29-2 Questions

[NavyVet24]

I have an opportunity to buy a NIB 29-2 6" blue with presentation case, paperwork, and cardboard box for case. Two questions:

1. Is $1,500 too much?
2. If I buy it and shoot it, will I have devalued it?

Thanks in advance

 

[muddocktor]

I have an opportunity to buy a NIB 29-2 6" blue with presentation case, paperwork, and cardboard box for case. Two questions:

1. Is $1,500 too much?
2. If I buy it and shoot it, will I have devalued it?

Thanks in advance

1. Condition, condition, condition is the answer. There are NIB guns out there that were not stored right that will have freckling or outright rust issues, including under the grips or other normally not exposed areas. One in great shape and unfired except for the factory rounds and hasn't been dry fired a bunch (lack of turn line on cylinder) and with a presentation case in good shape with docs is worth that IMO.

2. Yes a word, yes you will lose a little value. But I buy mine with the expectation of shooting them at least occasionally so I take that into consideration. Since I don't plan to sell mine any time soon if at all, I don't worry about it.

 

[NavyVet24]

Hi Muddocktor - thanks for the reply. No turn line at all. No rust visible. I shoot everything I have, except the numbers matching P08 my wife's step-grandfather brought back from WWII with paperwork. It's in a display case.

 

[lamarw]

There are some unknowns here that greatly affect the value. What is the serial number prefix. If it is an S vs. an N prefix, then the revolver may bring a 25 to 50% premium. The 6" barrel is more scarce than the 6 & 1/2" barrel, but the 6 & 1/2" barrel might bring a 10% premium. (the above information provided on page 232 of Nahas/Supica's book "Standard Catalog of Smith & Wesson" 4th Edition.

 

[muddocktor]

Good to hear that you are both a shooter and collector. If you take care of it and clean it you should have minimal loss of monetary value, IMO. And I would also run more mid-power loads than anything through a -2 gun too, since it doesn't have the Endurance package like the -4E and later guns have. I also have a 6 1/2" 29-2 that is low round count in nickel and I shoot it occasionally too, but shoot my 29-6 Classic and 629-3 Classic more as they inherently have less value to most people as a collector than the older P&R guns.

BTW, we here at the SW forums love pics. And I for one would love to see that P08 your wife's step-grandpa brought back. I have a soft spot for Lugers too, even though I don't own one.

Oh, and one more thing. If the innards of the presentation case are messed up, there is a forum member here that does a dandy job of refurbishing the cases. Instead of that fuzzy stuff the S&W uses, he uses a good cloth type replacement. I have a brother who had his presentation case redone by him and to me, that is the way that S&W should have done the innards on the presentation cases to start with. He can also repair holes in the plastic mold/holder inside the box.

EDIT: Here is a pic of my 29-2 as it sits now, wearing a set of presentation grade Culina "Coke" style target stocks. They feel much better in hand when shooting than the stock S&W grips for me at least and look much better too.

 

[alwaysoutdoors]

If its a 6" No . Yes, if a truly 29-2 6.5" NIB with all the extras you stated.

Second question, is yes. But if youre gonna keep it , ok to shoot imo.

 

[Art Doc]

Was #2 a serious question?

 

[gman51]

I would shoot it simply because a gun seldom shot will still appear in great condition similar to one that has never been fired. Guns don't have an odometer proving it has zero use on it. I guess the turn line could be taken as an odometer. Someone can claim a gun with a turn line has never been shot but knowing that is true is hard to prove. I don't care if someone claims it probably had only been dry fired because if it has a turn line shows a big possibility it has been fired. Gun enthusiasts know dry firing a revolver will possibly cause a cylinder wear ring on the cylinder so they will in most cases not dry fire a gun either.
Wipe some grease on the cylinder and that will possibly stop a wear ring from appearing if only seldom shot.

I buy most guns for their reputation for accuracy and possibly great light precise trigger action. For that reason I am going to shoot it to see if it lives up to all the hype. That's what I paid the bug bucks for. I am not going to save a gun for the next guy to enjoy shooting. To each their own what they do with what they purchase. Guns most often are not something that gets displayed to show off. So get a full experience and enjoyment of the gun and shoot it. I think a safe queen that never gets shot and just sits in the dark is such a waste of a fine gun. But that is my opinion and we all know what opinions are worth.
My recently bought 1968 28-2 has only a very faint almost invisible turn line like it has maybe only been fired very little. Some model guns due to how they are made don't ride the cylinder with a lot of pressure all the way around like some guns. I have a 1968 Colt Python that basically doesn't have a turn line around the cylinder either.
I think the recoil back plate is a better tell tale of light or heavy use by how visible the circle left by the casing on the plate is.

