29 no dash with 8 3/8" barrel

[mmande]

I recently purchased a Mod 29 with a 8 3/8" barrel and Roy says it shipped in June, 1959. The "big book" says the 8" 29s were introduced in 1958. The very few I could find close to #S186436 in the ship date request portion of the forum were also shipped in the first half of 1959. Do any of the S&W experts out there know if there were any 8 inchers shipped in 1958 or any idea which one might have been the first?
Just curious about these early long tubes all of a sudden.
Thanks in advance;
Mike

 

[JP@AK]

According to the Cross & Jinks book, the first .44 Magnum with an 8 3/8" barrel was S180386. It went to the Sales Department on November 7, 1958. Bill and Roy go on to say that regular shipments of .44 Magnum revolvers with this barrel length started in January, 1959. It first makes its appearance in the AMC in January of that year.

The final sentence in that paragraph is this:
"It should also be pointed out no .44 Magnum with an 8 3/8" barrel and 5-screw frame is known to exist."

 

[JP@AK]

The book mentioned in my previous post shows a copyright date of 2019. In Roy's and Bill's earlier booklet, dated 2011, the lowest number of a .44 Magnum with the long barrel (original) listed is S177349, which shipped on August 17, 1959.

They do show two units with the long barrel that shipped in May and July of 1957. But both of those started out with 6 1/2" barrels; the 8 3//8" barrels were fitted to those guns later.

 

[RKmesa]

S187078 shipped September 17, 1959...





I'd love to see some photos of S186436, if you do not mind.

 

[nutsforsmiths]

Here's a Pre-29 5 screw with an 8 3/8" barrel. Serial number is S167228. But, alas, it shipped with a 6.5" barrel on July 11, 1956. Then sent back to the factory and had the 8" put on and sent back in the early style box it is now in.

 

[Doc44]

S187044 presented to General Curtis E. LeMay on December 5, 1958. Click on the photo for a better look. All of the 44 Magnums shipped in 1958 I have seen or owned have no model number stamped in the yoke cut and the windage adjustment screw on the rear sight has a flat head.

Bill

 

[SVT28]

29 no dash with 8 3/8" barrel

I have one of the other 5 screw 44 magnums with factory fitted long tube. Started out as a 6.5" gun and the original owner who was an Alaska State Troopers sent it back to the factory for the longer barrel. Love this gun

SVT28

Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

 

[JP@AK]

Alaska State Patrol

Alaska State Troopers. They are proud of their name, and picky.

A very nice piece you have there. Complete with the Cokes. Excellent!