29-2 Questions

[dotdsd334]

I found this M29-2 locally. Seller advises serial # is N129XXX. 6 1/2 barrel, P&R. No box, no papers, no original stocks. Gun comes as is. Can anyone help out with date of birth and a good price? Assuming timing and lockup is good, it looks to be 90%+. All I have is a few photos to go off of. Any help would be much appreciated.

 

[VM]

Gun comes as is. Can anyone help out with date of birth and a good price?

right about when the first Dirty Harry movie came out - early 70's
$500ish

 

[Doc44]

The 29-2 dates to 1974. A 90 percent gun would be in the $450 range as it has little collector value, but should be a great revolver to shoot.

Bill

 

[Art Doc]

Yup. W/O original stocks and box to me a $450 +/- gun. A nice set of correct target stocks will set you back $75 - $100. The case is worth about the same. So a similar gun with original accessories sells for around $700.

 

[gkitch]

Yes, $450 is a fair street price on this one. All too often, sellers seem to want to pretend that rubber grips and wear do not affect value at all! They do. Walk away when he insist on $600 (or $550).

 

[M29since14]

I don't think you could buy that gun for $450 in my neck of the woods, but I have not been actively in the market for some time. My general experience (locally) is that any early '70s Model 29 in good shape is going to run in excess of $500 - and I certainly don't think that is unreasonable, given the price of a new 29-10. If the gun is OK mechanically, I would not expect to get it for less than $500-$550. If it has mechanical problems, or serious finish problems, then less.

The finish on that gun does not look bad, from what we can see in the photos. I would say it deserves further "checking out." If you are buying it without inspection, I would certainly be sure to get a 1-3 day inspection/return understanding with the seller - in writing.

The Hogue grips are a bad sign, IMHO - or at least something to be leery of. If any finish damage has occurred (particularly to the sideplate), it is unlikely another type of grip will conceal or minimize appearance of the damage, due to their unusual shape. Be sure to remove the grips and check for finish damage, if that is something that would concern you regarding your intended use for the gun.

 

[dotdsd334]

thanks fellas! Seller says $500 is bottom dollar (at least as of today) I am a bit nervous myself, I know he wont allow for inspection. He is not familar with revolvers and doesn't know how to check lock up/ timing etc. He inherited it from his father. I was a bit nervous about the grips, etc from the start. Who takes off beautiful wood and puts that ugly rubber on there for no reason!? Unless he will come down I think I am going to pass. Thanks again.

 

[A10]

If you want it, get it and don't regret the $500 cost. It looks good enough to gather the goodies to make it original again. The reason people put the goodyears on is because it makes the gun much more comfortable to shoot when firing magnum rounds. Chances are pretty good the original owner either lost the original wood or sold it separately.

 

[Retired W4]

I've got its younger nickel brother (N125K) and it is real accurate. Unfortunately mine has timing issues on two chambers and I'm still looking for a competent S&W smith to make it right. I would say, barring mechanical issues, $500 would be good around here.

 

[nipster]

It's worth $450 to collectors here. Everywhere else, that is a $600-$700 gun...

Keep that in mind when asking for valuations here.

I couldnt not tell you the last time I have seen any model 29 with a $450 asking price.

 

[KoiBoy]

If you can get a model 29 you like for $500, jump on it. How many of you guys that claim $450 is the market price would accept $450 for one of your shooters?

 

[nipster]

If you can get a model 29 you like for $500, jump on it. How many of you guys that claim $450 is the market price would accept $450 for one of your shooters?

Zero......

 

[Snakeshift]

It's worth $450 to collectors here. Everywhere else, that is a $600-$700 gun...

Keep that in mind when asking for valuations here.

I couldnt not tell you the last time I have seen any model 29 with a $450 asking price.

I can't second this enough. Around the DFW area any N-Frame that isn't beat to hell is going to go for at LEAST $500.

If the seller said $500 that's as good of a price as I've seen in a long, long time.

The days of sub $500 N-Frame are long gone in my neck of the woods.

 

[nipster]

I can't second this enough. Around the DFW area any N-Frame that isn't beat to hell is going to go for at LEAST $500.

If the seller said $500 that's as good of a price as I've seen in a long, long time.

The days of sub $500 N-Frame is long gone in my neck of the woods.

Yea, it really does people a disservice when people give them such misinformation. There was a thread where someone, actually a couple people said this guy's nicely nickeled pre-17 5 screw was worth $250. I mean, come on man...

 

[pharmer]

Looks like a $500 29 to me. I always overpay though. Joe

 

[lebomm]

A -2 shooter still hovers around $600 here in the Great Northwest.

Larry

 

[samandglove1]

Any 29 that is a -2 or older sells pretty quickly around Eastern Mass. if offered under $550, unless it has serious finish issues. Local collectors (including myself) would probably pass, but ordinary gun buyers up here would jump on the chance to pick up a P&R 44 Mag for the price of a Glock.

But if I needed a model 29 shooter, I would not have a problem with that price.

 

[gmiller0737]

I think $500 would be a fair price in these parts,Many times rubber grips were added to lessen felt recoil.

 

[dotdsd334]

update:
I let the seller linger on a $475 offer for a few days. We were about 3.5 driving hours from each other so that was factor as well, he wasn't willing to ship. After a few days he offered it to me for $400!!!! and claimed the local gun and coin shop offered to buy it from him for that. He needed the cash bad. I obviously told him I would take it for $400. We couldn't set up a meeting time and date fast enough for him. (5 days was just too long in his book) He sold it to gun and coin for what he claims in $400 but we all know he didn't get that for it. Too bad that 29-2 now sits in gun and coin display case. Hopefully someone can find and rescue it.

 

[A10]

No doubt it sits in that case at a $600 price tag, too.