|
|
11-02-2012, 09:54 PM
|
|
SWCA Member
|
|
|
Join Date: Feb 2009
Location: Tulsa, OK area
Posts: 2,875
Likes: 1,461
Liked 7,054 Times in 1,580 Posts
|
|
Model 29-2 and its Spanish, American and German cousins
We’ve all seen old Spanish lookalikes of S&W revolvers, typically of M&P form in .38 or .32-20. Here is a grouping of similar revolvers, except emulating the Model 29 .44 Magnum. Not strictly copies mind you, but in form and function somewhat reminiscent of a Smith. Two Spanish, one American and one outlier German specimen that stretches the bounds of my self-imposed category. I did not include .44s by Dan Wesson, Colt, or Ruger because they seem fundamentally different to me. Taurus makes a variety of .44s that ape S&W but none of them (that I know of) quite have the lines of the classic Model 29 – I’ve only seen them with full underlug barrels.
From right to left:
S&W Model 29-2
Llama Super Comanche
Astra Model 44
High Standard Crusader
RG Model 57
And from the other direction, left to right:
Everyone knows what a Model 29 looks like but I certainly have to show it as a baseline for comparison. I replaced the original grips with the Siles that I prefer the feel of.
Next is the Llama Super Comanche. As much as the factory S&W grips are (to me) excessively flared at the bottom, the Llama is more so. The hammer and rear sight are a bit clubby in form but it has a snazzy ventilated rib on the barrel.
Probably the most similar to a S&W is the Astra Model 44, though its hammer is clubby as well. Notice the sideplate shape and compare it to the Smith. Oddly, the bottom front corner of the frame is rounded off rather than square. This feature almost looks like a mistake.
High Standard came out with the Crusader in .44 Magnum and .45 Colt around 1980 in a limited run of 500 each, with fitted wooden cases. Unfortunately for them it never really took off and as far as I know, no standard models were ever made. Its sideplate has turned plum.
This magnificent beast is the RG Model 57 in .44 Magnum. (The joke I’ve heard is that RG stands for “Rotten Gun”.) I stumbled across it on Gunbroker while (as you might guess) looking for a S&W Model 57 in .41 Magnum. I’d had no idea such a thing existed but had to have it. It is, as Professor Higgins said of Eliza Doolittle, “...so deliciously low, so horribly dirty!” However I don’t think it’s ever going to pass as royalty, even with the ventilated rib.
Here they are from the other side.
S&W M-29-2. Retail price in the 1980 Gun Digest is $331.50
Llama Super Comanche. Notice the sideplate is on this side. Retail price in the 1980 Gun Digest is $349.95
Astra Model 44. Retail price in the 1981 Gun Digest is $390.00
High Standard Crusader. Check the funky cylinder release and the Dan Wesson type grip attachment. Retail price in the 1980 Gun Digest is $340.00
And the RG Model 57. They cylinder release is really about the only thing resembling S&W on it but I just had to include it. Retail price in the 1980 Gun Digest is $242.00
For real world prices you could probably knock 30-50% off the Llama, Astra and RG, but expect to pay close to full price for the S&W. The Dirty Harry mania had died down a bit by 1980 so you probably didn't have to pay double. Not sure what the commemorative Crusader went for back in the day but they're a bit pricey now, if you can find one.
|
The Following 40 Users Like Post:
|
-db-, 357-RevolverGuy, 5-Shot, Absalom, bananaman, Bullet Bob, CWH44300, damienph, DavidNB, dlbx2, Doc44, drgbike, DRYHEAT, EricR, g8rb8, GB, Jack Flash, jaymoore, Jdavis, jringo8769, Lt JL, MAG-NUM, Mehutch, Mike1647, mkk41, montezumaz, muzzleblast, normanlclark, PA Guns & Ammo, PatriotX, pownal55, Protocall_Design, quinn, rdcl, shouldazagged, sigp220.45, steamloco76, sunnyd, TAROMAN, Watchdog |
11-02-2012, 10:40 PM
|
Member
|
|
|
Join Date: May 2009
Location: Georgia
Posts: 327
Likes: 840
Liked 116 Times in 66 Posts
|
|
Hey Tom,
Thanks for posting the pics of your shooters. Again I have learned something new on this forum. I had never saw one of the Crusader revolvers. Again, Thanks...Ray
|
11-03-2012, 12:19 AM
|
|
Member
|
|
|
Join Date: May 2009
Location: South Florida
Posts: 7,782
Likes: 2,486
Liked 8,318 Times in 2,919 Posts
|
|
Very interesting informative and and great pics !
