I have seen several pistols labeled by S&W as being Mountain Guns. Some looked obviously different than their standard counterparts but some just appear to be standard short or medium barreled versions with the words Mountain Gun emblazened on them. What exactly constitutes a Mountain Gun. How are they any different.

Here's a start. Lots of posts about Mountain Guns.


Mountain Gun - defined

S&W determines what a Mountain Gun is by putting "Mountain Gun" on the barrel...see post #3.
They are usually larger caliber, short to medium length barrels that one may want to carry while hiking in the mountains/woods/etc. I have not seen any .22, .32 or even .38 caliber Mountain Guns.
Last, but not least, (with a smile) they are mostly revolvers,not pistols.
I'm sure there are exceptions to each of the above and someone with more experience (and knowledge) will come along and correct this.

So is the label Mountain Gun as used by S&W more or less a marketing thing. I have seen pistols labeled as Mountain Guns and always assumed that in some way they were designed to be easily carried in rugged terrain but with enough punch to get the job done if it's owner was confronted by an aggressive animal. I guess I just always assumed a scandium alloy frame would be part of the package. It looks to me now though like the biggest difference is the laser printing on the barrel. Apparantly the biggest physical difference is a tapered barrel and maybe different grips. Not trying to say anything bad about them just not what I had thought a Mountain Gun would be.

Sort of like Rick's World's Famous Gold and Silver Pawn Shop.
When asked, why is it world famous?
Rick replied- Because that's what painted on the side of the pawnshop.

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Mountain guns (Revolvers) have round butts and lighter barrels.

Kevin

Well, years ago all handguns were pistols. Billy the Kid was the west's deadliest "Pistoleer". Wyatt Earp sported a Colt Buntline special Pistol. Semi-auto's are being called pistols NOW, but years ago revolvers were pistols too. JMO

Officially designated "Mountain Guns" have 4", tapered barrels, a short extractor shroud, an N frame and round butt. Some have a wide chamfer on the front of the cylinder, called a "black powder chamfer." Most are chambered for .44 Magnum or .357 Magnum. The only non-magnum Mountain Gun I've seen was chambered for .45 Colt.

I have a 29-8 .44 Magnum which conforms to the specs above, except the cylinder is not chamfered. It's about an ounce lighter than a 3" 629, and makes the palm or your hand sting a bit.

They are meant to be OTB holstered.

taking your gun to the mountains.right now all of mine are "suburban guns"

To be correct......: a gun used by mountain artillery and capable of being transported on muleback
Merriam-Webster

Is the general idea to have a fairly compact pistol for toting in mountains but with big bullets in case you encounter something that lives in the mountains, like.........bear?

I have hardly any need for a mountain gun. My house is 32' above sea level and you have to drive 6 hours to see a mountain.

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"He was kinda funny lookin'"

The engraved "Mountain Gun" and a 4 in N frame

They are one of the finest balanced revolvers ever made.

You need a "mountain" of money to buy one, these days.

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~ S&W aficionado in training ~

The Advertising & Marketing department.

I would add that the 686-5+ Mtn. Gun has an L frame and a 7 round cylinder - the only version without the chamfer on the front edge of the cylinder.

Jerry

Maybe you should start with the difference between pistol and revolver. I've yet to see a pistol with the Mountain Gun designation.

I think this may be one. The logo on the slide states it is for shooting bears.

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A S&W revolver with Mountain Gun" factory engraved or laser etched on the barrel,

All MG's have these features in common:
1) Round butt frame.
2) Tapered 4" barrel with ejector rod shroud.
3) Target site with Blue Baughman FS blade.
4) Smooth .375 Combat Trigger / .400 Semi Target hammer.
5) Steel frame and cylinder (No airweights)
6) Fluted cylinder

Features usually present:
7) Chamfered leading cylinder edge. (except 686 MG)
8) Rubber grips (except 29-8 MG)
9) Caliber beginning in"4" (except 686 MG's)
10) 6 shot N frame (except 7 shot 686-5 MG)
11) SS finish (except 29-8 MG)
12) Magnum caliber (except 625 MG)

I have a short barreled 624. It's probably not a Mountain Gun.
It could be a Foothills Gun?

