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S&W Revolvers: 1961 to 1980 3-Screw PINNED Barrel SWING-OUT Cylinder Hand Ejectors WITH Model Numbers


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  #1  
Old 08-17-2011, 11:00 PM
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Default Md-29-2 Engraved with Ivory Grips

I got a call today form my local gun shop buddy. He told me I needed to stop by and look at a gun he had in his shop. The lady owner was there waiting when I got there. He husband has passes away very recently and she is looking to sell this beauty. She it thinking it is worth in the range of $6000. She and her late hubby were told 20 years ago it was worth $5000. I do not think it is a factory engraved gun but it is done very nicely I think. The grips are beautiful. I told her I would get any information I could that may help her sell the gun. Any thoughts or comments?













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Old 08-17-2011, 11:25 PM
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What a beautiful Mod. 29!!! That gun should draw a lot of interest..... I'd love to have those stocks!!... WOW!

But, alas.... A fine work of firearms art like this 29 is way out of my league. Thanks for posting it for some of us to drool over.... I'm curious to know what it sells for...
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Old 08-17-2011, 11:34 PM
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Sure looks good Jim. If it ain't factory,it could be! It's obviously been fired and there appears to be some rust along the bbl lug on the right side. Maybe also along the bbl rib on the left side. If that's the case (btw,does it come with one?),she may not realize her asking price. Regardless,I'd love to own it. Those grips are worth every bit of 1K.
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Old 08-18-2011, 06:43 AM
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I wouldn't know if it's factory engraving but it sure is a beautiful revolver.
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Old 08-18-2011, 06:55 AM
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Jim,
In the Last Photo you posted I believe I see the Letters "JR" intertwined into the Scroll Pattern in the Engraving!! This is in the area on the Front Nose of the Crane Area directly under the Barrel Shroud looking in from the Front of the Revolver in case my explanation is not too clear!! Am I seeing things or not?? If so,it may be a Signature of the Engraver!!
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Old 08-18-2011, 07:11 AM
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Engraving carries the work of the engraver not the factory---there are/were a lot of good engravers--and some poor ones.
This could be $3000---there is a fellow here that is associated with Collectors Firearms in Houston. i wish he would comment on this.
maybe you should contact him for his opinion.
I like engraved guns--and, this is a good'un.
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Old 08-18-2011, 08:45 AM
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As much as I like to see a widow get as much as possible,I'm not seeing more or much more than a 3k gun.The engraving looks like factory A work to me,actually better than that,(I'm always a little turned off by that "engrave just to the grip line thing")enhanced with some gold line work.Fired,maybe the gun itself is 2k,the grips add a thousand? I could be wrong,but 5 or 6 is way too high,I think.
Personally, I'd prefer an "art" gun to have a shorter barrel.

Last edited by Camster; 08-18-2011 at 08:49 AM.
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Old 08-18-2011, 08:48 AM
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Don't factory engraved guns have the logo on the left? If so, this would not be factory and nobody has lettered this gun? That right there tells me it's aftermarket.

But beautiful.
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Old 08-18-2011, 11:36 AM
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I seem to remember someone saying the "roping" along the top of the frame window was a trademark of a particular engraver.
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Old 08-18-2011, 11:56 AM
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That is a beautiful work of art!
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Old 08-18-2011, 08:05 PM
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The engraving "style" looks very much like engraving on a Mod29 in the S&W catalog a few years back. Maybe it WAS factory engraved.... Anyway, maybe someday I can own a gun like that!
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Old 08-18-2011, 10:07 PM
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Don't know much if at all about the gun.. But the Ivories would list at $2000.00 and probably sell at $1600.00 to $1850.00 depending on the sellers motivation, and the buyers wants..

Beautiful package... Just Beautiful...
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Old 08-18-2011, 10:18 PM
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Hi Jim:

After looking at the photos, my thoughts are the same as we discussed. Neat gun. The engraving is actually quite good but I don't believe it is factory. The ivory grips are really nice. The best way to maximize the price is to hopefully identify the engraver and find out the history of the gun. Does the lady have a bill of sale or any correspondance between her husband and the engraver? It is probably worth the price of a factory letter just to know when, where and how (engraved or not) it was shipped.

