Collecting 3" round butt N-frames?

[mc5aw]

I only have one, but it serves me well.

 

[mbliss57]

Last ones, that's it for now. Bob.

Bob,
Your a little humble...I know this is the wheeel gun side but I know for a fact you have some pretty rare semi- autos too

 

[XTrooper]

I only have one, but it serves me well.

And it's a fine one, too.

I also like your Tom Threepersons avatar!

 

[dhtwalden]

That really looks nice. May I ask what you used and how you cleaned it up? Mother's mag wheel polish and a cotton rag? The stainless steel guns seem to be less forgiving and show everything. Thanks for your reply, Bob.

Hoppe's 9, One Shot, Ballistol, j. Dewey's FP-10 Lubricant Elite,
Lead Cleaning cloth, J. Dewey rods/brushes/cloths

LOTS AND LOTS of time. I left the gun disassembled for weeks. I would take one piece at a time and clean/polish with a variety of tools and cleaners, listed above. Thanks for noticing the effort put into the gun.

 

[haris1]

3 inch N Frames

What would make great forum material unless it exists already would be a listing
of which of the 3 inch models came with finger groove wood combats. If the pistol
came with rubber or Altamonte grips,placing the fg wood combats just adds
$300 to the cost.Any of you forum members have that info? Thanks!

 

[Hank Dodge]

Here's my 625

and a 29-4

I need to find some quality gunleather that will work with both these revolvers.

 

[XTrooper]

Here's my 625



and a 29-4



I need to find some quality gunleather that will work with both these revolvers.

You have two great revolvers there!

I have the same 29-4. Mine was customized by Gary Reeder.

I carry it in a Lobo Gun Leather Tom Threepersons style holster. Ray is a forum vendor and makes outstanding, top quality gun leather.

 

[BRatliff]

Recently added a 29-3 and 629-4 to the fold. I have updated my original post to include the models I have obtained so far. I'm about half way there, hope my checkbook can keep up!! Good thing I have a few more years before I can access my 401K account

 

[DR505]

I like this one a lot and shoot it often...a 657 no-dash.

 

[Manderson1980]

Help!

I just picked up a 3" S&W 29-5 (correct -5) with a fluted cylendar and a full lug. It has the standard Pachmayr rubber grips that I see on all the earlier LH snub nose models. Everything appears to be factory, and I really need an expert to help me figure out what the heck this thing is.

 

[Manderson1980]

S&W 29-5 3" full lug (Lew Horton???)

29-5 fluted snub nose?

 

[75Vette]

I just picked up a 3" S&W 29-5 (correct -5) with a fluted cylendar and a full lug. It has the standard Pachmayr rubber grips that I see on all the earlier LH snub nose models. Everything appears to be factory, and I really need an expert to help me figure out what the heck this thing is.

Welcome to the forum. Very nice find. You can go to Lew Horton's web site and contact them with the gun's serial number and if it did cross their hands you'll get a letter with all the info you need.

 

[BRatliff]

Welcome to the forum!!

To be honest I had forgotten about my original post, after all it has been 4 and 1/2 years. I updated my post to include the models I have obtained so far. I probably have doubled my original list and still do not have them all.


I am certainly no expert, but the 3" guns are my favorite. I am constantly on the look out for them and can not own enough of them. My passion for them was fueled by a couple of SWCA members who will remain nameless, but who I consider among my closest friends.


Back on topic to your post, the model 29-5 does exist. I have seen two of them for sale on one of the larger auction sites in the past couple of years. One was without the box, the other was not up to the standards of what I was looking for. Both of these were unfluted cylinder models, probably overruns of the 29-4. In my uneducated opinion, the fluted cylinder is not correct for this model.


As with all things Smith & Wesson, never say never. Hope that helps a bit. Be advised, the 3" bug has no cure.


Best regards, Bob Ratliff.

 

[one eye joe]

Hello everyone. I'm a longtime lurker, newly registered member, seldom poster. Looking for a little insight and knowledge from the forum members. I will confess to being more of a semi-automatic type of guy.
I've been reading through the posts and looking at the pictures and now I'm hooked on the 3" N-frames. I have acquired a couple so far. The little boy in me is starting to come out and I was thinking of getting them all. My question is, how many is that? Is it even a reasonable goal? I'm thinking pre-lock, regular Smith & Wesson or Lew Horton models only. No Performance Center or "specially marked" models, like the "Trail Boss" or "Alaskan Backpacker". I have made a sort of shopping list of the models I know, looking to see if it is complete, which I doubt. I will list the ones I know, looking for help on the one's I don't know. I will list them in number order the best I know. The * indicates which ones I have obtained thus far.