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Actually, the slide seems to indicate that some bear won a magazine. What's with that?

The Model 25 MG and 57 MG are also Blued and also have wood grips.

My new to me mountain gun is a 625 in .45acp

My three. 629, 625acp, 686. Fortunatly I bought two before the prices took off. The third, the 686 which is the rarest for sale, cost me more than the other two combined.

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Here's one that doesn't say mountain gun on the side.
629-2
Smith called it a,
Mountain Revolver

DOES IT SAY, "MOUNTAIN REVOLVER" ON THE BARREL ? ? ? IF NOT, WHERE IS IT REFERRED TO AS SUCH ? ? ? IT APPEARS TO HAVE A SATIN, OR BEAD BLAST FINISH. TO THE BEST OF MY KNOWLEDGE, MOUNTAIN GUNS ARE NOT FINISHED THAT WAY. NONE OF MY THREE HAVE THAT FINISH. BELOW, L TO R : 686+, 625 IN .45 COLT, AND 629……..

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'Nam 1968-69.DAV,VFW,NRA Inst.

I'LL GO WITH Engine49guy's DEFINITION, WITH THE ADDITION OF THE BLUED VERSIONS, BY NHKen………….

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'Nam 1968-69.DAV,VFW,NRA Inst.

If we look at the Standard Catalog of S&W pg. 421 we see this definition of: "Mountain Gun: Originally the lightweight version of the Model 629 44 Magnum, with tapered lightweight 4" barrel, round butt, and chamfered cylinder. 1989 production only. Later used to indicate other similar configuration lightweight 4" N frame guns."

Below that we see:

"Mountain Revolver: Similar to Mountain Gun, drilled and tapped for scope mounts, standard production beginning 1993."

There were a lot of variations of these produced over the years and not just in 44 as has been noted. Most are listed in the SCSW.

tipoc

Click on this link for a photo of the box
http://smith-wessonforum.com/attachm...6&d=1413410621

As for #11. There were blued .45 Colt and .41 Mag Mountain Guns. Additionally, most that I've seen (including my 25-13 MG) came with Ahrends' finger groove grips.


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What about a Desert Gun, or Swamp Gun, or Arctic Gun?? Americans (others?) have such romantic notions about mountains.

One other ridiculous thought; if you want a pistol instead of a revolver to take to the mountains to protect yourself from the dangerous wildlife, I'd suggest the custom 1911's that etch their claim right on the slide ... Les Baer.

When I'm down in the valley, my guns are valley guns. When I drive up the mountain to go home they become mountain guns. When I'm half way up, they are halfway guns. I didn't realize how many guns I have!

Revolver's were pistol's for many years before semi-auto's were even dreamed of.
For some reason in the last thirty years some people have confused pistol with semi-auto when pistol really means handgun.

That gun is from the late 1980's. That version of the 629 used the same bead blast finish of the heavy barrel 5" 625 .45 acp's of the era.

Mountain Guns left 30.jpg5 cropped.jpg
625 Mountain Gun with Miculek grips; 629 and 29 Mountain Guns.
329PD 30.jpg
329PD with Ashley Outdoors Big Dot front sight, C&S Extreme Duty rear with tritium, Crimson Trace Laser grips, and Magnaport Quadra ports. And lanyard ring. It's a "mountain gun" because I have taken it into the mountains more than all other revolvers combined.

327 TRR8 30.jpg
327TRR8. Fabulous "mountain gun!"

With a nod to S&W's naming conventions, it's anything I drag into the, uh, mountains.

So where does my Mountain Lite model 386sc 357 fit into the picture?