29-8 Mountain Gun

[22hipower]

Happened on a gun I hadn't seen before at last weekend's gun show. With a few exceptions I usually pass on newer S&Ws but bought this one as I hadn't seen an example before. Read up on it in the Standard Catalog and a few earlier posts here; made in 2003 (PC 161236FC) as a "Stocking Dealer Special" and another version (3 screw; PC 163604) in 2006 I think for Lew Horton. I assume that "stocking dealer special" means "we have some guns we don't know what to do with and we'll give them to you for a great price since you're a captive distribution channel." Someone theorized, maybe in an earlier thread that these were made from leftover Heritage frames from 2001. Anyway, I am quite impressed with the polishing and blueing and it locks up as tight as any S&W revolver I own. I don't have a a "Classic" blue finished gun to compare it at hand but it seems better finished than I remember the Classics to be. Anyone have an idea as to how many of these were made? Haven't shot it yet but if it shoots as well as it looks and feels I don't understand why S&W didn't make a lot more of them.

Jeff
SWCA #1457

 

[The Norseman]

S&W 29-8 Mountain Gun

Congratulations on your new purchase. I like it, Mountain Gun
with lock/no lock, Blued/Stainless Steel, is a Great Revolver.
I'm always on the look out for them.

Thank you for the Story and nice Pictures.

Mountain Guns Forever.

 

[colt_saa]

There used to be several categories of different Smith & Wesson dealers. Those that had a few things and mostly ordered when customers wanted something and then there were Stocking Dealers.

Stocking dealers had a much larger S&W inventory. They had kind of a Code of conduct agreement with Smith & Wesson.

Smith & Wesson used to offer "Stocking Dealer Specials" as you might guess, these were only sold to Stocking Dealers

A SDS had no predetermined production quantity. Once the SDS was announced, there was a set time to place an order for the product. When that time ended, however many orders were placed is what was built

Sometimes the number built is known, but often it is now.

 

[Pizza Bob]

There were actually three variations of the 29-8 Mountain Gun as follows:

The first 29-8 Mountain Gun was a stocking dealer special built on the four screw Classic frame. It was equipped with Ahrend's stocks.

The second Mountain Gun is a Talo Distributor Special. There were one thousand produced. It is built on the carbon steel three-screw frame not used since ca 2000. The Talo guns are equipped with Altamont stocks that are partially stippled and have "Mountain" laser engraved low on the butt. Speculation is that these frames were "found" and Smith elected to use them for this special run.

Additional research has revealed that there is a third iteration of the 29-8 Mountain Gun. This a limited run for exclusive sale by Cabela's. Pure speculation on my part, but I believe this was a way for Smith to dispose of the production overrun from the Talo 29-8 Mountain Guns as these are also built on the three-screw frame. In support of this is that the alphabetic serial prefix for the Cabela's guns follows the Talo guns (CRY on my Talo and CTU on the one example of the Cabela's gun that I've seen).

The two guns are identical in all respects except two. First, the Cabela's gun has the inscription "Outfitter Series" within a spread of elk antlers, laser etched on the side plate. Second, it uses a S&W branded rubber Hogue monogrip in place of the Talo Altamonts – both differences easily accomplished at minimal cost. Dependent on the number of three-screw frames available at the time, the Cabela's version may be the rarest of the three.

My 29-8 Talo Mountain Gun...

Adios,

Pizza Bob

 

[series guy]

Very nice! I like mine in .45 Colt. Nice choice of stocks.

 

[22hipower]

There were actually three variations of the 29-8 Mountain Gun as follows:

The first 29-8 Mountain Gun was a stocking dealer special built on the four screw Classic frame. It was equipped with Ahrend's stocks.

Pizza Bob

Thanks for the additional information; especially the Cabelas model; have never come across one of those either. I do have a question about the frame though for the "stocking dealer special" version. According to Roy the Classic line was introduced in 2007. As this version of the 29-8 was manufactured in 2003 it appears they couldn't have been built on Classic frames, unless there was another version of Classic earlier than the one to which Roy refers?

Response in 2017 from Roy J in the SWCA members section: "the Classic line of handguns was introduced in 2007, at that catalog there 4 Model 36; 3 with 2 inch barrels, and 3 with 3 inch barrels all in the three finishes in blue, nickel, and case harden frames; 3 Model 21s in all three finishes; 3Model 22s in all three finishes; 3 Model 22 of 1917 again with all three finishes; Model 29 in both blue and nickel and two Model 29 laser engraved in blue and nickel. These were the original introduction Classic Models. I hope that this helps."

Seems odd to have three versions of the 29-8 MG and none now. Must have had something to do with demand but I think they could sell some now if they had them.

Jeff
SWCA #1457

 

[The Norseman]

Guns Out

Pizza Bob - Interesting you mentioned the Cabela's Outfitter Series.
Since the S&W MG COS was mentioned...…

Former Safe Queen, Circa early 2000 Smith & Wesson Model
629-6 Revolver, Swing Out Cylinder Hand Ejector, 44
Remington Magnum Cartridge, 6 Shot. Stainless Steel made,
Frame type "N" Round Butt Grip Frame w/Side
Plate Key Hole for Internal Safety Lock, 4" Barrel, Marked
Mountain gun, Adjustable Rear Sight, S&W Rubber Finger
Groove Grips. Special Cabela's Outfitter Series w/Laser
Engraved Elk Rack. Found/Purchased in Fall 2016.

