Dear friends i need help to better understand the chronology of the Model 29
PRE Model 29 - 5 screws and 4 screws.
From year ? To year ?
From serial number ? To serial number?
Model 29 no dash 5 screws and 4 screws, (loosing one screw why didn't change name becoming 29-1?)
From year ? To year ?
From serial number ? To serial number?
Model 29-1 3 screws, (did 29-1 4 screws exist ?)
From year ? To year ?
From serial number ? To serial number?
Model 29-2 3 screws (No problem it's all clear)
I own the following N frame 29s suffix S
Model 29 no dash 4 screws serial number S185XXX, 6.5 inches
Model 29 no dash 4 screws serial number S217XXX, 4 inches
Model 29-2 3 screws serial number S238XXX, 4 inches
and other 9 Revolvers model 29-2 suffix N.
Now, for the N suffix no problem, it's all clear and easy but not is the same for the S suffix for me.
Logical thinking should say that the PRE 29 were only with 5 screws, and no with 4 screws. Why did i read about of PRE Model 29s with 4 screws? And at the same time the start of the Model 29 no dash with 5 screws? If the 4 screws were adopted as evolving on the PRE Model 29 the Model 29 must follow with only 4 screws and not douing a back step with 5 screws again.
After this no name period, without any Model Number assigned, they finally recived a Name/Number, called the Model 29.
They start their life with 5 screws and after with only 4 screws, without changing the name of the model always 29 no dash, why do it?
So in the same time were PRE Model 29 with 5 or 4 screws and Model 29 no dash with 5 or 4 screws, were there?
Sorry for my english, but this subjet is hard to explane better for me. If some friends of this forum will correct my frases will be welcome.

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Ciao from Rome
Marcello

Marcello, if you do not already have a copy of Standard Catalog of Smith & Wesson, I would suggest buying one even with the translation difficulties...I will add that prior to the model number designation, the gun indeed did have a name, it was called the .44 Magnum Revolver by Smith & Wesson...I am also often confused by subtle points of change over S&W's long history, but I can only imagine adding the difficulty of a language translation...You're doing fine......Ben

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Cogito, ergo BOOM!...

I am about passed out it is late so I can say I have a 1956 5 screw 44 mag and a 1957 4 screw 44 mag. Have a letter on it. Both in the black case. The 29 - 1 seems to be the most rare. I have only seen one come up for sale. I'll add more later.

Hi Ben
sorry, yes i knew that in that period the Name was "44 Magnum Revolver" as a "357 Magnum Revolver" registred, I meant, to be clear, before the coding of the Name/Number.
I own the Standard Catalog of Smith & Wesson, but i find difficoulty to traslate well a sintetized text, here you and other members/friends explane me better, with a more understeable language.

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Ciao from Rome
Marcello

The local expert on the .44 Magnum, Bill (Doc44), may have a spare copy of his softcover book for you. Perhaps PM him to ask.

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Alan
SWCA LM 2023, SWHF 220

Thanks Alan
Done!

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Ciao from Rome
Marcello

Well, now i reassume what i have understood:
Model 44 Magnum Revolver also called PRE 29, started 5 and finished 4 screws. From S130927 to about S180000
produced from 1955 to 1957
First Model 29 starts in the 1958 with serial number S184000, how many screws has, 5 or 4? Anyone knows 29 no dash 5 screws, is this variation registered? OK NOT EXIST 5 SCREWS
From 29 no dash evolved to 29-1 changing name for the variation of the extractor rod, insted the number of screws are not considered.
Seems that all 29-1 are 3 screws, few of these revolvers are registered, perhaps 29-1 4 screws do not exist.

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Ciao from Rome
Marcello

I have never seen or heard of a Mod 29 No Dash with 5 screws. ALL I have seen are 4 screws,

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Regards,
Lee Jarrett

OK 29 NO DASH 5 SCREWS NOT EXIST
Referring the 29-1 they are only 3 screws or not

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Ciao from Rome
Marcello

I was lucky enough to get a copy. Highly recommended for the 44 Magnum fan.

