RARE? 329PD Alaska Backpacker III

[cjlwbl]

Hello All,
I am new to the forum. I am seeking information on a S&W 329PD Alaska Backpacker III, .44 magnum, Scandium frame, Titanium cylinder, 4" barrel. This particular firearm that I have has the engraved bear scene on the right side of the frame and "Alaska Backpacker III" on the right side of the barrel. It is not the more common 329PD version with the engraved "Atom" that is currently available.

I contacted S&W and gave them the serial and was told that they are quite rare and there were only 249 of these pistols made. They gave me a date of manufacture of 09/16/2003 for my revolver. I purchased this revolver on July 29, 2004 in Eagle River, Alaska from Boondocks Sporting Goods. Has anyone ever run across these models and does anyone know the history of why only 249 were made. I am trying to get a value for insurance purposes but I have no idea where to start. Even the representative at S&W had never seen or heard of one of these one of these and she was unable to find it mentioned in the latest (3rd) edition of The Standard Catalog of Smith & Wesson which really surprised her, since it includes models made up to 2006. I sent them some pictures and they seemed very pleased to see one. I will probably get an authentication letter from S&W and then get the history but I wanted to query the forum first. Any information from the experts would be much appreciated.

[BLUEDOT37]

Have the box? What's it's product code# ?

.

[75Vette]

Pics would be great.

[Muss Muggins]

SCSW 4th has a brief discussion of the Alaska Backpacker, but no mention of a "III." Talks about a "IV," though. SCSW 4th also mentions that the 329 Alaska Backpacker was introduced at the 2009 SHOT Show with an outline of the Alaska state on the sideplate. The narrative is a bit confusing, though, as it identifies the "IV" as having a 2 1/2" barrel and also introduced in 2009 . . .

[cjlwbl]

Product code is 149641

[BLUEDOT37]

That Product Code is not listed in the SCSW#4 under the 329PDs. I found some close PC#s & they were also made in 2003.

S&W told you it was made on 9/16/03. Interesting, the Spec Order# on the label, "3258", is 09/15/03 & the fired case envelope looks (?) like it says 09/12/03. So it was fired on Friday (12), boxed on Monday (15) & inventoried on Tuesday (16).

Hopefully someone can add more info to this for you.

.

[cjlwbl]

Ashley at S&W is the one that researched this. She also shared the pictures with one of the engravers there who had been there when these were manufactured and he couldn't recall engraving this particular version. Ashley referred to it as a "unicorn"

[Kernel Crittenden]

I've never seen a 149641, but I have seen VKL s/n's before. Used in 2003 on small runs of something special. Like some Model 646 .40 cals, pc 103749. Only 300 reportedly made.

My guess they were all limited time special orders for one particular distributor. This is almost always the case with "14" product codes.

And the s/n prefix has meaning. Like an acronym for a company's name. Or someone's initials.