This is my first post so I’m not sure what’s up but I am a big smith Wesson revolver fan. I have a question for my bro’s the experts here. I recently acquired a 629 no dash transitional revolver —recessed not pinned—. 80’s vintage or so I think. Anyway it wasn’t cheap but it is as new unfired with presentation case still in the original shrink wrap. I have the original box, wax paper, even the original shipping box with markings. Question is: should I open the shrink wrap or is it more valuable as is?
I know some will say just shoot the heck out of it but it is kind of a special piece. Shrink wrap on the walnut presentation case is what I am talking about. All paperwork and cleaning tools apparently are in the case. What you think?

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Shoot the gun, no reason not to

If you reload, brew up some warm Special loads in magnum cases and have at it. That's about as fun as shooting gets in my opinion.

The sealed presentation case might have a bit more value as-is, but I really don't know.

Nice gun you have there. Shoot it and enjoy it.

Thanks yea what I was thinking. It’s not like a work of art or something You’re right. I’ll just take it to the range

I'd shoot it since it's stainless steel. Much more forgiving and easier to clean up than if it was a model 29. I'd probably open the presentation case just to look inside to verify its all there and then put it up and not use it if it is in fact mint condition. You will hear lots of different answers. Do what you want!

Lovely! I wouldn’t shoot that, given the recent interest in older high condition S&W’s. You can get a decent shooter grade gun for under $1000 and that gun has real potential. You don’t see many complete packages in that condition.

Keep the presentation case as is. You shouldn’t store guns in them and they’re mediocre quality at best. The PC and the outer packaging (with end label) will substantially add to the value.

Just an FYI...
Keep in mind that the Combat stocks and presentation case were almost certainly added after the gun left the factory.

Click here: http://smith-wessonforum.com/redirec...em%2F888120450

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"I also cook."

as one who constantly checks nationwide Smith prices,I have found that unfired since factory guns bring a premium.No dash 629s are a pretty hot item.

Whether you shoot it or not is your decision. The presentation case shipped with your Model 629 has inserts with a synthetic covering that has mostly likely degraded badly and will need to be replaced if the case is to be used. Given that, I would not do anything to the presentation case.

Bill

I'd keep it as a safe queen too.

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Kenny
Endeavor to persevere.

Never have got my head around why somebody buys a decades old "safe queen" collector grade gun to turn into a shooter, when there are typically shooters available for the purpose.

Personally, I'd keep the display box sealed and just find/buy another set of the paperwork and tools that MIGHT be in the case and keep them in the cardboard box as a "just in case". For the money you already have invested, a few more bucks for what may end up being duplicate tools/paperwork is worth it to me. It would suck if the day you go to sell it and the buyer wants to open the case and there's nothing in there...there goes that price drop!

Invest a little more now and be shielded sgainst losses later on.

As for the gun...it IS a No Dash. I'd designate it a safe queen and go buy a used newer one that you can shoot the tarnation out of. And you could always have the extra tools and paperwork you bought to use for this newer gun.

Win/Win!

I will never buy a gun that I do not intend to shoot.

There is nothing in the case, no tools, no paper work, nothing! ! ! If you open the case you will be shocked! As Doc44 stated, the original covering of the liners did not(EVER) withstand the test of time! It deteriorated! I have recovered a gazillion of these liners and have own only one in original condition, until I touched it, then it fell apart!

Keep everything you have together as it left the factory that way! The total makes it a collectors item!
jcelect

I bought a ruger redhawk for that very purpose actually. It’s a good gun for my reloads but the trigger is noticeably inferior to my smiths I notice. Thanks for the advice.

I guess paperwork and tools went missing. Liner in the presentation case maybe shot for sure. Does anyone even use those? Case goes on shelf gun goes in safe lol.

A few years back, I came into a 629 no-dash, complete with the original cardboard box, papers and tools. This one is both pinned and recessed; Roy says it's vintage of September, 1981. There was no presentation box, so I found a nice one that wasn't the self-destructive type, and used that. Such gems really deserve a presentation box! I had the choice of either this 4" or a 6.5", but liked the 4" more. Turns out that was a good choice, as I understand that they are rarer. I have kept this gun unfired and with the original stocks.

