Please don't do it! Smith's current bluing is nice but not comparable that those classic guns.

A bit of beautiful craftmanship from a bygone era is lost when people reblue those guns.

I've used a Super Blackhawk since 1971. Accurate and tuff.

I have a 629-2 8 3/8, a Ruger Super Blackhawk 10 1/2 inch, and a Ruger Redhawk 7 3/4 inch. Looking for a nice lever in a 44 mag. I also have a Marlin 444p. What purpose for the gun??? the 629-2 for shooting stray clays at 100 yards on my range with 240 gr hand loads @1175 fps. Just for fun. The Super Blackhawk is what I use for hogs. I use a LFN 325 grain @ 1480 fps. Lots of fun with that gun. I bought the Ruger Redhawk because someone had a dad that worked for Ruger years ago, and when he died, his son sold it to me. It was a hunter that was worked with everything you could possibly do to one. It is my favorite to shoot. I shoot the same 240 load that I shoot in my 629-2, and the difference in recoil is really noticeable. Of course the 444p, well it is for anything on the planet I would want to kill. I would say that for me, i would buy according to it’s intended purpose. Also have afew AR15’s, a 6.5 Creedmoor bolt, a Marlin Mach2, and a few other hand guns. Each has its purpose. I just sold a Lipsy 454 Bisley Super Blackhawk. Beautiful gun. But it felt like it was going to break my index finger slamming into the rear of the trigger guard. Lots of fun to shoot but my hand and index finger hurt every time i shot it.

I really would like to try the 629 PC Hunter shown in post 81. I’ve seen a couple and always liked the looks of them. Never had the chance to shoot one, yet. Maybe some day?

If you do decide to get it refurbished and reblued, S&W won't be the place to send it for the job. I'm almost positive that they won't do gunsmithing work on Pre-model numbered guns any more (I've read that here several times) and the blue job they do now isn't nearly as nice as the old blue job when they make your gun. If you do decide to get it gone through and refinished, I've heard that Ford's in Florida does a really nice reblue and I also believe they have gunsmiths that can tune your gun up too.

I bought mine used, but it was $1k


But as far as buying a new one, I'd either go for the Super Blackhawk with the fluted cylinder and regular grip frame (I think it's the artillery model) or a Model 29 with the barrel cut down to 5".

I bought a 5 inch 44 Super Blackhawk in Stainless thinking it would be fun to shoot,, that dang thing "ate me up", bout tore my pinky clean off?? My best bud at the time, who shot 44 Mag double taps for fun, couldn't hit the broad side of a barn with it either,,,,

My neighbor, convinced he could make it shoot with his famous handloads, finally gave up after about two years and sent it down the road..

I have several 44 Mag Smiths, they all kick, but they don't chew on me, the best shooting 44 Mag I ever owned and foolishly traded for a 45 Colt/45Acp Colt New Frontier was a 1961 44 Flat Top..

Beautiful accurate gun, with aluminum grip frame was just a "*****cat"! so don't believe every thing you hear, guns are like underwear, some fit, and some don't, get one that fits you!

To buying a gently used pre-lock gun. 1k in cash will speak loud enough to get you an earlier model that will serve you well at home, in the field and on the range. Take your time and you will know which one to buy when you see it.

A 5'' 629 with custom grips that fits my hand.Loaded up with 215gr at around 1100fps,it should be a dandy!

While I've had numerous 29's and 629's in the past, I currently own a 5.5" Ruger Redhawk in .44 Magnum and a Super Redhawk in .454 Casull. I'm itching for either a 4" 629 or 5" Classic 629.

You're thinking .44 spl.

Actually, Buffalo Bore doesn’t call their loads “Ruger Only”

I get by with only 2 .44 magnums:

My S&W 29-3 4" barrel on the left, with Chic Gaylord Combat Speed
Scabbard on Chic Gaylord belt 2nd from left.

Ruger New Model Super Blackhawk 3rd from left shown with Hunter holster.

Attached Images

	SAM_1205.jpg (95.5 KB, 41 views)
	SAM_1040.jpg (98.9 KB, 41 views)
	SAM_0690.jpg (100.4 KB, 44 views)

__________________
In Omnia Paratus

I WOULD CHOOSE A 7.5" RUGER SUPER REDHAWK.......