|
11-03-2012, 05:38 AM
|
Member
|
|
|
Join Date: Jun 2010
Location: Maine
Posts: 3,065
Likes: 24,839
Liked 5,784 Times in 1,280 Posts
|
|
That's a nice collection of 44's, a man would have hard time finding all the odd ball 44's that were made, great photos
|
11-03-2012, 07:58 AM
|
|
Member
|
|
|
Join Date: Dec 2010
Location: Western Pennsylvania
Posts: 3,676
Likes: 1,769
Liked 3,702 Times in 1,242 Posts
|
|
Great post.
The Llama and Astra are the only ones I've ever seen in person. The RG looks like a high school machine shop project that I would NOT want to fire with magnum loads.
|
The Following User Likes This Post:
|
|
11-03-2012, 02:50 PM
|
|
SWCA Member
|
|
|
Join Date: Feb 2009
Location: Tulsa, OK area
Posts: 2,875
Likes: 1,461
Liked 7,054 Times in 1,580 Posts
|
|
Quote:
Originally Posted by steamloco76
Great post.
The Llama and Astra are the only ones I've ever seen in person. The RG looks like a high school machine shop project that I would NOT want to fire with magnum loads.
|
The seller on Gunbroker said that he had fired about 60 rounds of factory ammo through it. I will have to say that it's the best-built RG I've ever seen, although that may be damning with faint praise. It isn't the usual pot metal looking thing that their .22s and .38s are and is nicely machined steel.
|
07-25-2013, 09:14 AM
|
|
US Veteran
|
|
|
Join Date: Dec 2005
Location: Colorado
Posts: 8,109
Likes: 27,904
Liked 33,825 Times in 5,284 Posts
|
|
Great thread that I missed the first time around!
I love the theme of knock-off Model 29s.
I really wanted one of the High Standard Crusaders when they first came out, but I never saw one in the flesh. I bet its a solid gun.
Thanks for posting.
__________________
“What you got, ain’t new.”
|
07-25-2013, 07:53 PM
|
Member
|
|
|
Join Date: Jan 2013
Location: Kettering, Ohio
Posts: 1,025
Likes: 205
Liked 773 Times in 295 Posts
|
|
That is a WAY cool collection. Any others you looking for?
|
07-25-2013, 09:04 PM
|
|
Member
|
|
|
Join Date: Mar 2008
Location: Danville, Virginia, USA
Posts: 1,157
Likes: 286
Liked 621 Times in 185 Posts
|
|
Unusual collection. Thanks for sharing. DLB
__________________
Be Kind! John 3:16,14:27
|
07-25-2013, 09:35 PM
|
Absent Comrade
|
|
|
Join Date: Feb 2013
Location: Louisville, KY, USA
Posts: 19,336
Likes: 53,737
Liked 38,387 Times in 11,802 Posts
|
|
Quote:
Originally Posted by Tom K
I will have to say that it's the best-built RG I've ever seen, although that may be damning with faint praise. It isn't the usual pot metal looking thing that their .22s and .38s are and is nicely machined steel.
|
More like praising with faint damns. As in " Damn, that is a butt-ugly revolver!"
__________________
Oh well, what the hell.
|
The Following User Likes This Post:
|
|
07-25-2013, 10:15 PM
|
Member
|
|
|
Join Date: Jan 2009
Location: Rocky River OH
Posts: 920
Likes: 857
Liked 832 Times in 293 Posts
|
|
If you have fired any of the non S&W's, what are your impressions? I seem to recall that one of those makes had a unique action where the trigger and hammer meshed together like gears. I thought it was the Crusader with the unusual cylinder release lever.
