29-2 with box. Original box? Updated: Letter in Post 25

[Dump1567]

After not taking my own advice (buy when you first see it, as it will be gone when you go back), I let this 29-2 sit at my local Pawn Shop for a few days after first seeing it. The polished bluing called to me, and I went back today and picked it up for $1100 OTD. Ser# is N132xxx, 6 1/2" barrel & it came with the Pachs shown in the first pic. Condition is Excellent+ with a few minor scratches and muzzle bluing wear. Otherwise it hardy looks shot. Someone also engraved they're initials into the gun, but at least it looks professional. I'm not a collector, so I didn't really care about the initials. I just like the idea of having a Dirty Harry gun. Luckily I had some old N frame Stocks to put on it.

It also came with this box. It has red felt taped over white styrofoam with cutouts for the gun & original tools (not included). I don't know anything about N frame wood boxes. Could this be original to the gun? Or someone's project? Thanks.

**Update**
So I found some other N frame stocks for this. They're not as nice as the condition of the overall gun, but for $35 I couldn't complain. And the Pawn shop assured me they were K frame grips and won't fit the 29 I just bought from them.

I took this out to shoot today. I was hesitant, as the thing looked like it had never been shot and wasn't sure I could clean it to the condition it was in. But I don't do safe queens. So I put a few cylinders of light .44 spl. through it.

And since I was taking this .44, I'd figure I'd take my other .44 mag out too.

 

[GaryHK]

Looks like an original box that has been re-felted. I don't think 29 boxes ever used red felt, only blue?

 

[Dump1567]

Looks like an original box that has been re-felted. I don't think 29 boxes ever used red felt, only blue?

I thought it was someone's project, but when I saw the cutouts for the tools in the styrofoam, it got my hopes up. And come to think of it, when I pulled out the insert, the box did have some bluish residue under the insert.

 

[GaryHK]

If you look at a slew of other boxes during that same era, the clasp and corners are exactly the same shape and number of dovetails or whatever you call them. If someone duplicated one, they went WAY out of their way to do so...it wouldn't make sense to do that and then use the wrong color felt.

 

[Doc44]

This is what the presentation for your Model 29-2 originally looked like. The top and bottom inserts are covered with a blue synthetic material that deteriorated quite rapidly resulting in the inserts requiring to be recovered. Most collectors use a dark blue cloth, but red and green are also popular.

Some of the bottom inserts have the slots for your fingers (shown), but some do not.

Just an observation, but the condition of the stocks doesn't appear to match the condition of the 44 Magnum. Possibly replacements for the originals?

Bill

 

[Dump1567]

Just an observation, but the condition of the stocks doesn't appear to match the condition of the 44 Magnum. Possibly replacements for the originals?

The stocks I added. It came with Pachs.

 

[Doc44]

Sorry, you said that and I missed it.

Bill

 

[jcelect]

Case

The picture Doc44 posted is the case you have in original condition. This type of liners was used from about 1969-1974 and your N132xxx serial number was probably shipped around the end of this time period! There is no way of determining if your gun was shipped with that case!
jcelect

 

[robertrwalsh]

Mine also had the tool set in it.

 

[raljr1]

Just change your name to Lawrence John Miller and you're set.

Robert

 

[153]

My Old 29-2 was in the same N13XXXX serial block And came with the box and tools.

The shop I worked for back in the mid 1970's found the if you ordered engraved initials on the side plate, S&W would expedite your order. This was when it was almost impossible to find a model 29. The shop owner ordered several revolvers with the initials M A G, they looked identical to the OP's.

 

[Dump1567]

My Old 29-2 was in the same N13XXXX serial block And came with the box and tools.

The shop I worked for back in the mid 1970's found the if you ordered engraved initials on the side plate, S&W would expedite your order. This was when it was almost impossible to find a model 29. The shop owner ordered several revolvers with the initials M A G, they looked identical to the OP's.

So this could have been a factory thing? And would a letter reveal that?

 

[Doc44]

A letter of authenticity will confirm if the initials on the side plate were engraved by S&W. Over the years, engraving of names or initials was a common practice.

If you request a letter, include a photo of the initials on the side plate.

Bill

 

[lrb1200]

The first two photos are what most of the cases from that period
wound up looking like.

The last photo is what it looks like after member Joe Cebull
gets done with restoring it.

 

[Dump1567]

The first two photos are what most of the cases from that period
wound up looking like.

The last photo is what it looks like after member Joe Cebull
gets done with restoring it.

Is the fitted gun and tool area white styrofoam under the blue felt?

Looks like I'll send off for a letter. Didn't even know this was a thing.

Does anyone have any pics of examples of name or initials they can post?

Here's mine.

 

[Doc44]

This 44 Magnum was made by S&W for General Curtis LeMay in December 1958. The L and M on the two revolvers certainly look similar. Click on the photo for a better look.

It is probably the lighting, but I assume the initials are blued and not cut through the blue (if the latter, S&W probably did not do the engraving).

Bill

 

[Dump1567]

This 44 Magnum was made by S&W for General Curtis LeMay in December 1958. The L and M on the two revolvers certainly look similar. Click on the photo for a better look.

It is probably the lighting, but I assume the initials are blued and not cut through the blue (if the latter, S&W probably did not do the engraving).

Bill

Looks pretty close to me. Letter request w/pic is going out in the mail tomorrow.

 

[rubiranch]

This is how my 29-2 came to me.



A friend of mine told me the original lining was blue and told me to see if the red lining would come off and it did. It was just fabric and luckily it wasn't glued to the original blue. I was a happy camper.

I got the correct cleaning rod from him too.

 

[dasnake]

Me too.

I got mine 20 years ago, box was relined with red also, I like the red, mine is # N73583, same reasoning for me, Dirty Harry 6.5, I put diamond cokes on, love it, got the letter from Roy, dated may 9/73. Enjoy and good luck.

 

[Dump1567]

I got mine 20 years ago, box was relined with red also, I like the red, mine is # N73583, same reasoning for me, Dirty Harry 6.5, I put diamond cokes on, love it, got the letter from Roy, dated may 9/73. Enjoy and good luck.

So I'm guessing mine will come back early 1974? This seems to be around the Dirty Harry craze. So ordering with initials engraved to speed things up (as posted in this thread) seems reasonable.

I'll post my letter when it comes in.