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05-11-2016, 10:49 AM
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Does a 629-4/629-5 half lug 6" barrel exist?
I've been looking into purchasing a pre-lock Model 629, and would prefer one with a traditional hammer mounted firing pin and a half-lug 6 or 6.5" barrel. I also would like the gun to have the durability improvements that came along with the 629-4 and later guns. But I'm beginning to think that this combination of features (half lug, durability package, hammer mounted firing pin with a 6 or 6.5" barrel doesn't exist). Did S&W ever make something like this or do I have to search outside the -4 and -5 series 629?
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05-11-2016, 10:56 AM
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Yes, I recall seeing a 6" 629-4 with the standard half-lug recently for sale online. If you look for deep bolt notches on the cylinder that is a reliable sign of the endurance package updates, which I think started with the 629-3s. Good luck in your search.
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05-11-2016, 10:59 AM
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Good to know, thanks. Also, my understanding was that they started to make a few durability improvements with the 629-3, but it wasn't until the 629-4 that all the durability improvements were incorporated in their final form?
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05-11-2016, 11:19 AM
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Quote:
Originally Posted by Ferrous
Good to know, thanks. Also, my understanding was that they started to make a few durability improvements with the 629-3, but it wasn't until the 629-4 that all the durability improvements were incorporated in their final form?
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Actually, you're not far from the truth. The first enhancements started with the 629-2E, the E stamp was added to designate the enhancements. The 629-3 had all of the enhancements.
I prefer the 629-3 over the 629-4, because they retained the flash-chromed hammer and trigger instead of going to the case hardened finish. Purely aesthetic, however.
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Last edited by lawman90; 05-11-2016 at 11:20 AM.
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05-11-2016, 11:32 AM
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I would not pass up any 29 or 629 if that is what you want, unless you are going to shoot thousands of max load 300 grain bullets through it. They are a lot more durable that some folks would lead you to believe. I have an old 29 that I bought around 1968 that is still as tight as the day it left the factory and I shot a lot of loads of 240 grain lead bullets over 20 grains of 2400. Not a max load with the old 2400. The guns with the enhancements are even better.
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05-11-2016, 12:11 PM
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629-4 6" on the big auction site right now. No, it isn't mine. I saw one locally for sale last summer @ $800. It wasn't moving at that price.
I do like the -4's quite a bit. They have the best of everything in my opinion. Durability enhancements from the -3 generation, drilled & tapped frame, and still have the old style hammer and trigger.
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05-11-2016, 07:01 PM
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As SLT223 says, about the only difference between the -3 and the -4 is the -4 were factory drilled and tapped to mount a scope or other auxiliary sighting device. Most of the -4 were round butt guns also.
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05-11-2016, 07:55 PM
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Just for fun, I thought I would post a pic of my 629-4,,,
What is the advantage of the larger notches in the cylinder,, if the pawl (?) that goes into the notch is no larger than the older guns ??
Actually, the pawl looks identical to the one in a 617 no dash 22LR,,
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05-11-2016, 09:30 PM
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Quote:
Originally Posted by Ferrous
....would prefer one with a traditional hammer mounted firing pin and a half-lug 6.....
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You want to find a product code 103606. Those are the 6-inch pre-lock square butt M629's with the non-full-lug barrel. A -3 or -4 version of that product code will give you the Enhanced features you prefer, and none of that MIM stuff.
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05-11-2016, 09:36 PM
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That's a nice looking piece you have there SweetMK. Although I'm a bit confused as you say yours is a 629-4 with a chromed hammer, but SLT223 said that one of the differences between the -3 and -4 was that the -3 was chromed and the -4 case hardened? If that's generally true it's a small bonus for the -4 as I prefer the case hardened look. But if the -3 and -4 are equally "strong" there is little difference between them as far as I'm concerned (I not going to mount a scope).
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05-11-2016, 09:49 PM
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Quote:
Originally Posted by Ferrous
That's a nice looking piece you have there SweetMK. Although I'm a bit confused as you say yours is a 629-4 with a chromed hammer, but SLT223 said that one of the differences between the -3 and -4 was that the -3 was chromed and the -4 case hardened?
