acco40
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Happy Groundhog Day
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MetalMan
Member
Very cool!!!
That’s awesome.
What does your gun have to say about an early spring?
What does your gun have to say about an early spring?
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Baltimoreed11754
Member
A nice Lew Horton special there or is that a commemorative Smith? Thinking it’s more like 4 to 8 years of high ammo prices unfortunately.
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acco40
Member
Written By Randy Rolls
He has been a contributor to the Cowboy Chronicle, and is a Benefactor Member of NRA, Life Member of the Single Action Shooting Society, Life Member of Gun Owners of America, and a member of Monocacy Pistol Club and Littlestown Fish and Game Association.
Model 629-4 Punxsutawney Commemorative
Usually the connection between guns and groundhogs involves using firearms to hunt groundhogs. However, in this case, the Smith & Wesson custom shop developed a firearm to honor the most famous groundhog in the world.
One of the most unusual and rare collectible items from the Smith & Wesson custom shop is the Punxsutawney Phil Commemorative Model 629 .44 Magnum revolver that was officially sanctioned by the Punxsutawney Groundhog Club of Punxsutawney, Pennsylvania. These revolvers were marketed as a fundraiser for the Punxsutawney Groundhog Club for the purpose of helping with its obligations for the care of the Seer of Seers, Prince of Prognosticators, the world’s most famous groundhog, Punxsutawney Phil. The person responsible for the marketing of these revolvers was Mike Johnston (Johnston Furniture Store), a member of the Inner Circle of the Punxsutawney Groundhog Club, the group seen in tuxedoes and top hats each Groundhog Day at Gobbler’s Knob awaiting the arrival of Punxsutawney Phil and his prediction of the upcoming weather. In order to determine the size of the production run, the guns were ordered on a prepaid in full basis. As a result, a total production run of 41 Punxsutawney Phil Commemorative revolvers was made, as attested to by the Certificate of Authenticity included with the revolver. Of course, as a card carrying member and Ambassador of the Punxsutawney Groundhog Club, I had to have one.
The base gun is a Smith & Wesson Model 629-4 stainless steel .44 Magnum revolver with a high polish finish and black rubber grips. It came in a wooden case with a green velvet liner, with the aforementioned Certificate of Authenticity inside. The lid of the box was laser-engraved with the portrait of Punxsutawney Phil and the words “Groundhog Day, February 2, 1997, Our 111th Year” and the words in a banner “Gobbler’s Knob, Punxsutawney Pa.” The gun itself has the 8 3/8 inch barrel in order to contain the words “Punxsutawney Groundhog Club” in script. Other added touches were the date “Feb. 2, 1997” on the underlug and an engraving of Punxsutawney Phil on the sideplate. As to mine, in addition to a regular serial number there was added a number to match the number on the series of commemorative knives I had previously acquired from the Groundhog Club.
The quality of this revolver is superb. I was told that the guns had been disassembled for the engraving, and upon assembly the custom shop made great efforts to finely fit the component parts. As a result, the lockup is incredible and I have been told that the ones that have been fired have shown excellent accuracy.
Commemorative guns have been made in honor of many personages and events, but there are probably not many made for such a humble animal as the groundhog. But when this commemorative gun relates to a celebration that has been observed since 1886, then it becomes a true piece of Americana.
He has been a contributor to the Cowboy Chronicle, and is a Benefactor Member of NRA, Life Member of the Single Action Shooting Society, Life Member of Gun Owners of America, and a member of Monocacy Pistol Club and Littlestown Fish and Game Association.
Model 629-4 Punxsutawney Commemorative
Usually the connection between guns and groundhogs involves using firearms to hunt groundhogs. However, in this case, the Smith & Wesson custom shop developed a firearm to honor the most famous groundhog in the world.
