Found a like new Virginia Arms .44 Mag Dragoon at my local gun store. Box, papers 1982 vintage. They said they would trade for my like new 629-6 . I've drooled over that .44 Dragoon since I was 13 years old, when I first saw it in the gun rags. Problem is if anything breaks there's no product support. But, I never shoot HOT Loads . I really don't feel like I would ever break it anyway. My S&W is perfect all the way around. Good Trade? I'm really on the fence here. What do you guys think?

There is no way I would make that trade!! Keep your perfect Smith.

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No school like the old school.

Buy, yes, trade a 629-6, no.

Keep your 629-6, don't trade. If your budget can afford it buy the Dragoon.

That is a great deal!
For the gun store.
No way I’d trade away a 629 for the Dragoon.

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Who are those guys?

^^^THIS^^^

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"Stay Frosty"

Recently, a local pawn shop had an Interarms Virginian Dragoon sit in the display case for well over a year, at $500. I've seen plenty others at bargain prices, but I never overcame my reticence, based on some details that bothered me.
Do some research and you'll find out the history of these revolvers is, to put it politely, mixed.
There's an excellent, well researched article posted online by Lee Martin, who is over on a single action forum. It's easy to find with a little search.

Anyhow, production started chaotically, with lots of quality control problems. If you're into accuracy and if you're a hand-loader, you might be disappointed. Bores, throats and chambers are all over the map, dimensionally, and often exhibit sketchy machine work. If you're into single actions from a cowboy standpoint, the Virginian Dragoon is just enough off from a Colt SAA to look kinda goofy, in my opinion.
The high point came when interest in the revolver coincided with the Metallic Silhouette boom in the early 1980s.
The one I saw locally was one of the 1980s long-barrel silhouette models. It appeared to be one of the good ones. As Lee Martin points out, these have a long free bore, much like what is now referred to as "Taylor Throating".

If it were any of the others, including the bicentennial model, I wouldn't bother.

Don't get rid of that 629 for that gun! You WILL have major regret later.

I currently a 8 3/8 29 Classic and a 629-10 2 5/8, and a TC Contender Super 14 in 44Mag. I have owned about 7 other 44 MAGS over the years. I have had 3-barrel lengths of Super Blackhawks;

THERE IS NOTHING IN THE WORLD LIKE A VIRGINIA DRAGOON IN 44 MAG!!!

The only Virginia Dragoon I have owned was a 4" in 357mag.

Monetarily, a straight up trade is not a good deal for you. However, just remember Virginia Dragoons in 44 Mag are what some real men hunt Lion, Cape Buffalo, and Kudou with! (Custom 300 grain handloads That stretch Super Blackhawks!)

To me if it was an 8 or 10 inch model my 29 Classic would be in their used display in a heartbeat!

Ivan

Trade NO! Buy yes. Work the best deal you can.

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USMC 69-93 Combat Pistol Inst.

A Virginia Dragoon is stronger than a Super Blackhawk? Really!!??

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No school like the old school.

No trade! The value of your S&W is considerably higher than the VD.
Just buy a Dragoon. I was offered two of the Dragoons, SN 1 & 2 that came from from Sam Cummings' estate. Asking price was $1500 for the pair. They sat several years at that price. Granted, that was about five years ago, but still......

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NRA Endowment Member

I wouldn't make that trade.

The Dragoons can be good guns but they aren't really well known and generally don't go for premium prices. Plus the early ones are iffy.

As a side bar, before there was the Virginian Dragoon, Interarms imported a single action called just the "Virginian". Somehow, they managed to talk Hammerli (of all people) into making this single action revolver for them. It is one of the finest single action revolvers ever made in my opinion, bar none. Yes, even Colt. But Hammerli at that time was a premium manufacturer. Still are I imagine? I don't know if Hammerli ever made a revolver before.

Somehow their deal fell apart and Interarms decided to make their own domestically. Cue the Dragoon. The Hammerli guns were sold on closeout in the Shotgun News and the gun store I worked at bought a boat load. I got a .357 for myself.

