ive heard that there are -4 29&629 dx,s has anyone seen one?

I mean 5 inch

I feel very lucky to own 2/ea 629-3 Classic DX's in 5"bbl.
One wears a Leupold 4X EER scope and the other has an SDM fiber optic for the front sight.

I believe you heard wrong. The 5" 629 Classic DX was only made in 1994 and I think all were -3s. But I could be wrong and I'm too lazy to go down to my gun room and check the SCoSW.

Ed

All Classic 629 with 5" Bbl DX's were dash 3's. There were no dash 4's in the 5" Bbl length. The 29 DX with 5" Bbl are dash 5's

It's not a "DX" but it is a 5" 29 classic.

Photobucket fail. You need to embed the image using the Manage Attachments button or find a different host that allow linking to other websites, which PB no longer does.

__________________
So many S&W's, so few funds!!

OK guys tnx for ur feedback, I have four 5" 2 29-5 and 2 629-3 im glad that there is no -4 so I don't need to chase it around the net but still looking for a 5"29 dx with all the extras and box. Tnx again for the info.

Question: what makes difference between a 29 Classic and a 29 Classic DX besides the laser etching on the barrel and a test target?

Are the DX's better in some way performance wise ?

And if so, what were the requirements that determined if a new 29 Classic would be sold as a Classic DX or just a Classic?

Ive heard that all of them were tested at the factory with 240gr Federal Ammo at 50 yds in gun vise- The best shooters became DX's. Can anybody verify if there was an accuracy standard to differentiate the two models? Say, under 3" group for example became a DX?

And also, just out of curiosity, what is the best group a 50yds ever recorded at the factory?

Extra set of grips, 4 sights, target, and a ''DX'' on the barrel... You get

ALL these extras for JUST 50% MORE than a regular Classic;-/

l have personally owned 3 of them... Again my personal experience.

None were more or less accurate than any other Classic... At present l

have one DX.. lts a 6 1/2'' dash 4 and the least accurate of the 4 629

Classics l regularly shoot

I agree, from reading the forum threads regarding Classics & Classic DX's and other S&W literature I found in catalogs and online, I would say that these 2 model 29-5 versions are pretty much identical to each other besides extras you mention that came with DX.

According to '91 S&W catalog both models have all the same performance enhancing features like target hammer, target trigger, full lug barrel, drilled & tapped for scope mount, etc and both versions had other enhancements such as "internal endurance package and accurizing package for competition-ready group sizes."

With the exception of Classic DX on barrel and the extras that the DX came with, both versions probably are capable of shooting 2" or better groups at 50yds-
I'm am not 100% certain, but I think only the DX came with a factory test target as proof of performance.

A quote from one of the catalogs of the era (have them all but do not want to dig it out to see what year).

When talking about the Classic and DX models. "for the ultimate in accuracy there is the Classic DX model"

It may be true that the DX was no more accurate on average than the standard Classic but with a DX you were guaranteed to get one of the most accurate examples as proved by the test targets. At least with the Federal load. This in a way backs up the assumption that they could have been hand picked out of standard Classics for accuracy.

Early DX models were tested and held to a 2" or less 5 shot group at 50 yards standard. Later models like the 629-4 were held to a 1.5" @ 25 yard standard. This is proven in the test targets, not speculation. Early models were obviously held to a higher standard.

Its safe to say that the DX models were indeed above average accurate. I have a hard accepting the opinion of many who say they were just run of the mill Classics that came with extra accessories. I highly doubt Smith was putting in the time and cost involved to put out standard Classic models that were all this accurate. This is custom level accuracy.


From past experience this topic will be full of nothing but speculation until someone who worked at the factory and built these revolvers steps up and sets the record straight.

No, standard Classic models did not come with test targets.

You will see far fewer 29 DX models with the 29-5 5" being the most rare. Second most rare is the 5" 629-3 DX. The 5" barrel was only produced for one year. The most common seen is the 6.5" 629-3 and 629-4.

I have one of those and maybe it's just coincidence but the action is smoother with less double action stacking than my other two 629s, a 6" 629-1 and a 6.5" 629-4 Classic, as well as my son's 4" 629-4. It makes me wonder if the DX package didn't include some hand-tuning.

Ed