the mallot. The partridge sight was returned to me (is still with the gun) & the sides of the tab show drag marks where the pin was sheared.
Russ

To me, it appears that the pin on the 1978 gun was actually removed and replaced. The 1977 is more representative of how they typically appear.

Bruce

AFAIK on all N frames, S&W pinned the front sights and ground the pin flush and was polished before being blued. That's why some are so hard to distinguish. I've never seen one that you couldn't find the pin if you looked hard enough.

Thanks guys...
And Bruce, after looking at it, I agree that it might have been replaced or at least removed for some reason. There are no tool marks and no damage and the sight is perfectly aligned.

My 8 3/8" has it's sight as part of the bbl asmby.
Not an add on piece. No pins or scerws.

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Michael

"My 8 3/8" has it's sight as part of the bbl asmby."


It's probably a M29-3 or later model. Smith saw fit to make the barrel, ramp and front sight blade all one forging. Big mistake IMO. May have been cheaper but looked like hell. At that point, their only concern was having a functional sight blade of the correct height. A fate similar to the MIM hammers and triggers currently in use. They may have utility but no asthetic appeal.

Bruce

Frame is stamped 29-2 and I bought it, new in 1980.

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Michael

The practice of forging the sight and ramp with the barrel started as early as 1979. I have a 29-2 with a 6-inch barrel shipped in November 1979 that is made that way.

Bill