Dirty Harry and the S&W Model 29
- Thread starter jimmyj
- Start date
CORRECT! I was fortunate enough to know three of the five, although I didn't meet Jeff Cooper until many years later.
Eldon introduced me to Weaver.
Long story, but the short version is no bullets were involved.
jbenedetto2
US Veteran
I, too, carried a 4 inch .44 as a duty gun in uniform in the 80s. A 629 loaded with 44 Specials (Federal 200gr SWCHP). The department issued model 67s, and a few 29s, but also allowed privately owned duty guns. Officers were required to qualify with them and carry the issued 38 Special +P or 44 Special ammunition. We transitioned to 9mms in1990.
Dirty Jimmy et al...
To all of you LEOs...thank you for your service! I'm really surprised, and impressed, that so many of you actually carried .44 Magnums (Pre- or Model 29s)! And our own "Dirty Jimmy" started all of this in 1963, LOL! I'm a big fan of .44 Magnum, and of the Dirty Harry films. Due to the popularity (the movies and the revolver!) I was unable to find a Model 29 in the late 70s, but I did locate and purchase a NIB Model 57 (another favorite). Later in life I have been fortunate enough to put together a modest collection of .44s, which I enjoy a great deal!
To all of you LEOs...thank you for your service! I'm really surprised, and impressed, that so many of you actually carried .44 Magnums (Pre- or Model 29s)! And our own "Dirty Jimmy" started all of this in 1963, LOL! I'm a big fan of .44 Magnum, and of the Dirty Harry films. Due to the popularity (the movies and the revolver!) I was unable to find a Model 29 in the late 70s, but I did locate and purchase a NIB Model 57 (another favorite). Later in life I have been fortunate enough to put together a modest collection of .44s, which I enjoy a great deal!
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1963 was the beginning of the end of the "mail order" guns. I have a few guns that were shipped to Klein's.
larryofcc
Member
Eldon Carl was a San Diego County Deputy Sheriff. He was Sheriff O'Connor's fair hair boy. At the time, only 38 Specials were authorized. He carried two 45 auto's. One slung low. Two other Deputy's of note were Sgt. Fred Lee and Sgt. Woods. Lee carried a 45 and Woods carried a 44 Magnum.
Another Deputy of note was Lt. Col. Bill Mc Millan, USMC ret. He had won gold in the 1960's Olympics.
Lee and Woods put me through the shooting aspect of my training as a Reserve. Came the night for qualifications, They handed me a 6" K38 and they proceeded to show us how to shoot. When the smoke cleared, they both shot a 149 out of 150. Only one shot a perfect score that night. I shot a 150 with that K38. Big Larry
Another Deputy of note was Lt. Col. Bill Mc Millan, USMC ret. He had won gold in the 1960's Olympics.
Lee and Woods put me through the shooting aspect of my training as a Reserve. Came the night for qualifications, They handed me a 6" K38 and they proceeded to show us how to shoot. When the smoke cleared, they both shot a 149 out of 150. Only one shot a perfect score that night. I shot a 150 with that K38. Big Larry
Yes, but that was after he left the El Cajon Police Department. When I first met him, he was at ECPD and carried the .44 Magnum. This would have been in the early to mid 1960s. I'm pretty sure he was still at ECPD in 1967, because that's the year I had my '51 Chevy on the road and I remember driving it over to the PD one time to see Eldon about something.
OP
After "Dirty Harry" Model 29s were difficult to find. Model 29 cylinders and barrels could be purchased from the factory.
Many Model 28s were converted to .44 Magnum by installing the Model 29 barrels and cylinders. HOWEVER ! once the factory discovered this Model 29 cylinder and barrels were no longer for sales as separate units.
Many Model 28s were converted to .44 Magnum by installing the Model 29 barrels and cylinders. HOWEVER ! once the factory discovered this Model 29 cylinder and barrels were no longer for sales as separate units.
larryofcc
Member
I must have just missed him. I lived in El Cajon from 1970 to 1997.
I was on the Sheriffs Reserve for a couple years around 1964.
Never met him, but he was a legend.
I did meet then Capt. Bill Mc Millan. He and my Dad shot together on the USMC Pistol Team. Both were Master Distinguished Pistol Shots.
My Dad qualified for the Olympics of 1952, but the Marines did not let him go. Something about the fact my Dad wore a hearing aid?
Bill went on in the 60's to win gold at the Olympics.
He had problems in his life after he was shot at the Sheriffs range when hanging targets.
Dad said he sold all his gold medals and turned to drinking. He got divorced and died early.
Bill was a very handsome man. At least my Mom thought so. Big Larry
Larry
Did you know Vincent Alfaro?
Did you know Vincent Alfaro?
I didn't get a 29 until about 68, and it was 4", 69 got a 4" 58. From then on got into 8 3/8" guns for several years. Then came to conclusion I could shoot 6"-6.5" just as well.
I was a little slow going to 29 because I had a Ruger SBH. What flipped me was K22. It was like a laser compared to Ruger S-6.
I just bought a Classic here on forum. Very nice gun but I don't like it. It feels muzzle heavy. The standard N with 6.5" is hard to beat for my purpose. If you don't have to get in and out of car the 6.5" isn't noticeably heavier than 4", and much nicer field gun than 8 3/8".
I was a little slow going to 29 because I had a Ruger SBH. What flipped me was K22. It was like a laser compared to Ruger S-6.
I just bought a Classic here on forum. Very nice gun but I don't like it. It feels muzzle heavy. The standard N with 6.5" is hard to beat for my purpose. If you don't have to get in and out of car the 6.5" isn't noticeably heavier than 4", and much nicer field gun than 8 3/8".
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larryofcc
Member
No Sir, but when I was a little guy, I met some of the worlds best Marine shooters. Col. Walter Walsh comes to mind. My Dads coach and one of the best shooters ever in the USMC.
Later to become an FBI agent, he carried a 45 auto and an RM. The RM is still in his family. He was one of the few Marines to become triple Distinguished. Big Larry
Vince worked for the SD Sheriff's Department and was the coach for the Grossmont College handgun team. My brother was team Captain in 1968-69. He passed away in 2018, but I have all his trophies and the Model 28-2 he used to win them.
larryofcc
Member
I carried a M28 on duty as a reserve. Had to use 38 Specials, no magnums allowed at that time. I did the reserve thing for 2 years and quit.
My best friend, John T. Douglas, went on to be a regular Deputy for Sheriff Duffy.
My eyesight kept me from being a cop of any kind, so I went on to a career as a Teamster truckdriver.
Now retired, I moved to Cedar City from El Cajon. Too crowded there now and Calif. gun laws are crazy. No so in Utah. Big Larry
Carried a 6" 629 for many years. I carried the issued ammo. It was Silver Tips for awhile but mostly Remington jacketed flat nose and Speer Gold Dots, I think. Mostly 240g. Always full house magnums if you consider the Silver Tips full house, which I didn't. If you failed to qualify with magnums but could qualify with specials you were issued specials. I don't know anyone that carried specials by choice. Most of that time you could only carry a wheel gun but you supplied your own Smith, Ruger or Colt. 38, 357, 44 Special, 44 Magnum or 45 Colt (LC). The SO supplied the ammo. I think there were more 4" 686s carrying magnums than anything else but there were some of everything within the allowed parameters.
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