629-3 1 of 150 Illinois Handgun Deer Special from 1992?

RogerA · #1 06-20-2016, 10:13 PM

Anyone familiar with a Classic 629-3 6 1/2 44 mag like this? Some kind of limited production special commemorative model. The barrel reads "Illinois First Handgun Deer Season. Jan.17,18,19th , 1992". The receiver is engraved with a deer scene, 1 of 150, and the state out line of Illinois. Serial is ILL0148 Product code is 103639 SpecOrd is 4279 The Specord would indicate production on the 279 day of 1994??? Correct???? Is it listed in the SCSW? Did it come with Leupold scope mount? Was the Leupold 2x scope included? Any info or help greatly appreciated! Thanks! Roger

BillyMagg · #2 06-20-2016, 11:25 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by RogerA

Anyone familiar with a Classic 629-3 6 1/2 44 mag like this? Some kind of limited production special commemorative model. The barrel reads "Illinois First Handgun Deer Season. Jan.17,18,19th , 1992". The receiver is engraved with a deer scene, 1 of 150, and the state out line of Illinois. Serial is ILL0148 Product code is 103639 SpecOrd is 4279 The Specord would indicate production on the 279 day of 1994??? Correct???? Is it listed in the SCSW? Did it come with Leupold scope mount? Was the Leupold 2x scope included? Any info or help greatly appreciated! Thanks! Roger

They were indeed very nice guns with the "endurance package" upgrades that made it a much more durable and accurate weapon. I had a 29 DX in 6.5, and it was a sweety. I traded that for a 1991 Combat Commander and a small wad of cash, neither of which gave me any lasting satisfaction. I have a 29-2 and am rather happy with that? but I really miss my Classic DX.

If you can swing it, and its reasonable, buy it, you won't regret it, it will be a shooter, my 29-DX had an 1/1/4 group at 50 yds from a ransom rest as a test target. I will say it opened, closed, and fit as nice as some of the sweet old classics, it was a shooter, but the Murado wood grips were a little rough with full house 44 magnum ammo.

Kernel Crittenden · #3 06-21-2016, 04:28 PM

I saw ILL0044 not to long ago. 150 total is probably correct. The year would be 1994. The -3 was factory drilled and tapped. Most D&T'd Smiths came with a standard Weaver $7 aluminum base. Don't know if the Leupold base and scope are part of some factory package, but they would sure be nice to have if you did want a magnified optic.

The gun, box & tools, the base and scope, the wood case.... something in the $900 to $1,100 range would reasonable, if you're good with and don't deduct for the engraving. Personally, I'm not a big fan of cosmetically embellished guns. I'd rather have it plain.

RogerA · #4 06-21-2016, 06:15 PM

Thank You Kernel!!!

BillyMagg · #5 06-21-2016, 08:30 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Kernel Crittenden

I saw ILL0044 not to long ago. 150 total is probably correct. The year would be 1994. The -3 was factory drilled and tapped. Most D&T'd Smiths came with a standard Weaver $7 aluminum base. Don't know if the Leupold base and scope are part of some factory package, but they would sure be nice to have if you did want a magnified optic.

The gun, box & tools, the base and scope, the wood case.... something in the $900 to $1,100 range would reasonable, if you're good with and don't deduct for the engraving. Personally, I'm not a big fan of cosmetically embellished guns. I'd rather have it plain.

The scope and mount may well have been part of the Illinois Handgun Deerhunting package, those are very nicely fit and outstanding shooting handguns. I would be in up to 1200. or so if original, but then I hunted that first handgun deer season with my old 27-2.

I LOVED handgun season.

RogerA · #6 06-23-2016, 09:43 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Kernel Crittenden

I saw ILL0044 not to long ago. 150 total is probably correct. The year would be 1994. The -3 was factory drilled and tapped. Most D&T'd Smiths came with a standard Weaver $7 aluminum base. Don't know if the Leupold base and scope are part of some factory package, but they would sure be nice to have if you did want a magnified optic.

The gun, box & tools, the base and scope, the wood case.... something in the $900 to $1,100 range would reasonable, if you're good with and don't deduct for the engraving. Personally, I'm not a big fan of cosmetically embellished guns. I'd rather have it plain.

Searching the web, I found this Jinks letter (sorry it is out of focus, that is the way it was) about these Illinois Special Deer Seasons guns. Thought you would enjoy reading it. It would seem it came factory without a scope or mount, with rubber grips. The shipping date to Zanders of December 18, 1991, seems to be different than the SpecOrd date, any ideas on that? Thanks!