How rare is the 629-4 Square Butt 44 magnum revolver.

[RogerA]

So I have enjoyed reading all the recent posts on the S&W 629 44 magnum. Which one is best, which one has which features, best barrel length for what and so on. Everyone seems to like the 629-4 best, as it had the endurance package, was pre lock, was pre MIM parts, and still had the hammer mounted firing pin. About the ONLY distraction is that most 629-4 models have a round butt frame. So here is my question. Of the total 629-4 production, what was the percentage of round butt and square butt frames? Oh and yes, I do have one of those hard to find 629-4 6 inch SQUARE BUTT revolver, so that is why I'm so interested in learning the production numbers. Thanks!

 

[Kernel Crittenden]

In 1996 S&W ceased production of square butt frames for standard catalog items. Round butts became universal on all models regardless of barrel length. Prior to that, the general rule-of-thumb was 4-inch and longer were square butts, 3-inch and shorter were round. Of course, there were many exceptions, mostly made in small numbers.

The M629-4 entered production in 1993 and was superseded by the -5 in 1997. The -4 was made for five years, give or take. Two to three of those years some portion was made with a square butt frame. Your gun as made in October of 1994, so it's from that square butt era. It's also a 6-inch, so it fits the rule-of-thumb.

If I had to guess, for all barrel lengths, I'd say something like 20-30% of the -4 were made as square butts. BTW, the transition dates in this post were taken from the SCSW.

 

[VM]

So I have enjoyed reading all the recent posts on the S&W 629 44 magnum. Which one is best, which one has which features, best barrel length for what and so on. Everyone seems to like the 629-4 best, as it had the endurance package, was pre lock, was pre MIM parts, and still had the hammer mounted firing pin. About the ONLY distraction is that most 629-4 models have a round butt frame. So here is my question. Of the total 629-4 production, what was the percentage of round butt and square butt frames? Oh and yes, I do have one of those hard to find 629-4 6 inch SQUARE BUTT revolver, so that is why I'm so interested in learning the production numbers. Thanks!

I'd guess that even the Factory couldn't tell you prodution numbers (rd. vs. sq.)
Enjoy it and shoot it!

 

[RogerA]

Thank You Sir!

 

[RogerA]

I'd guess that even the Factory couldn't tell you prodution numbers (rd. vs. sq.)
Enjoy it and shoot it!

Thanks! I do enjoy it!!

 

[k22fan]

If owners who still retain their boxes posted their dash 4's packaging dates we could hunt for the earliest dash 4s and latest square butt dash 4s. That would give an approximate production life for square butt dash 4s. Divide that time frame by the length of time dash 4s were produced and you'd have something better than a seat of the pants guess.

I like 629s so it's an interesting question but 629s have always been big sellers so I have to admit that my first reaction to the thread title was that the word "rare" ought to be replaced with "uncommon."

 

[woodsltc]

So I have enjoyed reading all the recent posts on the S&W 629 44 magnum. Which one is best, which one has which features, best barrel length for what and so on. Everyone seems to like the 629-4 best, as it had the endurance package, was pre lock, was pre MIM parts, and still had the hammer mounted firing pin. About the ONLY distraction is that most 629-4 models have a round butt frame. So here is my question. Of the total 629-4 production, what was the percentage of round butt and square butt frames? Oh and yes, I do have one of those hard to find 629-4 6 inch SQUARE BUTT revolver, so that is why I'm so interested in learning the production numbers. Thanks!

I agree with all the reasons you state for 629-4's to be popular, but if you really want one that is uncommon...try to find one with a 4 inch barrel. I spent a couple of years looking for the comparable 29-5 with a 4 inch barrel and I assume it would be just as hard to find a 629-4 with a similar barrel.

Don

 

[Laketime]

I like the flash chromed hammer and trigger on the 629-3 best.Although the new style rounded rear sight on the 629-4 is starting to grow on me.

 

[g-dad]

If owners who still retain their boxes posted their dash 4's packaging dates we could hunt for the earliest dash 4s and latest square butt dash 4s. That would give an approximate production life for square butt dash 4s. Divide that time frame by the length of time dash 4s were produced and you'd have something better than a seat of the pants guess.

Let me start off. My 629-4 product code: 103624; Spec code: 7132; RB; 6 1/2 Power Port Classic; Serial # CBZ9xxx

 

[k22fan]

Let me start off. My 629-4 product code: 103624; Spec code: 7132; RB; 6 1/2 Power Port Classic; Serial # CBZ9xxx

g-dad,
Your 629-4 was boxed on the 132nd day of 1997. That makes it a later dash 4 so I'd expect it to have a round butt even if it were not a Classic. This is another rule of thumb to which there are exceptions, but generally Classics have round butts. I think most of the square butt Classics were back in the dash 2s but I'm not sure. Back in dash 3s the features that set Classics apart from standard 629s were a round butt, full under lug, black powder bevel on the front of the cylinder, inter changeable front sights and a top strap drilled and tapped for optics under the new rear sight. Also Classics were available as deluxe DXs and Power Ported.

 

[mag 44]

i have a 629 Classic Dx,BSE21xx round butt,made 10-94.

 

[ARSRGOOD]

I know this is an old thread, but the info in it great, I just picked up a 629-4 so I am trying to learn as much as I can about them.

My box code is Model no- 628 caliber .44 barrel 6 1/2 Fin S Stock PM Features Classic Serial Number BPY03XX Product Code 103638 Spec 3298 Ord. 007

I am guessing that it was boxed on the 298th day of 1993?

Also I took the grip off, its a round butt, but there is a sticker covering a stamping, here are some pics of it.

 

[AveragEd]

Maybe eight years ago, I bought a near-new 686-3 Classic Hunter. I was curious how many were made, so I called Smith & Wesson. The lady with whom I spoke told me that three had been shipped since 1994. Well, you know what I took that to mean - I had one of just three such guns in existence!

Perhaps three months later, I found another one for sale. It was obviously used but still - to own two-thirds of all of that model that was made would be great! But then reality set in. I'm not that lucky so I called S&W again.

That time, I was told about a 1994 computer crash that left them without any prior production records so all they can tell anyone about 1994 and back guns is how many have been shipped since then. Apparently, three 686 Classic Hunters were still in inventory in 1994.

I then told that person that the Standard Catalog of Smith & Wesson suggests that 5,000 686 Classic Hunters were made. He said he would take that as gospel because their info is likely more accurate than anything S&W has.

Ed