629-3 help identifying

[Burb-29]

I purchased this 629 at a gun showand have been trying to figure out manufacturer year. Here is a picture of serial and model number, anyone ever see one marked like this?

 

[gnappi]

Dunno about S&W oddities but I gotta say it's nice to see all of the interest in .44 magnums. A pic of the whole gun would be cool.

 

[ken158]

1993 629-3 with standard markings

 

[75Vette]

According to the big book , the BPS prefix shows a ship date of 1993. And yes, a pic of your new gun would be great. Congrats.

 

[JRD]

Is it the method of marking the serial number being a series of dots versus whole digit stamps or the content of the marking itself that you are questioning?

If the series of dots, it's a dot matrix serial number engraving, used probably late 80's into the 90's before S&W went to laser engraving serial numbers. It's just like the idea behind the old track feed paper computer printers that made the characters from a series of dots, except it punched dots into the metal frame versus printing dots of ink.

 

[Hawg Rider]

1993 629-3 with standard markings

Welcome to the Forum. I agree...your .44 Magnum revolver is a 1993 Model 629-3 with proper markings. It is a late production 629-3 (1989-1993) because the 629-4 was introduced in 1993. The punch dot markings are kind of weird, and I've actually never seen them in person, but I trust the knowledge of my fellow Forum gurus. It should be a great shooter and a lot of fun. More pictures are always appreciated!

 

[muddocktor]

I would say the latter part of 1993. I have a 629-3 Classic I had bought off GB some years ago that came with the box and the labeling showed a born on date of 6-29-93. My serial starts with BPM and yours with BPS, so I would guess it's production was after mine.

And yes, we like gun pics. Here's my 629 as it sits now.

 

[Burb-29]

The dots was what was in question, I had not seen those before just figured it would be a stamped serial. Shortly after buying I replaced the rubber with wood I feel it looks better and more classic with them and the wood fits my hand better. Gun an grips together around 900$ 2 years ago and have the box also. Fist pic was a couple days after I bought it second is after polishing and grip install.

 

[muddocktor]

Yeah, my 629 has the same type of numbering on it as yours. It looks a bit different than the old style engraved serials. And yes, your gun looks a lot better with the wood grips than the Goodyears. Mine came with the same grips as yours and the rubber now sits inside the box. I also have a 5" barrel 29-6 Classic, which would correspond to a 629-4 model I believe. I think the 5" barrel balances a little better as compared to the 6 1/2 barrel Classic. Thanks for posting up some pics of that nice 629.

 

[CH4]

My 5" 629-3 (BNY8218) is a 5". I thought only -4s have their top straps D&T. Imagine my surprise to find out my -3 was so adorned.

 

[muddocktor]

My 5" 629-3 (BNY8218) is a 5". I thought only -4s have their top straps D&T. Imagine my surprise to find out my -3 was so adorned.

IIRC, only the -3 Classics were drilled and tapped. When they went to the -4. they started doing all of them.

 

[CH4]

Coincidentally, this morning i picked up a 629-4 that's spec'd identically to yours, with serial # BRK9508. Mine is obviously a transition gun. I've never seen a -4 configured like this.