My first revolver was the Virginian Dragoon .44 Magnum, in 1979. I was 19, and needed my dad to make the purchase for me. It had problems, and I wished that I had waited for a Ruger SBH.

I wouldn't make that trade.

Sell your 629-6 here. Priced right, it will go in less than a week. Buy the Dragoon from your gun dealer and keep the extra cash. Better, buy the Dragoon for cash and keep the 629; but I understand being strapped for cash.

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Kind regards, Heinz

The Hammerli Virginian was a strict Colt SAA copy, IIRC had the "Swisssafe" safety device-an extra long ejector road that could be locked back to keep the hammer from firing. The Virginian Dragoon was US made, scaled up to accommodate the 44 Mag, available with either fixed or adjustable sights. Also had the "Swisssafe" rod. As Lee Martin noted, early ones often had out of spec bores and throats, poor accuracy. Spare parts extremely scarce. I have a 6", in the box w/papers, excellent fit and finish.

That's correct. The "Swissafe" was goofy and the only departure from the Colt design. Necessary for import I think. If you see a single action with a beautiful case hardened frame, deep charcoal blue, one piece wood grips and a nickel plated back strap it might be one of the Hammerli guns. I'd like to find one.

The Virgin Dragons are a hard sell in my neck of the woods, and $400 is about top dollar. Do you want to sell your 629 for $400?

Correction-not ejector rod but cylinder pin. You pushed it in, it locked in place, kept the hammer from striking the frame mounted firing pin.

My entry into the single action market was with a Virginian Dragoon. Of the many many handguns I have owned over the last 60 years, THAT was one of the few I ever sold.

Could't hit the broadside. I replaced it with a 1976 Ruger Commemorative and finally was able to hit the target.

I have a somewhat scarce, I guess, maybe? .45LC Virginian Dragoon 6" with target sights. I gave $250 for it, near new, in the brown hard plastic box over 30 years ago. Still have it. Great shooting knock-around gun.
I used to practice quick draw and twirling with it (I was barely 18).
I always liked the "Don't tread on me" grip frame stamp.

I even loaned it to a friend once, and he used it to finish off a wounded wild hog.

I guess they were hit or miss quality? I've seen a lot of .44mags, but very few if any .45LC's

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Chris
SWCA #2243 SWHF #292

I have one in stainless steel, 44 magnum, 7 1/2” barrel that I inherited from my kid brother. He used as a finisher, and as a bear deterrent on elk hunts in Colorado. I break it out on his birthday and run a cylinder of magnums and specials through it as a remembrance. They go for about $500.00 here in SE Wisconsin and the 629’s bring almost twice that. As others have said it’s a bad trade for you but if your budget can handle it then go for it if you really want it.

Sounds like a pawn shop offer

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S&W factory revolver armorer

The dragoon isnt worth what your Smith is worth. I have had 3 of the dragoons over the years. You need to know and be wary, there were a
number of them that were over bored for 44 bullets. I had one and spent more time trying to get it to shoot than any gun since. I could not hit a piece of paper as in 8x11 at 10 yards. Even scoped it and it would not group. It is also much like a Colt and you can only carry 5, hammer must sit on an empty chamber. I liked the other two but prefer to carry a Ruger if the single action mood shows.

As good as those Interarms Dragoons are, I don’t think I’d ever trade a S&W for one…

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Some Might Say.

"Virgin Dragons"? Where? Game of Thrones?

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USMC 69-93 Combat Pistol Inst.

Thanks to all you guys for making that decision for me. I agree. That's not a good decision to trade. They even offered up $200 cash ontop. What I thought was cool in '85 doesn't mean its worth it now. And; if it breaks or doesn't shoot a guy can't send it in for repairs or warranty, that was my biggest concern.

Yes, "Virgin Dragons." An inside joke my buddy and I would make about his .45 Colt model back in the mid 80s. Can't repeat it here without incurring the wrath of the godmods.

You can probably find a Virginian Dragoon in the $750 range if you are patient. Maybe less I bet. I'm thinking about finding one myself since I found these two sets of sambar stags for that gun in a local gun shop.

The one Virginia Dragoon I had experience with wasn't much quality wise. I'd look for something else.