Well, that was not the ONLY reason, but it did factor in highly.


A couple weeks back I got a nice .22 and this week I doubled up on it. A Model 29-3 from 1988 showed up yesterday at my FFL. Just picked it up an hour ago.












A few years back I picked up a first year Highway Patrolman that had been refinished once and then the finish was ruined by something that got sprayed on it. No pitting and very good shape mechanically made it a good choice as my only N-frame.

I had the polished trigger and hammer case hardening redone and also had it reblued. Unfortunately there was a "failure to communicate" and the prep work was not what I had wanted. The blue job was excellent but up close the lack of proper prep work was obvious. We worked out a price for the work done that was satisfactory.

I had ordered a set of N frame "Cokes" from the Culina's in American Holly and they just did not seem to work on this HP. It just was not nice enough to match up with these primo grips. So I looked on GB and picked out this 29-3. I had one way back in the late '80s and it was one of many that I traded away back when I had very little money. So between nostalgia for that 4inch M29, nostalgia for Jack's stolen revolver in "48 Hours" and being in dire need of a host for my Culina grips, Here I am.


I need to get a better pic after I get it good and clean. This was after a quick wipe down.


And here it is.

Wow, very nice. Now you've got me lamenting over the fact that I don't yet have a 4" M29 to go with the others so , the hunt begins

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I reckon so

Never did that, but I did buy a gun because I liked the grips that were on it !

No, but I like your thinking. I once bought a 444 Marlin because I had a set of dies on the shelf. OK, ok.... the price was good too.

I found a roll pin in a drawer once, and built another AR-15.

I bought the wrong ammo for a caliber of a gun I didn't own once. So I went out and bought a gun in that caliber so I could use up that box of ammo.

I built an AR-15 last year because I had an extra charging handle in the parts draw! So I could see buying a revolver because you had a nice set of grips laying around for sure.

Some guys will use any excuse to buy a gun. Some of mine are pretty flimsy too.

I found some beautiful grips recently..and am in the process of buying a 629 to put them on.It may seem the backwards way to buy..but it works for me. ( I'd post pictures..but I'm foggy about the rules regarding such,and have too many points to risk it.)

My budget situation is much more mundane than the rest of you high-rollers here!! I found a set of the very nice (I think) S&W-branded rubber banana grips thru the classifieds here. So - I went to my local kitchen-table FFL and picked and searched among his J-frames, and found a near-perfect 638 that I have on layaway there. The grips aren't fancy at all - but they have the best fit of any J-grip I have tried. Nothing at all against the 29's and 629's you guys have mentioned - but I have reached the point that any new handguns have to be either ideal for HD or fit in a pocket ...

Yes I admit I have. I had this nice set of k-frame black washer magna grips. Found this worn but hardly shot 19-3 and just had to put them together. Gotta love purple blue steel revolvers.

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If it's something that I kinda like and that's the only/best reason I can come up with... heck yeah.

I have several HP's because they were a cheap source of diamond targets about ten years ago. My worst gun blunder was not buying a 4" HP wearing high condition cokes. That auction completed at $498. That was back in 2009, and it still stings.

Been there, done that, got the shirt.

Bought a Model 66 just because the goncalo alves grips on it were perfect, unique coloring, and exceptional grain. The fact it was on a model 66 didn't really matter to me. I just wanted the grips. Think about that...I spent $675.00 on a gun just because I wanted the grips and the seller wouldn't part with them separately (I tried for $150). Sold the gun kept the grips...not quite your story but I am sure others here can appreciate it.

Wait until you start buying 50+ year old mint boxes because some day you might come across the gun! Ya, our shared hobby is a fine way to lighten the wallet.

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Rather be outdoors

Yes. Had some Pachmayr Compac grips with C*** medallions that I had bought mail order (at a very reasonable price) for my .22 Diamondback. However, I liked the Pachmayr Presentation grips with C*** medallions better on that gun. Still have it, and it's probably my best .22 revolver, even if the cylinder does revolve in the correct direction.

However, the Compacs needed a home. I found a C*** Commando Special (Detective Special, with "Park" finish IIRC) and bought it. The sales clerk saw what I was doing, and didn't hesitate to let the owner know what had happened. We both thought it was pretty funny. I'm not uncomfortable with my inclination, although I think that the standard psychobabble label for it is pretty stupid, even for so-called intellectuals.

I no longer have the DS, although I do have an earlier DS that's overall just as good, and a story by itself. But I've already told that one. Don't remember exactly why I traded that first DS. It was a perfectly good gun. Maybe I have more guns than I need? Couldn't be - I'm still in only two digits!

I did that as well. Then a couple years later found out it was a State Dept gun. Rather be lucky than good kinda moment.

Nope can't say that I have.

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Life is short,live it fully.