So here it is Fathers Day, and I just happened to make the biggest gun purchase of my life. A nickel model 29-3, 6", with the presentation box, tools and papers that came with it. My father had one he was awful proud of, in blue that him, me and my brothers had fun shooting from time to time. When he passed in '96 he left it with my youngest brother, and we shot it every so often, or just took turns holding it and reminiscing, and it was an heirloom from Pap. Somehow along the way my little brother got in a bad way and lost, sold, or pawned it.He's gotten better, in a sense, but I've held that against him these years, and wished there was some way to "fix it". So anyway I came across this one on the local gun owners club and things came together so that I could scrape together everything I could, and borrow a little from my father in law til tomorrow to get it.

It is a beauty in the hand, and right away, just from the feel of it, I remembered shooting with my old man, and the fun times we had now and again.
I probably paid a lot more than most of y'all would've, but, it's mine now, and so be it.

I would like to know the date of it, if some one could help. The serial # is, if this is it, AHR XXXX. That is the # on the butt, and on the yoke above the model 29-3.

Any help is greatly appreciated, and like Minnie Pearl on the Grand Ole Opry, "I'm just so proud to be here".

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That, sir, is a beautiful gun!

G8 story. I understand about holding some resentment towards a family member because of them getting rid of a family heirloom. Took me awhile to get over my feelings as well.

As for the date. AHRXXX puts in in 1985. I own a blue 4" 29-3 dated 1982. They are really nice guns.

I can't help you with the exact date. It's an early- or mid-80s gun, but just glad you found it and presume it will help bring back good memories and suppress the not so good. Very nice 29 you've got there. Congratulations!

@Songcatcher,

I can relate to your feelings, I've been there. Glad you could find a revolver that helps to fill the void. My grandfather's '57 A5 was lost, and while it isn't the same gun, I got a '55 with almost the same character.

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Judge control not gun control!

Most likely May/Jun time frame 1985. She's a beauty!

Welcome to the forum!

I have scored some amazing deals, and I just paid too much for one of my recent purchases.

The bottom line is something is really worth what people are willing to pay for it, and you cannot put a price on the time you will spend on the range with this revolver with the feeling of your father standing behind you.

And good on your father in law for helping you with this. What a great fathers day story!

Sorry to hear about your brother's poor judgement. Glad you found one to function as your "memory" item for your father. For those of us who shot a lot with our dads growing up, these are very close to the heart.
Luckily in my family, my father knows between my brother and I who will keep the heirlooms and who will not. Hence the reason his Highway Patrolman now has a permanent spot in my gun safe when it is not out galloping at the range with me.

"That's what I'm talkin about!!!!! Nice revolver and great thread. Thanks for sharing.

Congratulations and welcome to the Neighborhood!

Thank y'all for your help in identifying the year, and the hearty welcomes!

Beautiful grain on the grips! Very nice!

It is hard not to love a classic model 29 especially one as nice as the one the OP acquired. The box looks to be in great condition. However, it may be the wrong one for the era of the revolver.

All else aside that MAY actually be too pretty even for me to shoot. Wonderful gun, I hope you enjoy it for many years.

How so, Jdavis? Box too new, old?

Here's another pic of that wood, being admired by P. Sherman Wallaby.

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Songcatcher, the presentation case that you have appears to be the type shipped with N-frame revolvers from1974 through 1978. Later boxes would have a single compartment to contain the tools. The gun would have been facing right. Since your revolver has been dated in the 1985 period, it is likely that it was not shipped with a presentation case. There are others here far more knowledgeable than I am that can offer more precise information.

I agree...I have a 29-3 nickel and my case is different, but not nearly in nice shape as the one he posted.

Welcome to the Forum.

That is a fine looking M29.

Try your best to forgive your brother. You and your family may not have your dad's .44 Magnum, but no one can take away your memories.

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John 3:16
WAR EAGLE!

This is a pic of mine in its case. I plan to get some new lining for it. Mine is serial# AYH233x. It came with tools and paperwork as well.

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My father kep a S&W under every couch cushion and down the side of every chair we owned. He kept them stuffed down between the car seat and the seat back in both his Lincoln Continental Mk 5. He had my wife scared to sit down (she didn't grow up around guns like my family did). For some reason he sold off most of his .357's (pretty much all his S&W revolvers were .357's)

I have my own guns now. I'm sure my kids think I'm eccentric about my guns too. But I like .44 magnums and semi-autos. I have one stuck where I can reach it just about everywhere I might sit down. At least one I guess. Sometimes it's a lot more than that.

That's one fine piece of hardware you have there. Feed it well and it will take good care of you when you need it the most.

Great gun and story, thanks for sharing. Bring your brother to the range with you and let him shoot it. Then charge him for the ammo.

Make sure to shoot it with your kids, to give them the same memories of their dad, as you have of yours.

Depending on their ages, take some mild .44 Specials for them to shoot or maybe some Cowboy Action loads.

__________________
John 3:16
WAR EAGLE!

And keep Hoppes #9 away from that beautiful nickle plating.

Nice gun. My very first 44 was a 29-3 I bought new in about 1989. I still have it all these years later. My SN# starts with AFS.

Dont hold me to this, but I believe they stopped shipping with a display case about the time the N prefix was dropped for the XXX prefix. Mine did not come with a case nor was it an option to order it with one.