 

[bigmoneylewis]

At $ 1,500 you would be paying the premium because the gun is "NIB".
To shoot it , , you will be dropping it down to around $ 1,200 after your first trip to the range. You also have to think about the future. Leave the gun NIB and expect an additional 20% increase in value over the next 5 years, shoot it and the value has leveled off with a 0 % increase in the next 5 years. If it were me personally, and I wanted a 29-2 to shoot and not as an investment , I would simply buy a real nice 97 % at $ 1,000 and shoot it and it will still be worth $ 1,000 next week.
I would leave the NIB gun to a collector who will appreciate the gun for exactly what it is , and save yourself hundreds of dollars in the process. After all, once you shoot this one a few times, and clean it a few times, , it then becomes a $ 1,000 97 % gun that is easily found available
on any given day at all the big gun shows and armslist and guns international and gunbroker etc. etc.
and can never again be the premium high-end quality collectable that it is in this moment in time.





Lewis
President of the Smith & Wesson preservation society

 

[stansdds]

I have an opportunity to buy a NIB 29-2 6" blue with presentation case, paperwork, and cardboard box for case. Two questions:

1. Is $1,500 too much?
2. If I buy it and shoot it, will I have devalued it?

Thanks in advance

1. If it is a 6 inch barrel, then it was made just before the switch to the 29-3 version and $1500 is about $300 too much.

The earlier production 29-2's are more desirable to collectors, so if it is a 6 1/2 inch barrel (and measure from muzzle to the front of the cylinder, not the frame), then $1500 for a true, NIB, presentation case in good condition, papers and box correct, would be the going rate.


If the serial number begins with the letter "S", give him $1500 cash, get from him a bill of sale, then give him a gift card to a really nice restaurant and run before he figures out what he really had.


2. Shooting any NIB firearm immediately decreases any collector value.

 

[NavyVet24]

Thanks to all. Yes, #2 was serious because I would definitely shoot it. I shoot everything I own. I think I am going to sit back and search a bit as per BigMoneyLewis and see if I can find a "great, but slightly used" one. Probably will not get case &* paperwork, but I don't plan on it going anywhere until I pass or get sent to the home anyway.

 

[lamarw]

I respect your decision. Last December, I purchased an unfired Model 29 no dash with coke stocks and a clamshell Presentation Case. I wrestled with whether to fire or preserve. So in March, I bought a Nickel Model 29-2 with a 4" barrel for shooting. The best of both worlds.

 

[Narragansett]

OF course you devalue it if you shoot it, but that is a personal choice.
The comment was made before about condition and rust. If you can, pull the grips, and look at the frame or get pictures. Rust happens under grips.

A serial number or major portion of it might help in your value question.

Good Luck!!

 

[stansdds]

Thanks to all. Yes, #2 was serious because I would definitely shoot it. I shoot everything I own. I think I am going to sit back and search a bit as per BigMoneyLewis and see if I can find a "great, but slightly used" one. Probably will not get case &* paperwork, but I don't plan on it going anywhere until I pass or get sent to the home anyway.

Good decision. If you just want a shooter grade Model 29, then definitely look for one that is not NIB. My guns are shooter grade and the ones that I bought new are not considered collectible, at least not in my lifetime.

 

[243winxb]

For $1500 , buy 2 new ones. Cant shoot the wood box. My wood box just collects dust.
"Smith And Wesson 44 Magnum" For Sale at BudsGunShop.com

The endurance package was not part of my early stainless 629 or 29. Both had the cylinder turning backward, after firing. Endurance Package Installed on 29-2

 

[22shtur]

LGS has a 29-2 with wooden box and tools for $950.00 out the door. If it has the 6 inch barrel and N serial number, is that a good buy. It will be shoot often, if purchased.

 

[lamarw]

22shtur, It all depends on condition. Then there is the mechanics, correct stocks or not, and the condition of the Presentation box. Do the tools come with it and any paperwork? There are many factors to consider.

I paid significantly more for the Factory Nickel 4" barrel 29-2 in the above post of mine. I may of overpaid, but I suspect in a couple of years it will not seem so.

 

[kevin in nh]

I was lucky X 10 when I said "next" if it falls thru.....4 months later I received a "are you still interested" from a forum member and for a second I said that's a lot (1500) shipped for a 1957 pre-29 with case and the tools. So glad I did and when I got it was beautiful and I shot it.....then the gee am I detracting from its value....to me no! It was in great condition and I keep it that way. My late wife's wedding gift ( 1979) was a Colt Python and we both shot it a lot...cleaned it a lot and it still 40 years later in great condition. I recently bought a 4" 29-2 and its mint....I wasn't going to shoot it but I am and will keep it clean and enjoy it.

 

[NavyVet24]

Bought a 29-2

I found this one - NIB for $1,000. Still plan to shoot it.

 

[NavyVet24]

Bought a 17-4 too

I guess it is an addiction. I found this 17-4 last week too. NIB, but only a blue box with no paperwork or tools. $727. I think I had a lucky week.