I bought myself a S&W 686 last Christmas. By January, I was thinking about a .44 Magnum.

I suppose I was thinking about a "Dirty Harry Gun", but none were available.
I ended up between a S&W 629 and a Ruger Redhawk. I chose the Ruger.

August came, and my 70th Birthday was coming up. I wanted something very special.
This time Dick's had a commemorative 6" Model 29 for $ 1,250.00, but I turned it down.
I bought a $ 2,800 STI 2011 (and three other lower cost guns).

Last night I was browsing the Texas Gun Trader sight, and saw a S&W 29-2 for $800.
The proper thing would have been to ignore it, but I inquired about it.
When I held it, I knew why I passed up the commemorative at Dick's.
This gun was the proper "Dirty Harry Gun" I had been looking for.
It was 96/97%, everything was correct, and it was 6 1/2", not 6".

Needless to say, I bought it.
I took it to the range today, and the Chief Range Officer tried to talk me out of shooting it.
I shot it, and Boy, was it sweet. The Ruger is a fine pistol, but the S&W has soul.
It has a very soft single action trigger. The first, at 7 yards, shot went off before I was ready.
But it was still touching the outer edge of the bullseye. The next 5 were dead center.

When I did my part, the bullseye was in peril, but I sometimes let the "rush" make me a bit sloppy.

I did severely limit my shooting today, and will try not to shoot it too often. But, I don't think I will wear it out. No way will I lock this gun up and not shoot it.

I thought $800 was a bit high, but the Range Officer thought it was way low.
At any rate, it's exactly what I've been wanting all year, and I'm happy with it.

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That's great, and a great story. Happy Birthday!

I turned 70 on the 17th of last month and my 6-1/2" blue Model 29-2 arrives tomorrow courtesy of the fine folks at Parker's Gun Shop in Cut Off, Louisiana. Must be something about entering that eighth decade. . .

Earlier this year I saw a Dirty Harry 29-2 sell for $1000 at an estate auction. I would have snatched it up in a second for $800.

Yeppers you got a deal! I would buy as many as I could at that price.

I have a S&W 629 6-inch that I shoot bowling pins with. The next match is on 28Oct2017. Wish me luck.

I haven't seen them for much less than $1000 in any condition. Nice job.

Happy Birthday, and did you get a deal!!!

I don't think you have to worry about wearing it out, it was made to shoot.

Best Regards, Les

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SWCA 3084, SWHF 495, PGCA 3064

Beautiful! Happy Birthday! A great gun. I bought a 29-3 4" for my 65th last January. I love shootin' that gun. Same grips as yours.

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Yep, you paid too much. I have a 6 1/2" M29-2 from 1977 and bought it on the Ruger Forum for $715 shipped. Got a deal on that one. Shipping was high at near $50 UPS Overnight. Big Larry

Not too high, not to low, just right!

Thirty years from now, somewhere in Central Texas, you might see a 100 year old Geezer, with a smile on his face, bracing a worn out M29-2 on his walker.

Don't bother to say anything, he won't be able to hear you.

condition of yours looks excellent. and I also think way low at 800. Mine was unfired shipped in 1978 and was quite a bit more, and says hello!

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Don't remember where, but I have read that when the movie was made
it was supposed to be a 4" barrel, but they couldn't find one, so they
went with the longer barrel.
Mine is a dash 3 with 4" barrel.
Shown here hiding in Chic Gaylord's Combat Speed Scabbard
on one of those $30 belts. The knife is by Marbles.

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In Omnia Paratus

Ok ok no body else will so here goes I'm gonna say it .do ya feel lucky well do ya ? You should that is a great looking example of a great gun man o man I wish you could pick out my birthday presents .Happy shooting .

Beautiful gun! Great deal!

Happy 70th & congrats on your 29. I got a 6” 19-3 w/a Partridge front sight for my 70th last year. I was a young cop when Dirty Harry’s first movie came out and there was a run on these guns, but not by me. We had too many family expenses for that back then.

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Old Cop
LEO (Ret.)

I think you did well at $800 for a P&R m29, especially considering what a brand new m29 goes for!

I have a 4" 29-2 circa 1980 and it is my baby. I paid the same for it about 5 years ago with some nice accessories. Walked out of the LGS a happy man that day!

You took some tips from the original movie promo photographer. That looks like a 12" barrel in your photo.

That's exactly right, Phil. The script called for a four-inch nickel finished revolver. They couldn't find one of those, but they did come up with two 6-1/2 inch blued models, and thus was an icon born.

At least You won’t need hearing protection when You light off that .44.

I'm a bit overwhelmed by the attention this gun is getting, both here and the gun range.

I thought I knew what I was getting, but now I see just what a prize I found. Thanks to all for your inputs.

My model 29 currently sports a factory installed four inch barrel, changed out by a pervious owner. It did come with the original 8 3/8 inch barrel that is still wrapped in the S&W brown paper in the safe. I heard that some promo photography used the longer barrel for visual impact.