This is my new to me (629-5) .44Mag/Special "BackPacker" I just picked up from my FFL. I worked a deal with a member here and picked this baby up for a price I couldn't turn away from. He needed cash to get married so it helped both of us out. I have an M29-3 Lew Horton Special with a 3" barrel but after some extensive research; some people saying it does have the "Endurance-Package" and some saying it does NOT.. Those saying "Nay" were correct. So now I have full Under-Lugged 3" .44 that I've been searching for the better part of 2 years. And t I can pop the most stubborn of steel plates with authority without wear to the M29!

Original seller says he has 1 box thru it since new. And I believe it seeing how tight it is and not a scratch on it! What do you think of her?

Lastly, if you can tell me anything about how many were made or any other trivia I would certainly appreciate to know more about our new "Woods-Gun-BackuP".




Pic of her in my new Glock back pack.

Goncalo Alves "Combats" fit my meaty hands like they were molded for them. However, at $275 a set I'm going with my 2nd favorite soon to be swapped out grip combo on the M629; a factory set of "Magna's" an "N" frame Tyler-T.

Pic below of my M29 3" barreled LHS. I don't know which one I'm going to end up liking better!

CONGRATULATIONS HAM HANDS---THAT'S A BEAUTY ! ! !

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

Thanks Joe! 3" barreled Revolvers and 4" semi-auto's work really well for me. These 3" Round Butt "N" frames balance like no other for me. When I finally get the Tyler-T's and Magna's here I'm sure the 629-5 being a full underlug might just balance better than even the LHS does!

I just pulled out the feeler gauges. The right side cylinder gap to forcing cone is a very snug .006... almost 2 tight. I'd be comfortable calling it .0059 for sure. The left side is just a hair tighter and if I had to estimate it would mic out at .0058 or so.

I've read a these BackPacker "Special Order" revolvers have a very faint "Grizzly Bear" etched on the side plate. Some can only being seen if you look very hard in the sunlight. I looked with my Streamlight, nothing. I just came in off the back porch. Nothing lights up like Gods, sun that is for sure. I can rather easily see a Grizzly bear that appears to plowing forward thru some tall Fir trees. I'm really happy!

If you can zoom on the sideplate, you can see it. It was almost like Smith decided they didn't want this "feature picture" etched on the side plates. I say this because it was certainly polished to the point the top of the plate that connects to the frame up near the hammer is polished to the point you cannot see the separation line, almost!

Nice find there HamHands!! I've always preferred the standard barrel on a 3" gun but that little bit of extra steel will soften up that Buffalo Bore a little anyways. Good to know you have one you can pound away on and give the others a break. Congrats!

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Don't You Ever Wash That Thing

Thanks 7Five! Can you tell me more about my new "Backpacker" It says "Spec Ord. # 0179" on the side of the box; something I've never seen on any other Smith box I have.

We were talking about that very subject about a month ago weren't we? It was you who made me look into whether my M29-3 had the "Endurance Package" harder.
You were right, my pictured Lew Horton Special did NOT have the "EP". While we agreed that I would probably wear out before my M29 would... I didn't want to take the chance on sheering hammer and trigger pins slinging 300's at 1,100fps out of that cylinder lock-work. The M629-5 has the elongated cylinder stop notches which is visually, the easiest way to tell if your M29 or M629 has the "EP" or not for those as confused on the subject as I was.

And I swapped grips just to get the feel of that full-underlug. Man, it feels just a hair bit better balanced. The true test will be when I take her to the club for 100 rounds to see how she groups/handles.

Below a pic of my little family of "N's"...

-Ham

That's the date it was made in a Julian date code: YJJJ. That's how they did it on the older boxes.

It translates into the 179th day of 2000, or Jun. 27, 2000

.

Good looking 44 !! Congrats.

.

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Waiting for the break of day

BLUEDOT beat me to it. The spl order number is a great way to date a gun if you're lucky enough to get the box.

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Don't You Ever Wash That Thing

Thanks to you and BlueDot. You both are a great source of wisdom.

