I've been looking at model 29's lately on GB, mostly at nickel 29-2 guns. But I was also looking for a model 29-5 or 29-6 Classic too, to complement my 629-3 Classic and I like those models because they have all the endurance package improvements, but still have forged internals and no lock. And it seems that the model 29 classics of that vintage seem to be kind of scarce as compared to the stainless steel guns, at least on GB. So anyways, I saw a 5" 29-6 Classic listed around 3 or 4 days ago and had clicked on it to watch it.

Yesterday I was bidding on a nice 6" nickel 29-2 but someone else wanted it worse than me and got it so I was going through my list I had made of guns I was watching and this 29-6 Classic caught my eye again and clicked on the auction. It's starting bid was $850 and nobody had bid on it yet. After going through the pics I looked at the seller and recognized it as a local gun shop about 25 miles from home and decided to swing by this morning to check the gun out. So this morning I drove over and found the place (never been to it before) and checked the gun out. I found a nice looking shooter grade 29-6 that locks up tight and no issues. So I asked the guy if he could do better than $850, which is what it was marked at and he came up with a figure of $825 cash out the door. With the price cut and them covering the taxes on it, that saved me around $100 plus the cost of using my local FFL guy for a gun bought off GB. After running to the bank and getting out the money, I drove home as owner of a new used 5" 29-6 Classic to be the counterpoint of my 6 1/2" 629-3 Classic. Here is a couple of pics of my new acquisition.




It didn't come with the original box or papers, but that's OK as I plan to shoot the snot out of it along with my 629. But maybe someone can give me an approximate born on date from the serial number, which is BSP42XX. From my 4th edition SCSW, it looks to be some time in 1995 but nothing closer than that.

The Classic was only made from 1991-1994. The 4th Edition SCSW states the 5" is worth 50% premium.
Walt

I had that on my watch page but forgot to get back to it. Nice grab! I would have bid on it had I remembered.

__________________
I reckon so

Thanks for catching that. I hadn't looked it up in the SCSW. So it's looking like the deal is even better than I first thought then. I can tell it's a pretty low round count on it as there is no erosion to speak of on the forcing cone and hardly any case head markings on the recoil shield.

You know, it's funny though as I had to look on GB to see this gun and even funnier that I had been hearing the store being advertised lately while listening to the Walton and Johnson radio show lately on the local radio affiliate. When I walked in and saw their Ma Deuce sitting on the floor ready to rock n roll I knew I had found a neat gun shop. They did tell me it was a legal and working machine gun.

I remember seeing that one in a dealers case in Albuquerque in ‘93.

Didn’t have the funds back then.

Nice pick up

Shooter grade? C'mon!! That one looks a lot better than shooter grade. I'm glad for ya! I never added the 29 Classics to my collection and now I'm wishing I had. That's a beauty!! (Your 357s are gonna be jealous!!)

__________________
Don't You Ever Wash That Thing

Here is an August 1992 5" Model 29 Classic DX. Fired 6 rounds. I have the box, Docs, xtra rubber grips, 5 interchangeable front sights, and 50 yard test target showing a 1.7 in group. It also came with the combats in addn to the rubber

Attached Images

29 Classic DX.jpg (77.3 KB, 102 views)

__________________
Pete
I ain't no fortunate son

I agree, it looks better than shooter grade. Nice find!!

__________________
Pete
I ain't no fortunate son

Thanks all. I already got in touch with John Culina and have him doing up some nice presentation grade grips for it so I can shuck off the ugly rubber grips. Last night I took the grips and the sideplate off to check things out too. I found some kind of semi-dried oil or grease on the frame under the grips, which came off and the internals looked clean and with a little oil in good shape on them. I didn't find any rust under the grips or sideplate. So whoever owned this before me took decent care of it. I just wish I had time today to go to the range and give it a good tryout, but I have to leave early for the rig tonight as the company we are working for has some kind of special presentation we have to go to before starting our 2 week hitch.

I have 2 sets being made now. One in olive wood, and one in black and white ebony for a NIB 629 no dash. Not sure where the K olive targets are going. the worst case scenario is I have to buy a gun to go with the grips. Sound reasoning right??

__________________
Pete
I ain't no fortunate son

Oh heck yeah, excellent reasoning, Pete!

