The early ones, possibly pre 29, not the latter Classics. I've seen pics of a few & always wanted one. Could be, I'm wanting one of the scarcest variations there is, so I figured I should ask before dreaming any longer.

Anybody have any info on them or know where I can look, for things like years of manufacture, or if they were even cataloged or were special order, etc.

I know one will be hard to find, & may be out of my price range if it turns up. But I'm gonna start looking if ya' think a find is even possible. Thanks

Be prepared, last one I saw, just a few months ago, was between $2500 & 3k.

One member here got lucky and walked into one for very very short money,then added cokes.But as mentioned be prepared to dish out some bucks if you come across one because it wont last.

I was thinking I'd have to spend 2-3 grand, hoping for the lower number of course. I'll just have to learn what I can about them & keep my eyes peeled.

Hey, the line for 5 inch 29`s starts way back there...no cuts!

Gunzo: I can give you a short answer, until the experts chime in.

In 1958, H.H. Harris ordered 500 .44 Magnums with 5 inch barrel length. Not exactly sure if all were delivered, as they were sent over a period of years. Sometime back, it was estimated that some 200 to 250 were documented to have surfaced. There have been a couple threads here of pre 29s ordered, made and shipped prior to the H.H. Harris order.
At one time there was a lengthy thread on the 5 inch .44 Magnums that was very informative. I have not been able to find it, as it is pretty old.
There have been some that have been cut to 5 inch after shipment. Gun writer Mike Venturino had one so converted. There was once a member here who had one that appeared original, but would not letter as having been shipped in 5 inch.
Smith made a model 544, Texas Wagon Train commemorative in .44-40 in five inch that looks just like the .44 Magnum. It might be easier to find while you are looking for .44 Magnum.
Good luck in your search.

__________________
Richard Gillespie
FBINA 102

Well I have had one for years, one of my favorite backpacking guns, loaded with Federal 300gr Hard Cast Hammerhead. Track shooter. cost - $515. Feb 1997

Definitely not a 'Safe Queen'.

H. H. Harris received the first shipment of 5-inch 44 Magnums (pre-29) in March 1958 and continued to receive shipments periodically until September of 1958. These guns are generally serial numbered in the S172000 to S182000 range. Shipments to H. H. Harris and other distributors resumed in early 1963 (29-2 model variation) and continued until end of the year. These revolvers are generally serial numbered in the S227000 to S239000 range. The rarest of this barrel length are those finished in nickel (fifteen known), factory engraved (one known), stamped MOD-29 in the yoke cut (three known), stamped MOD. 29-1 in the yoke cut (three known), configured with a 5-screw frame and shipped in 1956 (one known, shipped July 20, 1956...special order).

Below is a photo of one of the rare 5-inch 44 Magnums finished in nickel and shipped in September 1958. (click on the photo for a better look)

Bill

Thank you so much to all, for the info. I had read the story once before but didn't remember till ya'll helped me out.
I may have set a pretty big goal in deciding to search for one & the price could be out of my comfort zone if I ever find it. But, now I have good info to go on.

FWIW, my records indicate that Elmer Keith's 5" went for 13K, I was not a bidder.

I have to chuckle a little when I see a guy say he don't go to gun shows because he never finds any deals anymore. If you don't find any when you go how many are you going to find if you don't?
If I had stayed home one day last year I would not have found this 5" 44 Magnum sitting on a gun show table.
It's a 4 screw that shipped in May, 1958 to HH Harris.

Elmer Keith mentioned them in the 1961 ed. of, Sixguns. I think his son may have been one of those who obtained one, probably from the Harris order.

I was brought up too polite to ask...

That being said, when I picture how I might react to finding something like that on a table at the gun show, just lying out there with the "regular" guns...I could see myself looking a lot like Mr. Don Knotts in "The Ghost and Mr. Chicken" - I don't think I could pull off a nice cool "How much you need for that shiny one over yonder?"

Congrats to you, sir!

__________________
Do or do not. There is no try.

I had heard of the 5 inch barrel lengths for a long time, but had never even seen one, or know anyone who had. As a fan of the model 29, I wanted a 5 inch.

About 12 years ago or so, I was wondering a gun shop in Colorado Springs and walking down the case where there were nothing but Taurus revolvers. There in the middle of all this, I spy a 5 inch barrel Smith. I ask to look, thinking it was a .45 Colt. Lo and behold, it was a 5 inch 29-2. I was assured it was an original and so I had it sent to my local FFL and left a bit over $1800 lighter. It looked basically unfired, but no box. I have no regrets!!

__________________
Richard Gillespie
FBINA 102

If you do come across a real HH Harris 5inch, make sure there is a letter from Roy Jinks, S&W historian, to verify what you are buying. I've seen a few early 29s with 5in barrels cutdown from 6.5 and 8 3/8, sellers unknowing it was not an original 5" 29. Only a letter from S&W can verify its authenticity. Good luck and glad to see you aiming high for a truly rare gun!

Or you could have been like me. I ran across a 5" in a pawn shop along with several nice Smiths including a few hard to come by models. The owner did not know what he had and neither did I. I kept looking at it and kept telling myself that it must have been cut, even though there were none of the repair marks from the factory.

I drove back to the shop after discovering that 5" 29s did exist. The price was good enough even if I was wrong and it was a cut down. Too late. Someone came in and bought the entire collection.

Best,

Jack

They are out there and do not give up!

__________________
SWCA #2948
SWHF #431

One other source for 5" 29 barrels was available awhile back. 15 years or so ago the head honcho from the performance center, a gentleman with an Italian name, located a small batch of original 5" blue short lug 44 barrels. I know because he installed one on a 29-6 for me. An unscrupulous individual could have aquired one of those barrels and installed it on an early revolver and tried to pass it off as a Harris. Make sure to get a letter.