Pre 29 through – 3

[Frank44MAG]

Here’s a picture of my 29s starting at the top is my pre-29 followed by my 29 no Dash then 29-1 fourth is my 29–2 with a factory leftover 5 inch original barrel followed by my 29–3 I’ve been collecting Smith and Wesson revolvers about four years and it’s become more of an obsession. Hope you enjoy the picture.

 

[RKmesa]

Great photo! And S&Ws have easily become an obsession with many of us...

It looks like it's time for you to join the S&W Collectors Association. Great group of passionate, obsessed S&W collectors.

 

[Model29-26.5]

I have saved this photo for inspiration!
Great collection.
I am very tempted to join the SWCA.. BUT… I would feel a little like an imposter of sorts until I own either a registered Magnum or a pre 29 with Cokes, or anything with cokes.
I’m just getting started.
I’d love to see some of those drool worth collections, though.
I’ll get there.

 

[Hawg Rider]

Nice start to your collection! Many of us are fond of the S&W .44 Magnum revolvers. So far only one early ".44 Magnum", but I do have a few minty 29-2s. I like 'em all! Enjoy!

 

[22hipower]

Very nice! Tell us more about the 29-2 five inch leftover barrel. And some close up pictures of that barrel please.

Jeff
SWCA #1457

 

[Rodan]

I am very tempted to join the SWCA.. BUT… I would feel a little like an imposter of sorts until I own either a registered Magnum or a pre 29 with Cokes, or anything with cokes.

I'm sure that was partially in jest, but don't feel like you shouldn't join. I consider myself much more an "accumulator of nice shooters" than a "collector", and I joined. If nothing else, you get a really nice quarterly...

One of these days I'll make it to a symposium.

 

[22hipower]

I am very tempted to join the SWCA.. BUT… I would feel a little like an imposter of sorts until I own either a registered Magnum or a pre 29 with Cokes, or anything with cokes.

Definitely time for you to join, you're well past the minimum number of S&Ws needed to be a member (which is zero). Join and go to your first Symposium in Charlotte next June.

Jeff
SWCA #1457

 

[jeffrefrig]

I'm impressed! That's a very clean & shiny group of revolvers you have there. Do you have any other groups like that? An example of each change is pretty cool, too. Thanks for sharing.

 

[Pizza Bob]

While I prefer the slimmer barrel profile of the .44 Special N-frames, 29's and their stainless brethren have also found a place in my heart...

Adios,

Pizza Bob

 

[Engineer1911]

Well, you do have an expensive obsession. I think of mine as a "bought early retirement fund".

 

[boykinlp]

Here’s a picture of my 29s starting at the top is my pre-29 followed by my 29 no Dash then 29-1 fourth is my 29–2 with a factory leftover 5 inch original barrel followed by my 29–3 I’ve been collecting Smith and Wesson revolvers about four years and it’s become more of an obsession. Hope you enjoy the picture.

And I see you are also a fan of the famous “Coke” grips!
Larry

 

[22hipower]

Ok, I want to play too. Here's a first year four inch 44 Magnum, a 6.5 inch from 1957, a no dash from 1959, a -1 from 1962 and the first 44 I ever bought, a 6.5 inch -2 S SN from 1968ish.

And since the OP mentioned a -3 I'll include one of those too, no "cokes" on it though.

Jeff
SWCA #1457

https://flic.kr/p/2n6XVsv https://www.flickr.com/photos/194934231@N03/

https://flic.kr/p/2qgTh9T https://www.flickr.com/photos/194934231@N03/

 

[doubletapp357]

This thread has a TON of beautiful revolvers! For those of you who do "collect". Is it a must to have matching grips, box and literature.....

thank you in advance

 

[22hipower]

This thread has a TON of beautiful revolvers! For those of you who do "collect". Is it a must to have matching grips, box and literature.....

thank you in advance

Well, you've gone and done it now, you've opened the door again to the question of what constitutes a collector and a collection.

Here are some thoughts on why we collect: "as preservation, restoration, history, and a sense of continuity; as financial investment and as a form of addiction."

