Well, I got my 50th birthday present. Since it's a special year I wanted something special, so I looked for a long time and decided on this baby. Let me know what you think.


Pictures I took:












I need to learn how to take better pictures.

Pictures from where I bought it:













I also have some questions about three of the stamps on it. Its only my second handgun, so bare with me.

1. There is a sideways letter "F" stamped inside the ejector rod housing,
2. a number with an image of a spade on the cylinder arm, and
3. a letter "N" inside the frame facing the cylinder.

Any insight is much appreciated!

I'm also curious how you post pictures using the small thumbnail that enlarges when clicked...

nice looking gun...happy birthday

Way to go, that is a sweet one. I'm sure Doc44 will be along soon to let us know who engraved it.

A factory letter should be done on a gun like this.

You use the "attach" feature in the editor to put the small thumbnails at the bottom, but I prefer the way you did it, it is much easier to see them that way.

My 50th is coming up, you are giving me ideas!

Way to go!

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Dave

My 50th is coming up, you are giving me ideas!
Way to go![/QUOTE]


Can I get one? My 50th has already gone.Very NICE!!!

You're gonna have a hell of a time topping that one on your 75th!

beautiful gun.

Spectacular
Happy 50th

Wow that is very nice and happy birthday!

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Dom

that thing is beautiful, happy birthday.

BTW.......keep posting pictures as you did here, it's much easier for us to see them that way.

What a piece of........art! Wow! Don't worry about your picture taking abilities. With that 29 as the subject, you'll never have a bad picture! Congrats, and happy 50th!

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Misty

Happy birthday! -you picked a beauty.
The "N"merely signifies the nickel finish.

I like your screen name, it's been my favorite band since '75.

I turn 48 in the spring and would be happy to get a J frame with a scratch on it. If I live to 50 I hope to aquire such a beautiful hand cannon as yours.

GF

I only got a tie for my birthday.

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jj

Thanks all, appreciate it! I actually consulted Doc44 on it before buying; he informed me that this model was contract engraved, something S&W did in the mid-to-late 70s to reduce cost. It is a 1980 make s/n N687xxx.

My wife thought I was spending too much until I informed her that my buddy was getting a Corvette for his 50th, that seemed to quiet her.

The little spade image intrigues me, curious to find out about it and the "F".

Another interesting note: The box is not the original for the gun. Inside the top lid under the foam and taped to the wood is a sticker with a different s/n and also a card (floating loose) from S&W with the same different s/n indicating a 1977 make. I wonder if I could track this down and if it has my box:

Camster is correct about the N signifying a finish in nickel. The other stamps are fitters marks, inspectors marks, or marks put there by the engraver to keep track of parts, etc. and are normal.

Your 29-2 is one of the contract-engraved revolvers that is seen in the mid to late 70s and into the early 80s. Contractors were used to help reduce the workload of the inhouse engravers and control cost.

From my perspective, you could not have purchased a better 50th b-day present. Congratulations!!

The case for your 29-2 would be the one with the revolver pointing to the right and with the accessories housed in a compartment below it.

Bill

Thanks Bill! Guess I'll keep my eye out for that box. If anybody sees one, let me know.

I like it a lot. Has panache.

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No life story has happy end.

Wow!

Happy Birthday and what a beautiful
heater".

I can hardly wait to see what you get for your 100th birthday!

Regards.

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Have guns...will shoot'em.

great looking 29. Happy b-day!!

Great looking gun! How does it shoot?

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John. SWCA #1586

Sweet looking pistol. I hit 50 five years ago and don't have anything that pretty!

Very Nice gun! The pic of the sideplate looks awesome. Happy Bday!

Due to time constraints, I got to run only 25 rounds through it this past weekend, 10 by me and the other 15 were by my three sons. I squeezed off 5 using single action and the other 5 double. The trigger is EXTREMELY hair pin sensitive on single action, much more so than a friends model 629 I fired a couple weeks ago, and very much to my liking. Double action felt good, but being the first gun in my collection, I have nothing to compare it to. With the 8 3/8 barrel, I expected a little less kick; boy was I wrong. She's a horse.

Questions:
I purchased a nice "Rooster Cogburn" holster and belt to use with it. It is all leather, and being new, very stiff and not broken in. I was wondering; will the frequent action of placing the gun in and out of the holster wear out the nickel, should I break in the leather first or treat with softener, and would it be ok to store the gun in the holster?

If the holster is lined it will minimize wear, but holstering a gun often will wear the finish eventually (that's OK, as guns were made to be used). Definitely, DO NOT store the 29-2 in the holster as it will cause all sorts of problems with the finish. Also, a revolver finished in nickel should have its stocks removed every now and then and have the area under them wiped off to minimize corrosion.

Nice holster and belt, by the way.

Bill

Tom, nice looking engraved 44 Magnum. The warranty card entry indicates this was once an AAFES Rod/Gun club purchase in Hanau, Germany. Nice!
Chuck

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SWCA1517 SWHF256
Rangers LTW!

Thank's Chuck. However, the warranty card is not the correct card for this gun, though. The gun came in this box with this card and sticker, but the gun's s/n is really N687754. I bought it from Cabela's in Buda Texas. They indicated to me it was produced in 1980, but no paperwork came with the gun. So I have someone elses box and someone else has my box...maybe, if it is still existing, who knows.

I Googled Hanau Rod and Gun club and found a wikimapia satelite image of the location in Germany, and many people referencing it in blogs and such, but did not find a website for them. It seems the US has pulled all troops out of Hanau, so I'm not sure I could make contact with anyone.

I reckon I'll have to order some papers. How does one initiate that process?

very nice, I think I know what I want for my......
.......40th birthday!

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Defend your family first!

If you are after better pic's, try putting a plain white piece of paper in front of the flash, without blocking the lens, this will keep the shiny parts from blowing out the contrast, and the blacks from looking grey or white. Also, if you have a macro setting on your camera, use it for the close ups.
Happy birthday and thanks for the eye candy!!

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Defend your family first!

Gorgeous 29! I especially like the grips. Thanks for posting and congratulations,

Jerry

Impressive Model 29! And what a great 50th b-day present! I think you made a great selection. Congratulations - and Happy Birthday.

Excellent picture taking advise, I'll try it. Thank You.

Almost worth turning fifty again in order to get something like that. A real beauty! Happy Birthday and good luck with the gun...

Here is the request form.

Attached Files

S&W LOA Request Form.pdf (17.0 KB, 30 views)