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S&W Revolvers: 1961 to 1980 3-Screw PINNED Barrel SWING-OUT Cylinder Hand Ejectors WITH Model Numbers


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Old 01-10-2021, 01:28 PM
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If you were into Smiths in 1974,you know that the Magnums were hard to find,at least in my area of Pennsylvania.No internet of course,so you had to rely on your LGS. My buddy and I spent our Saturdays cruising the gun stores,within a 50 mile radius. In our search,we actually found 2 Model 29s,both 8 3/8. I was thrilled. It was like a dream. Whats the selling price,says I? The reply came, $400. To a 19 year old kid making $ 2.85 an hour,it might as well have been $4000. But, my buddy did find a new Model 28,6 inch,which he bought along with a Bianchi holster. We were at the range one day. We finished shooting. Going back to his car,he places the 28 on the Pintos roof as he puts the ammo,etc,in the back. Thats the last time we saw the Model 28. We went back and spent hours searching,to no avail. 50 years later, I still think of it....

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Old 01-10-2021, 01:31 PM
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Somebody got themselves a nice scuffed up 28.

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Old 01-10-2021, 01:49 PM
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Originally Posted by Neversink n Klapperthal View Post
If you were into Smiths in 1974,you know that the Magnums were hard to find,at least in my area of Pennsylvania.No internet of course,so you had to rely on your LGS. My buddy and I spent our Saturdays cruising the gun stores,within a 50 mile radius. In our search,we actually found 2 Model 29s,both 8 3/8. I was thrilled. It was like a dream. Whats the selling price,says I? The reply came, $400. To a 19 year old kid making $1.85 an hour,it might as well have been $4000. But, my buddy did find a new Model 28,6 inch,which he bought along with a Bianchi holster. We were at the range one day. We finished shooting. Going back to his car,he places the 28 on the Pintos roof as he puts the ammo,etc,in the back. Thats the last time we saw the Model 28. We went back and spent hours searching,to no avail. 50 years later, I still think of it....
A lot of truth there. I bought a brand new Security Six .357 in 1972 because it was impossible to find a Model 19 new or used for sale. Same with 27 28s.

As far as 29s, through some luck I managed to get them at list price a 8 3/8 blue and a 4'' Nickel. Both in the wood boxes! I did a lot of business with that LGS and he helped me out.

At that time dealers did not know what they would get in Smith's. You ordered a bunch of guns and you might get a bunch of 10s and other not quite so wanted guns. You MIGHT get a serious in demand gun or two. Like said you did not know till you opened the shipping box. I knew about what time the delivery came and tried to be there when the shipping box was opened.

I got lucky a couple times and got a Model 60 and another time a 18. I was on the list for both of those guns but the dealer said well you here and you have cash so he sold them to me, with the statement lets keep this private between us.

Sounds crazy but that the way it was back then.
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Old 01-10-2021, 02:05 PM
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Originally Posted by Neversink n Klapperthal View Post
If you were into Smiths in 1974,you know that the Magnums were hard to find,at least in my area of Pennsylvania.No internet of course,so you had to rely on your LGS. My buddy and I spent our Saturdays cruising the gun stores,within a 50 mile radius. In our search,we actually found 2 Model 29s,both 8 3/8. I was thrilled. It was like a dream. Whats the selling price,says I? The reply came, $400. To a 19 year old kid making $ 2.85 an hour,it might as well have been $4000. But, my buddy did find a new Model 28,6 inch,which he bought along with a Bianchi holster. We were at the range one day. We finished shooting. Going back to his car,he places the 28 on the Pintos roof as he puts the ammo,etc,in the back. Thats the last time we saw the Model 28. We went back and spent hours searching,to no avail. 50 years later, I still think of it....
If it makes you feel any better back in the 90’s an associate of my friend’s father did the exact same thing with a Purdey side by side with the same result...

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Old 01-10-2021, 02:14 PM
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If it makes you feel any better back in the 90’s an associate of my friend’s father did the exact same thing with a Purdey side by side with the same result...
Add to that, my BIL left his minty M12 Heavy Duck Gun on top of my car and it hit the pavement and bounced a few times. Lucky. Just a few dings. Big Larry
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Old 01-10-2021, 04:42 PM
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I also had a similar gun-shopping experience in 1974. I wanted a 4" Model 19 with the "Three Ts" but no local shops had any. The one I patronized the most ordered one but months later, he hadn't received one yet so I resorted to the Yellow Pages - remember them? - for Philadelphia, figuring a bigger city might have bigger shops and so forth.

As it turned out Lock's Philadelphia Gun Exchange had one so my wife and I drove there on Friday evening to get it. My local shop was kind enough to give me a copy of his FFL so it wouldn't have to be shipped. That was my first handgun and I shot it a lot.

Ed
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Old 01-10-2021, 04:52 PM
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After the film was released new 29s could not be for at retail. I paid $350 (about $65 over MSRP) in 1976 for a 6.5" model. Many used ones in ads saying "Model 29 for sale, only fired three rounds."

It's 50 years later and you can't discuss the 29 without mentioning Dirty Harry.
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Old 01-10-2021, 05:21 PM
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About then, I was looking for a used 6 inch 19 or 28 and couldn't find either. My LGS got in a used Dan Wesson 6 inch and I bought it. It was accurate and because of the cost of ammo, it caused me to start reloading. I should have kept it, but traded it for a 6 inch Security Six that I still have.
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