629 at gun show

[swmod29]

Last weekend,at the gun show,I saw a nice 8 3/8 629, -1 or -2, don't remember exactly.It looked great.Lock-up & end-shake ok.But,it was obvious it had an action job.Single- action felt like a shade under 3 lbs. Double-action was lighter & smoother than my .38-.44 HD,which has the pre-war long action.The seller wasn't the owner & couldn't tell me anything about the action job-who did it? was he a skilled gunsmith?etc.In light of this I passed on buying the gun.He was asking $650 for it.What's the prevailing opinion on buying a revolver with an action job whose details can't be ascertained?

 

[diamonback68]

Last weekend,at the gun show,I saw a nice 8 3/8 629, -1 or -2, don't remember exactly.It looked great.Lock-up & end-shake ok.But,it was obvious it had an action job.Single- action felt like a shade under 3 lbs. Double-action was lighter & smoother than my .38-.44 HD,which has the pre-war long action.The seller wasn't the owner & couldn't tell me anything about the action job-who did it? was he a skilled gunsmith?etc.In light of this I passed on buying the gun.He was asking $650 for it.What's the prevailing opinion on buying a revolver with an action job whose details can't be ascertained?

I personally wouldn't care who did the action job as long as it smooth and reliable. Besides, any action job can be put back to factory specs with a hammer or trigger here or a spring there as long as the frame metal hasn't been messed with and usually it never is. 3 pounds sounds like a good trigger pull.

 

[DON1937]

I bought 629 several years ago and right out of the box it had a single action pull of about 3lbs. and was smoother than any other revolver I've owned. I screwed up and traded for a 629 Classic with an excellent trigger but nowhere near that old 629.

 

[buckeyeshooter1]

I would have bought it. Its a free upgrade for a 'shooter'.

 

[model70hunter]

I have two 19-3's that have had an action jobs by different sources prior to my purchasing them. I don't know who did the work. Both are smooth and work great. After a safety check that would not have deterred me if that was the 629 I had been looking for.

 

[H Richard]

As long as it doesn't "push off" it's fine. Odds are it was a factory that has been shot just enough to smooth out. 3 lb's isn't unusual for a single action pull.

 

[thetrio_94043]

I would have bought it and after doing the basic checks (look at the side lock screws, check the action, etc.).

If you feel the gun had issues after bringing it home then off to a gunsmith to check.