There is a Model 29
also a Model 29A and Model 29B.
The Model 29 is the earlier gun of the bunch and completely different gun inside as far as parts go.
Not much if anything from the Model 29 will fit the later models 29A and 29B,,though they all look pretty much the same at first glance.
Only very slight differences in frame contour and screw placement on the side tell a quick difference.
They are marked differently and plainly as a 29 or a 29A or 29B.
(The 29B is the mearly the factory prepped for a scope version of the 29A.)
The earlier Model 29 is the gun that used the small steel ball as a cartridge cut-off devise.
The later 29A and 29B do not use this and instead use a small near bow-tie shaped piece that pivots on a pin.
If you do have a MOdel 29 that uses the steel ball as a cartridge stop,,that ball sits in a pocket in the frame on the right side in line with the magazine tube.
It's under that area on the the lower front of the right side of the frame where it is cut out and shaped so you can see the pump op-rod slide into the frame.
If the slide and op-rod have been removed, there's good chance the small ball went for a ride and was never missed.
There is no spring behind it, it just sits in a semiround bottomed pocket in the frame and the op-rod pushes it outward into the mag tube feed area to cut off the cartridges. A round hole/void cut in the op-rod placed just right allows the ball to retreat as the op-rod is pumped. That allows the cartridges in the mag to bypass the 'ball' and there's room for 1 to feed onto the carrier at that time.
Simple,,but you need that little ball in there.
To replace it, TD the rifle and remove the bolt assembly and set it aside.
-Take the inner mag tube out and set it aside.
-Remove the small screw and washer/spacer inside the loading port of the magazine tube holding the outer tube in place.
-Remove both screws holding the wooden forend on. IIRC there are washers underneath that'll probably come out with them or maybe stick in the holes. At least be aware of them and don't let them drop away on you.
- Now you can simply pull the out magazine tube forward and off the rifle. It may need some help as it may resist sliding thru the forward ring.
You can always tap the ring free of the bbl and twist it off first. There's plenty of play in the tube at this point to allow it. They are on w/a straight dovetail,,not the rotary dovetails like the Winchester and some Remingtons.
-With the tube out,,pull the wood portion forward and off the gun.
-Now you have just the slide op-rod in place w/it's reinforcement collar that slides up inside the wooden forend.
- With the recv'r lying right side up,,Tip that entire piece up front the front end and you can lift it right off the frame.
You may haveto hold the slide release latch back to avoid interference when doing so but the op-rod should lift right off.
-Underneath on the machined surface that was hidden by the op-rod when the gun was assembled you will plainly see the socket that the small steel ball simply sits in.
Drop it in and reassemble. There is no spring or other part in the assembly
If you look at the end of the op rod you will notice the round cut out in it. That is the void that passes by the ball in opperation that allows the ball to retreat from blocking the cartridges in the tube and one gets fed to the carrier at that time.
As the solid surface then pushes the ball back into position, the cartridges are again blocked (cut-off) from the magazine tube.
Here's a couple pics (I hope ) of a Model 29 of mine. I took it down and tried to take a pic of the ball on place inside the tube. I think you can just see it in there poking out ever so slightly to do it's job.
This one is a 'Ranger' marked rifle, but the same as a Model 29
Looking at the inside front face of the frame on it's side,,chamber at the left,,magazine at the right. That round lug hanging down is the op-rod lug that engages the bolt.
-That ball cut-off is just visible peeking into the mag runway at 12 oclock in this pic.
If you stood the frame upright, that ball would be at 3 oclock and and entring from the right hand side of the frame
Just another pic of the bolt from this one.
This is called a 'high speed bolt'.
The carrier and bolts were modified along the way in production of the Model 29 so as to better support the back of the cartridge. This as HS ammo became more popular. The Model 29 was made up to the mid to late 30's.
They didn't do anything about the locking surface bolt to frame engagement, that stayed the same IIRC.
I still consider all these older Savage/Stevens pump 22's as Standard Vel only guns no matter which bolt variation they may have.
The Model 29A and 29B are fine with HS ammo and were designed for it.
Hope this all helps..