I'm in RealEstate and am a professional researcher by profession. And for the life of me my Google Fu is very weak on the subject of this Mountain Backpacker in regards to the little fine points I always find out about the rest of my firearms. I like the subtle differences between my M29, and with this 629-5 BackPacker though; like the chamfered cylinder face for easier reholstering for instance is a nice touch.

I finally sucked it up and ordered some Rosewood Magna's from Altamonco and an aluminum brush finished Tyler-T for the 629, and a flat black one for the M29. This grip combo shoots, handles, and carries so well for me and these 3" barreled .44's were meant to be carried!

Nice find.


Too bad those N frames are just a bit too large for me, because there are a couple I'd like, and yours is one of them. Enjoy.

Wow! I really like it. Congratulations on your new
purchase. What a nice piece of Smith & Wesson art.

Thank you for the wonderful pictures.

Reminds me of my S&W model 696-1 44Spl 3"bbl.

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SD social distanc'n since 1889

HamHands, I'm thinking this is either an Alaskan Backpacker or Alaskan Backpacker II. Since it seems to have the original box, if you can provide the product code and alpha S/N prefix, I can probably identify it.


Regardless of which it is, a relatively scare variant. Very similar to the "Trail Boss" 629-4 variants with the engraved side plates and lanyard ring.

It does appear to be in excellent condition, but not original in my opinion. It seems someone has bead blasted off the side plate and ends of the barrel.


Great revolver, either way!! The 3"guns are my passion, I just don't care for the extra engraving the factory decided to add to some of them.


Best regards, Bob.

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SWCA #2785
OGCA #35078

What a beautiful 696... I had my eye on two on GB for a while, bid, got outbid, and they slipped away.

Those grips look very functional/comfortable. Are they VZ's or Altamontco's version?

I did a little reading up on the Backpacker in the SCSW. BRatliff is dead on with yours apparently being The Backpacker II. 200 were made in 2000 with NLT prefix for an Alaskan distributor V.F. Grace.
Your product code should be 103689.

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Don't You Ever Wash That Thing

That Backpacker sure is a beauty. I'm sure you'll enjoy shooting it even more than showing it off. I could really use something like that Backpacker right about now. I'm in Siberia for the month with my family and we're heading up to the Sayan Mountains to do some hiking tomorrow. Shushenskiy Bor or possibly another park further away, I'm not sure. Every couple of days or so we get word of another bear encounter. 'Tis the season! Plenty of room here for all of us. Of course handguns are totally illegal here.

I ran into some German bear hunters after we landed at the airport. Then my sister-in-law's boyfriend showed me some pics of a fellow firefighter that had been torn limb from limb recently - and the bear was as nearly big as a compact car! Lions and tigers and bears, oh my! Actually, there haven't been any tigers sighted here for years. And I'm perfectly OK with that. I snapped this shot today near Sayanogorsk:



Backpacker country pure. That's the Yenisei River peaking through the mountains. The purpose of the trip is to visit family - the inlaws. But man I have a hankering to come back here to hunt someday. And I guarantee when I do I'll be better armed than a folding knife and some pepper spray :-)

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Thanks for taking the time to read up on my new Revolver my friend!

Product Code is: 103693
Serial # Prefix is: MBP025(x)

Under the "Features" section on the box tag it says:
**SPECIAL**

I don't know if the "Special" means anything or not but I thought I would include that little piece of info.

I really appreciate you, BlueDot, and Bratliff for helping me find out the real deal about my new BackPacker! I also appreciate and enjoy everyone else that has posted in this thread as well. Thanks fellas!

Uncle Mike's Black soft plastic are the Grips
that are original to the M696 and are the
ones original to my S&W model 696-1 44Spl 3"bbl.

I was leery about that Grip at first, but when I shot
the Revolver, the Grips worked great in my hand and
made shooting enjoyable.

My hands are sm/med and all my S&W's have the
S&W Black Rubber Grips on them, I shoot a lot,
so I believe they are the best if you are a Serious Shooter.

