Dilemma-Model 29-2 or Triple Lock

[David LaPell]

With all of my wheeling and dealing lately, I have put some money aside for the new baby, but I also have quite a bit left for one last purchase before the baby is born next month. Right now I have the money for one gun, and one only. My choices are, a Model 29-2 in absolutely mint condition, pinned and recessed, blued finish, 6 inch barrel, presentation box, target stocks, white outline sight, red ramp front, target hammer and trigger. Not even a turn line in the cylinder. $600-
Or, a Smith & Wesson 1st Model HE Triple Lock in .44 Special. 6 1/2 inch barrel, the nickel finish is flaked off in spots, about 85% on the frame and cylinder, much less on the barrel. The bore is real nice with a very small spot of pitting. The grips are not original, the action is well, like those old Smith Actions also were, smooth. $1100-
I had planned on having S & W renickel the Triple Lock eventually, as I like shooters I am glad the gun is not mint.

 

[29aholic]

29 of course

That is a steal on the 29-2 that you should not pass up. The TL on the other hand aint that great IMHO especially if you are going to spend more money to have it refinished.

Then again I am a 29aholic not a TLaholic

 

[Aussie44]

I would take the Model 29-2 ...

Ken

 

[M29since14]

...I had planned on having S & W renickel the Triple Lock eventually, as I like shooters I am glad the gun is not mint.

S&W will not refinish the TL.

The price on the 29 is good by today's standards, but it may get better.

I would say buy whichever one would make you happiest. It is likely once the baby arrives you may not be buying for a bit.

 

[Marksman]

While the M/29-2 is a premium piece and the price is a steal, Triple Locks in the condition you describe are much harder to come by. The Triple Lock would be my choice, have it re-nickled after baby is born and then treat it to a set of Keith Brown grips. Then you'd have a real TL shooter, I bought a 5" blue TL several years ago. I addded a Wondersight and some period jigged bone grips to which I added deep dish brass medallions. It was a very attractive shooter, I sold it to another forum member several years ago.

 

[Joni_Lynn]

I'd go with the 29-2. It sounds like a good price for the condition.
The TL is getting up there in years and I see some people recommending they not be shot due to the old non heat treated steel used in them (cylinders)
Of course I'd still like to have one.

 

[gizamo]

Joni prolly offered some good advise...

Me, I'd go with the Triple Lock. Yep, they're gettin' up there in years...so we'd have that in comman...

29-2's can still be had fairly regularly, so you'd have a gun that just about anyone can acquire.

Don't know when I saw a .44 Cal TL come up for sale last. Been a good long time. Besides that, I'd take the chance on lettering the TL as it might come back being an interesting gun....some of those old timers have some history attached.

giz

 

[feralmerril]

I have both. The 29-2 is a good price and the triplelock is too high.

 

[Abbynormal]

If you are planning on shooting the new gun, buy the 29-2. If you want it for a collection or investment, buy the triple lock.

 

[hsguy]

David, if both guns are an equally fair buy you need to buy the TL, I always advise my customers to buy the harder to find gun if it is priced well. I had a customer last night looking at a SW Model 41 and a 1933 vintage Winchester Model 52 with a relatively rare sight. He asked my advice and I offered that it was no contest, buy the 52. Model 41's are common but 52's with this sight scarce, pass the 52 by and it may be a long time until you see another. He bought the 52. John

 

[Vulcan Bob]

Theres a lot of 29-2's out there, not so with the triple lock!

 

[hsguy]

Well, inquiring minds want to know, which did you buy? John

 

[Joni_Lynn]

Yes, we would like to know what the decision was and of course, as you well know.............

 

[DWFAN]

Take the triple lock. You can buy a 29-2 any day of the week including Sunday. Don't worry about shooting it. Moderation is key here. If you don't punish it it will last longer than you.
DW

 

[ohiobuckeye]

DWFAN is right. You can always find a P&R model 29, but a decent triple lock is getting harder to find by the day.

 

[MagnumM56]

Triplelock-there were not a whole lot of these puppies made by smith-especially when you consider the number produced and the relatively short period of production-I have the honor of owning one of these grand Old Ladys-I shoot her rarely and with light loads and respect her-for her beauty and her history-JMHO

 

[David LaPell]

Well, right now I am waiting for my paycheck this afternoon, and then I am going to buy the Triple Lock

 

[badshot3769]

Dave,PM sent

 

[Jack Flash]

I don't think you are going too far wrong, but I would buy the M29. I don't believe that P&R M29s are as easy to find as others have indicated for that price and in the condition described. If someone knows where such revolvers are readily available, I'll take two.

The TL is a TL, and that will never change. If you have your heart set on one, nothing else will do. I sure would NOT refinish it, since there goes any collector value. (Assuming that it has not already been refinished). As was noted, and IIRC, S&W will not refinish anything that old. If I just had to have a TL, I would continue to save the money and look for one in better condition. But that's just me. Best of luck with whatever you decide.

