Dirty Harry Collectors thread
- Thread starter 500 Magnum Nut
- Start date
GF
Member
What he said. I hope this thread stays up a long time.
And... you know when your eat-up with 44 mags when you have to buy 'em three at a time!
(the Dirty Harry one's in the middle.
)GF
PhilOhio
Member
To add a little perspective, I have to post a picture of my Model 29 "no dash", purchased long before a movie made them cool. I've owned it for all of its 50 years.
As a college sophomore in mid-December 1960, I saw and handled my first then-rare Model 29, a 4"er owned by big time Luger collector Robert Bretherton in Toledo, Ohio. I had to have one, as in right now, but they were not in gun stores.
Our stocking dealer was Gross Photo Mart, long out of business like Toledo in general. Augie ordered my 6.5" blued 29 no dash, noting on the receipt "will wire factory today", which is how it was done then.
It came a couple weeks later, in time for Christmas. Full retail price was $140. I bought a Lyman 310 reloading set and a $19 Pacific single stage press at the same time, according to my receipt.
A few days later, testing it at the New York Central Sportsmen's Club range with a couple friends, I learned that you never ever shoot one of these without ear protection. After less than 10 rounds, I was deaf in one ear and could hardly hear in the other. It really slowed me down in Russian language class.
That lasted about a week.
I have a lot of guns and a bunch of Smiths, but this one is special. It will be with me as long as I am around. And the idea of a 4" 29 has tickled my fancy, even if I may have to pay more than $140 this time.
One reason I like the gun and cartridge so much is that it seems I can load it up or down, and with different bullet weights, and it shoots to about the same point of impact. I don't have to adjust the sights. And I wasn't expecting it to be such a tack driver. How I love this thing. I still remember how impressive it was to explode my first concrete block at 50 feet. No need for any more power than this, no matter what the S&W marketeers and gun writers suggest we may need.
Back then, the wood box came from Smith in this pasteboard outer box, which I still have, and which was numbered to the gun. Somebody bobbled one digit and corrected it. I'm betting very few of you have one of these, or even know about them. But alas, I didn't save the brown paper around the cardboard box.
As a college sophomore in mid-December 1960, I saw and handled my first then-rare Model 29, a 4"er owned by big time Luger collector Robert Bretherton in Toledo, Ohio. I had to have one, as in right now, but they were not in gun stores.
Our stocking dealer was Gross Photo Mart, long out of business like Toledo in general. Augie ordered my 6.5" blued 29 no dash, noting on the receipt "will wire factory today", which is how it was done then.
It came a couple weeks later, in time for Christmas. Full retail price was $140. I bought a Lyman 310 reloading set and a $19 Pacific single stage press at the same time, according to my receipt.
A few days later, testing it at the New York Central Sportsmen's Club range with a couple friends, I learned that you never ever shoot one of these without ear protection. After less than 10 rounds, I was deaf in one ear and could hardly hear in the other. It really slowed me down in Russian language class.
That lasted about a week.I have a lot of guns and a bunch of Smiths, but this one is special. It will be with me as long as I am around. And the idea of a 4" 29 has tickled my fancy, even if I may have to pay more than $140 this time.
One reason I like the gun and cartridge so much is that it seems I can load it up or down, and with different bullet weights, and it shoots to about the same point of impact. I don't have to adjust the sights. And I wasn't expecting it to be such a tack driver. How I love this thing. I still remember how impressive it was to explode my first concrete block at 50 feet. No need for any more power than this, no matter what the S&W marketeers and gun writers suggest we may need.
Back then, the wood box came from Smith in this pasteboard outer box, which I still have, and which was numbered to the gun. Somebody bobbled one digit and corrected it. I'm betting very few of you have one of these, or even know about them. But alas, I didn't save the brown paper around the cardboard box.
Wheelgunner840
Member
Now THAT is a keeper PhilOhio! It is great that you kept that outer wrapper too! I would gladly pay you three times what you paid for it!
Once again, what would be the most correct DH model? 6.5" bbl correct? Was there a 29-1?
WG840
Once again, what would be the most correct DH model? 6.5" bbl correct? Was there a 29-1?
WG840
OP
500 Magnum Nut
Member
Sure there was, but they were made in 60-61. The Dirty Harry films were in the 70s. So the only correct answer is a model 29-2 (1961-1979) with a 6 1/2" barrel. (That's his carry piece with a Lawman holster).
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Lawman Leather didn't exist until 1975. The holster used in the films is probably a Bucheimer-Clark holster. Lawman Leather bought them in the mid 70's.
The holster sold by Lawman Leather is a close copy of the one used in the movie. The movie holster did not have the wide "cobra head" belt strap but the narrow strap. The yoke was stitched to the holster instead of fastened with leather ties and it has a tension screw which the Lawman Leather holsters lack.