I was lucky enough to buy this 696-1 new in the box,
and only factory fired.

The 696-1 was advertised for sale on a Major Gun selling
site, reconized the seller was here in town, and I was
fortunately able to visible inspect. It has the Box and
all the accouterments. I finally Grew up, and refuse to buy
sight unseen.

Oh, by the way the Wood Grips below were on my 45lc
Mtn Gun, shot 6 times, and immediately were replaced,
they suck. Can't remember where their at, I think I threw
them in the garbage.

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	SW 625 MG 45lc worthless.jpg (4.1 KB, 1172 views)

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SD social distanc'n since 1889

That really is a choice 696 and I bet it carries even better than my 3" "N" frames do. I want one as .44Magnum & .44Specials are my favorite caliber and that "L" frame carries nice I've been told!

If you ever do find those Goncalo Alves Wood Grips that you think you might have thrown away I'll give you $100 for them!

Actually, they are highly desirable and are made from Tiger Wood. They are also known as "Combats" and I absolutely love mine on my M29-3... I've seen them go for over $250 for a mint set recently more than three times...

I have big meaty mitts and those grips are an absolute joy to shoot, (for me) and are honestly the only grips I have on any handgun from the factory (except my CZ-97B), that I have not changed into something more fitting or functional for me. Everybody is different though and I totally understand they didn't work for you!

I got this backpacker because my M29 3" doesn't have the Endurance Package and I enjoy popping steel with the heavy stuff as full-house .44Mags are exhilarating/accurate/alluring to me! I simply enjoy the horsepower so to speak and the capability! The Backpacker certainly has the Endurance Package and I can sling all the 300 grain hard casts @ 1100fps that my wrists and forearms can handle!

My brother and I are hitting the club next Saturday and the first pistol I pull out/off my hip will be this BackPacker! I figure 50 Full-House Mags, and 50-60 Hot Specials should be a nice first outing.

SeamasterSig... Wow, that is just breathtaking those pics. Awesome, yet a kinda scary story being in deep Siberia with only a Pen Knife and some aerosol pepper spray! Stay safe for sure with the family..

We have an all too familiar black bear at our family mountain home in Highlands NC. Somewhat recently, there is pushing on the door, scratching on the house, urinating & deficating on my wife's Rubicon, etc. I carry a 3" "N" frame with Underwoods 255gr Keith Hot-Specials for his furry self. I can't imagine being in your position now with Brown Bears and the recent accounts of attacks and that poor fireman you spoke of near you. In that situation my M629 would be stoked with Underwoods 305grain Keith Mags for sure!

Going next Saturday to shoot the new to me Backpacker; see what loads it has an affinity for accuracy for and to sight her in at 25yards.

Thanks for the wonderful pics and come back safe! God Bless!

Oh well, I tried. The book probably has a glitch in it because it says your product code number is a 629-3 Backpacker with "Mountain Backpacer" (Back PACER??) laser etched on the barrel. Obviously a typo. Also, your serial # prefix is a one off for your gun with MBP standing for Mountain Back Packer.

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Don't You Ever Wash That Thing

Gave up a revolver that nice to get married...What is this world coming to?

Solid work Vette! Interesting the "MBP" standing for Mountain Back Packer. That is really cool though the little tid-bits of info like that to know. I really appreciate it!

Bawhahahzahahahaha! I know right. Nice guy though. I wish him all the luck.

S&W did the same thing on my "Master Hunter Scope Only" PC gun. The serial # prefix is MHSO. Someone is getting WAY too smart at the factory!!

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Don't You Ever Wash That Thing

My ex wanted to create a savings account. I wound up selling a blue 4" M24-3 and a super accurate 1903A3. So what does she do? She went out and bought furniture.

I miss those guns and her-not a bit!

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John 3:16
WAR EAGLE!