The latter might explain it for many of us. As to whether it is a "must" to have not just a box but THE box, tools, paperwork, correct stocks, shipping carton and whatever else might have constituted the original package, that depends on how bad the addiction is at any point in time.

Buy what you like, don't worry about what someone else thinks a "collection" ought to entail. Come to the next Symposium and you'll see all kinds of collections, pieces of collections and sometimes just pieces.

Jeff
SWCA #1457

 

[TheTinMan]

This thread has a TON of beautiful revolvers! For those of you who do "collect". Is it a must to have matching grips, box and literature.....

thank you in advance

No, you do not have to get a complete package to be a “collector”. This is a first year (1956) 5-screw .44 Magnum. It did come with a period correct presentation case and tools; however, grips are “wrong”. It was returned to Smith & Wesson in 1976 for refinishing in “bright blue”. I am very happy to own it:

I just picked this 29-1 up on Thursday and haven’t had time to photograph it myself. Again the grips are wrong, but I have a Model 29 with proper “Cokes” that will be transferred over if they fit well:

A couple other .44 Magnums, starting with a 1958, 4-screw:

A 5-screw .44 Magnum that was with several advertising accounts before finally being shipped out for sale in 1961 (long after Model 29 was standard):

Of course we want all of the goodies including a factory letter and maybe even an invoice, but that’s not always attainable/affordable. What is importantly to avoid IMHO are parts guns, non-factory refinish jobs, or mechanical defects (timing, end shake, bore, etc). Even a factory refinish has a negative impact on value - I wouldn’t have bought that first gun except that I really wanted a 4” first year .44 Magnum.

 

[Frank44MAG]

That’s a great looking group of revolvers.

 

[Frank44MAG]

Very nice! Tell us more about the 29-2 five inch leftover barrel. And some close up pictures of that barrel please.

Jeff
SWCA #1457

I’ll put up some close-up pictures of the barrel and the gun and how my old buddy Wayne Hazelrigg came to acquire it.

 

[Frailer]

I have saved this photo for inspiration!
Great collection.
I am very tempted to join the SWCA.. BUT… I would feel a little like an imposter of sorts until I own either a registered Magnum or a pre 29 with Cokes, or anything with cokes.
I’m just getting started.
I’d love to see some of those drool worth collections, though.
I’ll get there.

Now is the perfect time to join. Annual dues are paid this time of year, so you’ll start 2025 off on the right foot. And joining when you’re ”just getting started” is ideal.

The interests of members are as broad as S&W’s offerings allow. Some members aren’t particularly interested anything made later than the 19th century; others go nutty over semiautos.

But the people themselves are the best part. I don’t recall ever reaching out to a S&WCA member for assistance when they didn’t bend over backwards to help. I try to provide the same courtesy within the limited scope of my abilities.

 

[dsk]

My only 29 is a no-dash I found at a LGS while the economic stimulus check was burning a hole in my pocket. The urge to be like Harry overcame me, so home with me it went. I didn't even know about Coke grips until after I bought it.

 

[Model29-26.5]

No, you do not have to get a complete package to be a “collector”. This is a first year (1956) 5-screw .44 Magnum. It did come with a period correct presentation case and tools; however, grips are “wrong”. It was returned to Smith & Wesson in 1976 for refinishing in “bright blue”. I am very happy to own it:

I just picked this 29-1 up on Thursday and haven’t had time to photograph it myself. Again the grips are wrong, but I have a Model 29 with proper “Cokes” that will be transferred over if they fit well:

A couple other .44 Magnums, starting with a 1958, 4-screw:

A 5-screw .44 Magnum that was with several advertising accounts before finally being shipped out for sale in 1961 (long after Model 29 was standard):

Of course we want all of the goodies including a factory letter and maybe even an invoice, but that’s not always attainable/affordable. What is importantly to avoid IMHO are parts guns, non-factory refinish jobs, or mechanical defects (timing, end shake, bore, etc). Even a factory refinish has a negative impact on value - I wouldn’t have bought that first gun except that I really wanted a 4” first year .44 Magnum.

A fabulous collection.
Beautiful stuff.