Hi to all

This is not a quiz or a fake. It's just the way I've seen this gun. The owner is very curious what comments and informations "the guys in the forum" will post. So please, don't let us be to long uneducated. Thanks.

Serial-# S 23 xxxx









Swissman

Those look like British proof marks,I'm sure it's rare but I would prefer the
rare 5" without them. I wouldn't pay ANY premium for the proof marks--IMHO they detract from it's appearance.Pete

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NRA LIFE 1974

Looks like London proofs to me too. They sure like to stamp the snot out of things. The barrel length looks original to me too. The pins look polished flushed, so if it was cut they did a heck of a job. The Cokes alone would bring $300-$400 over here.

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"I also cook."

NP typically stands for "Nitro Proof" and the ton marks are typicall British markings as well.

If you can date the proofs it may lead to an idea as to originality. Dont hold me to this, but I think the SN is in the correct range for a 5" gun.

I don't know much about proof marks, but there were quite a few Model 29-2s with a 5-inch barrel that are in the 23XXXX serial number range. Most were shipped in 1963. A few have an L stamped on the rear, outer edge of the cylinder indicating an ejector rod with a left-hand, or improved, thread.

Bill

What a beautiful gun!
Too bad they went and tattooed it all up with those proofs

as a heavily tattooed tattooist I resemble that remark, lol

Swissman,

Insteresting stampings! These are the first I've ever seen on a .44 Magnum! I recently saw similar stampings on an old Winchester pump .22 !

The "arm & sword over NP" is a London proof mark used post 1955; the .44 is the caliber; the 1.28" is the cartridge case length in inches; and the 10 TONS is pressure of proof charge in tons per square inch. The Brits proofed each barrel with charges about 25 to 40 percent greater than normal.

I can't quite make out the symbol on the cylinder face... Is it a crown over GP ? This would be another London Proof mark.

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Linda
SWCA #1965, SWHF #245

For the first, don't forget the Ton, or British Tonne, is not our ton, but rather the Long Ton or Metric Ton, 1000 Kilograms or 2,200 pounds. So 10 Tons translates to 22,000 PSI.

For the second part, not really. Since the SAAMI standard for .44 Magnum during the 1963-4 time frame was 45,000 PSI Crusher, now called CUP, now converted to true PSI Piezo of 36,000 PSI, a "Proof" pressure of 22,000 PSI is hardly 24-40% above standard! Quite the contrary, their "Proof" load is only 60% of SAAMI MAP for the cartridge. Kind of a curious situation if you are supposedly trying to "prove" the safety of a firearm, isn't it?

Linda,
There is a 29-2 on GB right now with German proof marks. It's really pretty reasonable and would be an interesting addition to a collection

"Not English made"

Curtis, that sounds NICE!!

Be sure to post some pics when you get it.

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Linda
SWCA #1965, SWHF #245

Linda,
Unfortunately, I am not a player on this one as I have a couple of other bids out and I am trying real hard to save money for both Tulsa and Tucson.

To that end, I am weak (my name is Curtis and I am a 29aholic) so I am watching this one and if it gets relisted I may crumble.

I know how you feel..... I've got my eye on about 4 different guns right now, I'll just have to wait and see what pans out. One is almost mint in the box 29-2, 8 3/8" nickle.

And, there's a gun show this weekend - I'm not holding out any hope of finding anything, but you never know.

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Linda
SWCA #1965, SWHF #245