Hi
i have asked to DOC44 but unlucky the book is sold out.
I need to obtain one picture of the cover so i will make a post to search it.

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Ciao from Rome
Marcello

Fast as I could. Someone probably beat me.

Attached Images

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Which, of course, makes all the sense in the world. The fifth screw was eliminated in 1956. The .44 Magnum was not model marked until 1958.

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Jack
SWCA #2475, SWHF #318

See Post 13---------

Question on -1's

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Regards,
Lee Jarrett

Fine, thanks

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Ciao from Rome
Marcello

Most 29-1 are 3 screw frames - two 4 inch models with 4 screw frame in nickel are known.

Bob

Fine, thanks

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Ciao from Rome
Marcello

Maybe to summarize and clarify what has been said.

The S&W .44 Magnum began shipping in January 1956 (one shipped in December 1955, but we won't count that one)

September 1956, the change order to eliminate the top sideplate screw issued.

June 1957, the change order to model mark the guns issued, the .44 Magnum to be the Model 29.

During the transition period between September 1956 until apparently early 1958, .44 Magnums were shipped with 5 screws and 4 screws, non model marked. It took awhile to make the changes as S&W used the frames already made before using the 4 screw ones. (I have a 4 screw non model marked .44 Magnum shipped in 1958)

The cylinder stop plunger and screw were eliminated in 1959, and the gun became the 3 screw model.

In 1960, the extractor rod threads were changed from right hand to left hand, the change resulted in the Model 29-2.

The 29-2 stayed the same for about 20 years or so, when the pinned and recessed were removed resulting in the 29-3. Again there was a transition period when there were 29-3s shipped with either pinned and not recessed, or recessed and not pinned. Maybe a few 29-2s were shipped that way too? Generally by 1982 they were pretty much 29-3s.

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Richard Gillespie
FBINA 102

"During the transition period between September 1956 until apparently early 1958, .44 Magnums were shipped with 5 screws and 4 screws, non model marked. It took awhile to make the changes as S&W used the frames already made before using the 4 screw ones. (I have a 4 screw non model marked .44 Magnum shipped in 1958)"

I also have a 4-screw .44 Magnum (not model marked) that shipped in 1958, s/n S177963. With S&W, we'll probably never know exactly what they did with various model changes or when. The .44 Magnums are a great example of that challenge. Some of our Forum experts (e.g. Doc44 and Hondo44) have spent a lifetime researching and recording information on specific S&W revolvers, and they still get surprised from time to time.

Thanks to all members, for your excellents and exhaustive replies. Now for me the Supica's book is more understable. The same evolution is similar to all models built on the N frame.

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Ciao from Rome
Marcello

Can someone determine how many 5 screw and how many 4 screw pre 29's were shipped. I think I have seen the facts on the 5 screw but not the 4 screw. The reason I ask is it seems the time frame on the 4 screw was even less than the 5 screw. Looking thru the Smith catalog I can't tell.

I have two Smith and Wesson model 29’s and there serial numbers start with CVA and CST, do you know why that is, I can’t seem to find anything about there info on that.

I had a 4-screw that shipped in July 1958 number S179052. I foolishly sold it. Replaced it with 5-screw that shipped in December 1956 number S153063.

Attached Images

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David Reynolds

The 3 letter/4 number serial numbers started in 1980 with AAA.

Wiki has a nice page on it..

Smith & Wesson Model 29 - Wikipedia

Nice but not entirely accurate or complete.

Those are model 29-8 or newer from around 2008 to 2010 and they have the internal lock on the side of them you should be able to find all kinds of information on them. They are not rare.
Tom

Lee, amen!

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SWCA1517 SWHF256
Rangers LTW!

29-1 May 1962-April 1963?

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SWCA1517 SWHF256
Rangers LTW!