IMHO, THE DESIGN AND ENGINEERING, FAR SURPASSES ANY OFFERINGS BY S&W......

ITS LOCKED UP IN 4 PLACES, WHEN THE HAMMER DROPS. IT HAS A BEAUTIFUL RECESSED CROWN MUZZLE, AN EXTENDED FRAME THAT'S NOTCHED FOR THE SUPPLIED RUGER RINGS, EXCELLENT RR/WO ADJUSTABLE SIGHTS, AND NO SIDE PLATE......

ITS BUILT LIKE A TANK, AND CAN WITHSTAND A STEADY DIET OF THE HOTTEST HUNTING AMMO. IT HAS AN EXCELLENT SA/DA TRIGGER, PERFECTLY ACCEPTABLE---BUT SLIGHTLY HEAVIER THAN A S&W TRIGGER, RIGHT OUT OF THE BOX........

AT LESS THAN $1K----ITS A BARGAIN, AND A KEEPER ! ! !

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

In my safe it'd have to be a new 629 classic 5" if I was going to shoot it a lot. Or a 329PD if it was for mostly carry. I have a 629-3, its a Cadillac with full house rounds. That said. I also have a 329PD, it's one handy light weight hand cannon for concealed carry. The light weight makes the 329PD brutal to run 240g Winchester white box but well worth the recoil in my book for the trade off of being half the weight of a 629. Irregardless I still CC that 329 with full house WWB

__________________
R/S
J.D.

My first 44 mag was an 8" Colt Anaconda I earned by selling Colt firearms in the early 90's. There was a spiff available at the local gun store I worked at and I paid nothing for that gun. It also took my first wild hog. I moved to Colorado after that and sold it to pay for college - I should have kept it and gone to trade school.

Under $1k is tough but from 90's forward anything under $1k will be a good option. Rugers have a reputation earned before Smith beefed up their guns (and have not changed since). I'm not a fan of Rossi or Taurus...Taurus is the better of the two. Just be sure you are sure of what you are using them for and where - here in Colorado there is a barrel length restriction that catches most folks off guard.

Currently sporting a Performance Center 629 (more than $1k though).

Here’s my new hunting revolver. It seems to like the Hornady Custom 240gr XTP loads so that’s what I’ll be feeding it when hitting the woods.

Attached Images

7BC95730-0073-4926-B057-24DA23EBAB9F.jpg (49.3 KB, 40 views)

I found the 329pd was completely livable with Winchester 240gr. I shot a box of 50 at one time. Some of the first shots did jump, but you get used to it after.
Specials were light taps by comparison.

Sent from my SM-N950U using Tapatalk

^^^ For the price point, if I could only have ONE... THAT.

Edit... I went with the 5" PC V-comp because I got a deal. But... Gawd I really want a mountain gun now. Can't have just one...

__________________
Veteran, Former LEO, NRA Lifer

I had an 8 3/8 629 Classic and hunted with it for ten years and gave it to my brother for christmas, replaced it with a model 29 Steath Hunter with 7.5 barrel. but they are not below 1k, but buy the best there is..

can't have just one - M69 2 3/4 inch, M629-6 3 inch, 629-3 6 inch bought these over the years.

I'd get the 629 with 6.5 inch barrel, the underlug one. That's what I got.

Exception: if you're going to handload hellacious T-rex loads, then skip all Smiths and go Ruger Redhawk.

Hopefully a Freedom arms single action, S&W's older mdl 29's are smooth as silk with beautiful bluing & wood. For hard use the Ruger SBH.

What's that restriction? (I'm in Boulder, and I'm not aware of any restriction.)

Restrictions are only for hunting. CC has no restrictions for barrel length.

A personal carry gun , no restrictions

OK. Thanks. I'm not a hunter, so that's why I hadn't heard about any restrictions on barrel length.

