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S&W Revolvers: 1980 to the Present All NON-PINNED Barrels, the L-Frames, and the New Era Revolvers


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  #1  
Old 10-09-2015, 09:49 PM
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Default 29-3 Classic Hunter

Stopped at the LGS today (I have GOT to stay out of those places!). They have a 29-3 Classic Hunter in the case, and it's been there a while. It's definitely 90% or better - I'd say probably close to 95%. The price they've had on it has been $799. Not bad, but not stellar. Until today.

Today they had re-marked the price on it down to $689. Looking a lot better. I talked to the guy behind the counter a few minutes as I was looking it over and he said that if I wanted to buy it outright he'd let it go for $600 + tax. That would make it $652.20 OTD. Or he said I could put it on layaway but it would be for the new tagged price - $689 - which would come out to $750 OTD.

That $600 sounds like just too good of a deal to pass up. I have a couple of hundred cash, but need to come up with the other $450. What to do, what to do...

Not the actual gun - but one just like it (for reference)
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File Type: jpg 29-3ClassicHunter.jpg (81.3 KB, 169 views)

Last edited by BC38; 10-09-2015 at 09:55 PM.
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Old 10-09-2015, 09:55 PM
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That sounds like a good deal. What is the barrel length? I wouldn't hang around consulting for too long.
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Old 10-09-2015, 10:02 PM
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Originally Posted by Stirling View Post
That sounds like a good deal. What is the barrel length? I wouldn't hang around consulting for too long.
It's the full-underlug barrel - 6-1/2" in length I believe....
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Old 10-09-2015, 10:11 PM
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I have a 6” 29-3 looks just like the one in the photo you have.

I have two 29’s with that sight combo, my opinion the best S&W ever came up with.

For $600, if it’s tight buy it yesterday!
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Old 10-10-2015, 01:37 AM
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Originally Posted by Rocket3 View Post
I have a 6” 29-3 looks just like the one in the photo you have...
So am I right in my guesstimate of a 6-1/2" barrel length?

I've read a couple of references indicating these were Lew Horton specials and that there were only 5000 of them made. Can anyone confirm or debunk any of that info?

Last edited by BC38; 10-10-2015 at 02:32 AM.
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Old 10-10-2015, 02:33 AM
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I picked one up earlier in the year just like that one at about 90-95%. I sold it for $950. Great feeling gun and not all that common. They were a Lew Horton run. Pick it up either way. If you can get the cash, cheaper is better, if not, put your name on it and have them shove it behind the counter.
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Old 10-10-2015, 07:10 AM
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I'm sure there are people seeing this thread who will now be calling shops in your area looking for it. If I were you I'd be camped out on their doorstep this morning.
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Old 10-10-2015, 02:23 PM
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I'm sure there are people seeing this thread who will now be calling shops in your area looking for it. If I were you I'd be camped out on their doorstep this morning.
LOL, if so they can quit calling now
And if anyone was wondering (like I was) it is actually a 6" barrel. Now I have to find a copy of the manual to learn how to adjust that high tech front sight. And a holster - gotta have a holster for it. The only N-frame holsters I have are for 3" and 5" barrels.

Last edited by BC38; 10-10-2015 at 02:27 PM.
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Old 10-10-2015, 04:11 PM
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My 629-3 Classic has the 6.5" barrel length. Hope this helps.
Jim
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Old 10-10-2015, 06:03 PM
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6-inch barrel, unfluted cylinder, adjustable front sight.... looks like a 101230. There were 5000 made for Lew Horton in 1987-1988. Is the s/n in the AYxxxx to BAxxxxx range?
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Old 10-10-2015, 07:56 PM
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Buy this gun and fast. Otherwise, kindly send me the FFL's information. I have been looking for one close to 10 years...........

Oh, and I have been looking at them in the $900 price range.
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Old 10-10-2015, 08:25 PM
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Way to go BC!
The front site has four adjustments. Push down on the end of the sight away from the muzzle. You can then rotate the little thumb wheel. The numbers by the set screws correspond to the number on the thumb wheel. This allows four different height adjustments of the front sight.
Enjoy
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Old 10-10-2015, 08:27 PM
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Hey...

I got one of those!



Mine is hard chromed and lots of custom things I had done at Mag-Na-Port.

Bought it new in 89, or whenever they came out.
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Old 10-10-2015, 10:41 PM
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Quote:
Originally Posted by Kernel Crittenden View Post
6-inch barrel, unfluted cylinder, adjustable front sight.... looks like a 101230. There were 5000 made for Lew Horton in 1987-1988. Is the s/n in the AYxxxx to BAxxxxx range?
Why yes, in fact it is. The SN is AYU2XXX...

Quote:
Originally Posted by TheHobbyist View Post
Buy this gun and fast. Otherwise, kindly send me the FFL's information. I have been looking for one close to 10 years...........

