629 Magnum Packer

ACE10000D · Oct 3, 2022

At the LGS this weekend and came across this gem. 629 Magnum Packer, 3" barrel, unfluted cylinder, quad ported. In matching box also. Couldn't find any info on it in the 3rd edition of the Smith bible, but a buddy found a one line description in the 4th edition. Anybody have any idea how many of these were made? As soon as I got it home, I added a nice set of combats to dress it up. Any info you all have is much appreciated.

DesertFox · Oct 3, 2022

Not sure of production numbers but I have seen a couple of those floating around, years ago.

Nice 629!

67ray · Oct 3, 2022

Spec Ord looks like mid 2000 vintage? When exactly was the hilary hole added?

+ points for the steering wheel pics!

67ray · Oct 3, 2022

Also does it have MIM trigger & hammer?

CWH44300 · Oct 3, 2022

Sweet hart
Have never see one in the wild
67ray, locks started in 2001 and yes it should have mim hammer and trigger

75Vette · Oct 3, 2022

Great find! The combats definitely help in the looks department (not that it needs it) and love the quad-port. I keep threatening to send my 3" 629-6 to Magna-Port and have that done. That'll be a flame thrower at night.

Congrats!

swage · Oct 3, 2022

Saw one on GB a month ago. Once S&W got to the -4 and -5 in the 629 they made a lot of different one off variants in the three inch examples. I have a -5 Classic Carry that is identical except it doesn't have the laser etching and porting. S&W shipped 1500 of those to Lew Horton. My guess is at minimum, they had to make at least 500 in order for S&W to fulfill the order. Hard to say.

ultratec00 · Oct 4, 2022

Looks like a -5. I have a similar 629-5 3" but believe the magnaport was done post production and only had one set of ports. Grips and ammunition are key with these little flame throwers else it will be downright uncomfortable to shoot.

CH4 · Oct 4, 2022

Nice Piece.
It’s definitely a -5 and has a MIM hammer and trigger.

Baxter6551 · Oct 4, 2022

It looks great from back when they made some really neat guns. As others noted I wouldn’t want to shoot it with those grips - my 686 snub was bad enough with them. And bet it would be a light show at night - you should find a good photographer to take some pics for us !!

ACE10000D · Oct 4, 2022

Thanks for the comments and info guys. In regards to the comment about one listed on GB a month ago, I looked everywhere and couldn't find one. What did it sell for?

HamHands · Oct 30, 2022

That is a great find... Almost certainly a special order piece.

I have a "Mountain Back Packer" version M629-5 with a full lugged 3" barrel, same finish as yours, fluted cylinder, manufactured in 2000'. I too put a spare set of OEM Combats on mine as well. I carry her as my Woods gun with 305gr Hard Cast Keith's from Underwood and it's very accurate and the DA trigger is super easy to stage. I bought it from a member here years ago with box, lock, papers, etc... He never shot it...

ETA: I was once told that if a post 98' Smith has the serial number etched underneath the top strap that such was only done on Performance Center guns but who knows exactly how true that is. My Mountain Back Packer certainly does have the serial number etched under the top strap I might add. I will say the trigger was great out of the box for what it's worth. YMMV...

Pictured below along with my M624-3 LHS...

CH4 · Oct 30, 2022

You got me thinking about my 3” 629s, both -1s. I’ve had a soft spot for them since I saw my first one in 1985. Also have a couple of the orginal 657 41 mags. <3

dla · Oct 30, 2022

Older front sight - not the newer spring loaded retention style.

TheTinMan · Oct 30, 2022

I’ve got to ask - how manageable is a 3” 44 Magnum? I have a 3” Model 624 and that’s fine, but my only 44 Magnum is a beast of a Dan Wesson with a 6” barrel. That’s totally controllable but 3”?

Not that they are neat revolvers! I have more than one 3” Model 66…

HamHands · Oct 30, 2022

TheTinMan said:
I’ve got to ask - how manageable is a 3” 44 Magnum? I have a 3” Model 624 and that’s fine, but my only 44 Magnum is a beast of a Dan Wesson with a 6” barrel. That’s totally controllable but 3”?