S.B.
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Nope, Cathey Leather made the original. Owned one and talked to the owner several times. He had military contracts before in business.
Steve
Steve
PhilOhio, nice!To add a little perspective, I have to post a picture of my Model 29 "no dash", purchased long before a movie made them cool. I've owned it for all of its 50 years.
As a college sophomore in mid-December 1960, I saw and handled my first then-rare Model 29, a 4"er owned by big time Luger collector Robert Bretherton in Toledo, Ohio. I had to have one, as in right now, but they were not in gun stores.
Our stocking dealer was Gross Photo Mart, long out of business like Toledo in general. Augie ordered my 6.5" blued 29 no dash, noting on the receipt "will wire factory today", which is how it was done then.
It came a couple weeks later, in time for Christmas. Full retail price was $140. I bought a Lyman 310 reloading set and a $19 Pacific single stage press at the same time, according to my receipt.
A few days later, testing it at the New York Central Sportsmen's Club range with a couple friends, I learned that you never ever shoot one of these without ear protection. After less than 10 rounds, I was deaf in one ear and could hardly hear in the other. It really slowed me down in Russian language class.
I have a lot of guns and a bunch of Smiths, but this one is special. It will be with me as long as I am around. And the idea of a 4" 29 has tickled my fancy, even if I may have to pay more than $140 this time.
One reason I like the gun and cartridge so much is that it seems I can load it up or down, and with different bullet weights, and it shoots to about the same point of impact. I don't have to adjust the sights. And I wasn't expecting it to be such a tack driver. How I love this thing. I still remember how impressive it was to explode my first concrete block at 50 feet. No need for any more power than this, no matter what the S&W marketeers and gun writers suggest we may need.
Back then, the wood box came from Smith in this pasteboard outer box, which I still have, and which was numbered to the gun. Somebody bobbled one digit and corrected it. I'm betting very few of you have one of these, or even know about them. But alas, I didn't save the brown paper around the cardboard box.
Regards
Chuck
OP
500 Magnum Nut
Member
Jerry Ardolino claims this on his website.
Part of the read.....
Many people do not realize that of the group of Dirty Harry Holsters that were made for the Prop House that supplied the Production Company, a couple were for a 5" barrelled S&W "N" Frame (with an old-style tension screw that had long been eliminated due to functional problems); the holster used in the film was actually one of those 5" models, not the proper 6.5" models that were supplied. This can be seen in certain shots in the first film where the face of the cylinder sits midway in the cylinder cut-out. I acquired exclusive rights to the 6 ½" Model 29, proper Holster— with the tighter spring .........
www.LawmanLeatherGoods.com
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That would make sense. I have a couple of Cathey holsters in the Dirty Harry style and they match the Bucheimer Clark holsters perfectly. The Cathey's have NSN's on them.
You have to wonder why they would use the 5" holster instead of the 6.5" ones. In the scene where Harry is at the hospital getting the shotgun shot picked out of his leg after foiling the bank robbery, you can see his gun does not fit his holster.
OP
500 Magnum Nut
Member
I'll have to look at that scene more closely next time.
I got my Dade speed loaders the other day. There is no way they would work speed loading the 29 without cutting away at the factory stocks. I tried speedloading my 629 with speed loader cut outs and they don't work on those grips either!!
Possibly the rubber stocks might work with the Dade speed loader, but I didn't try them to make sure.
One possible problem with these speed loaders, if you drop them just right, you have 6 cartridges sliding all over the ground...
I got my Dade speed loaders the other day. There is no way they would work speed loading the 29 without cutting away at the factory stocks. I tried speedloading my 629 with speed loader cut outs and they don't work on those grips either!!
Possibly the rubber stocks might work with the Dade speed loader, but I didn't try them to make sure.
One possible problem with these speed loaders, if you drop them just right, you have 6 cartridges sliding all over the ground...
If the Dade speedloaders don't work with the S&W stocks what do they work with? That is odd you'd market a product to augment another item and it doesn't work with it.
The 29 was so popular back then because of the movie I ordered one and got it a year later. Had some bills to pay so I had to regretfully sell it. I feel bad about it so I bought this one to take its place.
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Mistered
Member
I wonder if anyone ever went swimming in the slough looking for the badge winged into it at the end of the movie.
RudyN
Member
Here's mine:
jmr986
Member
Great thread!!! My next acquisition will be a 29-2. Keep going back and forth between 6" and 6 1/2". Thinking a 6 1/2"er with some of the DH stuff would be fun to have.
I already have the Magnum Force bad guy gun (4" Python) so I guess I need to get Harry's.
I already have the Magnum Force bad guy gun (4" Python) so I guess I need to get Harry's.
Hello to everyone! This is my first post in this forum, and there´s no better thread to start than this.
