Why are some models, I.e, 629-1 vs. 629-4 more valuable than others?

Magnumdood · Jun 11, 2012

Can someone give me the Reader's Digest version of why certain models (I.e., 629-1, 629-2, 629-3, 629-4...etc) are more desirable than other models?

In example, I've seen some posters place a premium value on the 629-4. What are the differences in the various models? What model is S&W currently on (most recent)?

On the older models, isn't there a concern that the previous owner was a recoil junkie, and literally shot the revolver until it loosened up at critical points in the frame/cylinder interface?

I'm on the edge of the fence regarding buying a model 629. IF I buy a 44 magnum, it will be a S&W Model 629 with either a 4", 5" or 6" barrel.

Any help and/or guidance will be greatly appreciated.

AveragEd · Jun 11, 2012

Well, I imagine a lot of it has to do with MIM parts and the infamous internal lock. The -4 was the last 629 with a forged hammer, trigger and cylinder release, although I have a -4 with an MIM release. The dreaded lock was introduced in the -6.

And some of the prospective buyers of 629s might want to run almost 100% magnum loads through the gun, in which case the earlier versions were not as good at withstanding a serious, constant pounding than the later ones. I recently bought a 6" -1 because I liked the gun and it's only going to see 240-grain lead semi-wadcutter target loads. I have a 6.5" 629-4 Classic that our son uses for hunting and a 5" 629-4 Classic DX that is my hunting revolver.

At my age, 65, a lot of the earlier guns just "look and feel better;" please don't ask me to define that.

Ed

Magnumdood · Jun 11, 2012

Understood

AveragEd said:
...At my age, 65, a lot of the earlier guns just "look and feel better;" please don't ask me to define that.

Ed

Thanks for the reply Ed, I appreciate it...and I know exactly what you mean by "look and feel better".

fyimo · Jun 11, 2012

Depending on your preference the 629 no dash are the most popular with Collectors because they had pinned barrels and recessed cylinder chambers and these features were eliminated in 1982 with the 629-1. The no dash 629's were also only made for a short period of time with the 4 inch barrelled and the 8 3/8 inch barrelled models being the rarest. The next group of buyers are those will pay more for 629's before the switch to MIM parts and lastly the group that pays more for a 629 without the internal lock.
629 no dash with 8 3/8 inch barrel

629 no dqash with 6 inch barrel

629 no dash with 4 inch barrel

Magnumdood · Jun 11, 2012

Many thanks!

Thank you for the reply sir!

Stainz · Jun 11, 2012

Some of we young'uns (I'll be 64 next month...) appreciate the real improvements made by the 629-3 (The so-called 'Endurance Enhancements', for example.) and later models. And... I don't even mind the uniformity of MIM parts - or the inclusion of the admittedly hideous Infernal Lock wort (I am a realist about it's dependability - S&W, after ten years of making and selling revolvers with the infernal lock, has yet to spend a dime defending it in court - no lawsuits!). While some traditionalists love p&r S&W's - even blued 29's - I decided on current fare - 629-6's - when I bought my 6" and 4" versions. Value is in the eye (... and wallet!) of the beholder - I'll take new with a lifetime warranty rather than possibly someone else's problem child.

My 629s dressed for .44 Russians, Specials, and my wimpy Magnums:

The 6" above dressed for serious use - .500 Magnum grips pad the backstrap for recoil control. One screw removes the rear sight - a Weigand Weaver rail and Weaver H2 2x28 scope help 'mature' eyes at 50-75 yd. I still haven't gone hunting with it! I usually put the Ahrends wood grips and rear sight on it after a few daysscoped in the fall.

Stainz

Magnumdood · Jun 11, 2012

629-1

I carried a 629-1 on duty as a deputy sheriff. It came from the S&W Performance Center Magnaported and several other modifications including a trigger job.

CH4 · Sep 10, 2017

Then there's the best 629-1, the magical LH 3"

C J · Sep 11, 2017

The models up to the 620-2E were not up to the constant pounding of the heavy cartridges that came out when Ruger started making a stronger .44 magnum. They will stand up to lighter magnum loads quite well. The first really good model to handle stronger loads was the 620-3. That model and the -4 are considered to be the best for shooting a lot. But the -1 and -2 models both had incremental improvements making them stronger. Again if you stick to the cartridges they were designed for (up to 255 gr. "Keith" cartridges so named because they were the limit proposed by Elmer Keith when he first designed the .44 magnum) you shouldn't have any problems. Even the -3 and -4 may not shoot the hottest loads though (like the 300 gr. +P loads and similar rounds) as well as other .44 magnums. Most of us prefer S&W anyway because they shoot more accurate for the most part.