As others have said, engraving is very personal so running it on an auction site with some good photos may identify a buyer who just loves it and has to have it! My estimate is that this is a $2500 to $3500 gun.

Bob
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Old 08-19-2011, 10:50 AM
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I like blued and carved guns---they are what we call court guns in Texas. This'un here is the cats meow of what I like.
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Old 08-19-2011, 01:20 PM
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I don't rightly know just what she's worth...But, I'd call 'er a dandy.


If'n it was a 4 or 5 incher, I'd probable give something close to that range for my own use.

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Old 08-19-2011, 05:33 PM
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Couldn't tell you if it's factory engraved or aftermarket. I will say that is one beautiful revolver. I love how even the (exposed) side plate screws are decorated with a pattern.
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Old 08-20-2011, 06:50 AM
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A really beautiful piece. I am no expert on engraving but I doubt it would sell for $5K or $6K on any auction site though.
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Old 08-20-2011, 03:16 PM
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Not a bad looking job. Some elbows and knees in the scroll work and there could have been some use made of narrow and wide lines in the pattern cut. Scroll ends should be finished up more (curled) and a couple of layout directional mis-steps. Shading could be more involved, bolder scroll to avoid the dense background matting.
Cutting looks to be done with an air assisted tool, not that it really matters. I'd have no idea if it is factory work or not. I'm just looking at it from an engravers view.

There's some blue wear on the right side of the bbl lug already pointed out I think. The cyl ring. Looks like the crane has been dropped open hard on the frame lug. The gold line work is a bit uneven and scarce. A heavier width line(s) would have made a big difference in the looks.
No engraving behind the cylinder gold looks left undone too.
How good the grips fit the frame is another question to answer. Buyers like them light tight fit.

Everyone who see's the gun is going to focus on those ivory grips.
They'll help sell the piece as much or more than the engraving.

I'd guess it'd sell for about 2k if it isn't factory engraved.
If it was new unfired since the work,,then perhaps more.

A factory job would get an entirely different audience & price simply because of the connection,,and not necessarily because of any better quality of the cutting or lack of it.

Put it up for auction and see where it goes.

Last edited by 2152hq; 08-20-2011 at 03:20 PM.
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Old 08-21-2011, 02:18 AM
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I paid $1300 for this 29-2 engraved by Shannon a couple of years ago:

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Old 08-21-2011, 12:08 PM
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Quote:
Originally Posted by 2152hq View Post
Not a bad looking job. Some elbows and knees in the scroll work and there could have been some use made of narrow and wide lines in the pattern cut. Scroll ends should be finished up more (curled) and a couple of layout directional mis-steps. Shading could be more involved, bolder scroll to avoid the dense background matting.
Cutting looks to be done with an air assisted tool, not that it really matters. I'd have no idea if it is factory work or not. I'm just looking at it from an engravers view.

There's some blue wear on the right side of the bbl lug already pointed out I think. The cyl ring. Looks like the crane has been dropped open hard on the frame lug. The gold line work is a bit uneven and scarce. A heavier width line(s) would have made a big difference in the looks.
No engraving behind the cylinder gold looks left undone too.
How good the grips fit the frame is another question to answer. Buyers like them light tight fit.

Everyone who see's the gun is going to focus on those ivory grips.
They'll help sell the piece as much or more than the engraving.

I'd guess it'd sell for about 2k if it isn't factory engraved.
If it was new unfired since the work,,then perhaps more.

A factory job would get an entirely different audience & price simply because of the connection,,and not necessarily because of any better quality of the cutting or lack of it.

Put it up for auction and see where it goes.
I enjoyed reading your critique.I've seen guns where the big scrolls were nicely done,the smaller ones in awkward places left something to be desired."Elbows and knees-nice terminology-applied to a gun or two I once owned.Unfortunately, I've seen work done by really masterful artists,which makes it difficult to have a lesser done piece. No one has commented on this so far,but it appears that the trigger and hammer may have been plated?That would lower the desirabilty for me.
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Old 08-21-2011, 06:59 PM
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I paid $1800 for my 629 30 years ago. It is not factory, and it was lettered.

If that S&W is factory I say between $3 and $4 k, if non factory, not more than $3K
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Last edited by cochise; 01-13-2012 at 06:30 PM.
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