All things equal I believe the 6.5" is more desirable and worth more. I think it's the "Dirty Harry" effect lol.

The question is what's the spread? I have a nickel 6.5" trying to find a blued. I'm in Canada and the 6.5's are like finding the Holy Grail these days it seems. 8 3/8" seem easier to come by.

Around here about 200 more for the 6.5 vers the 8 3/8 barrels. The 4" is even harder to find around here and brings even more. Talking -2's or older. -3 and newer much cheaper.

I would agree that the shorter tubes are more desirable, hence the price is a little higher. But I have a bunch of long tubes from K .22cal - X .500 mag. They're a blast...not sorry for the pun.
We shoot them out to 200+ yards.
A 6.5 inch barrel holsters easier that a 8 3/8. So if your carrying it some where, that 's a factor. But if you're just shootin, and you find a great deal on a long tube, get it.

I'm in Canada so the only carry I do is from my house to a gun range in a locked case lol.

That is a bummer. You need to be a snowbird and come on down here to AZ in the winter. Carry all you want and go out shooting like a free man.

I have a blued and nickle in all three sizes, all 5 screw but the 8 3/8. The longer tube is easier to shoot, the longer sight range and the little more weight helps. The 6 1/2 is the nicest, the 4 inch really bucks and roars. I bought my Blue 4 inch when I was stationed at Wheelus in Lybia in '62. Got it from a Major that bought to go on Safari, when he returned he sold the gun at the rod and gun club with a box of Norma ammo for $100. 6 rounds were gone out of the box.
SWCA 892

Thanks I ended up buying it. Gave me a good deal and the whole package looks to be in great condition. It dates to 1975.
S&W 29-2 004 by Paul Dubois, on Flickr

There you go....Now you're talkin. That thing looks brand new and what a nice presentation.
You'll enjoy it. The long barrels have a great presence on the range.

Very nice pd1964. I have a 6 1/2" 29-2, but it is not in the condition that your's is in. Mine is a shooter that accompanies me any time I am camping in bear country.

Like yfdcap said, bring that beauty on down to Arizona and we'll do some shooting.

Congrats,

Is that nice, presence at the range..I'd say so. Just don't torture her with full house loads, load some nice mid strength 44 spl and yuo have so much fun. Keep those vintage Normas away from the gun as that will be a batter fest.

I don't want to beat any of my guns with excessive loads. But I do load in the higher range on magnum calibers. I've said to myself..."why have a M29 or .500 and shoot soft loads and watch the bullet fall out of the end of the barrel? Isn't that why I bought a magnum, to experience what a magnum does?

In my mind, there's really no reason for soft loads in a magnum frame. Why not get .22 in a K frame and go at it far cheaper than all that lead, powder and primer wasted on a soft load.
If you want to practice large frame soft loads that's ok, but why a magnum frame?
That's like owning a "Big Block" HP, 60's Muscle Car and asking your mechanic to tune it down so you can run it on regular.
Shoot the things and have fun, I say. I haven't worn out any of my collection yet. And when I do...get another one.

I love the 8 3/8s N frame more than anything. I have two 29s and a 629. They really are great shooters and I think they look better than anything.

In another forum, active discussion of carry without holster. Here, conjuring 8+ barrel N frame Smith perhaps under jacket, concealed in pants... Carry 'forward', perhaps 'impressive'. Carry 'aft', likely hilarious! Sorry, couldn't resist mention of such 'vision'.

But on to principal point. Myself with both 8 3/8" 29-2 and 4", S prefix, Model 29 4 screw. Different guns, different purposes. Comparing manageable carry size to essentially target gun, really apples & oranges! 6" barrel something of 'works as both', compromised-alternative. All great guns! Appreciating each for for respective virtues.

My take

I know this is the second comment I’ve made on this gun pd but looking at it in the case, someone had to buy that thing originally and just bring it home. Even the flocking is spotless.

That is like going back into a ‘70s gun store via a time machine.

Good on ya!

The 8 3/8 barrel is great for target shooting due to its sight radius, but slower to sight in than using the 6 1/2 barrel. For me, given the time, I could get a better group with the 8 3/8 barrel.

I just looked at this thread again and to me, the 6.5” just looks and handles perfect.

We all have our preferences, but to me, having two 8 3/8” (a Model 57 no-dash and a 629 no-dash) and two 6” (a 29-3 and a 629) to compare, if I could keep only one, it would definitely be my 6.5” 29-2. It just looks proper and is the most appealing to me.

I've always preferred the 6-6.5" barrel for pure aesthetics and to carry in the woods when hunting (deer) but for long-range work, there's no substitute for that extra couple inches of sight radius that the 8 3/8" barrel provides. That's probably why I started with the long barrel'd N-frames and eventually worked my way down. I got a 6" 629 and soon followed it with a 4" Model 29. The 4" loaded with 200gr JHP .44 Special-level loads was my go-to, SHTF, nightstand gun for decades. I didn't think that would ever change until I encountered the Walther PPQ 45 last Summer but, don't even get me started about that thing!

When most people think, Model 29, the first image that comes to mind is Clint's blue 6.5" 29-2 from Dirty Harry. It was the first movie where, really, the gun was the star, not the actor carrying it. That image is so ingrained in the public's imagination that it's probably the main reason that a 6" is still the most sought-after and difficult to find.

I gotta admit, I like every version of this gun. What a great and beautiful design, my favorite handgun by a long ways.

I love them all. I bought 2 8 1/2" 2 4" and a 6 1/2" can't remember what i paid but who care i would have spent it on something else .