John

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- Cogito, ergo armatus sum -

I have serial number N870287 that was purchases on 1/25/82. I had read in one of the gun magazines about two years earlier that they were coming out with a stainless model so I put in an order at Herman's World of Sporting Goods.

What I think happened was a manager at the store got the gun and later decided that he didn't want it.

It has a 6 inch barrel, RR, WO target, SmTT, TH, Pachmayr combat grips, recessed & pinned, and wood presentation box that is still in the shrink wrap.

S&wchad
Thanks for the link! Maybe I did get it cheap. Compared to that one anyway. His 4” barrel vs my 6” may add some. My gun’s stock has kind of an orange hue and the box (with wax paper in it) is solid blue with no writing on it. I’ve heard of others with orange stocks and solid blue box. Smith and Wesson do what they want as you know. Sometimes leaving us fans scratching our heads lol

Paladin that’s a beauty

Here’s a 29 for only $8000.00
Smith & Wesson Model 29 44 Magnum (circa1970) for sale

The solid blue box does not have any writing on it because it was packed inside the large cardboard box that had the label on it with the gun's information (serial number, model, etc.). The target stocks made of Goncalo alves are nice and are typical of the time your gun was made.

Bill

Here is a 629 no dash transitional recessed not pinned. It came in a blue box. It is wearing Culina black and white ebony grips. I have the original GA targets. I have toyed with the ideas of selling this or shooting it many times, but it keeps just sitting in the safe. Probably too lazy to find out the real value of it.

Sorry, for the picture turning

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Pete
I ain't no fortunate son

I wouldn't open the presentation box nor would I shoot the gun. As stated above the older S&W and especially the P&R are bringing premium prices these days. If you want to loose money just pull out a couple of $100 dollar bills and burn them. It's the same thing if you open the box and shoot the gun.
Could it be the plastic fantastic combat Tupperware crowd are starting to realize only guns made from United States Steele go up in value.

Some interesting info from factory letters;

The first production Model 629 had serial numbers that began N 629xxx these were basically test guns and guns for the writers. Although we shipped some of them to distributors such as Bill Orr’s company GT Dist. The first lot of 350 units were serial numbered from N748564-N748913. These were the first group produced for sales.
Production started at N748564 in 1979 with the 6” guns! The 4” and 8 3/8” were introduced in 1981. The –1 guns started in 1982 and approx at this time they changed to the Alpha-numeric serial numbering system.
jcelect

Thanks for the info doc44

Tytan02
My kids hopefully will keep these. I won’t sell them since why since the values keep going up and up. I wish I had the money to buy the 63 split window corvette for like 3000 . I told my folks to buy it. but I was 12 so oh well. Ha ha

This is the packaging system Doc44 wrote about!

jcelect

I'd shoot it. I've bought unfired safe queens and shot them, it's what they are made for, IMO.

Same with vintage guitars I've bought and sold over the years. I never understood storing an item for the next owner, I'd rather enjoy it myself.

That said, thanks for this thread! I don't think I've ever seen a presentation box still in the plastic. Thats wild. I don't think I'd be able to resist pulling the plastic off, LOL!

Enjoy, whatever you end up doing with it!

I bought this pistol 12 of 2020 because it was a P&R gun, extent of my knowledge, and I wanted a 4" 44 to shoot. After buying it, I posted it on here and found out from the folks on here that I had more than I thought. Serial # N841902. No box or tools but want to add to this thread for info for the forum.
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Thanks for all your help and info everyone.

To shoot or not to shoot, that is the question. Only the current owner can answer that one. My 4" 629 grips have 5/81 stamped on them. I have shot it some but not much. Serial number is N850849. I always wondered who has N850850, and what barrel length it is.

