At a LGS about 35 miles from me they have a Pre 29 6 1/2" blue 5 screw with red insert front sight, and I think a black rear sight. (not White Outline). It has true walnut cokes on it and has the dark blue two latch velvet case with it. No tools or other paper work. I think the gun is at least 85-90% and while worn it seems in time, and the action feels pretty good. It's been shot but not battered too bad. The serial # S153XXX which should make it 1956-57 date.

I asked the sales guy to check inside the grips and tell me if they are serial numbered to the gun, he took it in the back and came back with the grips on and said their were no numbers inside the grips. For some reason he didn't let me see them and I thought the gun might have been re-blued sometime ago as the logo and lettering on the barrel are not real sharp but if it was a re-blue it was a good job at one time. I asked him if there was a star stamped on the grip frame and he couldn't tell me. It's priced at $1050 and they will not come down any unless it's not sold after 90 days.

I'm thinking maybe I should pick this one up???

Yes, you should. If you do not, please PM me.

After checking the books, & on line for sale I now believe it's all original. I called the LGS back and they will hold it for me for 24 hours so I will be back there tomorrow for a little closer look at the frame under the grips and those cokes. All of the other numbers match and in the right place. It has wear (character) but it's not been abused so the saga will continue tomorrow. Thanks for your input.

that is a good buy

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Kris
OGCA, NRA LM

Hi. May I respectfully add my two cents worth?

Every time I buy a gun that's less than collector condition (97%+), I regret it. I've done it more often than I care to remember and I've never been really satisfied.

When I buy a top condition gun, it's really easy to sell at the price I paid. Less than top condition guns can hang around a long time. A five-screw pre 29 can go for 3,000.00 LNIB with all accessories. On the other hand, I see lower condition pre29's hanging around on gunbroker.com for months at reduced prices.

You could pay the same 1050 for an S-prefix -2 in the box or an unfired low-number -2 N with box, papers and accessories and have a like-new gun with solid value.

Only my humble opinion.

i would be curious as to why he seems to not want u to see under the grips

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SWCA#2208
KK4EMO

I intend to take a look myself tomorrow. If the dealer won't then I walk away. Thanks for the input 44R I hear what you are saying but it has been years since I've seen a Pre 29 in any kind of condition for sale other than those shown by forum members. I think the price for what it is is several hundred below what I could get out of it if I decided to sell it. I think the book said they made around 3100 of the 5 screw Pre 29's. I will take a much closer look tomorrow armed with my book, camera and a very bright light. I intend to check it with the grips off. Thanks.

the target grips, including cokes, usually do not have numbers stamped on them, so that seems right. There are other things under there that would be nice to see or not see.

I got more collectible guns than shooter, and I enjoy my shooters so much more than the collectors. And if you pay shooter prices going in, its usually not too hard to get your money out.


Buy the gun.


Charlie

First of all, target grips are not numbered to the guns (a few have been found that are numbered but they are rare). The cokes supplied on Pre-M29 are nearly always Goncalo Alves and not walnut. The rear sight should be a white outline style unless it's been replaced. The black leather cases have only latch not two. If the gun is an early 1956 gun, the case will be a dark blue/black pebble grain with a slide latch instead of a flip latch.
Look for an R-B under the grips indicating a re-blue - kills any collector value. However, $1050 could be a huge bargain - mint cokes go for $400-$500 and black cases in the same range.
Good luck!

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Dick

yes, even if refinished there is still an opportunity here.....as long as the cokes and the box are in good shape you should have no problem getting $700+ out of them total...leaving you with a wonderful shooter pre29 for $350 ....and if theres a Sight Adjustment Tool in there in good shape theres another $125!!

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Kris
OGCA, NRA LM

I don't know if this info helps, but I have been watching four and five-screw 6.5 inch pre-29's on gunbroker.com and a variety of other places like Rock Island Auction and David Carroll.

They come up for sale with some regularity. There are about four or five pre-29's listed right now, but none of them are so great. A couple of them have been hanging around for months. The best deal I saw was a marked model 29 four screw with box and accessories trading for 1,600.00 sold by a newer person in California. (He posted dark photographs.) The seller "Locust Fork" has sold three or four boxed four and five-screw guns in NR auctions at about 2,000.00 and 3,000.00 respectively. If I look back in my saved section, there have been six unfired or like-new pre-29's starting in November last year, so at least one a month.

Then there are the guns on Dave Carroll's website in more uncommon barrel lengths. Cased four-inch four and five screw pre 29's get high prices but are probably safe investments. (Life's easier if you're rich, isn't it?)

I'm still on the fence about getting a pre 29 myself. They are at least as common as the pre 24's but commanding about 50% more, so they may be a little over priced. I am leaning toward a boxed S prefix right now.

What has really surprised me has been the sales of NIB N-prefix 29-2's around 1,200.00, about 300.00 more than I expected. (I may be wrong there, of course.)

What I am taking away from all of this is that the top condition guns with accessories sell quickly and prices on all the others are soft and if you're dealer there is playing hard to get, maybe you could just walk away.

Okay, great input and lots to think about. The cokes then are probably correct. but will take the "book" with me tomorrow. The wood is dark and I suspected they were walnut but it could be Goncalo Alves. The box concerns me. It was a dark almost Navy Blue with two latches, cardboard innards covered with blue silk material which some had come loose so I could see the card board support inside. (I don't know much about the boxes) I have seen them black before but the "book" also says some were blue. There was definitely two cheap brass colored latches one on each end. The box reeked of mildew inside like it had been in a damp basement for some time. It looked correct for the gun but I'm not sure.

The gun might be closer to 90-95% but not by much. The cylinder notches have signs of some peaning but it seems to lock up okay with a little play, no endshake and a very narrow barrel cylinder gap. The ejector rod has a lot of ware from the gun being cleaned but the bore while a little dirty looks good as do the cylinders. I sure have a lot to think about and I don't want to buy it and regret it. I would also hate to pass on it and regret it. It would be a shooter but only for light loads. I already have a 29-2, 3, 7, 629 and a 624 plus 2 SAA .44 Spl's. So I have plenty to shoot but I am intrigued by the Pre 29 if it's all legit.

A 44 Magnum in the S153000 range most likely shipped in the type of case shown below.

Bill

Thanks Bill, I'll take a closer at everything this afternoon.

Phil

Well, after the LGS removed the coke grips and I wiped some of the dirt off the pre 29 is not too bad. It'll make a good shooter with some new springs and a good cleaning. The finish is worn with a few dings but is original and it all numbers correctly and is a 6 1/2" barrel. box is an original box to the gun or that period with one latch in the front. I went ahead a laid it away and can't wait to get is and check it out even further. I just may have to get this one lettered. Thanks for everyone's input.

congrats on a nice gun...post some pictures when you get her

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Kris
OGCA, NRA LM

I can see both sides of the "buy only the best" vs "buy what's available" debate. There are pros and cons for each viewpoint.

Around here, you do not see collector-quality guns all that often, so I lean toward buying solid but not perfect specimens. I can always sell it or trade it toward a better example and until that happens, I have one to study and shoot. I think you will be glad you bought it.

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You're shy a few manners.

amen....get one when you can and upgrade later if you can! or just stack em like cord wood

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Kris
OGCA, NRA LM

Or use a 6 foot " PROP" ROD

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SWCA #2306
DAV in honor of POP