It seems there isn't a lot one can find about these Revolvers.
Great Thread. Thank you. I'm always learning something here.

 

[Pizza Bob]

@22hipower & @norseman:

I used the term Classic frame simply to denote that it had the four-screw side plate. This was not necessarily S&W's naming convention.

The four-screw frame was introduced in 2001 when the frame was changed to accommodate the internal lock. It was, of course, used for the carbon steel framed classic series of guns.

The internal lock was commensurate with the 29-8 and the 629-6 models - both in 2001. The four-screw frame did not carry over to the stainless guns.

Adios,

Pizza Bob

 

[22hipower]

@22hipower & @norseman:

The four-screw frame was introduced in 2001 when the frame was changed to accommodate the internal lock. It was, of course, used for the carbon steel framed classic series of guns.

Pizza Bob

As the Heritage guns were introduced in 2001 were the frames for the 29-8 MGs possibly left over from those guns? Kind of makes sense that S&W would have built a four screw frame for the Heritage series but since that fourth screw presumably served no real purpose I assume that was why it was not carried over to the other two 29-8 MGs or the later stainless frames.
That seems the likely scenario to me, is there any other reason why S&W would have used a four screw frame for these MGs? Thanks.

Jeff
SWCA #1457

 

[colt_saa]

As the Heritage guns were introduced in 2001 were the frames for the 29-8 MGs possibly left over from those guns? Kind of makes sense that S&W would have built a four screw frame for the Heritage series but since that fourth screw presumably served no real purpose I assume that was why it was not carried over to the other two 29-8 MGs or the later stainless frames.
That seems the likely scenario to me, is there any other reason why S&W would have used a four screw frame for these MGs? Thanks.

Jeff
SWCA #1457

The 4 screw style N-frames introduced with the Heritage series revolvers continued on in production. They were used on Model 25s, 27s, 29s and 57s.

These 4 screw style frames are still being used on the nickel or blue steel N-frame revolvers of today, eighteen years later

 

[Pizza Bob]

The 4 screw style N-frames introduced with the Heritage series revolvers continued on in production. They were used on Model 25s, 27s, 29s and 57s.

These 4 screw style frames are still being used on the blue steel N-frame revolvers of today, eighteen years later.

^^^^
This

It was the 3-screw frames that were phased out. That is why I surmised that, at the time of the Talo and subsequent Cabela's Mountain Guns, someone found a cache of 3-screw frames in the warehouse. S&W never lets anything go to waste, so they utilized them for the 1000 gun run of the Talo's and whatever was leftover for the Cabela's guns.

As I said, pure speculation.

Adios,

Pizza Bob

 

[22hipower]

So while we're speculating, were all three of the 29-8 MGs "targets of opportunity" rather than planned products? All three being some form of clean up from previous unsold runs rather than the result of specific product development plans?

The four screw frame makes sense from a marketing perspective associated with "Heritage" and "Classic" product lines but did S&W have four inch tapered barrels laying around too? Doesn't seem to make sense from a production perspective if the fourth screw is functionally not needed, stainless equivalents will be three screw, and tapered barrels were apparently not all that much in demand at the time.

I know, kind of "how many angels can dance on the head of a pin question" but it would be interesting to know how these product decisions were made.

Jeff
SWCA #1457

 

[Engine49guy]

There was another Blue Mountain,
In 1995 300 Model 29-6 Mountain Guns were ordered to commemorate the 25th Anniversary of the S&W Collector's Association.
Supposedly some were non embellished not sure how many.
BTW , These have a hammer mounted firing pin and no internal lock.

"Image Courtesy of Colt_SAA"

 

[Joed49]

You guys have me all confused. I own a 29-8, shipped March 20, 2003. Product code 161236FC shipped in a black plastic box limited stocking dealer special. However, mine did not come with Ahrends grips, just a rubber grip shown in photo #1.

The original grip was horrible and I added a set of S&W Walnut presentation grips in photo #2.

This was my first S&W with lock. I doubt you could get me to part with it, one of the best shooters I own.

 

[colt_saa]

There was another Blue Mountain,
In 1995 300 Model 29-6 Mountain Guns were ordered to commemorate the 25th Anniversary of the S&W Collector's Association.
Supposedly some were non embellished not sure how many.
BTW , These have a hammer mounted firing pin and no internal lock.

Nice revolver

Only 135 revolvers were produced in this VERY deep blue finish. 129 were embellished and 6 remained unembellished

The revolver pictured above was the last one to be embellished

These have a hammer mounted firing pin and no internal lock.

The lock did not get integrated into the revolvers until after Saf-T-Hammer bought Smith & Wesson from Tompkins in 2001

 

[Muley Gil]

I notice that the 1995 Mountain Gun that Engine49guy posted had the black powder chamfer on the cylinder, while the newer M29-8 Mountain Guns don't have this feature.

 

[hkcavalier]

I have one of those early SDS 29-8 MGs.

I'm still hoping someone can shed some light on the number made. I believe it's low, but these pop up on here fairly regularly.