Not that they are neat revolvers! I have more than one 3” Model 66…

When I got my first M629-5 Mountain Back Packer and "Vette75" and on this forum can attest to this... I met up with him at the Silhouette Club he goes to and is very active at... I'd only shot the "MBP" once, maybe twice before... Silhouettes are spaced from 20Meters, 40Meters, 60Meters, and 80Meters on out until 100Meters... This was my first Silhouette Match at that... and I did pretty darn good my first time out slinging Factory Loaded 300grain Prvi-Partizan loads rated at 1289fps and almost or even over 1000ft-lbs of energy. I think I got about 70+% hits that day. Members kept asking what ammo I was using because my targets fell so hard and more than a couple times fell 2 Silhouettes with 1 shot those 300gr Prvi-Partisan's hit the Plates and their Rail-Racks so hard.

So to answer your question, the "MBP" is very recoil manageable up to about 100 full-house rounds is exactly what I will testify too as being very comfortable for me with the 3" barreled M629's... of which I've done many times either an extended range session or 3-4 rounds at a Silhouette session/match in a day.

I do wear a nice pair of "Cop-Style" svelte leather gloves that in no way hinder, are padded, nor bulky... Just good cut, double stitched, quality leather made XL sized gloves of which "Vette75" can attest to as well.

ETA: I forgot to include... My M629-5 "Does Not" have any Barrel-Porting...

-Hams

67ray · Oct 31, 2022

HamHands said:
I do wear a nice pair of "Cop-Style" svelte leather gloves that in no way hinder, are padded, nor bulky... Just good cut, double stitched, quality leather made XL sized gloves of which "Vette75" can attest to as well.

ETA: I forgot to include... My M629-5 "Does Not" have any Barrel-Porting...

-Hams

Did you do that match with the factory combats?

sw282 · Nov 1, 2022

3'' 44/629

HamHands said:
When I got my first M629-5 Mountain Back Packer and "Vette75" and on this forum can attest to this... I met up with him at the Silhouette Club he goes to and is very active at... I'd only shot the "MBP" once, maybe twice before... Silhouettes are spaced from 20Meters, 40Meters, 60Meters, and 80Meters on out until 100Meters... This was my first Silhouette Match at that... and I did pretty darn good my first time out slinging Factory Loaded 300grain Prvi-Partizan loads rated at 1289fps and almost or even over 1000ft-lbs of energy. I think I got about 70+% hits that day. Members kept asking what ammo I was using because my targets fell so hard and more than a couple times fell 2 Silhouettes with 1 shot those 300gr Prvi-Partisan's hit the Plates and their Rail-Racks so hard.

So to answer your question, the "MBP" is very recoil manageable up to about 100 full-house rounds is exactly what I will testify too as being very comfortable for me with the 3" barreled M629's... of which I've done many times either an extended range session or 3-4 rounds at a Silhouette session/match in a day.

I do wear a nice pair of "Cop-Style" svelte leather gloves that in no way hinder, are padded, nor bulky... Just good cut, double stitched, quality leather made XL sized gloves of which "Vette75" can attest to as well.

ETA: I forgot to include... My M629-5 "Does Not" have any Barrel-Porting...

-Hams

That was a fun Saturday Hami. Last match of 2022/Gainesville is this Sat. Come watch ''MR 75'' miss a few.. 44 Spcl works better.
l had one of those 3'' unfluted 629s. W/O the exhaust ports.
Daughter ended up with it. l called it ''THE BRICK''. That's exactly what it reminds me of. Dont miss the BRICK one bit

HamHands · Nov 2, 2022

67ray said:
Did you do that match with the factory combats?

Actually, remembering back I did them in a pair of "Combats" from a very well respected replicator of "Smith's Combats" that closely mimic said OEM Combats... "75Vette" liked them so much that he bought them from me due to the beautiful wood and grain they exhibited... I've got a pic of the Exact Pair so I'll search my old imagur account and pull them up. "Vette" will be able to confirm they are the same I shot that match with them. They were promptly replaced after sale with a set of OEM Combats so it was a Tic for Tac replacement to me...

Below is the said gun... "IF" these aren't the Repro's then they are Very, Very, Close in cut, thickness, design, etc... "75Vette" can you confirm if these are the same one's I sold you? If they aren't will you post a pic please of the one's I sold to you made of the Very-Primo one's I did from that wonderful Husband/Wife or Mom N' Pop manufacturer that I got them from?

ProCarryNAustin · Nov 2, 2022

I love my 3” 629 Deluxe for about 50-100 rounds and then we need some time apart.

629 Magnum Packer

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