There’s a local LH 29-4 3” for sale. It has a pretty worn finish. Someone carried this thing holstered and probably shot it quite a bit. There is even a touch of superficial surface rust in spots. Would sending it back to SW to get refinished hurt any collector value or help things out?

Having it refinished will not help its “collector value,” but in poor finish condition it has very little anyway, IMO. If you particularly like that model and would be happier with it if it had a nicer finish, I’d send it in for a tune up and refinish, but it’s your revolver and only you know whether the expense is worth it. I certainly cannot claim to be innocent in such decisions.

Refinishing does not improve collector value or appeal as a refinish destroys the originality of the firearm. The cost of refinishing rarely improves the shooter grade value enough to cover the cost of refinishing, so refinishing is purely to satisfy the current owner's desire to have a nice looking firearm.

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VCDL, GOA, NRA

FORDS in Crystal River, Florida is excellant in refinishing but also "Expensive".

Are you sure that it's a 3" bbl. Model 29-4, and not a 29-3? I can't claim to be an expert, but I don't recall any Lew Horton models being based on the Model 29-4. S&W made 5,000 Model 29-3 Lew Horton Combat Magnums (3" bbl., RB, contoured wood stocks, etc.) in 1984-85, but that's it. I did a quick check in the SCSW 4th Ed. (including Performance Center models) and couldn't find any other Lew Horton 3" bbl. 29s. S&W did make a 29-4 with full lug 3" bbl. and unfluted cylinder in 1989, but it wasn't listed as a LH. GB has a very nice one of these that they're calling a LH, asking $2800!

Now back to your original question...I would not mess with that revolver if it were mine. Any 3" bbl. Model 29s are relatively rare and desirable. You didn't mention its mechanical condition or what type of stocks, but if it's smooth and tight action that's great. In its present condition, you probably couldn't hurt the finish much more by carrying and shooting it, and it would make a fine defensive revolver for hiking in the woods or carrying in your vehicle. But as others have said, if you decide to buy it then it's your revolver. If it will make you happy to have it refinished, go for it. You also didn't mention the asking price, but "as is" it would be an $1K revolver to me. Asking prices for LH 29-3 revolvers in VG condition on GB are $2500-$3000. Good luck with your decision.

The 1989 version with unfluted cylinder is the Hunter Classic. I have the 629 version. And yes, they ain’t cheap

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Not bad looking at all. I don’t believe I would want to refinish that one.

I like it. My 29-3 has rust under the right side grip. I think mine may have been stored that way. But I got mine cheep , so I don't complain.

Yeah I’d leave that alone and carry it. I believe this is what you have.

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Unless the finish looks a lot rougher in person than the photos show, a unique piece like that is going to be worth less after refinishing than it is currently. “Leave it alone” gets my vote as well.

I'd leave it alone too. Doesn't look abused, just used.

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Heavily armed old man.

My LH 3" is a 29-3. Lucked out as they're a rare bird up in Canada & the only one I've seen.

Didn't take long to make up my mind on that one.

Good luck,

Al

So I suppose my next question would be what’s a good price to pay? Looks like it may not be a Lew Horton after all based on what some of you have said.

In that shape you might get it for under $1k. Hard to say. Most are safe queens asking twice that.

That gun is perfect on the outside, worn enough that you won't mind shooting it, nice enough to be proud of! The more important thing is how it functions, like carry up, hand ratchet interface smoothness, forcing cone integrity, b/c gap!

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Richard Gillespie
FBINA 102

DeSantis makes a few styles of holster for those. I liked them so much I got both tan and black. I prefer speed strips for spare loads, but only have a black carrier.

Ivan

The perfect shooter! Just clean her up with CLR and carry/shoot her until your heart’s content.

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213th FBINA

That’s a nice gun. If you like it, buy it and shoot it.

But, I have to say, it’s amazing how often the same question about refinishing perfectly good shooter grade revolvers comes up, over, and over, and over again.

With that said, I’d like to recommend the search tool on the S&W forum. There’s a ton of great info already posted. Some of the best posts are quite lengthy and members may not want to rewrite the same stuff repeatedly.

Example, (just two weeks ago!):
Rebluing/cost quality??

Honestly, it shows honest wear and use, rather than spend money on refinishing, I'd spend that money on a good holster and some ammo. Either swap the rubber grips for some wood stocks or keep the metal under the rubber clean and well oiled or waxed. Rubber stocks have no wicking ability, so any moisture under the rubber gets held against the metal of the revolver.

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VCDL, GOA, NRA

I don’t think it’s a Lew Horton either. To me, that is a $900 gun, maybe even $850, not the $1250 being asked for it. Would make a good woods carry gun. Just my opinion.

As others have said, a nice shooter/carry gun. A little Flitz with a soft hand will do wonders on that one. If you must refinish it, consider getting it engraved by a known, reputable engraver.

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Even older, even crankier....

I agree with the asking price being too high. I offered him $1000 and he refused so it’s staying put.

That is a very generous offer that the seller should have accepted.

Are you talking about the 6" with the full underlug and the 4-step front sight for shooting steel silhouette matches - the Classic Hunter?

I've not seen a model referred to as a Hunter Classic.

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Send lawyers, guns & money...

I agree. His loss. He came back with $1200 and a little ammo. I passed.

Yes the 3” 629 was called the classic hunter. Code # 103650. 3200 guns in 1989. The 29-4 version from 1989 was code # 101251. 2532 guns. I don’t believe the 29 had the classic hunter designation. That was only the stainless version.

Actually I believe the 29-3 was the first of the Classic Hunter series. They actually had a contest to name it, and the winning entry got one of the early production guns.
Here are links to a couple of threads about them - and there are many more.
Model 29 classic hunters
Model 29-3 Classic Hunter 6" with silhoutte front sight - 1987 Lew Horton PICS ADDED

It is interesting that they actually developed into the "Classic Hunter" SERIES of revolvers with barrel lengths from 3" up to 10-3/8" in both blued and stainless steel.

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Send lawyers, guns & money...

Yeah I don’t think most would associate a 3” gun with hunting. But like the advertisement says, it’s a companion sidearm. I looked again in S&W 4th edition and the 3” 29-4 is not referred to as the Classic Hunter but the longer barreled versions are.