29-2,,, Every young man's dream

[CHARLIE699]

"As we grow older",,,,, Don't you just cringe when someone (especially a Doctor) says that???. Born in the 50's, growing up in the 60's & 70's, we are products of that world. As a kid, we read Skeeter Skelton, and Elmer Keith. We watched the Lone Ranger, Hopalong Cassidy, John Wayne and "Dirty" Harry Calahan. THE revolver was the S&W Model 29. If you did not have one, you wanted one. Mid-70's, these were still scarce in my area and guys waited on lists to find their chance. Life progressed and I just never found the right one.
Recently, I found one I could not pass up. It was born in 1964 and likely shipped in 4th quarter of that year. It appears to be factory-fired only. It was in a later Type "B" case with re-covered liner. Maybe I'll trip over the proper "A" liner someday. Until then, it resides here,,,,,.

It "made my day"!!!!

 

[steve61]

I do like a 29!

 

[skywag]

It's a beauty.

 

[65Whelen]

You hit it right on the head, as another one born in the '50s and growing up in the '60s & '70s THE gun was the 29. It's the first revolver I wanted to buy but I was way behind the curve on finding one thanks to Dirty Harry. So, I settled and bought a brand new Colt SSA (another gun I wish I still had) but it still wasn't a 29.

The Colt had to be the number TWO gun to get thanks to all the westerns we watched and another cop, Matt Dillon.

 

[Engineer1911]

Yours is a winner!

I started with a Ruger Super Blackhawk, traded it for a M52 Target pistol, bought a Ruger Redhawk, traded it, and finally acquired a M629 with 8-3/8" barrel.

 

[geeollie]

I love your 29! It is a beauty.

But let me add fodder to this thread....born in the 50's, growing up in the 60-70's, THE gun was the 1873 Peacemaker custom made with a 1 ounce trigger.

Paladin:
I don't think you got a very good look at this gun while you had it. The balance is perfect. This trigger responds to a pressure of one ounce. If you look carefully in the barrel you'll see the lines of the rifling. It's a rarity in a hand weapon. This gun was handcrafted to my specifications and I rarely draw it unless I mean to use it. Would you care for a demonstration?

 

[AJ]

Nice revolver. I bought one new in 1975 (IIRC) for $425. It was a 29-2 4". Shot well out to 125 yards, back when I had much younger eyes.

 

[bill-in-texas]

Nice find, Charlie!

And, 1964!…
-my birth year.

I've had representative firearms from so many years; somehow, '64 seems to elude me. Oh, well.

That's a beautiful Model 29. Congratulations!

-Bill

 

[jdlii]

There were two primary sporting goods/gun shops during the time I grew up in Jackson, TN. One was Travis Johnson's Sporting Goods and the other was Hamm House. Both were downtown and approximately one block apart. While my mother was shopping, I would head to one and then the other.

When the first mall was built, West of downtown, a Gateway Sporting Goods store opened. I remember pressing my nose against the glass to look at the Mod. 29 in the presentation case. The other two stores didn't have one in stock for months and there was a waiting list for those who wanted to buy a Mod. 29.

I didn't acquire my first S&W .44 magnum until I was in my 50's. It isn't a 29 but, a 626 Classic DX and is one of my constant companions during deer season. That being said, a Mod. 29 with a 6" barrel and blue finish is, IMO, one of the finest looking handguns a person could own!

Yours is a beautiful example. I do have a 29-4 with a barrel half that length though.

 

[USBP SW]

It's good to see my contemporaries that share my passion for the finest firearms. I am grateful to Dirty Harry and everyone lusting after the Model 29. Fortunately for me, everyone overlooked a beautiful new Model 57, because it wasn't a .44 mag. and I ended up with it. I felt that it would hold me over until I could find the Model 29. I ended up liking it better. When I was finally able to find a Model 29, it turned out to be a used 29-1, the store owner said that if I wanted it, I'd have to pay the full new retail price of $235.50. I ended up the 29-2 later.

 

[lrb1200]

Yeah, I can relate.

Bought this 6 1/2" new in 1974 for $450.

$450 for a 23 year old in 1974 was a boatload of money,
but I was going to "have it", and that's all there was to it.

Shot the bejezuzzus out of it for well over a decade.

It'll never leave my possession.

 

[SLT223]

Great gun! That's a nice bright set cokes on it. I probably would have paid too much for that if had the chance.

 

[luvsmiths]

Absolutely great gun! Congratulations! I just love it when a plan comes together!
[ame]https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=XwozVKOkzz4[/ame]
Oh.... and when you "trip over" that Clamshell case, make sure you have 500 bucks or so in your hand to break your fall!

 

[Rodan]

Beautiful 29!

It took a few years of looking to find mine. I've always been partial to the 4" barrels myself.

A 6 1/2" 29-2 is on the 'list', however...

 

[KFW]

Just absolutely beautiful gun. I love my 29-2 and will never part with it. Congratulations and thanks for sharing.

 

[Hair Trigger]

THE revolver was the S&W Model 29. If you did not have one, you wanted one.
Recently, I found one I could not pass up. It was born in 1964 and likely shipped in 4th quarter of that year. It appears to be factory-fired only.

It "made my day"!!!!

Mighty fine, mighty fine. An unfired M29, wow. Very sweet, congrats.

It's good to see my contemporaries that share my passion for the finest firearms. I am grateful to Dirty Harry and everyone lusting after the Model 29. Fortunately for me, everyone overlooked a beautiful new Model 57, because it wasn't a .44 mag. and I ended up with it. I felt that it would hold me over until I could find the Model 29. I ended up liking it better. When I was finally able to find a Model 29, it turned out to be a used 29-1, the store owner said that if I wanted it, I'd have to pay the full new retail price of $235.50. I ended up the 29-2 later.

Don't you wish you'd paid full retail for that dash-1 now?

I have also gravitated to the M57 as my favorite. I have a very nice commemorative M29-2, but it shall remain unfired and I'm happy to have my "S" M57 (and a M58) to use in its place.

 

[USBP SW]

Mighty fine, mighty fine. An unfired M29, wow. Very sweet, congrats.


Don't you wish you'd paid full retail for that dash-1 now?

I have also gravitated to the M57 as my favorite. I have a very nice commemorative M29-2, but it shall remain unfired and I'm happy to have my "S" M57 (and a M58) to use in its place.

I did buy the29-1 and shortly afterwards, an acquaintance offered to sell me his first year Model 57, for $180.00 (the presentation cases were stolen several years ago) but I still have the revolvers.

 

[Doc44]

Model 29-2 shipped in March 1973 during the post-Dirty Harry craze to have one of these revolvers.

Bill

 

[S.B.]

Congratulations on you find. With mine I keep a badge and inspector's shield case all movie props of course.
Steve

 

[Pizza Bob]

Like the OP, born in the 50's (the very early 50's) and grew up in the 60's and 70's reading Elmer & Skeeter.

I lived in NE PA in the 70's and there was a large department store in Eynon, PA called Sugarman's. In an age where other gunstores were gouging prices on N-frame Smiths, Sugarman's was discounting them. You just had to get on a list and wait.

I did just that and got on their list for both a Model 25-2 and a Model 29-2, both with 6 1/2" barrels. In July of 1977 I got the call for the 25-2 and paid $229.95. Later that same year, I got the call for the 29-2 and paid $269.95. Still have them both, with quite a few others that I have accumulated over the years.

Both came with presentation cases, which I also still have, although in need of jcelect's services. The stocks on the 25-2 are early monogrips by Guy Hogue.

Adios,

Pizza Bob