Oh, and I have been looking at them in the $900 price range.
Already in my safe man, sorry.

But after I shoot it if for some weird reason I were to decide I don't like it and want to sell it, you'll be the first to know.


BTW I found a holster for it. I saw one at another of my other favorite shops a couple of days ago. They have a bunch of used holsters and I remembered looking at it and thinking it for an N frame but that it looked a little too long for my 4-1/2" 44 special. It's a Lawrence model 27LB that fits the Hunter pretty darned well. The securing strap is a little short, but I was able to stretch the leather a little and get it to snap.

I think I'll wet the strap, put the gun in a plastic bag into the holster and snap the strap. Once it dries that way it ought to stay stretched enough to work just peachy. I figured for $20 I couldn't go wrong.

Last edited by BC38; 10-10-2015 at 10:46 PM.
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Old 10-10-2015, 11:00 PM
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Quote:
Originally Posted by Rocket3 View Post
Way to go BC!
The front site has four adjustments. Push down on the end of the sight away from the muzzle. You can then rotate the little thumb wheel. The numbers by the set screws correspond to the number on the thumb wheel. This allows four different height adjustments of the front sight.
Enjoy
Thanks for the feedback on how it works, but I'm still not 100% clear on the function of the set screws.

Once you set the thumb wheel - say to "2" for example - then what does adjusting set screw #2 do? Lock it down? Allow for additional fine tuning of the height? Or something else?
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Old 10-11-2015, 01:00 AM
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Positions are for distance, 1 through 4.

Fine tune them to your ammo at each distance with the allen screws.
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Old 10-11-2015, 02:31 AM
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Originally Posted by Snapping Twig View Post
Positions are for distance, 1 through 4.

Fine tune them to your ammo at each distance with the allen screws.
Wow, FAN-CY!

This one sounds like it is set up to be quite the precision shooter.
I doubt I can really do it justice. Oh WELL!
Guess I'll just have to do the best I can!
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Old 10-11-2015, 02:48 AM
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Nice score!
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Old 10-11-2015, 06:21 PM
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Quote:
Originally Posted by BC38 View Post
It's the full-underlug barrel - 6-1/2" in length I believe....
6 1/2-inch barrels are fairly uncommon on M29's. There were some -5's made in '90/'91 and a few others in the '70's. Smith used that barrel length more often on M629's, for some reason.


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Why yes, in fact it is. The SN is AYU2XXX...
December of 1987.
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Old 10-11-2015, 09:21 PM
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Quote:
Originally Posted by BC38 View Post
Wow, FAN-CY!

This one sounds like it is set up to be quite the precision shooter.
I doubt I can really do it justice. Oh WELL!
Guess I'll just have to do the best I can!
I don’t know the history of this sight configuration (someone please elaborate). My 29 10 5/8” has the same set up. The adjustable front site for elevation is relevant for this barrel length, maybe not so much for the 6”.
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Old 10-11-2015, 10:27 PM
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Quote:
Originally Posted by Rocket3 View Post
I don’t know the history of this sight configuration (someone please elaborate). My 29 10 5/8” has the same set up. The adjustable front site for elevation is relevant for this barrel length, maybe not so much for the 6”.
SNIKIES! A 10-5/8" barrel? Those 10" + barrels always make me think of the gun that Jack Nichols as the Joker used to bring down the Batplane in the first Batman movie!

Last edited by BC38; 05-22-2020 at 12:02 AM.
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Old 10-11-2015, 11:57 PM
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That sight set up was geared toward IHMSA Silhouette shooters. The four settings on the front sight correspond to 50, 100, 150, and 200 meters. 50 meter chickens, 100 meter pigs, 150 meter turkeys, and 200 meter Rams.
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Old 10-12-2015, 06:40 PM
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Quote:
Originally Posted by Kernel Crittenden View Post
6 1/2-inch barrels are fairly uncommon on M29's. There were some -5's made in '90/'91 and a few others in the '70's. Smith used that barrel length more often on M629's, for some reason.




December of 1987.
Good info Kernel

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Originally Posted by WPWarhawk View Post
That sight set up was geared toward IHMSA Silhouette shooters. The four settings on the front sight correspond to 50, 100, 150, and 200 meters. 50 meter chickens, 100 meter pigs, 150 meter turkeys, and 200 meter Rams.
Also very good info! Thanks!

Last edited by BC38; 10-12-2015 at 07:06 PM.
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Old 10-12-2015, 07:29 PM
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I can attest to the fact that they are very good shooters.
This one is an AZExxx s/n range.


And NO, it is not for sale (yet). I haven't shot it in years, but not ready to turn loose of it yet. I have been thinning the herd some lately, but not the real good ones yet.
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