Model 629 production descrepancies?

The following production schedule of “no-dash” (pinned and recessed) Model 629s was provided in a letter by Roy Jinks and has been cited in at least one previous thread:

Date of Mfr.---------- Serial Nos.------ Quantity

March 4, 1980 ---- N733921 – N734074 154
March 5, 1980 ---- N748564 – N748913 850 (1)
March 6, 1980 ---- N748914 – N749348 435
May 28, 1980 ----- N776966 – N777917 950
May 29, 1980 ----- N777918 – N778965 1,048
June 19, 1980 ----- N778966 – N779765 800
June 20, 1980 ----- N779766 – N780898 1,133
January 2, 1981 --- N837100 – N839348 2,249
January 15, 1981 -- N839349 – N841939 2,591

(1) Note that the serial numbers only account for 350, not 850.

That letter also states that the 4- and 8 3/8-inch models were “introduced and released” in 1981 at approximately serial number N778000. Both Bill Cross, in his commentary, and Supica and Nahas indicate the start of the 4- and 8 3/8-inch models began in 1981.

I believe the serial number that Mr. Jinks indicates as the beginning of 4-inch manufacture is correct since I own a 4-inch 629 with serial number N780348 (June 1980). However, the manufacturing schedule above shows that production began on May 29, 1980. So, did the 4- and 8 3/8-inch models begin in 1980 or 1981? Could the 1981 start date refer to S&W’s fiscal year instead of calendar year? A 1981 fiscal year would start in 1980!

The schedule also indicates that the last production date was January 15, 1981, however all sources I have read indicate that the pinned and recessed barrels continued until 1982. I have another 4-inch 629 with serial number N852768 (outside the numbers in the above schedule). Clearly production continued beyond serial number N841939.

Also, the total production of no-dash guns, according to the above schedule, is 10,210. This is less than the pre-29 44s manufactured. Is this correct?, and if so, this is a particularly “rare bird” indeed, especially the 4- and 8 3/8-inch models.

Any updated info or clarification would be of interest.

I checked the serial #s of my 5 629 no dashers, they are as follows:
4" N83710x
4" N85117x
4" N85558x
6" N84098x
8" N85302x
Looks like 3 of mine fall above the N841939 serial # listed in that letter. Obviously there were more produced later in 1981.

Obviously there was quite a bit more produced. The serial number on my 6" 629, (pinned and recessed) is N87371X.

Which means if they were numbered consecutively there was at least another 31,78X produced. So much for the rarity factor. It's still a nice gun!

Manufactured or shipped?

Hey Mr Pea Eye
The information in your letter, which is almost the same as the information in a letter I have, eludes to a "Date of Manufacture"! The dates we are comparing this to is "ship dates"! S&W did not ship the guns in ANY numerical order. Guns were stored in a first in , last out type stock system. Next you are neglecting the "transistion" guns which were made to use up all parts left. I have 4" #N874866 shipped on Oct 1981 and this gun has a recessed cylinder but not a pinned barrel. Also I have information that #N8963xx is a 629-1 shipped in April 1982. Looking at the fact that ALL N frame guns were numbered in this "Nxxxxxx" numbering system how many of them were 629 no dashs between #N841939 and #N896xxx? Maybe we collectors try to read too much into a serial number?
jcelect SWCA#LM723

When the 629 came out they were very hard to get. My buddy who owned the Western Auto Store was a good friend of a Distributor. The Distributor got I believe 6 of the 629's in. I traded for the 629 on the day it came in to Western Auto. It was an 8-3/8 barrel Model. I am almost sure it was Pinned and Recessed. I ended up with about $800 in it at the time. I hate to think what that would be in todays $$$. I traded it for the first 629 4" I found new.

My brother has a new 629 No Dash 6" N8794XX that is Recessed, but not pinned.

I have a set of the 629's with a 4, 6 and 8 & 3/8 barrel and all are pinned and recessed. It took me about a year to put the set together.

629 ser.#

The ser.# 629`s I have all 3 are P&R.
4 in.ser.#N 87429X
6 in.ser.#N 78066X
8 3/8 ser.#N86999X

Dick

I appreciate all the input on the 629 no-dashes after what appears to represent the end of production. But still would like some info on the literature stating manufacture of the 4- and 8 3/8-inch guns began in 1981, but serial numbers are in mid-1980. Did commercial manufacture begin in 1980 or 1981?

My pinned and recessed 6-inch Mod 629 is Serial# N778921.

I bought it in 1980 at the Ansbach Rod and Gun Club (West Germany).

Magnum Pea Eye said:

I appreciate all the input on the 629 no-dashes after what appears to represent the end of production. But still would like some info on the literature stating manufacture of the 4- and 8 3/8-inch guns began in 1981, but serial numbers are in mid-1980. Did commercial manufacture begin in 1980 or 1981?

Click to expand...

As stated by jcelect above, we can't take anything for granted, and you must consider that all N frames share the same exact frame, and are numbered in blocks of frames. It very easily could have been that an entire block of serial # stamped frames was set aside, either intentionally for later production, or just as a happenstance, and were used as the frames for building the 4", and 8 3/8" 629's. Too, as Joe mentioned, build dates (read serializing the frames) vs. actual ship dates can be off as much as several years.

Many things cannot be take as fact without a letter on any particular model of gun where S&W's are concerned.

My 6" 629 was serialized in January of '81 according to the chart above, but Mr. Jinks tells me that it shipped in June of that same year.

my 2 629 no dashes are P&R guns, 4" N8557XX and 8 3/8" is N8393XX

I had a 6" no dash 629 P&R #N873810 shipped Sept 1981 per Mr. Jinks.