I tried to search this but could not confirm it.

Am I correct to assume that the exact "Dirty Hairy" gun would be a Model 29-2 6.5 inch?

The movie came out in 1971 which if new would be a dash 2 right?

Correct.

It would, however, be "Dirty Harry," not "Dirty Hairy." The "Harry" in the title was the lead character's first name, Harry Callahan.

The Model 29-2 used was fixed up with plaque on the grip and is now on display in the NRA Museum.

Attached Images

Dirty Harry Model 29.jpg (92.9 KB, 557 views)

Thanks Shawn. Brain fart!!!!! And.......When it comes to Model 29's, the dash 1 and 2 are pinned and recessed and starting with the dash 3 are not P/R and starting with the dash 4 are reinforced frame right? Does that mean the dash 3 might be considered the least desirable model 29 pre MIM?

the 29-3 eliminated the pinned barrel and recessed chambers as cost cutting measures. Collectors seem to frown upon the 29-3, but I have one and even though it's quality is not the same as that of the earlier Model 29's, it's still a great shooter.

S&W, due to complaints of cylinders unlocking and rotating under heavy recoil, started to improve the lockwork with the Model 29-3E. The 29-4 came with an improved cylinder crane and radiused frame studs and it was the 29-5 that introduced the longer locking notches in the cylinder.

Actually, more than one Model 29 and even a Model 27 were (at least rumored to have been) used filming the first Dirty Harry movie. This would comport with normal movie-making practices then and now of having backups for all props. IIRC, there was one that got the nod as “the” movie gun that was owned by the director or producer, and this is the one that got glitzed up and is displayed at the NRA Museum in Fairfax. I think they may have even used a long barreled (8 3/8”) example for dramatic effect on some shots in some of the movies, but that may have just been perspective.

Froggie

If I recall, the one on display at the NRA Museum is a 4-screw model 29 and used in the second movie in the series, "Magnum Force". The plaque shows it was given to the screenplay writer, John Milius.

__________________
Alan
SWCA LM 2023, SWHF 220

Loved that phrase " Do ya feel lucky punk"

Naturally there was more then one revolver used during the series of movies
I do not recall any movie scenes where an 8 3/8" Model 29 was used, however there was a series of Magnum Force movie posters that have the appearance of a longer barrel.

As a photographer, I am certain this is simply the natural perspective distortion effect from a very wide angle lens.

I believe these posters are the origin of the various 8 3/8" stories.

Seems that I have read somewhere that it was supposed to be a 4"
barrel, but they were so hard to get then that they went with the longer
barrel. Any corroboration?

__________________
In Omnia Paratus

I read somewhere that the original idea was to use a 4" nickel gun. But they have a lot of trouble with the lights and photography of such a "shiny gun".

__________________
"lets be careful out there"

All the movie gun info you could ever want.
Dirty Harry - Internet Movie Firearms Database - Guns in Movies, TV and Video Games

Internet Movie Firearms Database - Guns in Movies, TV and Video Games

This is a handout from the N.R.A. featuring the Dirty Harry gun.

__________________
SWCA 1932 SWHF 135

That's correct. The Magnum Force DvD includes overdubbed commentary by John Milius. He immediately starts talking about the M29 as the title sequence rolls. They couldn't find an M29 anywhere at the time, because the first Dirty Harry film had created a massive buying spree and a shortage in the market. They eventually located a few through distributor Cheshire & Perez in CA. Milius also said that in the first script he had actually intended to use a 4" barrel...which would have made more sense for carry by a plain clothes detective such as Callahan.

__________________
Smith. And Wesson. And Me!

Those films had a huge effect on many people. As a teen my friends and I went to see them. I was already on a rifle team at that time(.22 indoor). But after these films I wanted to shoot PISTOLS.

YOUTUBE FIREARMS VLOGGER, HICKOCK45, OFFERS AN INTERESTING SEGMENT ON "DIRTY HARRY'S .44 MAGNUM".......

__________________
'Nam 1968-69.DAV,VFW,NRA Inst.

Here is a link to some photos and other stuff from Larry Grossman. He built the 44 Auto Mag that Harry used in 'Sudden Impact'.

Scroll down a bit for the Dirty Harry stuff.

Photos from Larry Grossman – Ian's AMT Information Site

The guns used in Dirty Harry were Model 29-2s made in S&Ws tool room as the model was not in production at the time the guns were needed. I don't know the serial numbers. The gun used in Magnum Force is a 4-screw with a serial number in the S206000 range. The photo below is me with the Model 29 at the Southwest Bunch gather in Tulsa in 2011.