I have a Model 629-6 with a 6.5 inch barrel. I wish I would have bought the 5 inch model as it would be a little handier. My pistol is a shooter however as I won the center fire portion of the local Bullseye Winter League shooting reduced loads several years ago. At age 74, I don't fire too many full-house loads any more.

and you need to keep the price under $1000 I suggest a Lipsey Ruger Flattop Bisley Blackhawk in 44 Special. That's right, 44 Special. Using a close approximation of Elmer Keith's and Skeeter Skelton's favorite 44 Special load (255 grain Keith SWC over 17.0 grains of 2400) you get close to magnum performance, superb accuracy and excellent terminal ballistics on game. While mine is heavily breathed upon by John Linebaugh, it was an exceptional gun as it came from the factory right out of the box. The gun still has its factory barrel and cylinder and shoots 1.5" groups at 50 yards.
Keith

Attached Images

	IMG_20171019_133910561.jpg (115.6 KB, 38 views)
	IMG_20171019_133926720.jpg (137.5 KB, 30 views)
	IMG_20171019_134010984.jpg (61.4 KB, 28 views)
	IMG_20171019_134054334.jpg (37.2 KB, 30 views)
	255 Montana Keith SWC GC 17.0 2400 50 yds c.jpg (41.8 KB, 25 views)

__________________
Keith Herrington

Random thought: That picture pretty clearly illustrates why one needs to seal off the chamber mouths of cap and ball revolvers.

I'm 75 (76 on January 9th), about 5'9" (shrunk down from 5'11" most of my life), about 135 lbs, and pretty much a "tottery" old codger. But I can comfortably shoot 240gr Underwoods in my 5" 629 for a whole range session, without beating up my body, or even bruising my hands. The secret is my VERY relaxed grip, and very relaxed and flexed elbows (used with a straight-on isosceles stance, with my feet equidistant from, and facing, the target). Basically, none of the recoil reaches the main part of my body ... it doesn't jar my eyes, neck, teeth, brain, or anything else. The recoil just gets absorbed purely by the inertia of my forearms. And my hands don't take a beating from the recoil because they aren't resisting the recoil. It doesn't sound like it could possibly work, but it does. And, perhaps surprisingly, I'm also more accurate using that method.

I arrived at the method by very gradually relaxing my grip, and starting with lighter calibers: first .38special+p, then .357mag, and finally with .44mag. I figured I could safely do it very gradually, and stop whenever I would begin to have a little trouble hanging on to the gun, or to start to touch my head with my forearms. And surprisingly, I never got to that point ... I never had to stop! And each time I moved to a more powerful caliber, and repeated the slow process, I STILL never had to stop the gradual relaxing process. At the end of the process, I ended up holding the gun (no matter what caliber it is, and with full-spec Underwood ammo) as if I'm holding a fragile little bird!

I'm as amazed as anyone that it works, but it does. It works so well that I'm not willing to shoot any other way. But I should add that the muzzle rise I get is VERY high, close to vertical (even though I've never gotten smacked in the face with the gun or with my forearms, or had the gun start to come out of my hands). But because of that near-vertical muzzle rise, I've been kicked off of two different indoor ranges, for violating the rule of keeping the muzzle pointed down range at all times. So my method won't be tolerable for everybody ... it may not be tolerable for anyone but me.

[addendum]: I should add that when I'm shooting, I'm never aware of that near-vertical muzzle rise, because the gun isn't left in the vertical position after the recoil ... it's an involuntary fast up-and-down motion, like in a "double-tap", except with a much greater angular change. When I'm shown a video of my shooting, I'm always surprised to see that near-vertical muzzle rise.

[addendum2]: I should also add that I put the X500 grips on my 629, and also on my 69 and my 686. That is probably also an important factor in making the recoil comfortable.

A Good friend of mine has bid on a S&W 44Magnon. It belongs to a Forest Ranger at this time. Apparently its in good shape and I wonder what a proper value will be on that gun. He has Bid $750.00 at this time.

Hello all, I was in the same boat as OP for the last year or so. I've owned a 7.5" SBH and a 7.5" RH Hunter with the integral scope mounts on it. Liked both ALOT and will still own Rugers till I die. I sold the SBH to get the RH. For me it was barrel length. I wanted to take those revolvers everywhere, but those darn barrels got in my way ALL the time. And heavy!! I've always been a HUGE Ruger fanboy. Own several different Rugers and they make great guns. However, after beating myself up over the decision, I finally went out away from what I've known and pulled the trigger on a S&W model 69. At first you couldn't have given me a S&W. I've heard all these stories growing up about Ruger stronger this and S&W weaker that.... I could not have made a better decision!!! This is the "best", to me, 44 mag I've ever owned. So my short answer is.... Model 69!

Btw... With a 4.25" barrel

Michigun'n

The Ruger BH flattop bisley in 44 special was one of the 3-4 I had it narrowed down to... In fact I still see myself getting one in the near future. Prolly at the top of my want list now that the model 69 has been checked off the list...

