29-2 test fired only

[Joel6180]

I bought a 29-2 the other day at the pawn shop. I "needed" a 44 mag shooter. The pawn shop worker said the gun owner had pawned the gun many times, but died this go-round. Anyway, I went through my normal routine of pulling the stocks and oiling/rig/ballistol on the rusty areas for softening & removal. Well yesterday I started cleaning the barrel and cylinder chambers, and I just couldn't seem to get one of the chambers to look "wet" with CLP. Then I noticed 5 chambers are deep blue color, the 6th is not. Then I looked at the cylinder face, and only the one chamber face had powder burn. Then I looked at the recoil shield, and the only evidence of a fired case is on the firing position. I have attached some images, but they don't show what I'm talking about like the naked eye.

Could someone had a gun long enough to let it get rust, and never fire it? The barrel and cylinder are a bit "plum" compared to the frame. Always funny mysteries in gun collecting.

 

[29aholic]

Typically, a test fired only by the factory would have been every other chamber. Not just one. He could have fired one round and figured he had enough, possibly left the empty in it for an extended amount of time.

 

[Joel6180]

I got to thinking, maybe one round after a reblue?

 

[29aholic]

I got to thinking, maybe one round after a reblue?

Post some more pics, but what I can see does not appear to be a reblue.

 

[Joel6180]

More images

More images:

 

[Joel6180]

Ptting

Rusty spot:

 

[29aholic]

Does not appear to be reblued, just looks like it has been sitting around a while. A fairly late 29-2 as it appears to be a 6" barrel. I'll stick with my original answer that a round was fired in that chamber and the case left in it in a humid environment.

 

[rog8732]

One round of full house .44 magnum is plenty enough for lots of people !

 

[Joel6180]

Well, I intend to shoot a mess of light reloads through it and make all the chambers look the same. Maybe put some holster wear on the pits at the end of the barrel.

 

[bigggbbruce]

I bought a Mdl.15 unfired but with a rust damaged finish. Sat unattended for 40 years in a drawer.

I shoot it regularly to make up for lost time..

 

[29aholic]

Well, I intend to shoot a mess of light reloads through it and make all the chambers look the same. Maybe put some holster wear on the pits at the end of the barrel.

My load I have used for several decades now is 7gr IMR700X and a 240gr cast bullet. It is about a 980fps load, so not a magnum more like a manly 44spl. You get almost 1000rds from a pound of powder and it shoots very, very good.