Vette, you have all the coolest .44Magnums! That one is just sick, and smooth as butter I presume!! I love the look and feel of a non-fluted cylinder. It keeps a little bit more steel behind the forcing cone and barrel, bit more cylinder strength, and no doubt balances a tiny bit better than a fluted one. Sadly, I don't yet own a non fluted cylinder example. But I've been surely working on it lately. Thank God me and the wife have always kept separate checking accounts!

Sorry bro but I had to laugh at that last sentence! Sounds like you won the lottery though getting rid of her.

Amen to that!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! She even kept my M13 3", a Ruger Service Six and a .22 Magnum NAA.

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John 3:16
WAR EAGLE!

Hamhands, IMHO, no handgun says "I mean business" as well as a large frame snubby revolver. You have nice ones!

Now that is just wrong! The good thing is you can reacquire the nice firearms you lost with enough time. And your freedom out of that unholy union is worth more than a stately countryside estate, in piece and happiness!

Is the "Mountain Backpacker" visible on the right side of the barrel or is it polished off? I can barely see it in post #4

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-Matt

Deleted...

Double Tap.

I AGREE HAM HANDS. I LOVE THE LOOK OF PC MAGNAS, AND A TYER-T ON A SNUBBIE REVOLVER OF ANY SIZE FRAME.......

BELOW IS MY L-FRAME, M686+......

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

That in my mind is the the definition of the perfect sized carry revolver Joe. That is pretty much how mine will look if the Tyler's ever get here. Until then I've swapped the 629-8 Deluxe's grips onto the BackPacker for comfort and conceal-ability. I wore the BP last night while out on a walk with the dogs and my girls. With a good belt/holster rig it disappears on my hip at 3:30 just as well as my CZ "P-01" does...

Better pic taken by me. The Mountain Backpacker and Smith & Wesson .44Magnum etchings are as crisp as I've seen in laser etchings. The 2 pics below are OK. But I'm waiting for Verizon to get off it's butt and push the rest of the pics I sent last night to my email that are in better lighting. Of course VZ chooses to send the 2 least lit pics...

We ended up at Ergaki Nature Park not far from the border with Tuva. Even though parts of the park see a lot of foot traffic (not unlike Yellowstone National Park, I imagine) it was some of the most pristine wilderness I've ever seen. On this particular Sunday in Indian Summer, there were enough hikers that most of the wildlife was keeping a decidedly low profile, although we heard something roar briefly in the distance at one point, we didn't encounter anything more dangerous than a chipmunk.

It took us two hours to climb up to Hanging Rock, which is 1000 meters above Lake Raduzhnoye ("Rainbow Lake" and Hanging Rock pictured below), where a bear reportedly killed a woman who had set up camp there a couple years ago. I'm sore today, but it was well worth it. We fly home at the end of the week after nearly a month here. This trip has inspired me to dust off my own 44 magnum - a 5" 629-3 - and practice shooting at longer distances. Getting a good red dot sight for it as well as an appropriate holster are also on my to-do list.





Update: I guess we really did spot a bear just a few minutes from where we parked. My wife spotted it about 200 meters away at the treeline and we debated for about 30 seconds whether it was a bear or a tree stump, and as soon as we said "Look: a bear," the other's in our small group freaked out and picked up the pace, so we didn't stick around to find out. Looking at the photo on my phone on the way home, I decided it must have been a just a stump, but the pictures my wife took with her camera were clearer. Verdict: We really did see a bear - although I hesitate to call it an encounter. Apparently it was just curious, watching us leave the park, probably thinking "Hurry up and get out of my yard!" I feel better now, because going to Siberia and not spotting a bear would be like going to Florida and not seeing an alligator :-)

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That looks like the trip of a lifetime Seamaster. Why would anyone want to travel to a CITY????

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Don't You Ever Wash That Thing

Just got back from the Shooting Range and
had to check for any new posts here.

Thank you for the new Pictures of the "Back Packer".
I enjoy this Thread.