MichiGun'n

I’ve been wanting a 629 V-Comp for a long time.


Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

This one is going to go up for sale. 29-2 4".

If I get another 44 mag is will be the same thing but not engraved.

To hammer a revolver in 44mag with hotter loads the ruger super black hawk will eat anything you feed it and want more. Life before the Redhawk. My RedHawks are no different there made to shoot magnum loads.

My smith and Wesson’s are for normal 44 mag loads. But there is quite a history behind s&w firearms.

I like my RedHawks and s&w revolvers.

Oh that one is gorgeous! I'd love to have that in my cabinet or on my hip!

It's so sad but true. The Artisans that Smith & Wesson & Colt used to employ are long gone since the early 1980's... The guys with those beautiful bluing skills retired or let go and the art/skill had not been apprenticed down to the younger generation... "this was the story I had heard"... but who really knows. It's also why stainless steel is so focused upon the new revolvers I believe and the bluing on the new "Classic Series" cannot come close to or even dismally compare to the mile deep and stellar bluing of the 60's & 70's manufactured "J's" I have. My 85' manufactured M29-3 Lew Horton Special is maybe 80% the quality of the aforementioned J frames I have. Anything latter is going to be a big disappointment when compared to other blued finishes from yesteryear(s)... YMMV.

I've heard that "Ford's" is the place to go for a good re-blue. But it won't quite be like the blue of a mid-70's M29.

I had a workhorse Hi-Power "Hard Chromed" in the late 90's done by "Tucker Gun" in Tucker Georgia, (they sent it off to someone in Florida maybe "Ford's" I don't remember) and it was the best re-finish I've ever seen. It got stolen during a break-in to never be recovered again... My hard use "work gun" semi-auto "P-01" CZ that gets worn when I'm at work might get a hard chrome refinish for its durability... but never one of my blued vintage Smith's that I carry in the burbs at home or in the woods.

I think it was the laws pertaining to the chemicals allowed to be used in the blueing process and not the skill loss that changed the quality of the Blue.

Considering I have a 629 6" that I love HOWEVER I also now have 2 329PDs and 1 329NG that are my go to revolver/trouble handguns! They pair perfectly with my Saiga 12s or M1As for ANY troubles

Honestly, without question, I would not buy a new .44 magnum revolver.

The frame lock on Smiths is a deal breaker. Ruger Redhawk is too heavy for my taste, but I’d take it over a frame lock Smith.

My choice is always either a 29-2, 629 no dash, or a late pre-lock 629.

I like full and standard lugs, but don’t like the weight of long barreled full lugs. I have a 6.5” 629-3. It absorbs recoil well, but it is heavy in the barrel.

I guess it depends on what you have in mind with it. I bought the 69 for trout fishing. Not that the trout are that tough in Tennessee, but the Cherokee National Forest can be a pretty remote place. In some of the remote areas, there is no cell service, so no 911. There are black bears, but I don't really worry too much about them. Still, I like to have the light stainless steal 69 on me when we fish or hike.

When in a place with no reception to call 911 we are 911 think about it.
Elmer Keith proved the 357 magnum, the 41 magnum and 44 magnum has killed every game in North America. I never feel under gunned even in bear country hiking.

The only reason I have a new s&w m29-10/6” is my LGS had a trade in, never shot, still new for $699.

And with a penny to spare.

Model 29 - S&W Classics 4" Blue | Smith & Wesson

__________________
Joshua 1:9

Go to Gunbroker and bid for the S&W 629-1 Mountain Gun!!!! Yes pre-lock. Early model. Get it and don't look back.

__________________
Deaf

There are lots and lots of excellent used 29s around, many in near new condition because more people want a 44 mag than want to shoot a 44 mag. Even NIB 29s from the 70s/through early 90s are available, although sometimes slightly more than $1k.

I found a 29-3 (early 80s, first w/o a pinned barrel and recessed cylinder) 4" at Fugate's online that was 99%. It has no collector value because the owner had it Magna-ported; that was $950 plus shipping. One of my best shooting investments ever; it shoots like a dream, just as they should. It's irreplaceable. Had to watch the site for a couple of months or so; I've often wondered where they find their stock.

Smith Wesson | Product Categories | Fugate Firearms