Ok at this point I don’t have a bunch of info on this so I hope this is right section. A friend at work knows an older lady that wants him to help her sell some guns. The one I’m interested in is a S&W model 29 44 mag. Unknown dash. Serial # BD2***. Gun is supposed to be in excellent condition. Unknown box and accessories at this time, probably won’t k ow for a couple weeks when I can see it. My question is does this serial number sound correct? Not sure if he accidentally put the wrong number on list. If so any idea what year etc this might be.
Thanks

Its missing another letter. The 29-3s had a 3 letter and 4 number serial number. Such as ABC1234. Prior to that the serial number began with an N and up to 6 digits following. I suppose there could be some transition 29-2s with the ABC serial numbers or some 29-3s with the N serial number, considering how S&W production worked. But mostly you will see the ABC serial number on 29-3 and later dash numbers.

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Richard Gillespie
FBINA 102

One of the changes that came with the 29-3 was an end to the N prefix serial numbers and the beginning of the three letter prefixing in 1989. As stated before, there should be a third letter. From what little info you have, I'm pretty sure it is a 29-3.

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Ed

Ok great. I still don’t even know what the barrel length is yet but gun is supposed to be excellent condition. I imagine there were several barre lengths in the 29-3

My guess is the SN prefix is BDZ; we should be able to narrow down an age if so.

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Alan
SWCA LM 2023, SWHF 220

Update. It is prefix of BDZ. It’s a 29-4, unfluted cylinder, 3” barrel, blued. Little I found it is a backpack model which are rare?
Gun is pretty flawless condition, pics show some oil and lint. What are the correct grips for this?
Thanks
Guys

Attached Images

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There is a similar listed in the standard reference; 2532 produced in 1989 with Pachmayr grips. This one dates to 1992 so it may be a later gun in the production run or a distributor special; a letter of authenticity from the SWHF would tell you.

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Alan
SWCA LM 2023, SWHF 220

hope I didn’t over pay.

You did well at that price. Very nice gun. I like the unfluted cylinder.

The quoted retail that year was $1200, so you probably paid less than the original purchaser!

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Alan
SWCA LM 2023, SWHF 220

Oh my, that is nice.