I don't know if you Reload but thought I'd share my
current go to 44 Magnum Reload.
240gr Lead SWC or RNFP .429-.431dia.
Lighting Ammo or Oregon Bullets Lead Boolits.
5.6grs Alliant Red Dot.
CCI LP #300 Primers. S&B will work too.
Roll Crimp Medium? (is to me)
FPS: 850? Primer no where near flat. Mild shooting.
Bullets Tumbled Lube with home made
Ben's Liquid Lube for lead free performance.

Shot the S&W 629-6 44Mag Mtn Gun COS 4"bbl
today. Shot the S&W 696-1 44Spl 3"bbl Saturday.

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SD social distanc'n since 1889

Great post! I've enjoyed all the wisdom and posts of all you guys in this too...

I appreciate your load data for future reloading for sure! I'm only set-up for .44Special right now. I'm trying to duplicate my favorite load; Underwood's 255grain Hard Cast "Keiths" rated @ 1,000fps. I'm ordering 100 bullets from "Matt's Bullets", 265 grain HC Keith's to play and fine tune with. If I can get them to pop off at 1,050fps consistently.. I'm thinking that will be my go-to "Woods-Load" and do it at 75% of the costs.

My brother and I are going Saturday morning to my club. I'm bringing all (3) of my 3" barreled .44's but the BackPacker will get shot the most. Range Trip Review/Report "Update" will be posted up along with video of us shooting and silhouette/grouping pics will be posted here afterwards.

UNDEWOOD HAS BEEN GRABBING MY ATTENTION AS OF LATE. I WILL WATCH YOUR PROGRESS WITH INTEREST.....

BEST WISHES....

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

Seamaster, that is absolutely a lifetime trip! Thank you so much for the wonderful Pics and Commentary. I really appreciate you taking the time to posts everything!

At first Joe, I was hesitant to order anything from Underwood because they weren't as well known as Tim Sundles' "Buffalo Bore" brand. I've used BB for years and certainly trust his loads. Both Buffalo Bore and Underwood's loads I use interchangeably as of late because I have some significant time with both manufacturers in the last year in Magnum caliber and .45Super.

Both use real world guns like you and me are likely going to shoot their products thru as well. Their 38Special standard and +P's are both spot on out of my M36's. That's what I love best about BB and Underwood; their advertised velocity performs at or slightly above their advertised velocity, and safely so, is why they are both very successful.

Lately, I've only been ordering from Underwood because their prices are 65-70% of Buffalo Bore and Underwood's $8 to $10 shipping prices are way more in line than Buffalo Bore's shipping prices ever have been.

I'll certainly be shooting Underwood's .44Special and .44Mag ammo Saturday! I'll also be shooting a healthy mix of Prvi-Partizan, Fiocchi, PMC, & Winchester in both mag/special as well. I'll certainly be sure to distinguish what loads produced which groupings and at what range when I publish the range report with video/pics!

-Ham

You're welcome! The cities, towns, and villages here are nothing to brag about - dirty and rundown - but the woods are the stuff dreams are made of. Your Backpacker would be a perfect hiking companion in these parts, if only it were allowed.

Speaking of which, if you're trying to duplicate the Underwood load out of your Backpacker, you might try starting with 7.5 grains of Unique and working up or 17 grains of 2400 and working down until you are satisfied. Both are classic 44 caliber loads with a 250 grain bullet; the former a favorite of Skeeter Skelton and the latter a favorite of Elmer Keith after balloon-head cases went out of style. Those are both forgiving powders, by which I mean not particularly load-sensitive. Obtaining that velocity with a 255 grain bullet out of the short barrel with Unique might be asking too much, though. Win 296/H110 should get you there, but with significant muzzle blast and those are both load-sensitive powders, so I hesitate to make a recommendation from memory. Alternatively, you might look for load data for the 255 grain Lyman #229244 mold. If I remember right, Lyman's Cast Bullet Handbook has data for what you're trying to accomplish with a 255 and 265 grain cast bullet or should at least point you in the right direction to experiment with the short barrel. I have the book and highly recommend it if you're reloading lead bullets.

