Hi all,

Long time lurker on this forum...first post : )

I'm interested in getting a 629 5" Classic and am interested in the pre-lock models.

Can anyone tell me what dash models the 5" is available in? I've seen 629-5, 629-4, & 629-3...are there any others (besides obviously 629-6 w/the lock)?

Can someone also shed some light on what years the dash models correspond to?

Thanks!

I have one 1992 629-3.

I had a 5" -3 that was shipped in 1991 and now have a 5" -4 that shipped in 93-94. The -4 is the last model without MIM and it still has the hammer mounted firing pin. I'm not aware of any classics before the -3 model.

My nephew just got a -3 (again a 5") at a pawn shop for $625 (very fair price) that shows only modest wear.

According to SCSW, the 629 Classic was introduced with the -3 version in 1990. The -4 came out in 1993 with a change to the rear sight and extractor. The thumbpiece was changed in 1997, but they were still -4s. The -5 came out (apparently later) in 1997 and included major changes such as the integral cylinder stop stud, firing pin, and MIM parts noted above. The -6 came out in 2001 with the introduction of the internal lock.

I have a 5" -3 from 1991. They are very sweet-shooting guns.

Awesome information...thanks everyone! I'm definitely on a quest to find a 5" 629. I already have a 686-5 4", but I'm going to keep my eye out for a pre-lock 686 5" as well.

Try to find a -4 5" Classic DX. They were only made in 1993, I believe.

Ed

I believe I've seen some references to the 'DX'. Is this available just on the 629's or 686's as well?

Back in the early 1990s, Model 29s and 629s that displayed exceptional accuracy when test-fired were send back to the production area to have the letters "DX" added to the right side of the barrel following the "29/629 Classic." They were shipped with a Hogue monogrip as well as wood stocks, the accessory sight set for the changeable front sight and the test target. I've read on here that the actions were tuned as well but I don't know if that is true.

I could get my SCoSW out and confirm this, but I think 1993 was the last year for them. I know it was the only year for a 5" DX and I consider myself lucky to have found a nearly-new one. I think the combination of overall weight and balance with the 5" barrel is as perfect as it gets.

Ed

I have a 6½" 629-5 Classic DX and I can believe the action was tuned at the factory - it has an extremely nice double action trigger pull.

Sounds like the DX would be an added bonus if I could locate one.

I haven't been able to find a lot of 629 5" pre-lock's for sale...

I realize the 5" is fairly rare, but I thought there would be a lot more out on the market. I've been seeing some with locks, but the pre-locks have been tough to find.

So when I finally come across one, what would a good 629 5" be worth?

I was lucky to buy 629-4 here on this forum years ago and it is the best balanced N frame IMO. I was especially looking for no MIM parts and all forgings.
I find it hard to understand why more 5" N frames were not made, they seem like the perfect length barrels.

I paid $800 for my -4 5" DX in 2010. I've since seen them priced at nearly $1,000 but I don't know if any ever sold for that much.

Here are the seller's GunBroker photos:



And here it is with my other 629s:


It's my favorite hunting handgun and the Hogue MonoGrip fits my hand well and won't get damaged easily, so I leave it on the gun.

Ed

Those are some nice rigs AverageEd...I think you might have one too many 5" 629 that you should get rid of : )

What about one with a ported barrel? I know the porting is supposed to reduce recoil to some degree, but I'm guessing they are much louder as well, correct? There was a 629 5" on gunbroker a couple months ago and I stayed away from it because it was ported. It ended up selling for $730 and was a 629-4. Does the porting really matter that much either way?

IMHO. A 629 5" doesn't have enough recoil to make porting necessary. The full lugged 5" barrel with the N-frame has enough weight to tame the felt recoil.

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44 Garrett Defender Ammo 4 me.

I used to have a 6.5" -5 Classic PowerPort and couldn't tell any difference between the two 6.5" 629 Classics. The fact that the feature has been discontinued might tell you something.

I don't think it was effective because the port was so close to the muzzle. Porting works by bleeding off some of the pressure in the barrel before the bullet leaving the muzzle finishes the job - in other words, the pressure is not bled off all at once. Effective porting is located farther rearward on the barrel. But bear in mind that since porting bleeds off pressure, it also can lower muzzle velocity and the farther back on the barrel (and more effective) the porting is, the more it will reduce velocity. I don't know if that reduction would be enough to be a concern in a hunting situation.

Ed

Sexy guns!

To me, the 5" 629 is the perfect barrel length for weight vs recoil taming. SHoots very easy. Mine is a 629-6 with MIM and the lock, but it doesn't bother me at all as it is only a hunting/range gun.

Second from top with Hogue cocobolo combat grips.

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686, 629, 15-22 MOE FDE

Do the speedloaders work well with the older style cylinder releases?

I have a 1988 629-1 6" Barrel Classic Hunter. I just bought it this year and it is quickly become my favorite handgun.

My 5" 629-3...scary accurate at 25 & 50 yards.



....hiding out in the background is my baby...625-3 3" in .45ACP

Nice looking gun WNC...at least I can drool over the nice looking 5"ers until I buy one. Did you change the cylinder release (sorry if that's not the proper term) to the newer design on your -3?

There's a 629-4 5" that I'm thinking about buying from a local LGS and it has the older style release. Does anyone know if speedloaders will work with the older style?

WNC Seabee--Is that a green SDM front sight on your 629-3? How do you like it?
I have one, but mine is red, on one of my 629-3 Classic DX 5 inchers, and I absolutely love it.

The 629-4 5" that I'm looking at has the original box, but it is the cardboard box, not the plastic one. It also has the older type cylinder release. The other 629-4's I've seen have had the plastic box. Is this one probably just an early release of the -4 that came in the cardboard box?

yes,it's a green SDM sight. It's simply awesome.

Here it is as seen from my tree stand last fall.

That's the release that was on there when I got it, until now I'd never even given it a second thought...