Couple of months ago i purchased my first revolver, this beautiful 29-2 from 1975, in great condition (the pictures don´t do justice). I grew up watching Dirty Harry´s in 80´s, and this is one childhood dream come true
Couple of months ago i purchased my first revolver, this beautiful 29-2 from 1975, in great condition (the pictures don´t do justice). I grew up watching Dirty Harry´s in 80´s, and this is one childhood dream come true
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all5x
US Veteran
I meet the SFPD officer who has the 2211 badge number many years ago while getting ready for a demonstration in downtown SF. He was a LT in the motorcycle portion of the SFPD. He said he had been offered everything from motorcycles to money for that badge. The SFPD allows officers to swap badges if they so desire. Not sure what happened to the badge as it has been so long since I saw him. I retired so am sure he did too.
ParadiseRoad
Member
[ame]https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=YH3CVUpw20k[/ame]
RubenZ
Member
Just saw this and thought it was worth a read NRA Blog | History in a Handgun: Dirty Harry's .44 Magnum Smith & Wesson
diegobxr
Member
A gun I particularly like from the DH series is the 3rd gen nickel Colt Detective Special in "Sudden Impact"
John Milius, author of the film, said the gun was supposed to be a 4"
barrel Model 29, but at the time they were hard to find, so they went
with the 6.5" model.
Dirty Harry's holster was made by Bucheimer-Clark. After Bucheimer
went out of business the trade mark was apparantly picked up by
Jerry Ardolino who's business was/is known as Lawman Leather.
Both Cathey Enterprises and Cattle Baron (and possibly others) made
the holster under some sort of license agreement.
Sometime in the 70s my Dad and I both had S&W Model 19s with
4" barrels, so I bought two of the rigs from Lawman Leather, one
for each of us.
I still have mine shown below in both front and back views.
Parts have been worn out and replaced.
My Dad has gone to the happy hunting ground. My sister sold
his at a garage sale for peanuts. His gun also got lost. Sad.
PS: In case you noticed that is not my Model 19 in the
holster. It happens to be my Model 67 Combat Masterpiece.
barrel Model 29, but at the time they were hard to find, so they went
with the 6.5" model.
Dirty Harry's holster was made by Bucheimer-Clark. After Bucheimer
went out of business the trade mark was apparantly picked up by
Jerry Ardolino who's business was/is known as Lawman Leather.
Both Cathey Enterprises and Cattle Baron (and possibly others) made
the holster under some sort of license agreement.
Sometime in the 70s my Dad and I both had S&W Model 19s with
4" barrels, so I bought two of the rigs from Lawman Leather, one
for each of us.
I still have mine shown below in both front and back views.
Parts have been worn out and replaced.
My Dad has gone to the happy hunting ground. My sister sold
his at a garage sale for peanuts. His gun also got lost. Sad.
PS: In case you noticed that is not my Model 19 in the
holster. It happens to be my Model 67 Combat Masterpiece.
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Hello to everyone! This is my first post in this forum, and there´s no better thread to start than this.
Couple of months ago i purchased my first revolver, this beautiful 29-2 from 1975, in great condition (the pictures don´t do justice). I grew up watching Dirty Harry´s in 80´s, and this is one childhood dream come true
Welcome to the forum, and if you love the gun that you posted, you will love this forum!! You'll see why as time passes. Trust me.
Best Regards, Les
Some years back I was looking for a -2,but I couldn't agree to the prices.3-4 years ago,I tripped over this old 4 screw for less [emoji1]
Not too much later somebody here put a pair of cokes on eBay and it was complete
Not too much later somebody here put a pair of cokes on eBay and it was complete
I just came across this thread. Below is a link to some photos supplied by Larry Grossman. Larry is the AMT employee that made the Auto Mag that Harry use in the movie "Sudden Impact". Scroll down to see it. It starts with a gun Larry made for Ted Nuggent. Click on the picture to get a slide show.
400 Bad Request
By the way, the Auto Mags are being made again. The New Company is starting off with a limited run of Auto Mags called the Founder's Edition which are patterned after the pistol from "Sudden Impact". The picture below is one in progress
400 Bad Request
By the way, the Auto Mags are being made again. The New Company is starting off with a limited run of Auto Mags called the Founder's Edition which are patterned after the pistol from "Sudden Impact". The picture below is one in progress
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Bullseye 2620
Member
I came into Harry's barbeque gun. . .
Bullseye 2620
Member
There's one of the original ones unfired and new in the box on consignment at my LGS. The price is $3,500. Is that high, low, just about right? Any idea what the new ones will go for?
The new ones will be $3500.
The price for the one at the LGS depends on what it is. There were a lot of variations as the company went through bankruptcy and ownership changes.
NIB can run from $2500 to $5000+.