One of the most unusual and rare collectible items from the Smith & Wesson custom shop is the Punxsutawney Phil Commemorative Model 629 .44 Magnum revolver that was officially sanctioned by the Punxsutawney Groundhog Club of Punxsutawney, Pennsylvania. These revolvers were marketed as a fundraiser for the Punxsutawney Groundhog Club for the purpose of helping with its obligations for the care of the Seer of Seers, Prince of Prognosticators, the world’s most famous groundhog, Punxsutawney Phil. The person responsible for the marketing of these revolvers was Mike Johnston (Johnston Furniture Store), a member of the Inner Circle of the Punxsutawney Groundhog Club, the group seen in tuxedoes and top hats each Groundhog Day at Gobbler’s Knob awaiting the arrival of Punxsutawney Phil and his prediction of the upcoming weather. In order to determine the size of the production run, the guns were ordered on a prepaid in full basis. As a result, a total production run of 41 Punxsutawney Phil Commemorative revolvers was made, as attested to by the Certificate of Authenticity included with the revolver. Of course, as a card carrying member and Ambassador of the Punxsutawney Groundhog Club, I had to have one.
The base gun is a Smith & Wesson Model 629-4 stainless steel .44 Magnum revolver with a high polish finish and black rubber grips. It came in a wooden case with a green velvet liner, with the aforementioned Certificate of Authenticity inside. The lid of the box was laser-engraved with the portrait of Punxsutawney Phil and the words “Groundhog Day, February 2, 1997, Our 111th Year” and the words in a banner “Gobbler’s Knob, Punxsutawney Pa.” The gun itself has the 8 3/8 inch barrel in order to contain the words “Punxsutawney Groundhog Club” in script. Other added touches were the date “Feb. 2, 1997” on the underlug and an engraving of Punxsutawney Phil on the sideplate. As to mine, in addition to a regular serial number there was added a number to match the number on the series of commemorative knives I had previously acquired from the Groundhog Club.
The quality of this revolver is superb. I was told that the guns had been disassembled for the engraving, and upon assembly the custom shop made great efforts to finely fit the component parts. As a result, the lockup is incredible and I have been told that the ones that have been fired have shown excellent accuracy.
Commemorative guns have been made in honor of many personages and events, but there are probably not many made for such a humble animal as the groundhog. But when this commemorative gun relates to a celebration that has been observed since 1886, then it becomes a true piece of Americana.
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acco40
Member
Whether the weather be fine,
Or whether the weather be not,
Whether the weather be cold,
Or whether the weather be hot.
We'll weather the weather,
Whatever the weather,
Whether we like it or not!
gwpercle
Member
Happy Groundhog Day ....
I watched Phil do his thing this morning ...
As they had to keep brushing the snow off of him ...
He didn't see any showdaws at all ...
He prognosticated another 6 weeks of winter ...
I think he Nailed it but ... he said he needs to check the European Model
before issuing his final report .
Punxsutawney Phil is Awesome !
Gary
I watched Phil do his thing this morning ...
As they had to keep brushing the snow off of him ...
He didn't see any showdaws at all ...
He prognosticated another 6 weeks of winter ...
I think he Nailed it but ... he said he needs to check the European Model
before issuing his final report .
Punxsutawney Phil is Awesome !
Gary
These guns were a single run that was ordered through the Smith & Wesson Custom Shop. Around that time the Punxsutawney Groundhog Club was marketing this revolver, a Winchester Model 94 and numerous knives.
What are the chances of two owners of the Punxsutawney Phil commemorative Smith & Wesson coming together on this forum?
HAHAHAHA. Wearing the same Hogue grips too. You would think at least one of them mighta changed them out.
Protocall_Design
Member
Probably a 90% chance of hot air when those two get together! I think the tradition is a bit silly, but that's part of the fun. Life is way too short to be serious all the time. I think we could use more of this type of happy celebrations around the country. Party on!
Amen that.
I resemble that remark!
Watching the Bill Murray movie as I type... 
jtcarm
Member
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I wouldn’t call the little **** humble.
He sleeps all year, pokes his head out, and is declared a celebrity.
The Kardashians work harder.
I don't have a picture of one of the PA ground hog I shot with my 220 Swift, but it wasn't pretty.......
