Is $1,150 a fair price for a 629-5 Classic DX?

[limhyl]

Well, I thought I consult with the experts again and get your opinions about this particular 629-5 available at a local pawn shop. It's the DX model, 6 1/2 inch with wood grips, and comes with the original blue case, test target, four front sights, and manual.

I examined it today and it looks very clean, no marks or even signs of obvious use. The ad says "never fired" but I think that is a bit of exaggeration as I saw what appeared to be staining from firing 44 Special ammunition in the cylinder chambers.

I was able to negotiate it down to $1,150 out-the-door; is that reasonable for this model with box, papers, test target, and 4 extra front sights? I have not decided to purchase it as I think it may still be too much, even for a DX version.

 

[crem1n0le]

The marks are probably from factory test firing as far as the price, im in no way an expert so i apologize for stepping in your post. Just thought I'd let you know that one little bit as i have gotten irritated after buying revolvers brand new from my LGS and thought they were taking the new inventory to the range

Sent from my SGH-M819N using Tapatalk

 

[ridgewalker]

I can't say anything about the DX because I haven't shot or handled one. I bought my 6.5 inch Classic with lock slightly used for about $700 + transfer fees. I find it a very nice shooter. Mine was a Talo edition with pretty wood grips but I switched over to Pachmayr Decelerators which I like to shoot with better. So if you want a 629 shooter and it doesn't have to be a DX, then you can probably save a lot of money.

 

[75Vette]

Sounds like you got the whole package except for the original grips. Those look like Altamont round to square conversions. Shoulda been the newer style combats. Other than that, just a touch high but you've got one nice six shooter.
This is a dash 3 with an 8 3/8" tube.

 

[k22fan]

I disagree with this:

The marks are probably from factory test firing [...]

Because of the original poster limhyl's description:

[...] The ad says "never fired" but I think that is a bit of exaggeration as I saw what appeared to be staining from firing 44 Special ammunition in the cylinder chambers. [...]

S&W would not have wasted time firing .44 Specials.

Other than an extra pair of stocks, extra front sights and the barrel etch the only difference between DXs and the rest of a production run of 629 Classics was the size of the group they made at 50 yards test firing 5 Federal 240 grain cartridges in a machine rest. During the final years of DX production the distance was reduced to 25 yards. Obviously that is too small a sample to say that a DX is going to give you better average accuracy than a non-DX from the same production run but at least you know a DX is capable of good accuracy. The 50 yard DX test targets I've seen have been in the 1 1/4" to 1 1/2" range.

Unfortunately limhyl left out an important bit of information required to value a DX. Did the dealer or a prior owner sell its wood Combats separately? The days of replacing them for $35 are long gone. They sell here for $200 to $275 and are advertised for even higher prices. Other wise, I do not keep current on DX prices.

 

[limhyl]

I disagree with this:

Because of the original poster limhyl's description:

S&W would not have wasted time firing .44 Specials.

Other than an extra pair of stocks, extra front sights and the barrel etch the only difference between DXs and the rest of a production run of 629 Classics was the size of the group they made at 50 yards test firing 5 Federal 240 grain cartridges in a machine rest. During the final years of DX production the distance was reduced to 25 yards. Obviously that is too small a sample to say that a DX is going to give you better average accuracy than a non-DX from the same production run but at least you know a DX is capable of good accuracy. The 50 yard DX test targets I've seen have been in the 1 1/4" to 1 1/2" range.

Unfortunately limhyl left out an important bit of information required to value a DX. Did the dealer or a prior owner sell its wood Combats separately? The days of replacing them for $35 are long gone. They sell here for $200 to $275 and are advertised for even higher prices. Other wise, I do not keep current on DX prices.

Here are some pics of the 629-5 with the included stocks:




I'm not sure if these are the original stocks; I neglected to ask the dealer. The black hogue grip was not part of the set.

 

[75Vette]

Not original. I hate to be the bearer but those are much cheaper add ons. S&W uses Altamont for their current revolvers but shouldn't be on your gun. You can find the correct replacements either here on the forum or on ebay but won't come cheap.

 

[limhyl]

Not original. I hate to be the bearer but those are much cheaper add ons. S&W uses Altamont for their current revolvers but shouldn't be on your gun. You can find the correct replacements either here on the forum or on ebay but won't come cheap.

Thanks for the heads up. I have not decided to buy it yet and glad to get sound advice on this forum.

 

[ladder13]

75, can't tell from your pic (bad eyes), are those flat sided combats?

 

[k22fan]

Those look like Altamont stocks. While S&W did sell some small production runs of N frames fitted with those Altamonts I've not previously seen it suggested that round to square conversion wood stocks were packaged with DXs. The now expensive Combat stocks I wrote about may have been superseded by Altamonts before this dash 5 was manufactured. Maybe it never had the expensive S&W made ones? DXs came with both wood and rubber stocks as long as DXs were made. Whether those Altamonts are original or not that DX is not worth as much as a dash 3 or 4 DX that includes S&W manufactured Combats.