I'm getting this set done in Bubinga wood this time.

.

I will have to look at that wood. I took the black and white ebony, because the wait can be 1-2 years. The olive, ......well, because I am Italian. Makes even more sense now right?

Half the time, there is no rhyme or reason why you buy a gun. It is clearly an addiction, and of course money driven. There is only one constant in all of this. You have to look good!!!!

More sound reasoning.

__________________
Pete
I ain't no fortunate son

I understand completely why you went with the Olive wood. The Olive wood set I got for my 629 from John are just outstandingly beautiful, and are comfortable to boot shooting with.

I remember seeing the pic of yours, but I have Black and white ebony coming for the 629. The K frame olive is a spare set waiting for a gun to happen

__________________
Pete
I ain't no fortunate son

Great find and cool story.

Nice gun....I am not much into .44s but I had one just like that in stainless and it was the best shooting .44 I have ever owned.

A friend had a 6" 629 no- that he took to the factory and they put the 5" Classic barrel on for him. My friend didn't like it and traded it to me for a .44 Mountain Gun I had. After my friend died his nephew was looking for a .44 and sold it to him as it was his uncles gun to begin with. So it is the only P&R 629 no- 5" Classic...

Bob

I got home from the rig yesterday evening and was too tired to do anything but get some sleep. Today after I got woke up good, I decided to install the gold bead patridge sight and the 12 lb rebound slide spring on this gun I ordered from Midway right before I left for work 2 weeks ago. Both operations went well; the quick change sight was easy to remove by pressing the stock red ramp sight against a drop off piece of threshold hardwood I had around the house. The side plate on this gun is very tightly fitted but eventually vibrated loose after tapping on the frame with a plastic screwdriver handle for around a minute or so. After changing out the rebound slide spring, the single action trigger is now right about 2 - 2 1/4 lbs and the double action pull is around 10 lbs. Now, if the rain holds off, I will be off to the range in the morning and give it some range time.

I got a really pleasant email from Jennifer Culina when I woke this afternoon: my new Bubinga round to square conversion target stocks are ready and she included a pic of them in the email. I just sent payment to them, so they should be waiting for me when I get in from the rig next week.

I think they came out fantastic, as usual with John and Jennifer's stocks. Here is the pic she included on the email, so I can share with you all.

Nice chunks of wood!

Yeah, John has a real talent for picking beautiful wood to make his stocks out of. I can't wait to install them on this new to me revolver and post pics up.

I finally got around to installing the new stocks on my 29-6 and taking a few pics of the result. They look great on the gun and I am really happy with the way this purchase has worked out

Here's a couple of pics of the way the 29-6 now looks with the Culina stocks installed instead of the Goodyear specials.




And here is a family portrait of all 5 of my revolvers that wear Culina wood; Top Left Bubinga, Top Right Kingwood, Middle Left Cocobolo, Middle Right English Walnut, Bottom is Italian Olive wood:

Those are unbelievable looking grips! The grain is beautiful and really make the Classic look better than it already does.

__________________
Don't You Ever Wash That Thing

CONGRATS ON A GREAT FIND ! ! !

THAT LOOKS LIKE A FINE CANDIDATE TO HAVE THE SNOT OUT OF IT---ENJOY......

__________________
'Nam 1968-69.DAV,VFW,NRA Inst.

Thank you, one eye joe. I do plan to shoot it a lot. It will be no safe queen, but rather a gun that gets out a bit to the range. I've had it to the range only one time since I got it, due to weather and having to do stuff around the house. I thought about going today, but changed the rear shocks on my wife's Titan instead. Hopefully I can get to the range tomorrow. I'm thinking of bringing the "Culina Gang" to the range and shoot all 5 of them.

I like the new grips, wood is better than rubber.
Walt

Yeah, I agree with you, Walt. I much rather the Culina wood stocks over the stock rubber grips any day. And I find the Culina stocks just fit my hand much better than the rubber jobs.

As much as I hate to, I'm starting to let some of my nice ones go. This 29-3 Classic Hunter with 4 Position front sight and un-fluted cylinder will be going to a local auction shortly, and I have a copy of the Fall 1987 Shooting Times Handgun Quarterly when it was introduced to go with it.

__________________
H Richard
SWCA1967 SWHF244