Dirty Harry's S&W mod.29

[shawn mccarver]

I've read several articles where long time gun writers have called the N-frame an S-frame. Even claiming the factory used that designation.

FWIW , look for a fairly recent American Rifleman (within the last 12mos) last page article on the S&W 1917 and you'll see.

I am well aware of mistaken references to a so-called S frame both in print (American Rifleman should know better) and on TV (Gary Paul Johnston should know better). The fact that it appears in ads for gun sales merely betrays the ignorance of the seller (or, in some cases, it betrays the fact that the seller is not truthful, perhaps in an effort to promote something allegedly rare).

I am sorry to say it, but you should not "believe everything you read" (or hear).

This has been discussed to death in other threads. There is no "S frame." Never has been.

There was the government inspector's stamp (an "S") in the yoke of certain 1917 revolvers (later replaced by an eagle, if memory serves) and, of course, the S serial number prefix of post-war N frames. Neither means the revolver so marked is an S frame.

 

[kaaskop49]

attn: NYlakesider

Your post brought back memories!

My 29 came from a LGS in NYC in the Spring of '73. The owner told me he was able to obtain primo guns by accepting what he called a 'blanket order' from S&W, never specifying any model. He would thereby come across a Model 29, 60 or 19. He would send any guns not popular among NYC shooters (who required purchase authorizations from NYPD) to LGS's in the South where purchase restrictions did not exist.

If memory serves, retail back in '73 for the 29 was $204 or $205; the dealer added a $25 surcharge.

 

[NYlakesider]

Your post brought back memories!

My 29 came from a LGS in NYC in the Spring of '73. The owner told me he was able to obtain primo guns by accepting what he called a 'blanket order' from S&W, never specifying any model. He would thereby come across a Model 29, 60 or 19. He would send any guns not popular among NYC shooters (who required purchase authorizations from NYPD) to LGS's in the South where purchase restrictions did not exist.

If memory serves, retail back in '73 for the 29 was $204 or $205; the dealer added a $25 surcharge.

(bolded)
That sounds like what my dealer/s were doing. Surcharges were about $75 at most dealers then with the goniff I described as much much more!

I do not think they sent any of their guns out as we had a lot of cop shops in the area that the officers wanted or required to get the plainer guns.(Model 10s were great sellers) Model 15s other than the snuby were easy to get also. I think my 29s MSRP for about $225-250 in that era if I remember right.

Both dealers I did mucho business with were fairly big dealers at least in the Albany area.

 

[W.E.G.]

Your post brought back memories!
If memory serves, retail back in '73 for the 29 was $204 or $205; the dealer added a $25 surcharge.

Hey! I resemble that remark.

Picked up used (barely) for $300 cash at Hugo's in the 90's

 

[Pilgrim]

When I bought this back about 5 or so years ago, it was a mess. The flocking in the case was stuck all over the gun and it looked horrible. Because it was so messy looking I got a pretty good deal on it....$495. When I got it home and rubbed some oil on it, all the flocking came off the gun and underneath it all was a nearly 100% gun. I couldn't tell if it had been fired, and there wasn't a mark on it anywhere.

It's one of the crown jewels of my collection.

 

[Dirty Dan]

Dirty Harrys S & W mod 29

I have a friend whose family has been in gun sales, for 80+ years now. Back in the day, when everyone had Model 29 fever, there was a great deal of confusion, regarding exactly what did Mr Callahan, carry in the movie(s). Yes, there were some promotional pictures made with Clint Eastwood mugging for the camera with a Model 29, with an 8 3/8" barrel..Pretty impressive looking picture, but to promote the movie"only!" In the movie(s) Callahan carries a Model 29, 6 12" barrel, and nothing else, contrary to persistent stories. Some customers were having an argument, and to placate his customers, the LGS, picked up the phone and called his rep at S & W direct, who confirmed this info.

 

[dfariswheel]

I wonder why there are TWO web sites selling the "Original Dirty Harry" holster?

Holsters | Lawman Leather Goods

Dirty Harry Holster | Western Holsters | Old West Gun Holsters | Wild Guns Leather Holsters

 

[A10]

I bought my first 29 in 1978 for the princely sum of 260 dollars. It was a six inch model, and I was disappointed that it wasn't a 6.5. Sold it several years ago (stupid bills) but recently recovered my loss with a 71ish 6.5.