 

[bk43]

Well, right now I am waiting for my paycheck this afternoon, and then I am going to buy the Triple Lock

As the old guy used to say to David Carradine "you judged wisely grasshopper". 29's are common and Triple Locks are not. The TL was the first of over 100 years of big bore HE's. They're exceptional and you can always upgrade later on down the road.

Bob

 

[willy]

I'd get the TL then find a 6" model 29 barrel to put on it then file a flat in the top strap and mount a S&W adjustable rear sight.
Have it reblued.
Then I would load some 44spl. up to around 1200fps and have one hell of nice gun! ( If it don't blow up with my reloads!!)

 

[Joni_Lynn]

If the barrel is changed, then it won't be a triple lock any longer.
As for handloading for these guns, remember there was no heat treat on the cylinders of them and they're getting pretty old. They've probably seen warm/hot loads before and the steel may or may not be starting to fatigue.

 

[bk43]

I'd get the TL then find a 6" model 29 barrel to put on it then file a flat in the top strap and mount a S&W adjustable rear sight. Have it reblued.

That would cost about as much as buying both the TL and the 29. I would rather just buy the two guns and have two that were worth something rather than one worth a small fraction of what I had in it.

Just my 2 cents...Bob

 

[willy]

uh!
Maybe I should have put (sarcastic *edited* answer ) before I posted?
Sorry you didn't get my sorry excuse at humor.

 

[Wickahoney]

WHAT are you going to do with the gun in question???

That is the critical question, not so much the initial cost.

If you want a Safe Queen and are worried about NIB and MINT then sure the 29-2. The second you shoot it, if ever it's a used 29-2 and they made LOTS and LOTS and LOTS of 29-2s.

The Triple Lock on the other hand was made in MUCH smaller numbers roughly over 100 years ago. How many survive? They are desirable just by their shear rarity. You didn't mention (that I saw) whether it is target sighted or plain but either way it won't lose value. If you actually wanted to shoot it on occasion with mild 44 Special loads you'd probably be just fine and it would not detract from the value. After all it is already a WELL used revolver.

On the other hand IF you want to buy a gun to hunt deer with and carry in the back country and shoot the ever living ........out of, that's modern and where pressure is less of an issue nthen the 29-2. $600 is cheap enough you could do it with the 29-2 without getting hurt on the aquisition price verus the, it's a used 29-2 price.

Seeing I already own a bunch of 29-2s, I'd go with the TL. Rarer and getting rarer. Uncountable numbers of 29-2s unless it's something truley rare or unique.

Oh heck, buy the TL. You may never have another chance at one. There will be many many more chances at a 29-2, even mint, NIB and even at a really great price if you wait and watch.

Life changes so fast that planning the future based on today is almost pointless. Besides someday you'll get a different/better job. The kids will run away, grow up or put you in a nursing home. Some Aunt will leave you all the money in the world. You'll win the Lottery. When that happens, there will STILL be 29-2s out there. Whether you ever get another chance at a TL is a question.

There were just over 15,000 TL made, period end of story. That's spread over 6 calibers. Yes, the 44 Special is the most common. Still.............. They made over a million "N" frames from 1961 through 1981, the run of the 29-2. Even if only 10% of production was in 29-2s,one of the, if not the, hottest seller after Dirty Harry, there are roughly 100,000 29-2s floating around out there.(Probably a lot more) I for one have NEVER considered them rare, except in some very limited and very specific variations.

My 2 cents.

 

[bk43]

uh!
Maybe I should have put (sarcastic *edited* answer ) before I posted?
Sorry you didn't get my sorry excuse at humor.

That would be me that missed that. Things often go zing right over my head so it's not unusual. Sorry about that.

Bob

 

[David LaPell]

I had pretty much decided on the Triple Lock, now that I have the money, and in this narrow window in time that I have the funds for it. The finish on the Triple Lock is worn, but mechanically the gun is in great shape. I could never afford a Mint Triple Lock, and I would never want to fire one like that. I plan on shooting it ever so often. I already have one 29-2, not mint but a 4-inch gun. I took it out the other day to see what it could do at 50 yards (which is farther than I have shot any deer in the Adirondacks) and off hand I can keep it within 8-10 inches all day long. My 624 with 7.5 grains Unique and 250 grain cast bullet, even more accurate. Plus, a super minty 29-2 would only be wasted on me, I would have to shoot it, and often.
So here I am just waiting until the shop with the Triple Lock opens (what time is it now!) to see on all the details about shipping it my way. If it's still there, and I get it, you can bet there will be pictures.

 

[John Eilertson]

If you want to shoot it, the 29. For a prospective safe queen, the TL. Not sure if I'd buy either with a baby coming...they can be awful expensive.