I am thinking of buying a 6" 629 with no dash and with the original box and papers. It has never been fired. It's quite expensive and I'm ready to pay the extra price of an early gun that's still brand new in the box. My question is this......should I even be looking at this or should I be searching for an early 29 even if it's been used pretty good?

Are you looking for a collectors piece or a reliable shooter ?

The most collectible 44 mags are the early 5 and 4 screw guns made in the 1950's and 29-1 made in the early 60's.

The 629 no dash is unique in that its the only SS variation to have a pinned barrel and recessed cylinder but as a shooter IIRC they are prone to having soft yokes.

The best iteration as a "Gun" was the 629-3 and 629-4 and since their blued counterparts are 2 revisions ahead the blue equivalent is the 29-5 and 29-6 which have the older forged internals with new "Endurance package" and rear site that also has the frame drilled and tapped for a scope.

During the past year I saw a few of the more desirable 4" 629 no dash NIB on the Texas Gun Trader that all sold very quickly in the $1,000 to $1200 range doing FTF.

Can't recall seeing 6" no dash offered

Add a few hundred if it's a gunbroker auction.

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No sure what your intentions are.
Are you starting a collection of N frames or just planning on buying one gun?
I would say that a early on unfired 629 would be fairly unique.
And I agree with above, the early 4 inch 629 is very desirable.
But when you buy an unfired gun, the dilemma arises - shoot or hold your fire?
I have gone both ways on this issue.
As I have posted, I have a first issue 60.
I have never shot it.
Once, All my guns were at my Mother's while I was overseas.
My brother shot all my guns including my 60.
Not that I'm agin shooting 60s.
I shot this one this morning.

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Welcome to the Forum Rabicem733!
Help me answer your question............. what is the price of the NIB 629?

I'm thinking I would shoot it but not often. I like the idea of buying a new one even if I'm going to shoot it occasionally and turn it into a used one. As for the price it's very expensive at 1700 bucks. If I searched for a cherry used one with no box....It's still going to be $1300-$1400 or so. Correct? Maybe it's worth an extra 3 or 4 hundred to say I got a new one. That's subjective for sure.

And thank you for the warm welcome

'It's good to see a high roller come through.'

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If you are going to shoot it periodically, I'd not spend $1700 on a NIB example.
If you are patient and shop around, I think you could find a six inch/ no dash "shooter" (and in very good condition) for $700-$800

wow 7-800 huh? I thought for sure it would be over a grand no matter what. Ok that changes things a bit. Thank you for the advice.

WHY?

In other words, why buy a gun to NEVER shoot? Isn't that very near to collecting Playboy Magazines? NOT my cup of tea!

I'd not look at crazy prices on GB and the alike.
We have a tremendous classified section right here on the Forum with great members.
Place a wtb ad............ I think you will get offers that are more appealing.
Again, being patient will save you $$$
Good luck!

I was planning on shooting it.

Reading you post,and looking at your screen name.......love it!

If you'll fire many full .44 Mag. loads, bear in mind that the Endurance Package didn't appear until M-629-3.


If I was able to buy another S&W .44 Magnum, it'd be a six-inch M-629-3 in as near to new condition as possible.


I already have an as-new Safariland M-29 holster for it, basket-stamped and lined in green suede.


My prior one was a Model 29, probably a M-29-1 or so, made about 1960. A beautiful, very accurate gun. But today, in the real world, I favor stainless revolvers.

$1,700 is way too much for that gun. Well, in my opinion, anyway.
I would suggest: Patience while you search for a 629-4.

Or, a 629-5. Yes, it has MIM parts, but my 629-5s (I have two of them) are excellent revolvers. And, that model doesn't have the internal lock, which most people consider a plus.

Take your time, the hunt is almost as fun as shooting them

Love the photo! M-60-9? Still no Lock, but MIM parts. I love the full-lug three-inch M-60's. My M-60-4 shoots like a target revolver. Drives tacks with Speer Plus P 125 and 135 grain loads, not that they're used for casual routine plinking.

