Just a little K frame round butt..probably a .38

[Breakaway500]

Nope. It's a big boy. One of those guns once you see it you can't stop thinking about it.

At least,for me. So..here it is. Hey,its only green money...and worth less every day! Guns are forever...well almost.

Has a K frame round butt grip..2.5" pinned barrel,recessed chambers.Detent on yoke.Target hammer,wide combat trigger. Spiffy holster.

I have a few 629 pinned/recessed models as they really float my boat. Now I have an "unofficial" snubby 629 (no dash)

I have my eye on some snazzy grips..wasn't sure what size the frame was so had to wait till I knew for sure.

Now out to chute it....

 

[StrawHat]

So, what Model is it?

And what is the stamp above the cylinder release?

Kevin

 

[Breakaway500]

It's a 629 (No dash) so made in 1979-80. Serial N841***. It was in a group of revolvers that were sent out to be modified by Tamiami Sportsmans Club in Florida. Not a factory special run or anything...just a "hotrodded" ole big block. Just shot it out back..not bad with 44 specials but rock and rolls with the hot stuff! Not as bad as a J frame 357, though.

 

[SAFireman]

Looks like a good copy of a Jovino special. I bet its wonderful with some 240gr KLSWC @ 800-900 fps.

Tell me you got it for less than $500

 

[ImprovedModel56Fan]

VERY nice revolver!

I also like mine, which is a 3" 629 PC double Magnaported with Fishpaw checkered grips which are basically French walnut copies of Compac Pro grips, only barely thicker, which is a good match for my hand and a .44 Mag revolver.

 

[Rudi]

A fist full of fire!

 

[rwsmith]

Well THAT'S....

...not something you see every day!

 

[murphydog]

Cool gun. Hard to tell the chambering based on the right side of the barrel.

 

[steelslaver]

An ear splitting louden boomer for sure

 

[CH4]

Cool fo sho

 

[Retired W4]

John Jovino would have reshaped the hammer spur. Really nice short barrel modification. Does it have the ball/detent front lock up on the yoke?

 

[Breakaway500]

"Does it have the ball/detent front lock up on the yoke?"

Yes. Ball detent yoke.Nicely done I might add.

As to being a "Jovino" copy...seeing as the Jovinos were on the 629-1 models..I believe the Tamiami 629 snubbys came first.
So,who "copied" who?

I think I have a lead on who actually did the work on these. It's a family run shop in Pa. (still in business) and I sent them an email to confirm or deny responsibility. It would be interesting to know and if they kept any records etc. No biggie..just looking for history.

 

[Ivan the Butcher]

I have a 629-10 PC 2 5/8". The factory mags remove skin from the base knuckle of my thumb with Factory 240JSP's. I have very good luck with 10 grains of Unique under a 240 Keith bullet.

My carry ammo is Grizzly 260 cast flat point 44 Special and I have DeSantis holsters in both Brown and Black to go with my wardrobe choices.

Ivan

 

[Retired W4]

As for who started the concept, I don't know, but you might ask Austin Behlert. Someone here might know who first swapped the ejector rod lock for the custom yoke lock on short barrel customs. Inquiring minds want to know.

 

[GaryinOKC]

629

Austin was one of the first. I collected his work for several years. Cant ask him though as he passed away in October of 2005. Jovino and couple others did it as well. But any decent smith could do it. Austin added a ball detent at the top of the yoke. The Jovino's I have owned were a little longer than Behlerts and used the factory detent. Some had a ball detent in the yoke as well.

As for who started the concept, I don't know, but you might ask Austin Behlert. Someone here might know who first swapped the ejector rod lock for the custom yoke lock on short barrel customs. Inquiring minds want to know.

 

[GaryinOKC]

jovino/behlert

Based on the guns I have owned the early ( I assume they were early) Jovinos were very similar to Behlert guns. Called the Effector but not marked. They generally had a tear drop shaped hammer spur. All the Behlerts I owned (about 6) had bobbed hammers. The early guns and Behlerts were around 2.75" and did away with the factory ejector rod detent. The later Jovino guns were marked effector and were around 3" retaining the factory detent.

Top Photo is a Behlert 29-2. Bottom photo is a 629 Effector marked Jovino.

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[/IMG]

 

[NOTREDAME]

I thought a forum member years ago attributed these guns
To Mahovsky's Metalife. I have seen guns identical to these
With the same engraving on the barrel, but were hard chromed.

 

[CajunBass]

I shot a similar gun many years ago, back when I didn't know beans from apple butter. I was at a range outside of Richmond, Va., and there was a fellow there at the same time. No idea who he was, but he was showing me his "new gun." He told me, as best I remember that it was made by Fred Schmidt of Mechanicsville, Va. It had started life as a Model 29, with a 4" barrel, then the barrel had been chopped down to 2 1/2-3" I forget which, but he pointed out that it kept the roll marks centered. The the barrel had been magna-ported (the "in" thing in those days). He said the N-frame grip had been cut off, and a K-frame grip welded on. Action job and so on...then refinished. It had some kind of black rubber grips.

He asked if I wanted to shoot it. I declined, but he insisted. "Try it. You'll like it." Frankly I was scared to death of the idea of shooting a 44 Magnum, the most powerful handgun in the world. I had seen Dirty Harry by then. He loaded three rounds and I did fire them. The world didn't end. My wrist wasn't even broken. No idea what load it was. I remember I actually hit the paper, but that might be just me kidding myself.

That's the way I remember it. For all I know he might have been yanking my chain and the whole story was just blowing smoke, but that's what I remember of the encounter. As I remember it, the gun looked exactly like the OP's (nice gun by the way) except in blue. At least now I know there was such a concept.

 

[Breakaway500]

I emailed them to see if they had indeed built these units,but have not heard back.

I thought a forum member years ago attributed these guns
To Mahovsky's Metalife. I have seen guns identical to these
With the same engraving on the barrel, but were hard chromed.

 

[Green Frog]

I'm not sure that Ron Mahovsky does all that much gunsmithing. His main thrust is toward finishing, especially that super durable "Metalife" hard chrome. That stuff is wonderful on working guns and pretty enough for safe queens.
Froggie