629-4 3" Ported Trail Boss Opinions

[littlebass]

Found one in LGS, with box I'd say in 95% condition. Just thought I'd check here regarding opinions on value, experiences, shootability, etc... A ported 3" 44 should sound like a cannon going off. Want some input from the experts on the Trail Boss before I pull the trigger.

 

[Chop]

I have one of the 3" 629-6's....but not ported. Nice balanced revolver, mostly shoot .44 Spec in it. Quite a handful with factory .44 Mag loads. It is a nice carry gun when hiking out in the rural areas here, but it is very heavy when fully loaded. I bought mine used for $475.00.

If its a reasonable price and you can afford it...pick it up.

Chop

 

[Groo01]

Groo here
Dont worry about the sound from the porting.
Once you get past the cylinder /barrel gap they are all loud!!!!!!!!

 

[jjbrewst1]

They are a great revolver...If yours has RSR as the first digits of the serial number it is 1 of 500 made for RSR Distributing...

1100-1300 dollar range..NIB...

 

[littlebass]

Thanks guys, this one is an RSR gun. Not new but close. I can get it for $800. Kinda hard to judge the price. Web auction sites show some selling well above $1k used and others not selling at all. Not really looking for one of these but it was an interesting find.

 

[Smith &W]

I just acquired this one last week. Have not fired it yet. It cost me a glock, 4 boxes of 10MM ammo, an $200 cash. All I know is I like it.

 

[markyboy57]

Although everyone would like to get it for less, $800 is a fair price. You would not find any 3" 629 around where I live for less than that.

 

[Groo01]

Groo here
The Trail Boss 44's are a beast.
Put some of my "Monster Maulers" loads in one and the first shot
made my back "Crack".
No pain just a big Push..........

 

[littlebass]

Well update on the Trail Boss. Went back to shop and actually pulled it out of the case and inspected it a lot closer. I was mistaken on condition. It's more like 80%. Does have box/papers etc, and muzzle/rifling/trigger are all good. The down side is there is a rough spot at the end of the barrel (not the muzzle) on the side kinda close to the end of the barrel. Looks like maybe the gun was dropped at some point. No matching rash anywhere else on that side. Expected there to be matching rash on the cylinder somewhere but there's not. Still a fair deal at $799? Might be able to get them to $750'ish if I work on them a little.

 

[jcggone2c]

I have had several 3" N frames (29, 629, 24) including a Trail Boss. Guns come and go for various reason but I got rid of that because of the porting. That one broke me of a bad habit before it hold.

 

[hassiman]

629 Trail Boss... Love it!

I have a ported SRS Trail Boss and I love it.
Great Balance and accurate. I may have the Cylinder gap taken down to 4 or 5 thousandths.... Great trigger I may be wrong but I think that year may have been the last of the really well made S&Ws.

 

[Dieseltech56]

I passed on a similar gun last year. It would have cost me $1100 and the guy wasn’t budging. Eventually someone bought it

 

[yfdcap]

I had one (RSR) and really liked it. I am a fan of porting also. I had one ported and one not ported and shot them side by side. Liked the ported better. Had a friend who really wanted it and I caved. Wish I had it back.

 

[two-bit cowboy]

I bought a new one in the late '90s for $500. Then I had a maker build a shoulder rig for me for $125 -- gorgeous -- the rigging was cowhide but looked like buckskin, but it never felt right.

Two years ago I wore it to a big show near here. Got $1,100 for it (still had box and all its goodies) and the shoulder rig.

I don't know what an 80% stainless steel S&W revolver looks like. I don't think I've ever seen one I would rate that badly. It is just scratches that will polish out?

 

[yfdcap]

I bought a new one in the late '90s for $500. Then I had a maker build a shoulder rig for me for $125 -- gorgeous -- the rigging was cowhide but looked like buckskin, but it never felt right.

Two years ago I wore it to a big show near here. Got $1,100 for it (still had box and all its goodies) and the shoulder rig.

I don't know what an 80% stainless steel S&W revolver looks like. I don't think I've ever seen one I would rate that badly. It is just scratches that will polish out?

I would of bought that in a minute. Still looking for another. Tempted to port my 3" 629 but its a cherry dash 4 and just can not do it. The search continues.