 

[75Vette]

75, can't tell from your pic (bad eyes), are those flat sided combats?

Ladder, I believe that's what these are called. Morado wood according to SCSW.

 

[ladder13]

Ladder, I believe that's what these are called. Morado wood according to SCSW.

I was asking because I have a pair also but on the wrong gun

 

[will527]

For reference, here in Mississippi, I bought a 629-5 with a 5" barrel, that included the case, two sets of grips for $850. This was in February of 2016.

 

[DocB]

You West Coast guys must be faced with some serious prices! $1150 is outrageous. I would just let it sit in that pawn shop forever. I don't know a lot about the DX. I do know that the epitome of the 629 Classic is this one made in the early 1990's. . .the -4. I paid less than half of what your dealer wants for his gun. That dealer will be taking a nice vacation after somebody buys that gun.

 

[BillyMagg]

Well, I thought I consult with the experts again and get your opinions about this particular 629-5 available at a local pawn shop. It's the DX model, 6 1/2 inch with wood grips, and comes with the original blue case, test target, four front sights, and manual.

I examined it today and it looks very clean, no marks or even signs of obvious use. The ad says "never fired" but I think that is a bit of exaggeration as I saw what appeared to be staining from firing 44 Special ammunition in the cylinder chambers.

I was able to negotiate it down to $1,150 out-the-door; is that reasonable for this model with box, papers, test target, and 4 extra front sights? I have not decided to purchase it as I think it may still be too much, even for a DX version.

If its a Classic DX, I don't thinks that's to bad a price, those Morado wood grips kicked like a mule with 44 Mag, but lovely with 44 Special. If you plunked down 10 Benjamen's just for fun, you might buy yourself a hog-leg?? might not, but it couldn't hurt.

I love those Elk Horn grips, and that's what it likely would wear if I had my druthers.

 

[ladder13]

For reference, here in Mississippi, I bought a 629-5 with a 5" barrel, that included the case, two sets of grips for $850. This was in February of 2016.

I like the 5 inchers also, though this one cries out for wood and flash chromed H&T.
629-4, not a DX

 

[AveragEd]

Of course, if you're strictly looking at the gun for a shooter, then this won't matter to you but the -5 omitted some features collectors find very desirable on the prior revisions. Specifically, the hammer, trigger and cylinder release are MIM instead of forged - they make no difference in reliability but do affect collector value as does the smooth backstrap, which had 10 grooves on prior revisions. If I were seeking a DX for its collector value as compared to a non-DX, I would limit my choices to -3s and -4s.

As far as price goes, I can only tell you that I paid $800 for that five-inch 629-3 DX - gun alone - in the bottom of that photo five or six years ago on the auction site, GunBroker.com. Five-inch 629 DXs were only made for one year, 1994, while 6-1/2" models were made for numerous years so it would seem that the price you've negotiated might still be a bit strong. I would visit GunBroker's closed auctions to see what that exact gun (I'm sure several have been sold there) commanded in open bidding competition.

The uppermost gun in the photo is a 6-1/2" 629-4 Classic (non-DX) that cost me something in the $600 range eight(?) years ago. I have to think it would bring more money today so is that DX worth that many hundred dollars more? It's obviously your call.

Ed

 

[grip frame]

A 629-5 classic DX would have came with Hogue rubber round to square conversion grips with the Smith&Wesson logo molded in. Also a pair of the flat sided morado combat grips without the silver logo enlays. The plain combats without the silver emblem inlays are more rare than the other wood combats as they were only produced for a short time and used on -5 N frames. They are not worth more than other factory combats however.

Having the original box for the gun, extra sights and test target are great. They are harder to replace than the grips.

629-5's are great revolvers.

I would say the price is a little too high. I just recently bought a minty. -3 629 Classic DX with everything but the Hogue grips for $900 on a popular auction site.

I would go $1000 max or keep shopping.

 

[mod29]

629-5's are great revolvers.

I would go $1000 max or keep shopping.

Agreed, the 629-5 is a great revolver.
I also think somewhere around $1000. would be reasonable for what you're looking at. Maybe a bit more if it's really LNIB.

Remember, it is always of benefit if you can personally examine a weapon you're thinking of purchasing. It's tough to find a nice pre-lock S&W locally (let alone a 629 DX).
Yes, you'll find them on-line from time to time, but you're taking a calculated risk.
(I've taken that risk many times lol)

I just spent today at the local range shooting mine.
629-5 6.5" barrel. Really shot well. I am very happy with it.

Mine is just the Classic model, not the DX. The DX might be a better shooter than mine! (maybe!)

 

[limhyl]

Gentlemen, I appreciate the good advice from all and will let this one sit awhile at the pawn shop and offer $1000 later. In the meantime, I will enjoy my two recent additions:





I got these for under $700 each locally (not including the red dot on the 629-3 5") just in the past couple of months. I just wasn't sure if the "DX" is really worth the premium but now have a better idea after reading your postings.