So over the past few months, I have made a few new acquisitions to my collection as I got a nice bonus, a good tax return, and some winnings from a football league last year.

I have recently acquired a minty 19-4, blued 4" for $650, and a very nice condition 27-2 4" in Nickel for $850, which are among the best looking revolvers ever made. The 27-2 was definitely used a bunch (which I like), and the 19-4 must have been a nightstand gun, as we all thought it had hardly been fired.

So anyway, I had thought my itch for Smith revolvers was fully scratched.

Until I stopped into a LGS on Monday to take a look at what they had. I saw a rough 39-2, a very nice 3913 Tactical with a rail, and then in the end cabinet, I saw something that caught my eye. A 4" stainless N frame. I looked at the tag and saw that it was a 629 .44 Magnum with a price of $829.00

I waited patiently for a few minutes, and then when a person behind the counter noticed that I'd like to see something, he got it out and as I was looking at it, he mentioned to me that it just came in that morning.

As I looked it over, I noted that it was a 629, no Dash, and it had a pinned barrel and recessed cylinders, a red ramp, white outline, target grips, hammer and trigger.

The employee behind the counter relayed to me that a very nice lady had brought it in that morning with her kids, as her husband had just passes and she was selling some of his guns. A small crowd came over and indicated that they thought it was a real nice revolver.

The employee said he had never seen one come in this clean, and the wife and kids said they thought that it had only been fired with one cylinder worth of ammo as they still had the box of shells that their dad bought when he bought the gun.

So now I look at it more closely and while there were a few handling marks, the 629 was real clean, and the grips were perfect.

Ok I did not come in intending to buy anything, but now I have to have it.

I tell the employee I want it, and I want them to hold it (they have done this twice for me before) and he said alright.

I then asked if he would be open to a trade. I mention that I have a very nice Sig p229 in .40 caliber, that I like, but I just don't shoot or carry.

He said he'll hold the 629, and if the p229 is as I described they'll give me $500 towards the trade in.

Sounded great to me.

So I stopped in today, brought the p229 and made the deal. I actually got it for $330 cash and the $500 trade, so they gave me a good deal, and discounted me a box of Winchester Silvertips as well.

It also came with a presentation box, no tools or papers though.

I assured them that it was going to a good home, and that I would definitely put more than 6 rounds through it.

I think I got a very nice deal on this, and 4" Smiths are rare in my neck of the woods, and a pinned, recessed, target hammer, target trigger, target grip, red ramp, white outline revolver is very hard to pass up.

I'll post some pics shortly of this and some of my other Smiths as as I get my PC straightened out, and figure out how to post pics.

Yes, I look forward to photos! I'd take the 629 over the Sig every time.

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No good deed goes unpunished.

The 229 was in real nice shape, and was made in Germany. I just never fire it, and it was far down on my list of what I would carry. One of my 9 mms, my 1911, and even my 28-2 all have spent time on my right hip. The 229 has been in the safe for at least 3 years, not fired, not carried.

So I figured I would use it towards something I would want. Now I have the exact same number of revolvers, as I do autos - 4, and I have all the great calibers covered: 9mm, .38special/.357 Magnum, .45acp, and .44Special/.44Magnum.

I think I have a sidearm for almost any application I want or need from a day at the range, to backpacking, to making a trip to the Alaskan wilderness.

I also now own 6 Smith and Wessons, all from the '70s or early '80s - one of their best times for technology, and craftsmanship.

I bought a 4" 629 no dash with case tools and papers 5 years ago for 800.00 which seemed high at the time. Since then I have seen the same package sell for near twice that much on auction sites. You did good on that one.

I think you did great! Just don't come away from this thinking you S&W itch is scratched yet......ever handle a prewar Nframe?

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Even older, even crankier....

You did the right thing. P229s are good guns but they're a dime a dozen. That original 629 really is a nice one to have and to hang on to. If you plan to shoot a lot of .44 Magnums, you might cast around for a more modern 629 and let that one sit out the heavy-duty shooting. Congrats on your new sixgun.

Nice, very nice.

You just don't see them, so I had to grab mine. Had to have it.

I have not, a 3.5" 27 is now one of my bucket list guns though.

