29-2 3 Inch Question

[jr357m]

There is a 29-2 for sale in my area and the current owner is describing it as a 29-2 3 inch 'full custom' from the S&W Custom shop.

I did some research and could not find anything that indicated that they made 3 inch versions of the M29 until the -3.

Can anyone shed light on this for me? I am debating buying it, but before I make a long drive (200+ miles) to look at it in person, I wanted to get some feedback first from those more knowledegable than me about M29's.

Attached is the only image that the seller posted.

Thanks Much.

 

[GF1]

I've been around 29-2s during the time they were in production, owned several, studied the offerings, have never heard of a factory 3" gun. I've never heard of one even on special order.

Caveat Emptor

 

[Old Corp]

It appears that the rear sight is an aftermarket Millet.
I'd be careful. Good luck. Guess much of the decision is determined by price.

 

[Tom Kent]

I have a 629-1 in three inch with a round butt. That 29 appears to have a square butt. The barrel seems to be a legitimate 3" barrel. Could this be a Franken-Smith?

 

[jr357m]

Could be a rebarrel or a cut-down. The seller did note in an email that it was a 'full custom'. He also said that the serial number was a S&W Custom Shop number.

Does anyone know if the 29-2 had the serial number stamped on the barrel flat above the extractor rod?

I am gathering questions to ask the seller and one of them was to confirm that the serial numbers matched between the frame and barrel, and what the first part of the serial number is.

 

[Tom Kent]

I have a 29-2 and it does not have the serial number stamped on the barrel. The picture seems to have a pinned barrel. That would be consistent. I have never heard of the custom shot assigning new serial numbers. I am still thinking Franken-Smith.

 

[jjbrewst1]

Is it possibly a John Jovino Custom. I haven't heard of a 29-2 either in 3 inch.

 

[jr357m]

I just emailed the seller a small novel worth of questions.

Hopefully he will get back to me with a serial number, whether the numbers match between the frame, stocks, and possibly the barrel, and with any luck at all some hi-res pics.

I'll let you know what I find out.

 

[jr357m]

Is it possibly a John Jovino Custom. I haven't heard of a 29-2 either in 3 inch.

I looked up some images of Jovino customs and it seems that one of his signature mods was a convex rounding at the end of the shroud. This one has a concave leading edge which appears to be stock.

I am thinking (in decreasing order of likelihood)

1. A 29-3 3" barrel grafted and correctly pinned.

2. A 4" or longer barrel cut down with the front sights professionally reattached and the right side rollmark reapplied to keep it centered.

3. The holy grail lunchbox gun.

I will assume 1 or 2, and hope for 3... until I find out more.

 

[VM]

I looked up some images of Jovino customs and it seems that one of his signature mods was a convex rounding at the end of the shroud. This one has a concave leading edge which appears to be stock.

I am thinking (in decreasing order of likelihood)

1. A 29-3 3" barrel grafted and correctly pinned.

2. A 4" or longer barrel cut down with the front sights professionally reattached and the right side rollmark reapplied to keep it centered.

3. The holy grail lunchbox gun.

I will assume 1 or 2, and hope for 3... until I find out more.

agree with Number 1

 

[old bear]

Unless the seller has documentation from Smith and Wesson that the work was preformed in their custom shop, remember the old saw "buy the gun not the story."

 

[jr357m]

Unless someone else shows up on this forum with the gun in question we may never know it's true origin. The ad is no longer on the website where I found it, and I have not heard a peep out of the seller, so must assume that he either sold it or decided to hang onto it.

No biggie. It's not like there is a global shortage of interesting S&W's to blow my hard earned dollars on. Something else will pop up eventually that pushes my buttons.

 

[in8kaos]

Old Thread I know but.....

Here is my Custom 29-2 with a 3 inch barrel. Had to be custom, but don't know the history. Can anyone shed light? I know it is ported, trigger work, and the barrel cut down.

 

[City Hunter]

Same question with this 3 1/4 inches 29-2.
Original? Custom shop?
Thanks.