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Pre 29 Black box

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Donathan102

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I just recently traded for this S&W .44 mag. I thought it was a model 29 but there isn’t a model number on it so I believe it’s a pre 29. I don’t know much of anything about it. It came in the original black wooden box, has a pinned barrel and recessed cylinder. and I was told it was never shot. It appears to be in mint condition. I’m not sure of the manufacture year, what it’s worth, why it came in a black box, or any other information. Any info would be much appreciated.
 

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That is a beauty. I do think I was shot a bit. I think I see a small amount of fouling between the top of the barrel throat and the bottom of the frame window.
 
That is a beauty. Probably shipped about 1958 assuming that is the serial number in the yoke cut. Check the number on the bottom of the butt under the grips. Looks all there, including the original case which is the black box. There will be some experts along to tell you more.
 
Welcome!

This is a fairly early ".44 Magnum" that was also named the model 29 after 1957. This one is likely from that year. It has the standard factory case and tools that came with the gun.

Doc44 here on the Forum is the local expert on these so I will defer to him on a value, but unless you traded something worth quite a bit you may be pleasantly surprised.
 
That’s a wonderful example of an early 44 Magnum.
The tools and the case, inside and out, appear to be almost new.
You’re a very good trader.
Thanks for sharing and enjoy your new ward.
 
You have a very nice 44 Magnum as others have mentioned. One thing I will point out is the roll marks on the barrel are forward of what is normal. It places the lettering in the center of the barrel where normally the lettering would be slightly rearward towards the cylinder. I think this was a set-up error at the factory and Smith & Wesson used the barrels anyway.


I see this occasionally on 44 Magnum revolvers of this era. I do not believe it impacts value one way or the other too much.
 
That is a beauty. And the case appears to be in excellent conditon. The only thing I noticed is that the Sight Adjustment Tool (screwdriver) is a a bit later than the gun. The cleaning toods appear to be correct although you are missing the brush. but Doc44 may spot something I didn't. Welcome aboard!
 
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The sight adjustment tool appears to be a later example for the package, and a brass core barrel brush would have been included originally. The cleaning rod looks correct as does the mop with the brass threads.

Sight tools are not too hard to find but the earlier ones can be pricey. Beware of reproductions. Here is a photo of a four screw 44 Magnum from the same era as yours showing the tools mentioned.

This in no way detracts from your beautiful 44 Magnum.
 

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Very nice. I sold S179052 (a 4-screw) that shipped in July 1958. 44 Magnum serial numbers and ship dates are all over the place. Have seen guns with very close numbers that shipped a year apart. Have seen guns that are thousands apart that shipped on the same day. I have S153063 (a 5-screw) that shipped December 14, 1956. There were five 44 Magnums on the invoice. The highest number is more than 6500 higher than the lowest.
The Standard Catalog of Smith & Wesson 5th Edition says,
4-screw Pre-Model 29 $3000 for Excellent. Think the case and the tools would be an add on.
 
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The case is in amazing condition. It's quite valuable in itself. The grips are known as coke bottle, also valuable.

I have S1784XX and it shipped in February, 1958. It's a 6.5" 4 screw with the same forward roll location logo. Definitely worth lettering your pre-29 with the S&W Historical Foundation.
 
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Here is my gun and page two of its "letter."
I think it is currently called a "letter of authentication." The Smith & Wesson Historical Foundation provides them for $100.

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DARE said:
Here is my gun and page two of its "letter."
I think it is currently called a "letter of authentication." The Smith & Wesson Historical Foundation provides them for $100.
Click to expand...
And here is my slightly longer, and ever so slightly newer version with its letter (turned out to be a hometown gun for me after receiving the letter)...:rolleyes:...Ben

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Very nice 44 Magnum with the original presentation case. Everything looks original except the sight screwdriver. The original sight screwdriver has a knurled aluminum handle and flat tip rather than a fluted handle and hollow ground tip (the latter was introduced in 1964). Regarding the roll marking on the barrel, it is about an inch forward from what is usually seen. Apparently, the barrel was indexed incorrectly, but since it did not affect function, S&W used the barrels to manufacture 44 Magnums. The number of 44 Magnums that used these barrels is unknown and they are shown on the Forum quite often.

The sight screwdriver you need is shown in the photo below on the far left.

Bill

doc44-albums-presentation-cases-44-magnum-picture330-screwdrivers-shipped-44-magnum-revolvers-1956-2006-l-r-1956-early-1960-1960-1963-1964-1985-screwdriver-shipped-50th-anniversary-model-29-10-screwdriver-shipped-late-2006-model-29-10-a.jpg
 
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Welcome to the Forum! Lots of .44 Magnum and Model 29 fans to be found here, as well as a wealth of information. You stumbled upon a very nice 4-screw .44 Magnum revolver ca. 1958. It looks to be ANIB with the original wood Coke Bottle stocks and presentation case. The stocks and case are easily worth over $500 each. I have one (S177963) that is close to yours (S178946) that was manufactured in 1957 but didn't ship until July 1958. Mine doesn't have the original case...I bought it with a much later mahogany presentation case. There were far fewer early 5-screw and 4-screw .44 Magnums manufactured than there were later Model 29s, so you did very well. Congratulations on your acquisition, and enjoy!
 

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