YeshuaIsa53 · Sep 11, 2017

AveragEd said:
Well, I imagine a lot of it has to do with MIM parts and the infamous internal lock. The -4 was the last 629 with a forged hammer, trigger and cylinder release, although I have a -4 with an MIM release. The dreaded lock was introduced in the -6.

And some of the prospective buyers of 629s might want to run almost 100% magnum loads through the gun, in which case the earlier versions were not as good at withstanding a serious, constant pounding than the later ones. I recently bought a 6" -1 because I liked the gun and it's only going to see 240-grain lead semi-wadcutter target loads. I have a 6.5" 629-4 Classic that our son uses for hunting and a 5" 629-4 Classic DX that is my hunting revolver.

At my age, 65, a lot of the earlier guns just "look and feel better;" please don't ask me to define that.

Ed

That statement, look and feel better, can make a lot of difference in a person's enjoyment and even accuracy at the range. I understand it completely.

grip frame · Sep 12, 2017

You have the earlier pinned and recessed 29's and 629's that have much interest for collectors but they are not the best for shooters.

The 629 no dash had the pinned barrel and recessed cylinder. These features were dropped with the 629-1.

I have seen more of these versions with mechanical problems that any other revolver. They just did not hold up to shooting all that well with full power .44 loads.

With the 629-3 and 29-5 the endurance package was added so the revolvers could take more shooting. The 629-3,629-4 and the 29-5 and 29-6 versions are all endurance package and pre lock/MIM. Also the 629-5 is pre lock as well as the rare 29-7 but these do have the MIM hammers and triggers (not a big deal IMO).

So the .44's in the middle between the pinned and recessed versions and the endurance package versions are not as desirable to collectors or shooters and that is reflected in pricing.

murphydog · Sep 12, 2017

Good information above. The "dood" hasn't been here for 4 1/2 years, however...hopefully he still abides

S&WsRsweet · Sep 12, 2017

I have a 629-1 that was my dads although he never shot he acquired it from a fellow who had shot it very little . It is my current hunting handgun and I truly love it .But I do limit the magnum loads as it is well documented that these revolvers aren't as strong as the ones with the enhancements .It isn't a collector peice as it has been carried by me and it is obviously a working gun and it just feels right ,I have shot a couple of deer a few hogs and one very unlucky coyote that is a story in itself and I must say I haven't felt the need for the hottest magnum loads for my purposes .Then again I don't live in big bear country and my limit on open sight handgun range is in the 50 to 60 yard zone ..

sw282 · Sep 12, 2017

If you place value on dashes, MlNS, locks, no locks--Then l suppose

Some are worth more than others.. Then there's the other side of the

coin.. I think it was Col Townsend Wheelen who said, "0nly Accurate rifles are interesting"

Same for revolvers.. If it can't put the bullet where needed, lts worth is ZERO

StakeOut · Sep 12, 2017

Dr.Lou said:
Then there's the best 629-1, the magical LH 3"

Lou,very nice LH revolver but certainly not the best because it was from LH.

LH cancelled remainders of S&W orders near the end of their runs due to lagging sales and the guns were sold by S&W to other distributors so an LH may not be an LH.

IMO,the best are the 3" 629-4 Backpacker and 4" 629-4 Mountain Gun with the full Endurance Package.

C J · Sep 12, 2017

I usually catch zombie threads but I missed this one. I'm pretty sure the OP isn't still looking for advice nearly 5 years later.

comfortsource · Sep 24, 2017

This is all great information as I am looking at a 44 mag....found a 29-2 p and r but didn't know of all the "endurance package" items with later variants.

Jared

BC38 · Sep 24, 2017

C J said:
I usually catch zombie threads but I missed this one. I'm pretty sure the OP isn't still looking for advice nearly 5 years later.

True - but others obviously are.

That's why "zombie" threads are OK in my book. Newer folks who weren't here for the first go-'round get the benefit from their resurrection.

Tom S. · Sep 24, 2017

iPac · Sep 24, 2017

StakeOut said:
IMO,the best are the 3" 629-4 Backpacker and 4" 629-4 Mountain Gun with the full Endurance Package.

The endurance package was fitted incrementally, so what guns got what is a broader range than most might think.

From the study of my 3" 629-2E classic hunter, a 3200 production run consisting of frames marked -2 and -2E, all of those guns got the complete endurance package upgrade.

So limiting yourself by assuming only the -3 or -4 629s got it wouldn't be smart. If it's that important to somebody, do some homework finding out what the upgrades were and then check the example you are considering to see what all it has.

Again, I honestly don't think the endurance package will make a difference with the average owner/shooter, and issues with the earlier guns are most likely the same cause as the majority of other revolver problems, owner abuse. Which should be watched out for before purchasing anyways.

Why are some models, I.e, 629-1 vs. 629-4 more valuable than others?

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