Alaska Backpacker

[Gregor Pasek]

New here ,was advised to go to the source of info on S&W Revolvers.Recently picked up a S&W 44 mag. Revolver stainless steal really nice condition[maybe 30 rounds trough it no box] on crane # 629-5 on barrel Alaska Backpacker .Adjustable rear sight it has a 3 inch barrel serial # NLT04xx on bottom of butt. Also two other numbers under grip on side 21793 321. On one side it features the smith logo and the other side it showes a Bear in front of Mountains with a tree to the right and left [can not find one to compare to]. Has S&W grips on it with finger groves. Trying to find out the age and value on this Revolver in todays marked . Thanks for any help

 

[Inusuit]

There are several threads here on the Alaska Backpacker. Here's one.
629-5 Mountain Backpacker Hidden bear

A search here or on Google will lead you to others.

Best I can do because I don't know anything about your revolver.

 

[Gregor Pasek]

Thanks a lot . Locked to everything here more confused than before can not match my Revolver with any others. Also my Revolver has no lock or firing pin on the hammer.

 

[StakeOut]

Thanks a lot . Locked to everything here more confused than before can not match my Revolver with any others. Also my Revolver has no lock or firing pin on the hammer.

Post some clear photos of the places that have marking that might help identify your revolver if it has not been altered by previous owner.
What is etched on the barrel,side plate and cylinder?
Are grips rubber,wood or laminated?
There were 2 versions of the Alaskan Backpacker
The 629-4 should have Alaska Backpacker etched on the right side of the barrel and red ramp front sight.
The 629-5 should have Alaska Backpacker II on the right side of the barrel and has a black patridge front sight
Both versions have an etched bear with pine tree and mountians on the side plate.

The 329PD Alaska Backpacker was designed and introduced in 2010. It features a Laser Engraved Grizzly Bear on the side plate. It has an overall length of 7.75-inches, and 2.5-inch barrel length. It can fire 6-rounds of .44 Magnum, or .44 S&W Special caliber rounds.

The 329PD comes with a Patridge Gold Bead front sight, and an adjust V-Notch Blade rear sight. It has two tone a black matte finish, with a stainless steel cylinder. It comes in a single or double action trigger, synthetic grip, and weights 29.7 ounces. It is made for personal defense or recreational shooting purposes.

 

[Gregor Pasek]

Here are some pics

 

[Gregor Pasek]

more picks

Sorry theres fuss on pics

 

[StakeOut]

Your revolver could be a transition version made up of 629-4 parts but stamped in the yoke as 629-5.
S&W didn't throw away anything.They used up existing parts before using newer ones.
So my guess your revolver with the 629-4 Alaska Backpacker barrel and grips has a 629-5 frame.
Without the original box or factory letter it's impossible to know if all original as shipped but it probably is and was made at the time when the factory changed from the dash 4 to the dash 5

 

[Gregor Pasek]

Thanks for the info Got this revolver from a older Gent who told me this is how he bought it brand new shot about 30 times and then put it away. No changes were made to it. Would you be able to date it and possible give me a value on this Revolver? Thanks for the info

 

[LostintheOzone]

Your revolver could be a transition version made up of 629-4 parts but stamped in the yoke as 629-5.
S&W didn't throw away anything.They used up existing parts before using newer ones.
So my guess your revolver with the 629-4 Alaska Backpacker barrel and grips has a 629-5 frame.
Without the original box or factory letter it's impossible to know if all original as shipped but it probably is and was made at the time when the factory changed from the dash 4 to the dash 5

Edit: That 3" model was made April 1994. Everything looks -5.

Standard Catalog 3rd.

No idea about value but there certainly weren't many made.

 

[StakeOut]

The matte stainless standard barrel Alaska Backpacker was made in March of 1998 with NLTxxxx serial numbers and sold to Alaska distributor V.F.Grace.Estimated 500 were made.Product Code 148083
The Full Lug barrel Alaska Backpacker II with NTLxxxx serial numbers were made in year 2000 with an estimated 300 sold to Alaska distributor V.F.Grace.Product Code 103689
Used value without original box and papers would be around $1000 but that's only one person's guess.Value is based on condition and What a Buyer "is willing to pay".So if someone would pay $1300 then that would be the value.

 

[Dewy12]

I don’t know the revolver.
I don’t know the value.
I know that you have one cool gun right there.

 

[StakeOut]

Edit: That 3" model was made April 1994. Everything looks -5.

Standard Catalog 3rd.

No idea about value but there certainly weren't many made.

If as you say"Made in 1994" it would have a hammer mounted firing pin.It does not have a hammer mounted firing pin.

 

[Gregor Pasek]

Thank you all for your info. This Revolver is getting more interesting as i go along. Most likely will hold on to it for a while to look at.Shooting 44 mags now hurts my hands after a while getting up in age LOL. Thanks again for all the info

 

[StakeOut]

Thank you all for your info. This Revolver is getting more interesting as i go along. Most likely will hold on to it for a while to look at.Shooting 44 mags now hurts my hands after a while getting up in age LOL. Thanks again for all the info

I recently sold my 3" 629-4 Backpacker to a forum member using the Guns For Sale Forum.
For range sessions Hogue rubber grips are very comfortable shooting mid power and mild .44mag reloads.I'm 78 years young.

Mid power = 240gr LSWC over 8.5gr of Unique powder.
Mild load = 240gr LSWC over 5.0gr of Bullseye powder.

Unique and Bullseye powder plus 30,000 S&B pistol primers were my rainy day stash

 

[Gregor Pasek]

78 years young awesome. Hope your still having fun with any other toys at the range.Personaly i am having plenty of fun with my 38s . Keep on moving and have fun. Located in Ohio right now the snow is blowing sideways 20 degree and winds at 30 miles per hour will be a little wile for target practice here

 

[StakeOut]

Sounds like you're ready for a move to South Central Texas but we're also a bit chilly today with temp at 56F right now just outside of northwest Austin.

 

[Paul105]

Several variations of "Backpacker's" out there. Here's a 2.5" Scandium frame, stainless cylinder version. It can be quite frisky with .44 Mag loads.

Paul