Cool collection.
__________________
Tony
|
07-26-2013, 06:55 AM
|
Member
|
|
|
Join Date: Jan 2007
Location: Florida
Posts: 693
Likes: 122
Liked 188 Times in 114 Posts
|
|
The Astras were very strong guns and I know of several that are still shooting full house loads in the hands of friends OCONUS...
__________________
Run Fast, Bite Hard!
|
07-26-2013, 04:39 PM
|
|
Member
|
|
|
Join Date: Mar 2006
Location: Sacramento, California
Posts: 469
Likes: 973
Liked 1,378 Times in 160 Posts
|
|
I always wanted one of the Astra .44s, but never actually saw one for sale. I did run across a Crusader at my LGS about a year or so ago. Nice looking gun in the presentation case and the asking price was $1000. I'm not a collector, I shoot everything I have so I passed on it, thinking if it ever had any issues it would have been a bear to get repaired. Reminds me of a beefy Trooper MK III. Kinda wish I had bought it anyway...
|
07-11-2015, 07:22 AM
|
|
Member
|
|
|
Join Date: May 2009
Location: Windham, Maine
Posts: 1,392
Likes: 47
Liked 621 Times in 142 Posts
|
|
Wow. I'm a late comer on this one but what a great thread. Thanks for the comparisons. Fascinating. I'm really surprised that Gun Digest listed some of those other guns higher than the S&W.
As far as Dirty Harry, I bet a lot of these guns being introduced by the various companies were still to trying to cash in on "Dirty Harry mania". The Enforcer came out in 1976 then 1983 was Sudden Impact. This was a prime period for companies to sell 6 or 6 1/2" .44 Magnums. I still think that in the real world at the retail gun stores back then the S&W would have been more money than all of the rest.
Last edited by twaits; 07-11-2015 at 07:30 AM.
|
08-08-2017, 02:22 PM
|
|
Member
|
|
|
Join Date: Jun 2004
Location: Hot Springs, Arkansas
Posts: 649
Likes: 293
Liked 570 Times in 198 Posts
|
|
|
The Following 4 Users Like Post:
|
|
08-08-2017, 02:25 PM
|
|
Member
|
|
|
Join Date: Jun 2004
Location: Hot Springs, Arkansas
Posts: 649
Likes: 293
Liked 570 Times in 198 Posts
|
|
Also, I worked in a sporting goods store/gunshop from 1979 to 1983. The Dirty Harry effect on M29 prices was still in full effect, at least in Kansas. There was one gunshop in town that you could walk in most any time and get a 29, but it was $500+ at the time a 29 was just ver $300. We sold them for suggested retail, and had a waiting list and I doubt there were ever enough to meet the demand, even years later.
I bought the first Redhawk in town in 1981 or 82. I do remember it was $325. A new Super Blackhawk was less than $300 in those days.
Last edited by WPWarhawk; 08-08-2017 at 02:28 PM.
|
08-08-2017, 06:19 PM
|
|
Member
|
|
|
Join Date: Feb 2003
Posts: 1,617
Likes: 49
Liked 721 Times in 369 Posts
|
|
Good thread, brings back many memories from the past.
Thanks, Steve
|
08-08-2017, 07:02 PM
|
|
Member
|
|
|
Join Date: Dec 2015
Posts: 595
Likes: 2,899
Liked 1,582 Times in 339 Posts
|
|
What an enjoyable post! Thank you Tom K
|
08-09-2017, 01:59 PM
|
|
US Veteran
|
|
|
Join Date: Aug 2006
Location: Verde Valley AZ
Posts: 528
Likes: 2,984
Liked 156 Times in 88 Posts
|
|
Great post and I learned a lot! Thank you.
But I have to agree with shouldazagged, your RG is a BUG!
__________________
Fred
S&WCA 3238
|
|
Posting Rules
|
|
|
|
|