29 Silhouette

[keithsacane]

I think I posted the following in the wrong forum. I had it in the forum up until 1980, and I just read here that it may have been produced after 1980. Sorry. Anyway, I have a Model 29-3 Silhouette model revolver in very good condition. It shoots great, and recoil is fairly light ( for a 44) because of the weight. I bought it used a few years ago, and it hadn't been shot much. At the time I really wanted one with an 8 3/8 barrel, but my lack of patience got the better of me and I jumped on the 10 5/8. I am looking to start some gun trading with several different guns over a prolonged period of time, and in the end I would like to end up with 4" and 8 3/8" barreled 29's. With the demand for model 29's rising right now, what should be my priority right now? Do the 4" or the 8 3/8 bring higher prices in general? Is the silhouette model worth more than the other barrel lengths since they seem to be rarer? I'm not sure what I should be looking for when the time comes to start selling/trading.

 

[cgt4570]

I think the Silhouette will be one of those sleeper collectors. Not worth a ton now, but might be in a few years. I have one and love it. I bought it new in the box a couple years ago for $600. I fitted an unfluted cylinder to it and put smooth finger-groove wood combat grips on it. Really personalized it without harming it. You're right. All that tube really tames the recoil. As to date, I think they were all made in 1983.

 

[JT]

Model 29-3 Silhouette is an acquired taste, originally by silhouette shooters back in the day. The heavy loads being used for that sport were taking a toll on all the little parts required to keep the N-frame operating properly. Cylinders were rolling back under heavy recoil and the guns were just not designed to take that abuse. The Rugers and Dan Wessons could take it and were gaining a following amongst silhouette shooters. So S&W countered with the Endurance Package (EP) as introduced with the Model 29-3E engineering change in 1987. However, the Silhouette was dropped from the lineup.

So perhaps you should rethink getting rid of your gem and work to add the 4" and 8 3/8" models. The 4" is going to be worth more and will probably be more difficult to find. The 8 3/8" is definitely the better shooter, particularly with full loads. I baby my 29-2s with light loads and they will last forever. Get something else for the heavy stuff IMHO.

 

[keithsacane]

As far as heavy loads, I generally prefer to use my Ruger Bisley in 45 colt. It can handle 300 grain bullets at 1300 fps with no real problem, and it's fairly comfortable to shoot. But, I really, really like smith and wesson N frames. Right now, any extra money is being saved for fertility treatments, so there won't be any new gun purchases, other than gun-for-gun, for awhile. I see model 29 prices rising and rising, so I think I'll have to try and work out trades, but we'll see. In a perfect situation, I'd save the 10 5/8, and just add more guns, but I don't feel comfortable with spending money right now.

 

[JT]

Roger the Ruger. Same with me. I'm "saving the Smiths" with a .45 Colt Ruger SS Bisley, a custom .45 Colt Hunter by Ham Bowen and a .45 Colt Redhawk by Jack Weigand (when he was still doing custom work).

I do have a 629-3 with 5 in. full-lug barrel that is more robust with the EP upgrade. But there is something about the elegance of the half-lug 29-2s and "light targets" on the .44 Spls. that really hits my hot button.

And babies trump guns any day. God bless.

 

[murphydog]

Right now, the 4" 29s are the most popular, followed by the 6.5" (Dirty Harry strikes again!), and lastly the 8 3/8". One of those unexplainable market trends.

I agree with keeping your Silhouette if you like it, they're not made any more and will not lose value. Enjoy!