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That was one of the reasons I posted the pic,,,
Maybe it is chrome because the barrel says "Classic"??
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05-11-2016, 11:41 PM
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The words "always" and "never" should be used very carefully with regards to the features of S&W revolvers.
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05-12-2016, 01:12 AM
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QUOTE=SweetMK;139084638] [...] What is the advantage of the larger notches in the cylinder,, if the pawl (?) that goes into the notch is no larger than the older guns ??
Actually, the pawl looks identical to the one in a 617 no dash 22LR,, [/QUOTE]
Extending the notches further forward was one of the first endurance upgrades. It was to stop cylinders with end play from skipping chambers or flying open during extreme recoil. The theory was the front of the old notches were depressing the cylinder stop. Latter a sliding block that prevents the locking bolt and attached thumb piece from moving forward while the hammer is down but the trigger still held back.
Neither of those upgrades are of any value unless your reloads produce far more recoil than Elmer Keith's did. The longer stop notches actually weaken the cylinder's weakest spot. However, two endurance package upgrades affected accuracy. Chamber throats and forcing cones were reduced in diameter.
Quote:
Originally Posted by Ferrous
That's a nice looking piece you have there SweetMK. Although I'm a bit confused as you say yours is a 629-4 with a chromed hammer, but SLT223 said that one of the differences between the -3 and -4 was that the -3 was chromed and the -4 case hardened? [...]
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While I think most 629-3s shipped with flash chromed hammers and triggers I know at least some 629-3 Classics were shipped case colored ones. Without speculating all I can say is S&W phased out the flash chroming. It could be they held back a supply of flash chromed parts for repairs but after deciding they'd kept them available long enough sent them to the production line.
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05-12-2016, 05:00 PM
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I have both 629-1 and -2.
The -2 is one of the tightest S&W's I own and I have shot several hundred full house loads thru it over the years.
I would not pass up a -2 if it came along and was in mint condition.
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Last edited by Nemo288; 05-17-2016 at 12:22 PM.
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05-13-2016, 12:49 AM
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The 629-3 and brother 29-5 and up have the full endurance package.
The flash chrome hammers and triggers were phased out early during the 629-4 production so yes, some 629-4's will have them.
Rumor is that as the all the blued guns were being discontinued in 2000 or so, Smith needed to use up all the case hardened non flash chrome hammers and triggers that were going to be left over so they quit making the flash chrome.
To me it makes more sense to have the flash chrome on SS revolvers.
Why have a SS gun with easy to rust hammer and trigger?
I prefer the -3 versions of the 629,686,66 for the flash chrome.
To answer the question of the OP.
Yes, the 6" half lug barrel was made as standard production in the 629-3,-4 and -5 all pre lock.
The -3 was not factory drilled/tapped for scope mounting in the standard 6" and will have the old style square front rear sight assy. (was drilled/tapped with new style rear sight in the full lug classic versions only).Square butt with flash chrome hammers and triggers.
With the Dash-4 you will see mostly case hardened hammers and triggers and you will see both square and round butt grip frames on the standard six inch barrel non full lug versions. Smith was also phasing out square butt frames during this time.
The -5 will have the MIM hammer and trigger,frame mounted firing pin but no lock yet. Round butt.
There are plenty of them out there.
Last edited by grip frame; 05-13-2016 at 01:07 AM.
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05-17-2016, 12:19 AM
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Man, the information stockpile on this site is awesome. So it looks like I'm on the hunt for a 629-4, if I can find one with the case hardened hammer.
One last thing I've been noticing... some stainless S&W revolvers appear to have blued front sights that are staked/pinned in place, while others appear to have stainless sights that are actually one piece (part of the barrel)? Did this vary within a given model number, or did this change when they went from -3 to the -4? I could swear most of the 629-4 guns I've seen have the blued front sight, but the one 629-4 6" half lug I've found seems to have an integral stainless front sight. I'd prefer the blued removable front sight if possible. Was there any consistency to this option by model number/configuration, Or is it just random?
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05-19-2016, 01:20 AM
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Most standard barrel 629's up to the -4 will have the front sight machined as part of the barrel. There are exceptions like the mountain gun series. The Classic models also have quick change front sight inserts.
The 629-5's have pinned in front sights.
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