After owning a few Model 29's over the years I woke up one morning and decided that I had to get another 6.5 blued in the vault. ( The only one I had left was a 4" 29-2 Nickel).
Now these guns used to show up fairly regular in Gun store show cases. After 5 years I finally found a 6.5 Blued at a local dealer on consignment.
It was on consignment for $950. after seeing prices in the $1200 to $1400 range. I couldn't get my plastic out fast enough.
Finish was nice. grips were nice. Grip screw buggered. Top front sight missing blue. Rear sight front screw buggered.And missing one of the extractor pins. Removal of the side plate showed inside to be clean and totally dry of oil. Some rust had started around the rear side plate screw hole. Scratch from the original owners ring on the bottom outside of the trigger guard. Cylinder lock up was bank vault perfect. Presentation case was good. Had 29 paperwork , but a model 27 liner and tools.
I flushed the inside, and relubed. cleaned the rust by the screw hole. replaced the side plate. polished the heads of the two screws and reblued the rear sight screw. touched up the blue on the front sight. cleaned the grips. checked end shake. Snugged all screws.Made a new Extractor pin and installed it.Cleaned bore and cylinder.So now the gun is pretty mint except for the scratch under the trigger guard, which I'm going to live with. Take it to the range last week and it probably the most accurate gun I have ever owned. Shoots 1" groups with just about any load.
Now the fun. I couldn't fine any replacement screws anywhere. Even the factory doesn't carry them for this gun. So I imagine they can't service them anymore. Then I find everything from the paperwork to the little screwdriver is now collectable. I feel like I have been living under a rock.
I really love this gun and my Wife shot it and wants it. I told her no, not after it took me 5 years to find this one. This one isn't getting sold or traded in my lifetime.
The new Smith's really can't hold a candle to the old ones for fit and finish

1" groups? Lord have mercy.

Try Brownell's for replacement screws.

Jack's First..also

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SWCA #2306
DAV in honor of POP

Congrats on the good deal!

I'm glad to hear of someone else who is still buying old S&W's to shoot!

About 3 years ago when I was over in Iraq I got an email from my Dad telling me he found a Model 29 at the local gun shop, I forget the price but it wasn't too crazy, something like $600 or so, no box or anything which doesn't matter to me anyway. I don't know what's up with these prices in the past couple years.......

If a used gun no matter how collectible has been already shot by it's previous owner. I would shoot it. Just give it a good clean after.
The trick with Model 29's and Model 19's is to feed them mostly specials and a cylinder or two of magnums once in awhile.
I reload my .44 magnum cases. I used a 245 gr lead hollowpoint slug. ( I recently got out of casting so I will be buying some 240 or 250 gr. lead semi wadcutter slugs from one of the commericial guys soon), Load 7.5 grs. of Unique. and a large pistol primer ( CCI when I can find them).
This is pretty much a fairly warm special. It clocks out around 900-1000 fps.
Don't own a chronagraph. The load has very little recoil and it's probably the most accurate center fire round I can think of.
I can't belive how much the price of these guns have shot up. Hell, I saw a guy on Gunbroker trying to sell the Model 29 paperwork( The owners sheet with the picture of the gun on it) and his biding was starting at $65.