I have a Model 29-2---serial n813***--it has a pinned barrel and the barrel is 5 3/4 inches at most--was this meant to be a 6 inch barrel model?---I've read that at most there could be a 1/8 inch variation.

you're measuring from end of cylinder to end of barrel??
barrel starts at the front side of cylinder

Most likely a 6". Barrels are Nominal in length. Close too but not exact.

operator error--ditched the plastic ruler--the stainless steel ruler has it as 5 7/8--which is close enough to 6"--cylinder is not counterbored--is this from 1980-82 ?--it came in a wooden
presentation box 8" x 14" x3" with blue plasic felt insert with slots for 2 tools and a cleaning rod-(box is dovetailed ) what would the wood be ?--just want to properly ID it and price it--bluing is 100%

The wood is mahogany.

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Miss My Buddy crsides!!

Regardless of what you have heard and other posters, and what you eventually decided your barrel length to be, it could have been 5 3/4". I sold a Model 27 a few weeks ago that measured at 5 3/4". Most will not vary more than 1/8", that is true, and usually short much more ferquently than long, nut there are a few that are 1/4" short and possibly some even a little more than this.

si----------

That serial number dates it to 1981.
Just a thought, could the barrel have been cut? Also, could it be a replacement cylinder? They discontinued the recessed cylinder in 1982, although there were some "transition" guns made with pinned barrels and non-recessed cylinders and vice-versa, from what I have read on here.
Maybe somebody smarter than me can chime in.

Per the 3rd edition of the SCSW, the N800000 SN range ran from 1980 to 1983.
You likely have a transition gun. As S&W was using up available stock, some late -2's had a pinned barrel but no counterbored cylinder and vice-versa.

Jim

I ran across a 24-3 not long ago with the original box marked 6 1/2". During the applicable time period the only barrel lengths offered were 6 & 6 1/2. The barrel actually measured 6 1/4". After checking several other pieces the maximum variance I found was 1/8". Several other forum members confirmed the 1/8" as being the maximum variance that they have seen. I have a posting for Roy in the SWCA forum asking what the maximum allowable barrel length variance was and if a barrel length fell between two offered lengths what length the barrel should be considered to be. Once he posts an answer I will do a follow-up post here.
Doug

The 24-3 barrel lengths were 3", 4" and 6 1/2". The Standard Catalog of Smith & Wesson reports that 5" and 5 1/2" are rare. The 6" was not mentioned.

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Richard Gillespie
FBINA 102

I would agree that it's a transition gun with the pinned barrel and non counterbored cylinders. The only other answer could be a replacement cylinder and reblue by S&W but I think that's unlikely.

I have had two guns that had a 1/4" variance. I called Roy about it and he said it was just a manufacturing variance and nothing more.

Here is the answer. Not from Roy but from one of our well informed members of the S&W Collector's Association:

"I don't think you have anything extremely rare. My NIB gun measures in at 6-9/16s using my very precise set of calibers. Since S&W is very well known for not wasting a thing I'm guessing that your barrel wasn't up to standard at the muzzle and needed to be shortened and re-crowned and frankly, I'd say somebody got just a bit carried away or maybe it got screwed up twice! Also, the cylinder might have been on the long end of the limits which would also add to the shortness of the barrel.

Over the years I have simply "recorded" in my bound book what the Factory 'Standard' was either from the end label or from the Catalog. I would say that yes a full quarter of an inch is a lot but not totally unusual and it wouldn't be the first gun I have measured that was that far off."

In conclusion it looks as if a 1/4" deviation in length was not uncommon during certain periods of time. I can abide a 1/8" deviation but when a 1/4" puts the barrel length between 6 & 6 1/2" and the piece was manufactured as a 6 1/2" I will pass on buying that particular gun.


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I have a model 29-2 and the barrel measures 5 3/4 inches.
is this more then what is normal for variance? the gun is about 90% condition, never fired outside the factory. it has the target trigger and hammer. serial number N601XXX.
what should I ask for this gun? Is this a rare gun?
Rob

29-2s with a 5 3/4-inch barrel will letter as a 6-inch revolver and are not rare, just a manufacturing variation.

Bill

thanks for the info.
Rob