One day I'd like to have a Backpacker like yours (or possibly a Mountain Gun if I find the right one first). Let me know where you end up if you settle on a favorite load for it.

THANKS FOR THAT INFO AND ENDORSEMENT HH.....

I HAVE ALWAYS TRIED TO AVOID THE BOUTIQUE BRANDS IF I COULD, BECAUSE OF THEIR EXORBITANT PRICES, FOR 20 ROUND BOXES. AS A RESULT, I HAVE AN ADEQUATE BUT IMPRECISE ZERO, AND LITTLE PRACTICE WITH THE ROUND THAT I WILL HUNT WITH......

KNOWING THE PRICE DIFFERENTIAL BETWEEN BB, AND SIMILAR PERFORMANCE, I WILL DEFINITELY ORDER SOME UNDERWOOD THE NEXT TIME I NEED AMMO FOR A SERIOUS PURPOSE.....

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

Solid advice. I got the Lyman's Cast Bullet Handbook from an Estate Sale back in April. I have two others as well that I haven't even cracked into, yet... And yes, I like the more forgiving powders, a slow work-up process, verify, do it again for another 50 round batch once happy... a methodical progression. Thanks for your recommendation(s) and I've certainly taken notes. I'm positive I can get a 265gran gas checked "Keith" from Matt's Bullets to push almost 1,000 fps from this gun and that is perfect enough for my "Woods" hiking, kayaking, fishing, home defense around the cabin load for all 4 legged and 2 legged problems.

You'll find your perfect Mountain Gun SeaMaster. I had zero intention of buying a new firearm last week; it was just a blessing that just happened. Member's here have some nice stuff at Non-GunBroker prices. I'll Private Message you a really great Face-to-Face trader site with people from your own state/local area to you that has been great for hard to find items that previously I had been looking for, calling shops, online etc... Within days I've had exactly what I'd been looking for, for a year previously 3 times already.

Likewise, a 44 magnum wasn't even on my radar when I stumbled upon a 5" 629-3 in excellent condition at a local gunshop. I loved the gun right away, but it took a while for me to fully appreciate the caliber.

I sent you a PM for the local trader site! Warning though, that site is addictive, no joke brother! It's gotten me in a little trouble with the wifey more than once, ahahahaahahahaha!

I didn't know what to expect with I got my first M629-8 3" "Deluxe" model. It was bought 2 years ago when we started having an aggressive black bear at our shared family mountain home in Highlands NC... The first time I took her to the range for function test/firing and sighting it in I was hooked. I was amazed at how inherently accurate the caliber was... But I was mostly shocked at how pleasant the caliber was to shoot as most of the "regurgitated mantra" about it being a wrist breaker, uncontrollable, miserable to shoot a 3" barreled version, everybody at the club is gonna hate you, etc., etc... It was NONE of that! Even with 300 grain PriviPartizan that is rated at 1,289fps and well over 1,000ft/lbs of Muzzle Energy; the recoil characteristics is just a firm push into the wrists & forearms. I shot a whole box of the PPU as that was at that time my intended "Bear Loads." Then I started in on .44Special factory loads and Underwood's hot sauce full wad-cutters & "Keiths" and was enamored both with the gun the .44Mag & .44Special caliber/loading(s). It had just done something I thought never could happen; .44Mag/Special had simply eclipsed my favorite caliber and firearm platform that I've shot and carried for the last 20 years, my beloved 1911 Commander in (.45ACP). My favorite gun to carry now is my M29 3" barreled Lew Horton Special. We'll see how this BackPacker does Saturday!

Pic of my favorite CCW/Woods Revolver, the aforementioned M29 Lew Horton Special. The M629 "Deluxe" my wife has carried in her back pack as a back-up to me. It's going to my brother and the "BackPacker" will now go in the BP, how appropriate!

Thanks for that! I'll be sure to check it out. Those are some nice guns you got there.

