I just purchased a Model 29-5 that left the factory in 1992.
1. It came with a 6.5 inch barrel with full underlug, I want to swap that out to a 4 inch without the full underlug, and will any N frame .44 cal 4 inch barrel work?
2. It lacks most common markings and I'm not sure why. It has the serial number inside the crane and underneath the grip, and it has the S&W logo laser etched in the lock plate, but it doesn't have the usual markings on the barrel or frame. I got two stories about this but neither one make a whole lot of sense.
a. the guy I bought it from said S&W archives told him it was likely pulled for test fire prior to final roll stamping and didn't make it back to roll stamping before being shipped. (Sounded unlikely)
b. S&W customer service rep said it must have had a blown up barrel someone replaces with an unmarked barrel. (This doesn't explain the lack of roll stamps on the frame)
Any advice would be helpful.
Thanks

i might consider holding off modifying it till you find out more about it.
JMHO.
(but i do think the barrels interchange)

Welcome to the forum.

Could you post pictures of it for us? I'm not quite sure what you mean by, "...it doesn't have the usual markings on the barrel or frame."

Do you mean that it doesn't say Smith & Wesson and the gun's caliber on the barrel and that it's missing the "made in USA" info on the frame? If so, that does seem pretty strange to me, but I'm certainly no expert.

I wouldn't modify this gun if I were you.

-S

StingrayG4, you got it, it doesn't have the typical made in the USA stamp on the frame and there are no stamps of any kind on the barrel. But the Bluing looks perfect, nothing has been ground off or disturbed that I can see.

Well, I'm hardly an expert, but I would definitely not modify that gun if it were mine. I'd also consider dropping the $50 to get a letter for it.

-S

Here are a couple of pics, sorry they're not better, but wife had the better camera.

http://i1008.photobucket.com/albums/...s/IMG00136.jpg

I can't believe none of the gurus have chimed in yet. I'm very intrigued with this unmarked gun, I'd like to know more about it, and why it would have left the factory like this.

-S

I'm pretty suprised as well, I promise I won't be offended if people tell me I bought junk. I've taken it to the range and it's a great little shooter so that's all I cared about anyway.

JD,well it looks good and if its relatively tight and shoots well,you didnt buy junk. The classic DX's and classic models came out with different styles at different times, so letering the gun is the best way to find out its lineage. Its common for people especially with magnum calibers to bulge barrels,so maybe it was sent back and a new barrel or different length barrel was put on,no big deal as long as it doesnt spit and shoots well. another thing be sure and shoot a 4" 44 mag before you deside to change barrels muzzle blast,recoil and general shootability of a short barreled 44 is alot different than you 6+.also as a hunting handgun the longer barrel is alot more versatile.I would just save up and eventually get a 4" no lug if you want one,good luck Bob

Just a thought, but you might get more responses with a different title such as "Missing Factory Markings on Model 29" or something similar.

Steve

Thanks for the advice on changing the title, hopefully it will be more well received. The customer service says this left the factory as a 6.5 inch barrelled Model 29 and that's what it still has, but even if the barrel was buldged why are there no stamps on the frame? Just a puzzler.

The 29-5,6 classics weren't roll marked. They were lazer etched, and either someone has had it removed (which from what I have read doesn't take a lot) then re-blued, or it never got the lazer engraving before leaving the factory, which wouldn't suprise me.
I owned on of the first ones in 5" and traded it off foolishly short while later.

I did have this one which is a 6" 29-5 Classic Hunter with the smooth cylinder, and it had the roll markings on it-



This 25-7 was one of the very first models offered with the lazer engraving. It has it on both sides, and no roll marks anywhere-