Thanks, I am definitely going to shoot it, but probably mostly with specials.

I have to put some magnums through it too.

I mean that's like having a '70 Mach 1 Mustang and not lighting up the tires once in a while.

But I will take good care of this 629. It is in the right home.

The 4 inch 629s were only made for a short time, so they don't come along very often!

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Richard Gillespie
FBINA 102

Good luck with your new-to-you "'70 Mach 1 Mustang". I agree and approve! (You could post a picture for us, you know... )

Your "new to you" 629 no-dash will handle any modern ammunition you can find. If you reload, as long a you stay within guidelines you should be fine. That being said, the hotter loads can be real wrist twisters. Light magnum loads are the ones I enjoy shooting the most from mine. Congrats on your purchase.

Mike

I wanted to add to the thread, that I took the 629 to the range yesterday, with a long time friend, who is an encyclopedia on firearms, and a great shooter. So I brought four Smith and Wessons with me yesterday. The 629, along with:

A 4" model 19-4
A 4" model 28-2
A 439

So we shot about 100 rounds of .38spcl/.357 mag first out of the 19 and then 28. That was excellent. The 28-2 is a great gun, and it was the first time shooting my new to me 19-4. The 19-4 was fun to shoot as well, and I look forward to shooting it a lot more.

Then I shoot 50 rounds with the 439, and it shot well. My buddy is a Glock guy, but he really liked the way the 439 fit in his hand. He proclaimed it to be a "nice weapon" which is high praise from him.

So we shoot through all of our 9mm, .38spcl, .357 magnum, So I asked him if he was ready to shoot the big boy, the 629. He said absolutely.

So we first break out some .44spcl Cowboy Rounds.

It's like shooting a .22, the 629 handles those a Cowboy rounds like a champ. I shot it single action and double action, and had some nice groups. I even put 4 out of 5 in the block on one turn.

So after the specials are done I break out a box of 240 grain Magnums made by Herter.

I load up 5 magnums, and take aim at my new target. I have never shot .44 magnum, and I am nervous, I hear how it is a bear.

I exhale and slow my breathing, I focus on the front site, and pull the trigger.

It lets out a nice BOOM, and gives a hearty kick, but nothing super crazy like you hear everyone say.

I put the first shot in the black.

I shoot my next 4 rounds, and make a nice group.

My buddy shoots it and makes an even nicer group than I do. (Of course he does).

We shoot the box of 20 magnums, and we both have big smiles.

I ask him which of my Smiths he shot was his favorite. He answered the 629. He really liked it.

I loved it. This revolver had every accoutrement you would get on a Smith, and it was a blast to shoot.

Life is Good!

Congrats on the find, your 629 sounds like a good one.
I had a 629 no-dash 6" at one time. If it had been a 4", I'd probably still have it.

Jack, it has every option checked that a collector would want IMHO:
- 4" Barrel Length
- Pinned Barrel
- Recessed Cylinder
- Red Ramp Front Site
- White Outline Rear Site
- Target Trigger
- Target Hammer
- Target Stocks (Which are perfect BTW)

Oh - and it is a boatload of fun to shoot.

sounds near perfect to me.
post pics if you can.

Great news on your find and what a deal you got. I just got my 4' 629 p&r last week. It's in my revolvers album. I haven't shot it yet though. I am a fan of the 629s for sure.I have 4 so far. can't wait to see your pics

Some Pics as Promised:

Great looking old 629 and box.

THAT is sweet!

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No good deed goes unpunished.

Thank You, she shoots real nice too.

It is the gem of my collection.

Where is that Herter's ammo actually loaded? I thought that the firm was out of business.

Oh that is a real nice SS 629. I do not see too many no-dash 629's most are -1's with no more pinned barrel. I have only seen 4.
1. had British proof marks so it had gone over and came.
2. I bought one 12 years ago.
3 and 4. Seen at gun shows that----all were 4" guns.

They are Winchester SilverTips. 210 Grain.

I haven't shot these, but I am sure they will pulverize whatever they hit.

Edit: I believe you are referencing the Herters in my range story, not the pics.

I get Herters at Cabellas. I have one right by me, and they are always priced well. Good Range Ammo.