Here's a photo of my woods gun, a four-inch 66-2, along with my five-inch 629-3. I haven't done anything so far with the 629 except take it to the range. The 629 has by far the smoothest action of all of my revolvers. Not that any of them are bad; far from it. But the fit and finish on the N-frame is superb. All I've shot out of it are my own reloads using 240 grain lead semi-wadcutters. It's a bit large for concealed carry, so I don't even have a holster for it. But I am now motivated to get a red dot sight and appropriate field or chest holster for this hogleg along with some wood round-butt grips, which I think will fit my medium-sized hands better than the square butt Hogues. And I have a hankering to kill some pigs with it and "bring home the bacon". Our area is overrun with feral pigs and Florida makes it easy to hunt them.

If I had a Backpacker, I'd almost certainly carry it concealed at least some of the time. Although, for that purpose, I'd really like to have a 696, since the L-frame is better suited for concealed carry, given my "average" size, and specials pack plenty of oomph for self-defense. Most of the time, though, I feel sufficiently armed with my 60-7 loaded with Buffalo Bore's +p LSWC-HP bullets (and usually shot shells on a speedstrip due to the abundance of snakes in Florida). A local gun shop carries a small selection of Buffalo Bore. If I had to order such ammo, I'd definitely choose Underwood Ammo, which I discovered several years ago. I don't order from them often, but have always been thoroughly satisfied. I've called to ask questions a few times and ended up speaking to the owner, who was friendly and informative. Underwood Ammo makes a great product at reasonable prices. So I'm always happy to recommend them.

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Those are some of the nicest Revolvers I've seen on this great forum Seamaster! That is a great pic... Just look at the difference in caliber size between the .357 and the .429 (44mag) chamberings.

My M629-8 Deluxe came from the factory with a damned nice trigger. Then M29-3 Lew Horton came with a slick as snot trigger... But the M29-5 Backpacker beats them both!
"Bratliff" here noticed that the serial number on the Back Packer was laser etched on the top strap, "something I've only seen on Performance Center Guns" he said and was quite interesting. It might explain why the trigger is so refined since one would think the Lew Horton Special would be hands down the best trigger. The BackPacker has only had 1 box of ammo thru it according to the original owner (of which I believe him.)

As for carrying a 3" "N-Frame" it's a joy for me to OWB/CCW mine on the belt. I'm 6'2" 240, and stay in shape. It disappears on me very well with a good belt, and rides @ 3:30 in a Jeep Rubicon on 3 hour road trips from Atlanta to Highlands NC, comfortably. Heck, I forget I'm wearing it 20 minutes into the ride most the time. That is a testament to the comfort-ability of this gun and rig especially riding on 35's with that Foxx suspension to boot! You'll find that it disappears/wears/CCW's well on you being a medium sized fellow for certain. I never understood anyone who would put a nice gun in a ****** "Uncle Mike's" neoprene holster with a J.C. Penny belt!

And yes, .44Special has more than enough punch, even for animals with the hardest bark on them! Until I get my handloads perfected I'm running Underwoods 255gr Hard Cast "Keith's" in .44Special. It runs about 940fps out of my Deluxe, hair more out of my Lew Horton Special. Below is a 10second or so clip of me shooting that load out of the Deluxe at my steel silhouette popper plate.

Sea, you will love a 3" N-Frame. It carries just as well as my Commander 1911. In fact, since I got my first 3" N-frame my Commander has been relegated to "Upstairs Nightstand Duty!" I added a Streamlight TLR-1s and I CCW the M29. Saturday I'm taking the backpacker to the range for 120 rounds or so of trigger time, sighting in, function testing, and handling before I'll stuff it in a holster for carry. But I'm thinking this will be the workhorse, CCW, and "Woods-Carry" gun because it's finish is more element and sweat proof than my Blued Lew Horton is...
Pic of our now dedicated upstairs gun:

Linked clip of me shooting the Deluxe, with Underwood's 255gr "Keith's" @ 18yards. Plenty of power for Black Bears.
https://i.imgur.com/EGfItCH.mp4