Hello,

New to the forum, but have been reading for a couple of weeks.

I recently (like two days ago) purchased a new 629 Classic from Buds with the 6.5" barrel with Power Port. I don't have it yet, as it is still listed as "shipping."

I was actually considering the regular 6.5" Classic, but bought this one because it was almost $70 cheaper from Buds. The cheapest I could find 629 Classics new at the local gun shops (no used to be found after several weeks of looking) was $830 + tax. I got this one from buds for $723, and they are selling the 629 Classic without the Power Port for $791. Anyways, from what I read online, the muzzle rise is reduced at best or the same at worst, so I thought it would scratch my itch for a fun shooting 629 range gun and save me a few bucks in the process.

But here is my question - after researching this for a bit on these forums, the Power Port models appear to have been discontinued, yet I just bought a "new" one from Buds. What did I buy and are the Power Port models really discontinued? Is this just remaining inventory from somewhere, or a bad one nobody wanted and I became the sucker ?

Here is the link for what I bought from Buds (note the price is higher than what I paid):

Smith & Wesson 629 Classic PP Power Port .44 Mag

Thanks in advance.

I think you bought a discontinued model. But wait, that isn't necessarily a bad thing as a lot of very nice guns just weren't good sellers and felt the axe of the corporate bean-counters.

I am an amateur collector of Smith & Wesson revolvers and Remington rifles. In the 1980s, Remington offered a dressed-up version of their 7600 pump rifle called the Model Six. It had slightly nicer wood and a Monte Carlo stock with cut checkering and the head of the cartridge for which it was chambered embedded in the bottom of the receiver. They cost a little more than the standard 7600 but were mechanically identical and were discontinued after five years. Now they bring handsome money if they are in like-new condition and the ones in .243 WIN and especially 6mm REM are worth big bucks. I have a near-new .243 and would love to find a 6mm I can afford. A local shop is selling a bunch of Remingtons for a collector and a 6mm Model Six is in that collection. You can take it home unfired in its box for only $1,400.

Also in the 1980s, Remington made a single-shot 870 trap gun with a gas-operated recoil reduction system in what is the magazine tube of a normal 870. The 870 Competition was heavier, cost more, would only fire one round and even though the stocks were of a unique, higher-shooting shape and the barrels were some of Remington's best work, they died after five years of production with 5,500 having been made. Real nice unaltered 870 Comps do $800-plus these days. Not too bad for a gun that sold for $400 new.

Those PowerPort guns might have the same future in store for them. If an "orphan" gun like a single-shot 870 can appreciate significantly in value, so could a factory-ported 629. I had one and also have a non-ported twin. I could see no advantage to the PowerPort - it blew soot in my face when shooting into the wind and was louder than my non-ported one so I sold it. But I then learned they were no longer made. I now have a 6" 686-4 PowerPort; it is unfired and is staying that way!

Speaking of discontinued ported guns, check the Blue Book for Remington Model 700VSSF varmint rifles. For a short time, they offered them with ported barrels but savvy riflemen like me knew that since the ported and non-ported barrels were the same 26" length, the ported ones would be slower than the non-ported ones and we passed on the porting. As if it was needed on .223s and .22-250s anyway, right? Well, today those unwanted ported 700VSSFs are worth more than their ballistically superior non-ported kin.

I would hang onto that 629 PowerPort. Look at the prices nice Model 66s are bringing today even though the 686 is a better gun. What's the reason for those higher prices? Just like PowerPorted 629s and 686s, they no longer make Model 66s.

Ed

I think the PowerPort models are discontinued, but you should just call S&W and ask.

I've got the model 637 PowerPort .38+P and love everything about it, including the reduced perceived recoil--yes, they do work. I'd take a wild guess at about 20%. But on a .44 Mag the recoil is so great that the reduction from a single port may not be very noticeable.

If you like it, keep it. There is no way you were suckered!

AverageEd is correct that it probably will increase in value. In ten years they may be worth as much as a couple hundred more than you paid, even if used, if it's in good shape. They won't lose value.

In the meantime, shoot the thing. Would you marry a beautiful movie star and not sleep with her because she's a beautiful movie star?

Gentlemen,

Thanks for the advise and perspective. Though I am not looking at this from the collector's point of view, it is nice to know that it won't be losing value as long as I take care of it.

It should arrive at my FFL tomorrow sometime. I can't wait to get it and take it out to the range.

Andrew

I bought mine just before you did from Bud's. I received it yesterday. It is beautiful! No visible quality issues at all. I look forward to shooting it. Also purchased the De Santis 2 position holster with S&W logo from S&W Store. Fits perfect. These are new. Mine has a label showing Bud's received it on 8-2. I assume new from factory. I missed getting one a couple of years ago and bought this one right away. I dont think the make many of these. I bought mine for hunting.

Man, bad news. I went to pick the 629 PP from the FFL, and was saddened to find a canted barrel. The front sight was very crooked relative to the rear, and you could see the visible gap in spacing between the rib on top of the barrel and the side of the grip frame on one side.

I debated taking the transfer and sending it back to S&W, but opted to refuse the transfer. It will be going back to buds and I will receive a refund. They didn't have another one available since the model is (I assume) discontinued.

Otherwise the gun was really nice. This would have been my first substantial Smith. I have a small model 40 lemon-squeezer j-frame classic and two model 64 "police trades."

Now I am a bit jaded. I recently had this happen with a Ruger 4" Redhawk 44 I bought. I didn't know to check for barrel cant, having a perfect record on firearms I received. Ruger had me send it in and they are replacing it with a new one from the factory.

Not sure if I will attempt this again online. Before I do anything, I want to see how quickly buds processes the refund. If it is painless, I may try again, just will have to be something different since they aren't making these anymore.

Thanks again for the info on here. Too bad it didn't work out.

I decided to go back to the FFL to get pictures. Buds told me once they received the gun back, they would inspect it and make a determination on whether or not to issue a refund. Given that, I didn't want to just send it back.

Anyways, I went back to the FFL and took a few pictures that show the cant. Here are a couple:

If Bud's is being that "iffy" about taking back what I would consider a defective item, I would call S&W to confirm that they will repair it and if so, do the paperwork and have your FFL send it straight to S&W. Since S&W pays for warranty repair shipping, your FFL should not charge you anything more than his packaging charge to do that.

To me, the fact that Bud's won't just openly take it back confirms that those guns were REAL low sellers and Bud's was glad to get rid of their last one. I bought a new 629-5 PowerPort two years ago that was that distributor's last one and they were so happy to take $715 for it that they didn't charge me for shipping! I obtained it for a friend who isn't computer-literate and he has yet to fire it!



Ed

That should have never left the factory.

Agreed!

Ed

Thanks for the confirmation.

Just to clarify, buds didn't say they wouldn't issue a refund, it was just stated that they inspect the gun when it arrives as part of the process before issuing the refund. I just wanted to have pictures in case their inspection doesn't turn out in my favor. I have proof of what I received and returned.

Has anybody gone through a return with buds? They still haven't issued a call tag to have the gun picked up. I called them today and they weren't sure when it would be issued, just that is should be soon. I would think it would be a push-button operation. Patience is a virtue I have never possessed in any appreciable quantity.