Last year I picked up a couple of Mod 29's and I've been reflocking presentation cases for those and several others. In an effort to make them "complete", I've also been buying the correct tools and paperwork to go with them. You know.....the dreaded N frame disease! I have it bad.

Anyway, I just noticed that I have two different sets of Mod 29 owners manual/instruction booklets. The SCSW notes that there were numerous examples that can be found for most S&W models but these were the first "different" one's I've seen for the Model 29 so I thought I'd post them.

Just out of curiosity, does anyone know if these were changes made in a certain year or just random printings?

The paperwork in question came with 2 of my guns which are 1977 and 1978 model 29-2's. Pictures are below.

The contents of the booklets are absolutely identical except for the front page of each. One booklet has the Smith & Wesson name at the top of the page with the S&W logo at each end of the name. The other booklet is missing the name and logos at the top of the page.

Also, on the bottom of the booklet with the large type Smith & Wesson and logos, on the bottom it simply says Smith & Wesson, a Bangor Punta Company, Springfield, Massachusetts, U.S.A. The other booklet (the one without the name on top) has a S&W Logo at the bottom along with a complete address and telephone numbers.

All other text is identical on both booklets. And on page 2 of booth booklets, there appears to be a date on the bottom right just below the parts drawing that shows "11-74".

All comments appreciated.
Here's a pic of the top of the two booklets...


And the bottoms

Just looked at the one that came with my 1975 made 29-2 (purchased new in 1976).

Its the one with the name and logos at the top, FWIW.

I just have a gut feeling that the other one (the one with the address at the bottom) is an earlier issue.

The first Parts & Instruction sheet was issued for the Model 29 in 1960. The sheet "evolved" as did the gun and the company. The sheet with the address on the bottom is a later one, but there are many pre-Bangor Punta versions too.

Bill