I may have opportunity to acquired a 6" barrel Model 629-1. In years past I've owned Model 29's but never a 629 or a 44 Mag that was not P&R. Do I need to look for anything in that particular model? Have your experiences with this model been positive in terms accuracy and reliability? Any info would be appreciated.

Thanks,
Joel

They are all good revolvers. Some of us like the 6 1/2 inch barrels on blue steel but they all shoot great. The newer guns are more accurate because of the tighter cylinder throats, and stronger so the heavy loads will help to keep the cylinder closed when you shoot it.
They will loosen up in time as the weak link of the N frame is the yoke, as it's the same size as the medium frame guns.

Check the gun out for obvious abuse like broken sights, damaged screws, burrs on the side plate, push off, cylinder open and closing ease. If it is damaged get it for a cheaper price then send it out for repair. Sometimes this is the only way to find "your" gun.

I'm doing that right now on another N frame a 625 that I bought yesterday. The gun looks good, yet someone dropped it on it's head, smashing the sights. Then when you work the action, you need a come-a-long to press the trigger.
I got it cheap so it's going to survive with me, providing smith still has a few parts....

I currently own 2 dash 1s. The 8 3/8 barreled one was sent to S&W because the yoke was undersized. It was rebuilt by S&W when they got it. It was done over very nicely. The other was bought new and has a 6 inch barrel. I wipe it down with a rag when watching TV, but never warmed up to it as my favorite shooter. It's heavy feeling for a N frame, and I prefer the 8 3/8 more for open shooting.

The 2 on the top are -1s

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I've had a 629-1 for about 10 years now. Bought it used (barely), with a 8 3/8" barrel. Rebarreled it to a 4" a few years ago, and now I really like it and carry it a lot. Still as tight as the day i bought it.

These guns don't have the Endurance Package of newer 29s and 629s, so I don't shoot many heavy loads through it. There really aren't any idiosynchracies that these guns have that your 29s didn't.

One thing I didn't like on my -1 was the fact that the front edges on the cylinder were square and sharp, with no chamfering. I used some emery cloth and lightly broke that edge all around the front of the cylinder.

Buy it, shoot it, enjoy it.

My wife bought me a 6" 629-1 for Christmas a couple years ago.

This particular 629 looks to have seen some use, not the 'barely fired' guns you sometimes find. But it's intact and servicable, mechanicaly perfectly good. Still has it's original grips in decent shape too.

This revolver supposidly dates to like 1987 or so. I own a pile of older Smiths, and some that are newer, from the 1990's. Comparing my lone 1980's gun to earlier Smiths, and newer Smiths shows the 1980's revolver to be just a bit inferior on exterior fit and polish. The interior goodies must be just fine however, as this revolver has a rather nice action. Trigger is as good as any of the Smiths, with the exception of my model 14, who's trigger is superior to all.

Accuracy is typical S&W, meaning it's superb. This 629-1 is not ammo picky at all. I've fired a number of different weight .44 Special, and Magnum loads in it....gun don't care, shoots them all to pretty much the same point of aim. Previous .44 mags I've owned(not S&W made) tended to stack different weight bullets to different points of aim.

The 629 has now became my hunting handgun, replacing a Ruger Super Blackhawk. Has accounted for a number of feral hogs in both small and rather large body weights. I'm a firm believer in the 29/629 as a hunting arm now.

You read a bunch of info online about 629-1and earlier revolvers thats not too flattering. Apparently possible shoot one to pieces with heavy bullet loads. S&W incorporated a series of improvements to prevent unlocking, and toughen the .44 mags up. The 'endurance' improvements are post 629-1, so probably best to stick to factory load specs and 240 gr bullets or less. I've been using factory 240gr jacketed softpoints with spectacular success on hogs.