Bill

Got the chance to go to the Retired Texas Ranger's benefit shoot about 2 years ago where the Hollywood gun rental group had a bunch of movie guns.
All sorts of fun stuff on the tables - including a Mod 29-2 Dirty Harry gun (don't remember which movie or if they even said which one). Since it was the only 44 cal there the ammo was limited to 5 in 1 blanks. It was still a hoot.

Attached Images

	Dirty Harry 1.jpg (105.0 KB, 176 views)
	Dirty Harry 3.jpg (40.2 KB, 162 views)

Well, another first thought was to go with Frank Sinatra for the lead role.

Sometimes it's best when original plans get scrapped.

Ha!
Jim

The serial number of the 29-2 in post #18 dates the Magnum to around 76, so it could have been used in any movie after Magnum Force.

Bill

Love the movie posters shown in this thread!

So you guys are saying my 29-2 serial number N122*** is not the Dirty Harry gun? I knew that guy I bought it from looked a little shady......I also heard a rumor once that a 25 with an 8 3/8 barrel was used at certain times in filming and some still photo shoots.....

These persistent rumors of the use of some other N Frame, or even a 6 inch K frame Model 19 being used have been debunked very thoroughly over the years.

The 6 1/2 inch Model 29 used in the original Dirty Harry movie was made in the tool room by Archie Dubia at S&W and Mr. Jinks has detailed the ship date and serial number in prior posts.

It seems that every time a post about Dirty Harry is made, we have to set the record straight again.

So, here goes: The only model EVER used for filming any of the Dirty Harry movie scenes was the Model 29, 6 1/2 inch barrel, with the one used in the first movie being hand built in the S&W tool room by Archie Dubia, shipped out to an FFL in California, etc.

No Model 25s (the armorers were quite capable of making 44 blanks despite the popularity of the 45 blanks), no Model 27s (the cross hatch checkering would be impossible to hide on film), no Model 28s (wrong finish), no Model 19s (to make Clint Eastwood look bigger because he is of small stature). This latter BS is the funniest one - I mean, have you seen Mr. Eastwood? He is 6'4", which is just two inches shorter than Bill Jordan. Trust me - neither of these gentlemen would have needed a smaller gun to make them look "bigger."

Mr. Jinks has also confirmed that an 8 3/8 inch Model 29 was used for publicity photos for the movie poster for one of the later movies, perhaps Sudden Impact or The Dead Pool, but not for the earlier movies, and not during filming. This ship date and serial number information for that gun was provided by Mr. Jinks in another posting on the SWCA side of this forum a few years ago.

Since we are setting the record straight. A six inch 29-2 was the model used in the Dead Pool. Look at the many still shots from that film. Also an interview with Eastwood about the Dead Pool premier. Eastwood commented that he preferred the six over the six and a half inch barrel stating that it made more since for his character to wield and wished it had been available for the whole series to use.

A Model 29-2 with an 8 3/8-inch barrel was used for the poster for the movie, "Dead Pool", as I have it framed in my gun room. The revolver used is pinned, but possibly not recessed. However, no one but a collector would even think, let alone care about this feature.

Bill

and would blow your head clean off.

__________________
LIVE FROM THE DAWGHOUSE

"And seeing this is a .44 Magnum, the most powerful handgun in the world, and would blow your head clean off, you gotta ask yourself, Do I feel lucky? Well, do ya, PUNK?!".......

Sorry, I was day dreaming! "Go ahead, make my day!"

Hey Bill-Thanks for the clarification. I thought I heard of an 8 3/8 gun being used for some stills or faraway shots. As a joke I showed up one night with a 29 in a X-15 shoulder holster as my “back up gun”. Before I took it off, I got sent to a burglary in progress call. A Sheriff Deputy and I entered the building. In my youthful stupidity, I drew the 29 and left my Duty Gun Model 59 holstered. The look on the Deputy’s face was priceless. But it was topped by the look on the face of the burglar when I came face to face. The Deputy and I still joke about it a couple of decades later....

But that will only happen if it's in the hands of Harry Callahan.

__________________
Expect the unexpected

The gun isn't pinned. It's a 29-3

No its a pinned 29-2 ,its now in a movie prop house.I use to have a folder of info on that gun ( as a keep safe ) when I first got my six inch NIB in the late 80's.

Careful there, "a man's got to know his limitations".

29-3's are not pinned or recessed or reinforced.

I can't help wondering how long references to Dirty Harry will be in the American lexicon as a colloquial way of identifying the Model 29. More generations than not, downstream from 1971, have no clue what it means.

As for taglines, I always preferred the diner scene in Magnum Force to the "lucky" line in the first movie. "We're not just gonna let you walk out of here." "Who's 'we' sucka?" "Smith... Wesson... and me."