 

[kevin in nh]

Movies are just that....movies...but this beauty is mine and shoots as good as it looks....no special effects needed! Shipped 1957

 

[mkk41]

Yes, there were some promotional pictures made with Clint Eastwood mugging for the camera with a Model 29, with an 8 3/8" barrel..Pretty impressive looking picture, but to promote the movie"only!"

So where are these pics? Why haven't any been found and posted?

 

[feelinlucky]

So where are these pics? Why haven't any been found and posted?

You're not paying attention.

http://smith-wessonforum.com/s-w-revolvers-1961-1980/326915-dirty-harrys-s-w-mod-29-a.html#post137340769

 

[murphydog]

I quote off IMBD from Magnum Force.

Officer Phil Sweet: What kind of a load do you use in that .44?

Harry Callahan: It's a light Special. This size gun it gives you better control and less recoil than a .357 Magnum with wadcutters.

Mr. Eastwood did an interview in which he stated he flubbed this line. The script called for him to say a "special light load", but it sounded good the wrong way too so it was left in.

 

[viceunit]

I agree with everyone about the 6 1/2" barrel model 29 being used exclusively in the movies...with one exception. In the original movie when Harry is pursuing the man with the suitcase he exits the car to follow him. Before he enters an alley he draws his gun and cocks the hammer. In that scene the barrel looks longer. Either it is an 8 3/8" gun, an optical illusion or something is wrong with my TV. I have two 6 1/2" model 29's, so I know what they look like. In that one scene, however, to me it looks like a longer barrel and I always wondered if they did that for dramatic effect (if it was a longer barrel, that is). I don't want to muddy the waters on this issue because I will argue for the 6 1/2" model 29 being the principal weapon used by Eastwood, as I have in the last 20 or 30 times this has come up in the past 4 years!

 

[viceunit]

I wonder why there are TWO web sites selling the "Original Dirty Harry" holster?

Holsters | Lawman Leather Goods

Dirty Harry Holster | Western Holsters | Old West Gun Holsters | Wild Guns Leather Holsters

Both of those ads list Jerry Ardolino as owner. In the 70's, Ardolino's Lawman Leather made the "original" Dirty Harry holster. He resurrected the brand around 2009. I bought 2 of his new original DH holsters in early 2010. Then there were reports of people not having their orders filled for months, if ever - I did not keep track. I don't have an answer as to why the holster is being offered by two of his companies with different names. Just guessing that one is geared to law enforcement and the other to civilian/western market.

 

[cobretti]

Both of those ads list Jerry Ardolino as owner. In the 70's, Ardolino's Lawman Leather made the "original" Dirty Harry holster. He resurrected the brand around 2009. I bought 2 of his new original DH holsters in early 2010. Then there were reports of people not having their orders filled for months, if ever - I did not keep track. I don't have an answer as to why the holster is being offered by two of his companies with different names. Just guessing that one is geared to law enforcement and the other to civilian/western market.

Has anyone bought one recently or had any problems with Wild Guns? I'd really like to get one of these but I'm tired of dealing with deadbeats!

 

[mkk41]

You're not paying attention.

http://smith-wessonforum.com/s-w-revolvers-1961-1980/326915-dirty-harrys-s-w-mod-29-a.html#post137340769

As I alluded to , that's a 6 1/2"!

 

[murphydog]

Photography special effects?

No. Have a look at the other photos of the 6.5" model 29s and the barrel length relative to the position of the end of the ejector rod housing/lug. This one is clearly a 6.5".

 

[Tom K]

I quote off IMBD from Magnum Force.

Officer Phil Sweet: What kind of a load do you use in that .44?

Harry Callahan: It's a light Special. This size gun it gives you better control and less recoil than a .357 Magnum with wadcutters.

All this line indicates is that Harry used .44 Specials when practising, same as the guys carrying .357s used .38 wadcutters. It was common at the time to use light loads for practice but to carry full power ammo on duty. This cut down on costs and made practice easier, but meant that some guys had little experience with magnum ammo until it came down to crunch time.

Obviously Harry sometimes practiced with full power ammo as he could easily clip a running man in the leg halfway across a football field, one handed, double action. (in the first movie).

 

[cobretti]

This looks like an 8 3/8" to me...

 

[W.E.G.]

Don't get too hung-up on the logic of the script-writers when it comes to understanding the minutiae of how guns actually perform in the field. They've been getting it wrong since Robert Johnson wrote the popular song "32-20" blues. In the song, Mr. Johnson seems to think the 32-20 has something over the .38 Special.

32 - 20 Blues by Robert Johnson - YouTube