Lamar, those slots are actually where the barrel has been broached for scope rings. S&W only did this for a short while. There was a recent thread about these guns, you can search "integral scope mounts' and it should come up.
Mark
OK,
I know I will get flamed for this but I read the heading of this and I always say what it should be. I own the 686 Competitor in .357 great gun and shoots perfectly at point of aim. I love the looks of the classic 629 also but if I were to buy a 44magnum (which I do own one) it would be a Ruger Redhawk (not the Super Redhawk, never liked the looks). Great shooting 44 magnum. I can hit a 3" plate at 25 yards with that pistol pretty easy. Not every shot but pretty easily still. You can also get it with the 4" barrel also, but I have it in I believe it is a 6.5". These are very comfortable shooters for a 44 Mag.
Just my 2 cents worth which does not fall in line with most people
These all showed up one at a time didn't really know exactly what the masterpieces were till I looked them up. My dealer always offered them about three+ years ago. There kind of scarce lately.
Took a chance Columbus did, took a shot Lincoln did.
Mark - that's wild. I've seen lots of S&Ws but must have missed that angle view.
Those slots look like the ones in my Magnaport Ruger SB .44 Stalker package. Except the slots are at the end of the 8 3/8" barrel.
Hi Bill. A 44 will do all you want it to. 44 Sp is good home defense. Magnum for hunting.. Some states have a 5.9'' barrel min length for hunting. The 629 Competitor is the one l would choose for several reasons..The Weaver rail on the barrel allows for scope or red dot mounting..QR rings would let you take the optics on and off whenever you choose..With no optics that Competitor can be easily carried in a 6'' belt holster..Also for home defense you are not concerned with concealment.. Again your Competitor would ventilate most any uninvited ''guests'' quite well with 44 Specials...Lastly its a '' Performance Center'' gun. They dont get any better
My favorite handgun is the upper left 4" SW 29 engraved:
While sighting in I shot the first five high and then I lowered the rear sight to hit the single shot close to the center. I was shooting Remington .44 Magnum 180 gr JSPs:
I was shooting at 50 feet in an indoor range in Belleville, IL.
I really like the 4" 29 more than the longer barreled ones.