Hi Rab and welcome to the forum. The first 629s came with pinned
barrels and recessed cylinders.
.They also cane in the Wooden presentation cases with tools,...
First issued were the 6'' guns..
They are also the most common...A pristine case with tools is
a $400 item by itself. Shoot?? No Shoot??
GUNS...like Fast Cars and Pretty Women are best appreciated
from frequent loVing USE

Thank you for all the great replies. I don't want to overpay. So I'm not going to get that gun. I knew it was too much I just didn't know how over priced it is. I'm going to search the classifieds and take my time. I do enjoy the search. There is the Albany gun show in January so I'm going to see what I can find there as well.

WHY wouldn't you wear a tuxedo to scrub garbage cans and do oil changes? Clothes are meant to be worn.

That particular gun in that condition is becoming a collectable. You can get a "shooter" for a whole lot less if that's your intent and not screw up one of a dwindling number of guns in collectible condition.

Bruce

Rabicem733, I would advise you to keep looking at GB too, besides local and the Classifieds here. My brother got a nice 629 no dash 6" off GB around a year or so ago for around $700-800. No box, but it did come with the original target grips and a nice soft case and was low round count and tight. Since you plan to shoot it, the lack of a box isn't a big deal. One thing that made it sell for a lower price on GB was the fact that the person selling it used poor pictures in his ad. I downloaded the pics and then used some software to blow up the pics and sharpen the images a bit to look at it more closely and after doing that the pistol looked real good. I then told him to bid on it and he won the auction at a fair price. And I did the same thing about 6 months before that on a 27-5 that had poor pictures in the ad and when I received it, found that the pistol had never been shot except for the proof rounds that S&W runs through it before leaving the factory. It also came with box and tools too. And I can proudly say that it is no longer unfired.

Never fired but has a cylinder ring groove. You must have gotten it from my brother.

He is an armchair gunslinger. He spins his revolvers and works the action but his guns seldom get fired. That is why his has the cylinder ring too.

Just don't do like he did and not check to see if you have rounds in it. He gained a new TV and more of a free-flow window screen that way. The second one when momma was home. He is still reaping her wrath from that. Momma took his guns.

There's a 620-2E that was the first with the Endurance package the way I understand things. I have a 620-2 but without the E. I've been asked countless times if it had that all important "E" after the "-2".

BTW tjat 629-2 of mine has a drilled and tapped rear sight too. And it was a factory job.

GEeeeezzz... What is there to add?

Not a da--mn to thing add IMO. If you do not want to shoot, then do NOT own! This IS NOT A POLITICAL STATEMENT.

Buy it you can! Shooting it?
Entirely up to you!

If I bought it, I would not shoot it.
But I have 2- 629s and a bunch of other guns to shoot.
So I be would be extremely happy to have an unfired 629 with all the Goodies.
I do have a P&R 629 which I have shot quite a bit.
It was used when I got it without a box-case.
And I was delighted to get it!
I have never actually seen that many P&R 629s for sale.

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For the same reason a stamp collector will buy a rare stamp, and NOT use it to mail a letter. And a coin collector will buy an old mint condition coin and NOT use it to plug a parking meter.

While at the same time those collectors have common stamps and coins they do use for everyday things.

It may not be for you, but it is possible to enjoy a thing while conserving it, to buy low and sell high, to hedge against decades of inflation, and make a profit with your head instead of with your back.

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~ S&W aficionado in training ~

The 629s as collectors pieces have gained popularity in the last few years! However it is the early guns(P&R and N serial prefix)



The 6" 629 was introduced in late 1979 and distribution began in March of 1980. The 4" & 8 3/8"guns were introduced in 1981. In 1982 the -1 629 was brought out and at about the same time the factory started using the "ABCxxxx" numbering system. The 4" and 8 3/8" guns are by far harder to find!
jcelect

Quote: Originally Posted by HorizontalMike View Post
WHY?

In other words, why buy a gun to NEVER shoot? Isn't that very near to collecting Playboy Magazines? NOT my cup of tea!

What about the Playboys?

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I recently saw a new in box never fired S&W 29 blue 4" with old style factory "Coke Bottle" grips... it was a beauty... for $1500 bucks! Yikes! Glade I have my 629-3 in 4"....