629-2E

00Buck2

00Buck2

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I purchased a 629-2 Classic Hunter in 3" serial begins with BEE approx 1989. I noticed in the SCSW it indicates the 629-2E was produced in 1989. I put 50 rds of 240g white box Winchesters through it today and it barks pretty good:eek:. I feel like it added some extra arthritis pain to my wrist:confused:. The power of the 240gr Winchesters got me thinking about the endurance package that was added to the 629-2 in 1989.

So back to my question, of the 629-2E's produced in 1989 was an "E" actually stamped on the yoke? ie: 629-2E, or were they just stamped 629-2.

I'm guessing it would be hard to tell if a 629-2 had the endurance package unless it was actually stamped 629-2E. I have not seen one stamped 629-2E, although I have not seen all that many 629s.
 
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I was recently shoping gunbroker for a 629 and in my couple months worth of looking I did see one or two actually marked 629-2E. Just based on the small number I've seen on gb I suspect the -2E is rather uncommon as well as the -3. Lots of -1, and -4 by comparison.
 
The 629-2E upgraded revolvers were released by Smith & Wesson with much fanfare to counter allegations by some gun writers that S&W had fallen behind Ruger, and some other revolver makers, by not being able to regularly digest full power .44 Magnum loads.

S&W's .44 Magnum revolvers were widely known to have the best triggers, but we're alleged to "shoot loose" with continual maximum power .44 Magnum loads.

The 629-2E engineering upgrade, and the -3, -4, etc. upgrades thereafter, added discreet, but substantial dimensional and metallurgical improvements to directly address the negative allegations.

And to your question, those 629-2's with the upgrade are actually stamped "629-2E" on the inside of the frame, across from the crane. Many believe that the presence of the "E" upgrade makes the revolver more desirable, but both the 629-2 and the 629-2E look identical to me. Both are impressive "handfuls of steel" in the 3" barrel, unfluted cylinder "Hunter," version...:cool:
 
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00Buck2 said:
...the endurance package that was added to the 629-2 in 1989.

I'm guessing it would be hard to tell if a 629-2 had the endurance package unless it was actually stamped 629-2E.
Click to expand...

The 1988 M629-2 got the radiused stud package upgrade & the 1989 M629-2E added the hardened cylinder yoke with increased bearing surface upgrade. The M629-3 got the longer cylinder notches & a new bolt block in 1990, which were the final Endurance Package improvements/additions (if I got it correct).

.
 
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Endurance package

The need for the endurance package upgrade was created by Silhouette game shooters! They were hammering the model 29s with heavy bullets(250 & 300gr) at max loading and probably a few at max+ loads! My hunter model 29(1984 29-3 Silhouette 10 5/8" barrel) has had MANY 240gr max loads thru it and it is still tight! I have posted this picture before but the easiest way to tell an Endurance Package gun is the cylinder stop notch. The bottom cylinder in the picture is my 629-2E(stamped) 3" with the longer stop notch!

jcelect
 
jcelect said:
I have posted this picture before but the easiest way to tell an Endurance Package gun is the cylinder stop notch. The bottom cylinder in the picture is my 629-2E(stamped) 3" with the longer stop notch!
Click to expand...
.
That's interesting because different sources list different years & order of the enhancements but the longer cylinder stop notch is the later feature added.

I wonder if some later frames, already marked -2E, were actually early -3s & thus had all the Endurance features while the others (early -2Es) didn't?

Does anybody have a -2E without the longer stop notches?

.
 
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I've posted this pic in another 629-2 thread but here's mine: 629-2 on the left and 629-2E on the right...

attachment.php
 
b_san said:
I've posted this pic in another 629-2 thread but here's mine: 629-2 on the left and 629-2E on the right...

attachment.php
Click to expand...
The sights are interesting on these guns? One has a red ramp and the other does not. My 629-2E 3" pictured above, in the cyl pic, has no red ramp. What is the Julian date on the label of each box?
jcelect
 
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