Within a few weeks of starting work at the NRA Museum in 2014, we were tasked with sending 1,200 rounds of .44 Magnum downrange through the Dirty Harry gun from the "Hollywood Guns" exhibit. The bullets were captured in a rubber matrix, sifted out, paired with an empty case, and then framed and sold as a fundraiser for the Friends of NRA.

A video still of me shooting it is attached to this post.

Attached Images

DirtyHarry.jpg (64.3 KB, 160 views)

__________________
High Caliber History

Loved the movie when it first came out. Eastwood's confrontation "chat" sold a LOT of Model 29s - the 6.5" barrel version was practically unobtainable for quite a while.

John

__________________
- Cogito, ergo armatus sum -

Actually, it was not the first movie, it was Sudden Impact, the fourth movie.

I just passed on a nice 29-2 with a 6.5" barrel.

I've decided that I have enough guns.

I was a young teen when Dirty Harry first appeared on the screen .of course me coming from a law enforcement and shooting sports family where firearms are just part of life I kept the local gun guys smiling dragging dad in the shops asking if they had a model 29 I could just look at.finaly a doctor in our town had ordered one it came in brand new and on the day he picked it up I was there (along with several others) just to get a look.Well the good doctor passed it around and man that was something to us guys who loved guns .When my so s came along at an appropriate age after years of watching those old westerns with me I introduced them to dirty Harry ! Even 20 years later they both still use "go ahead make my day punk "when they shoot their grandads 29 ( yea he got the second one that came into my home town and yes my friends got to shoot it)and even my 8 3/8 629 -1 that dad gave me in the 86 for Christmas . So how long will we conjur images of Harry Callahan. As long as there are people eho love the model 29 and all it's off spring and guys who love their kids enough to introduce them to the most powerful handgun in the world ! Maybe it's not the most powerful anymore but thanks to Hollywood as crazy as that sounds today it just might have been the most influential .I would be amiss if I didn't add that my grandson now a young teen loves shooting the big N frames and loves saying "make my day" as he is popping off 240 grain lead bullets at 900 FPS but the 240 grain jacketed HP he just said wow paw paw that left a mark lol. Deep down inside there is a little dirty Harry in us all that loves to see the bad get his .Dad being a cop and carrying a S&W revolver most of his career spanning 3 decades loved your tag line the best also thanks for bringing it up .

Now that gun and that story should be in a law enforcement museum being handled by guys wearing white gloves someday .

Wow Doc that picture looks sorta like a mug shot and you look like you are thinking "yea I blew the punks head clean off sue me" . Cool picture thanks for shareing it.

I don’t know about the Magnum Force Model 29’s, but there was definitely a connection between Cheshire & Perez and Clint Eastwood. I worked there in the ‘79-‘80 timeframe as the counterman. Eastwood came into the store and I filled out the 4473 and DROS paperwork for him to purchase 2 TDE .380 pistols. We ran them through our books because TDE couldn’t sell them directly to him as a manufacturer. It is likely the .44 Automag(s) for the later movie were also run through Cheshire & Perez. As an interesting aside, Eastwood was driving a ‘70’s vintage Plymouth 4 door sedan that looked like a detective’s car.

Here’s the IMFDB page on The Dead Pool.

Dead Pool, The - Internet Movie Firearms Database - Guns in Movies, TV and Video Games

They show a 6” 29-3 as Callahan’s .44 Magnum.



This is the actual gun he used in the film, they say, fully equipped with rash from abuse on set.

The one I saw listed in the Prop house catalog was a dash 2,and it had smooth presentation target stocks like the one in the film. Anything is possible and both sources could be using a stock photo of some kind. Unfortunately I no longer have the article on that gun to reference by.

Its quite possible that both sources are correct and in fact two guns were used in that movie . one to abuse and the other with the nice stocks for close up scenes.

That poor revolver looks like it’s been thru hell.

__________________
Earl Battey

Look at the one from the Enforcer that is in a museum now.Will break your heart.

I’d trade for it.

Well, I just watched The Dead Pool. In most of the scenes, it looked like a 6 1/2” barrel.

There’s no scene in the film that gives a clear view of the 29, but at the end, when Harry picks up his revolver and “clicks” it to show it was “out of bullets”, there appears to be no pin in the barrel.

My dvd version is still a little grainy on that scene, so it’s hard to tell.

The Model 29 was not going to be the first choice for the handgun for the Harry Callahan character. John Millius styled the Dirty Harry character after real San Francisco Police Detective Dave Toschi, the lead investigator on the Zodiac serial killer case. At that time, S.F.P.D. officers and Detectives where authorized to carry S&W model 57 4 inch revolvers in .41 magnum. When John Millius was very familiar with firearms, and knew the .41 magnum that the real S.F.P.D. detectives carried wasn't "The worlds most powerful handgun", he then wrote the Model 29 as Harry Callahan's duty gun, and into the annuals of film lore.