Help! Need advice/direction - CRACK! 1980 S&W Model 29 .44 Magnum

[karma279]

Hey fellow forumites :wave:
So I (my old man and I) have what appears to be a serious problem... My dad bought this .44 Magnum new in 1980 (I've double-checked against the serial #)... It's been inside one of those fancy 6' Liberty safes for as long as I can remember... He said he's put less than 50 rounds thru it... and I can't recall a time he's ever shot it or got it out other than to be sure it was oiled etc, and I'm 37 years old... So... We assumed we had a damned near mint collector's item...
Well... I had to get in the safe today, so I took it out to take a few pictures of it and his Colt Python... Later I zoom in on one of the pics and notice what could be a crack or (was hoping) a scratch. I show my old man and we go get it out of the safe... Sure as hell it has a crack on the right side up near the hammer (pics attached)... Being where this crack is located, and that the frame is nickel... What are his repair options? Does he have any?
Needless to say... He was very surprised to see this and not very pleased... What say you S&W experts? Can a good smith do anything to save this beauty?

Thanks for any and all help/advice...

Nick

*looks like I may have to post the other 2 pics separately... Can't figure out how to u/l more than 1 w/o using photobucket etc

 

[karma279]

And pic # 2...

 

[karma279]

And pic #3...

 

[Jim Oliver]

Relax, this is not a crack

This is the seam between the side plate and the frame.

 

[DocB]

Looks like the top of the side plate to me. Unless I'm missing something, they all have that.

 

[JDBoardman]

It's those dratted Liberty safes. There is something about the interior lining that causes the frames of Smith & Wesson revolvers to crack in that location. Bet if you check any other S&W revolvers in there you will find they all have a crack in the same place.

Actually, that is the joint between the frame and the side plate. It is completely normal and is not a fault but a design feature. Smith & Wesson revolvers have had a separate side plate held in place by first 4, then 3 screws for just about forever.

John

 

[silversnake]

Oh man the frame is ruined, that gun is only salvageable as parts now, I'll be generous and offer you $50 for it.

On a more serious note....

That "crack" is actually just the seam of the sideplate, the part you remove to access the internals.
The gun looks great and seems like your dad took good care of it.

 

[karma279]

:::sigh::: Man that's the best news I've heard in a while!
I'll be damned if it doesn't look like a crack tho (how it's not a uniform shape and appears a bit "jagged")...
:sigh:

 

[824tsv]

Yup, I see the crack. Please send it to me for disposal.

 

[22hipower]

:::sigh::: Man that's the best news I've heard in a while!
I'll be damned if it doesn't look like a crack tho (how it's not a uniform shape and appears a bit "jagged")...
:sigh:

Not to worry, you are not the first one to bring a "crack" in that location to the attention of the forum. . . .and you won't be the last.

Jeff
SWCA #1457

 

[karma279]

So... Having settled that worry for this Walther guy (only revolver I own is a '76 S&W model 36 .38 Special)...
What abouts is this model 29 worth in this condition? (I believe he still has box and paperwork somewhere)

 

[karma279]

...and now that I look closer at the pics I posted... It's plain as day lol... We just freaked for a second!

 

[Rpg]

I can fix that for you.

Send it to me.

I'll let you know when I'm done with it.

 

[loeman]

:::sigh::: Man that's the best news I've heard in a while!
I'll be damned if it doesn't look like a crack tho (how it's not a uniform shape and appears a bit "jagged")...
:sigh:

Not too sure what you mean by "jagged", however, from your pics which are quite good, your Md 29 looks pretty normal to me.

One of my "tests" when I'm considering to buy a used S&W revolver is to run my finger over that seem to feel how good the sideplate fits to the frame. The smoother the seem, the better I feel about the gun. Some of my S&Ws are fitted so perfectly that I can barely feel this seam. Also, if the previous owner has removed the side-plate for whatever reason, I've been told it won't fit as well as it did when first fitted at the factory. I can't confirm this as I've never taken one off.

 

[karma279]

And I know this is a S&W forum... But as a thank-you for calming my nerves... Here is some Colt Python pr0n for you guys (it's been shot less than the .44 Mag)

 

[pharmer]

Yeah, but the Colt is cracked on the wrong side. I could take it off your hands so you can sleep OK. Joe

 

[bigwheelzip]

Glad you got that straightened out.

One more wrong thing the uninitiated do, is pry the side plate off with a screwdriver.

This short video shows the simple technique for removal and re-installation of the side plate.

[ame]https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=NhUHVcVb_V0[/ame]

 

[Fishslayer]

Relax, this is not a crack

This is the seam between the side plate and the frame.

HA! Don't worry, OP, you are not alone. When I got my new-to-me first revolver home & was fondling it I noticed the same "crack" & about had a cow. Took a closer look with a magnifier to relieve me...

 

[BC38]

So... Having settled that worry for this Walther guy (only revolver I own is a '76 S&W model 36 .38 Special)...
What abouts is this model 29 worth in this condition? (I believe he still has box and paperwork somewhere)

That determination will take some more photos of the whole gun, including open cylinder, grips, barrel, etc.
You can attach up to 5 photos to each post BTW. Just keep clicking on BROWSE, selecting your picture file, and clicking on UPLOAD.
.JPG pictures work best, and they can't be bigger than 1024 x 767 resolutions.

 

[murphydog]

Glad the frame is not cracked .

You didn't mention the barrel length of the model 29; that has a major influence on value, shorter usually being more expensive as a rule.