* Model 24-3 44 Special fluted cylinder, blue, RR/WO
* Model 29-3 44 Magnum fluted cylinder, blue, RR/WO
* Model 29-4 44 Magnum unfluted cylinder, blue, RR/WO
* Model 610-2 10mm unfluted cylinder, stainless, RR/WO
* Model 624 44 Special fluted cylinder, stainless, RR/WO
* Model 625-3 45 ACP fluted cylinder, stainless, BR/WO
* Model 625-4 45 ACP fluted cylinder, stainless, BR/WO
* Model 625-7 45 Colt fluted cylinder, stainless, RR/WO
* Model 629-1 44 Magnum fluted cylinder, stainless, RR/WO
* Model 629-2 44 Magnum unfluted cylinder, stainless, BR/WO
* Model 629-2E 44 Magnum unfluted cylinder, stainless,BR/WO
* Model 629-4 44 Magnum unfluted cylinder, stainless, RR/WO
* Model 629-5 44 Magnum unfluted cylinder, stainless, BR/WO
* Model 657 41 Magnum fluted cylinder, stainless, RR/WO
* Model 657-4 41 Magnum fluted cylinder, stainelss, RR/WO

Those are all the one's I'm aware of, did I miss any? I figure in today's market they would be close to 24K, with the model 610-2, 625-7 and 657-4 being the most expensive. Looking forward to your thoughts and suggestions. Best regards, Bob.

I DIDN'T SPOT THIS 3" M629, FROM THE REGULAR PRODUCTION LINE, ON YOUR LIST. SORRY THAT ITS NOT READILY AVAILABLE, AND I DON'T RECALL THE DASH NUMBER. ITS NOT A LEW HORTON GUN.....

 

[BRatliff]

I DIDN'T SPOT THIS 3" M629, FROM THE REGULAR PRODUCTION LINE, ON YOUR LIST. SORRY THAT ITS NOT READILY AVAILABLE, AND I DON'T RECALL THE DASH NUMBER. ITS NOT A LEW HORTON GUN.....

More details please. always lookin to add to my meager collection.

Best regards, Bob.

 

[one eye joe]

More details please. always lookin to add to my meager collection.

Best regards, Bob.

HI BOB, TRY TO GLEAN SOME ADDITIONAL INFO FROM THE HISTORICAL LETTER. UNFORTUNATELY, THE GUN IS AT A DIFFERENT LOCATION, AND I DON'T EXPECT TO BE THERE ANYTIME SOON......

ARMED WITH A LITTLE MORE INFO, A SEARCH OF THE S&W CATALOG, AND THE BLUE BOOK OF GUN VALUES, MAY HELP YOU TO ID THE EXACT MODEL....

 

[Manderson1980]

Welcome to the forum!!

To be honest I had forgotten about my original post, after all it has been 4 and 1/2 years. I updated my post to include the models I have obtained so far. I probably have doubled my original list and still do not have them all.


I am certainly no expert, but the 3" guns are my favorite. I am constantly on the look out for them and can not own enough of them. My passion for them was fueled by a couple of SWCA members who will remain nameless, but who I consider among my closest friends.


Back on topic to your post, the model 29-5 does exist. I have seen two of them for sale on one of the larger auction sites in the past couple of years. One was without the box, the other was not up to the standards of what I was looking for. Both of these were unfluted cylinder models, probably overruns of the 29-4. In my uneducated opinion, the fluted cylinder is not correct for this model.


As with all things Smith & Wesson, never say never. Hope that helps a bit. Be advised, the 3" bug has no cure.


Best regards, Bob Ratliff.

Many thanks Bob, I agree 100% with the cylinder not being correct. I DIDN'T know there were any -5s with a full lug, so that just made my day!
I'll start with LH directly, and I might as well get a S&W letter while I'm at it. I picked up a cherry 586-4 2.5" (BRF) that needs a letter anyhow, and I've just been putting it off.

I'd like to know if S&W changed the cylinder on this for a customer, or if it's some rare small batch distributor exclusive/custom order. Odds are someone just changed out the cylinder on their own and the original is long gone, but either way I got a deal, so I'm happy.

I really appreciate everyone's help; I'll update as I learn more.

 

[BRatliff]

I DIDN'T SPOT THIS 3" M629, FROM THE REGULAR PRODUCTION LINE, ON YOUR LIST. SORRY THAT ITS NOT READILY AVAILABLE, AND I DON'T RECALL THE DASH NUMBER. ITS NOT A LEW HORTON GUN.....

Hey Joe,

I was able to download and zoom in on the photo you provided. The revolver obscures much of the text, but this is what I was able to see.

Serial number N629200, made or shipped in 1978, six years before the first 3" round but N frame, the 24-3 made for Lew Horton. More than likely a no dash model, sold for 80K at the time!! WAY, WAY outside of my league. The letter states engraved, I don't see any however.

Kind of reminds me of the three 3" guns commissioned by Dick Marble without the factories knowledge. Since this one is lettered, it must have had the factories approval. Although I can't possibly afford it, I would appreciate any additional information you might come across.

Best regards, Bob.

 

[John Fugate]

Fantastic Guns to collect,, I dont care who you are.

Bar none, when the smoke clears and hell has frozen over and no one is collecting guns , your 3 inch pre lock N frame Smiths will still be ones selling strong day in and day out. They are better than hundred dollar bills and harder to find. Strong stuff,,


Ask Joe Cebull,,, if you don't believe me.

 

[HamHands]

3" N frames and 1 7/8th inch "J" frames are all I own as I recently sold my 4" 625 off to my brother. My humble submission below..