What makes a 'Mountain Gun" a Mountain Gun
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Bullzaye
US Veteran
The Mountain guns use a thinner, lighter barrel. There may be other lightening features used on the frame as well, but I can't say for sure.
Tim
Tim
medic15al
Member
Also "Black Powder" bevels on the cylinder flutes I believe. Could be wrong.
BUFF
SWCA Member, Absent Comrade
Yes, the thinner, tapered, 4 inch barrel with ejector rod shroud, like on a 1950 Target or Model 27 or Highway Patrolman. Plus the black powder bevel on the front edges of the cylinder. Plus a round butt grip frame.
Plus it says so on the gun!
It's the company's name, so I guess they can decide what is and isn't one.
Plus it says so on the gun!
It's the company's name, so I guess they can decide what is and isn't one.
Beemer-mark
Member
It's the "Mountain Gun" in cheap etching on the barrel that makes it what it is.
Still, it's one of my favorites. My is in 45 Colt and very accurate.
Still, it's one of my favorites. My is in 45 Colt and very accurate.
SgtSam
Member
OK! Incomming Stupid question!
What are "black powder bevels"? And why would they be there for .357Mag, .41Mag, & .44Mag versions. These were never black powder cartridges.
Not even knowing what they are, I can figure that they would most likely be somewhat "appropriate" for the other versions.
Take Care, God Bless, And WATCH Your Back!
What are "black powder bevels"? And why would they be there for .357Mag, .41Mag, & .44Mag versions. These were never black powder cartridges.
Not even knowing what they are, I can figure that they would most likely be somewhat "appropriate" for the other versions.
Take Care, God Bless, And WATCH Your Back!
medic15al
Member
Black powder bevels are at the bullet end of the cylinder. Instead of being squared off, the edges are gently beveled producing a gentle flow from front to back of the cylinder.
Look at the front of my Mtn Gun'd cylinder and compare it to the front of my M66-5 cylinder:
The smooth curves of the bevel is like a gentle curves of a woman rather than a fencepost.
Look at the front of my Mtn Gun'd cylinder and compare it to the front of my M66-5 cylinder:
The smooth curves of the bevel is like a gentle curves of a woman rather than a fencepost.
BUFF
SWCA Member, Absent Comrade
A lot of older S&W revolvers have that rounded edge to the front of the cylinder, even for guns that never had black powder ammunition. It just looks nice, I guess, and was probably eliminated to save machining steps and thus costs.
When the Mountain Revolver first was introduced, followed by the Mountain Guns, gun magazine writers didn't refer to this as a 'black powder bevel.' They said that the rounding was to make the revolver easier to put back into a holster. Maybe I am particularly oaffish, but I could never tell any difference.
When the Mountain Revolver first was introduced, followed by the Mountain Guns, gun magazine writers didn't refer to this as a 'black powder bevel.' They said that the rounding was to make the revolver easier to put back into a holster. Maybe I am particularly oaffish, but I could never tell any difference.
Dale53
Member
A leather holster tightly fitted (water shrunk) to the revolver can be somewhat damaged each time you holster the gun if the revolver cylinder is sharp edged.
So, some consider it an advantage to have a "black powder" bevel on the cylinder as Mountain Guns are considered to be holster guns.
Just a thought or two...
Dale53
So, some consider it an advantage to have a "black powder" bevel on the cylinder as Mountain Guns are considered to be holster guns.
Just a thought or two...
Dale53
69HEMI-R/T
Member
the "black powder" bevel, thinner tapered barrel and round-butt frame all contribute to a lighter revolver when in the mountains, every oz. makes a difference
That said, I have both a 629-4 and a 629-4 Mountain Gun, both 4 inch barrels, and the difference in weight between the two is the Mountain Gun is 2 oz. lighter !
Really more "show" than "go" but it is slightly lighter and more visually pleasing to me !
That said, I have both a 629-4 and a 629-4 Mountain Gun, both 4 inch barrels, and the difference in weight between the two is the Mountain Gun is 2 oz. lighter !
Really more "show" than "go" but it is slightly lighter and more visually pleasing to me !
Cal44
Member
I live in a valley. Where can I get a valley gun?
This mountain gun thing sounds like it's 90% marketing.
This mountain gun thing sounds like it's 90% marketing.
Smolt Smython
Member
Well, when you look back on the recorded past in our Western States there is remarkably little mention of Valley Men or even Canyon Boys in the early 1800's thru later times so it's not surprising what direction the S&W Marketing Department took with this very successful model release....
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hkcavalier
US Veteran
It's lighter and handier than the stock model equivalent back in the late 80s and into the 90s. I think one reason S&W doesn't make nearly as many as they used to is the 329PD, which is the 21st century "Mountain Gun" as it were.
cmj8591
Member
It's more like 100% marketing. When they first came out in 44 mag, they were marketed as a way to have a lighter, more compact revolver for outdoor activities. Think 44 magnum Kit Gun. I remember an early add that showed a fly fisherman with a chest holster. I don't think they were ever in that much demand at the start. They were aimed at the guy that lives in the suburbs and dreams of going salmon fishing in Alaska. When the marketing department realized that it was gun people, not outdoor people who were buying them, they started branching out into other configurations. As a gun guy, I love them. As an outdoorsman, it's not the first gun I think of when I go in the woods.
A valley gun is like, gag me with a spoon. I think they are outlawed in California.
I also have both a standard 4 inch 629-4 and a mountain gun 629-4. As mentioned before, bevels on the cylinder is different. My standard 4 inch 629-4 also has a round butt grip frame since in mid production of the dash 4 series S&W started standardization to all round butt. Since the two examples I have are similar enough I'd say the biggest difference is the tapered barrel on the mountain gun. While it does shave off some weight, the most noticeable difference is it changes the balance to be more over the frame and cylinder rather than more weight further out front.
I also have a 629-4 with 6 inch barrel (square butt). The difference in balance from Mountain Gun to Standard 4 inch is much like the difference in balance from Standard 4 inch to the Standard 6 inch. I love them all, and they all have their virtues and compromises. Hope this makes sense.
I also have a 629-4 with 6 inch barrel (square butt). The difference in balance from Mountain Gun to Standard 4 inch is much like the difference in balance from Standard 4 inch to the Standard 6 inch. I love them all, and they all have their virtues and compromises. Hope this makes sense.
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CH4 you had me laughing pretty hard at that. 
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