Cinnwalt
This is a beautiful gun. If a gun can be beautiful. I think it can. Box and tools seem over rated. I have a shotgun that’s 120 years old. No box lol. No one cares. I’ll buy it off you

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My 66 just cause it’s pretty. I like the blue ones better so a nice model 19 if anyone has I’m in the market. Hopefully not collector grade so I can shoot it

So yea. Good buy they just go up and up it seems.

Shoot it, don't shoot it, who cares? LOL

About 15 years ago, a friend came by my house to show me his "new" 1966 Mustang. I mean new. He had tried to buy it for years from a chap down in Atlanta, and only when the original owner was near the end of his life, did he sell it to my friend. It was indeed "new". Less than 500 miles, and so perfect even underneath it was as it came from the factory, not a spec of rust or other anywhere. More than perfect, it was immaculate. He took me for a ride, and was in a quandary as to keeping it as new and quite valuable, or driving and enjoying it. I told him life is unpredictable, and mean to be lived to the fullest, and keeping his Mustang perfect would only serve his heirs. I also noted that it rode like a truck, and wondered if cars back then rode so rough. He moved away shortly, and I don't know what his decision was.

When my father-in-law died a few years, his 1915 Luger came to me. It is perfect, not a scratch or mar anywhere, as if somehow in the hundred years, it had never been carried or shot. Even a patch down the barrel comes out pure white. Matching magazine. Has some value.

I was going to shoot it in IDPA for fun, but decided it is too perfect to handle or shoot, so it is carefully preserved and I gave it to my son. So, while I don't need it as an "investment" I just can't bear to shoot it.

Someday my son can do with it as he wishes.

All the best, and stay safe, SF VET

Gun prices just seemed to languish for years during 80s 90s but now they are going nuts. I told my wife they were an “investment” just so she wouldn’t grumble about the purchases. It seems I was right though. I was trying to buy some things on the rock island auction today but could not justify paying the crazy prices. I was wishing I was a seller not a buyer

Sf vet
I’ve given the best ones to my kids. Hopefully the next generations will enjoy them

Anyone ever throw away a box for a new gun? I can’t be the only one. I bought a 586 in 1980 or so and just tossed the box. I wasn’t aware the box had any value.

This. 240 grain hardcast, about 10 grains of AA#5, magnum cases. This is in between special and magnum loads. Fun and accurate.

I bought a 19-4 years ago unfired, box, papers,tools etc.I asked the same questions, got the same answers, so I asked myself, do I need to shoot it, nope, same as a 29-2 I have, I asked about putting diamond cokes on it, got the the same type of answers, its yours do what you want, me, I'd buy another one thats a shooter, then you have the best of both worlds.
Just my 2 cents.

I have the same set up with a Model 25-3 commemorative, although it came with an S&W history book. Wasn't my intention, but I haven't fired the darn thing in the 3 or 4 years since I got it.

I think I may have a gun buying problem .....

I used to. Also used to donate my S&W, Colt factory grips to the LGS $1.00 bin box.

Jc
I know it’s an old post but I am new to the forum thing. And I am an old
man. “vintage” in the firearm world. Just wanted to say I appreciate your input and am glad I found this forum. I figure if I leave the box—cheaply made **** box obviously in the original shrink wrap—well nobody can complain about condition. Except collectors may find a way. I’ve dealt with them on eBay and they cann be difficult to say the least. Other thing somebody fess up to throwing away the box of a new gun not knowing it had vslue like 30 40 years ago before the internet

Oh man that sucks

I just bought a 19-6. Supposedly as new In box and a Winchester m25. Haven’t taken delivery yet. Got it from gunslinger auction proxibid. Anyone dealt with them? I wonder if they take phantom bids from the gallery. Maybe better to not put in a max bid and just bid real time? I paid market I guess but full market for sure. Any thoughts? I can post pics when I get it if anyone wants

Thanks doc
Appreciate your input. I just realized the cleaning tools and the label and all the paperwork was under the s w wax paper. I hadn’t looked until now. Oh my.

Will upload pics if I can figure it ouy

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Oh it worked good

I got the tape off without wrecking the label yay

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It’s hard to resist pulling off the plastic. Like an unopened Christmas gift

Why even have a forum then? Just talking.