Latest acquisition, 629-6 Camfour snubby.

[Evil One]

Just brought her home from my FFL.
This will be the third one that I have owned.
This one is 041,one of the others was 046...can't remember the number of the last one.
For as uncommon as these are, I seem to keep running across them.
I'm a happy man tonight.


Jim

 

[The_Truth]

I'd sell a kidney for an original Camfour 629. That one is sweet. I want one.

 

[Kingspoke]

629-6 Camfour

Very nice! Congrats on finding that one!

 

[Evil One]

Thanks guys, I REALLY lucked into this one.


Jim

 

[Rammer Jammer]

fantastic big bore snubbie

 

[ImDrRich]

I'd love to own one. Please let me know where one is hiding? Thanks!

 

[kaaskop49]

If S&W would bring out this one, I'd be in the market, or a 4" fixed sight model, a la Model 58, for that matter.

Kaaskop49
Shield #5103

 

[yfdcap]

Very cool. Congrats.

 

[RogerA]

Is this a Camfour? Revolvers for Sale : Smith 44mag snub. Used Guns. THANKS!

 

[Evil One]

Looks like it to me.


Jim

 

[RogerA]

Looks like it to me.


Jim

THANKS! What are the worth?

 

[Evil One]

I have seen a few sell for more, but not many sell for less.
So I would say not a bad price.
There are so few that is hard to say what actual value is.


Jim

 

[yfdcap]

THANKS! What are the worth?

That asking price is very fair. With box in good condition can bring 1500.00 plus.

 

[Evil One]

One reason I wish mine had the box.


Jim

 

[WCCPHD]

Camfour made two "runs" of the 629, 2.5 inch, fixed sight revolvers. The first was a 629-5, pre lock and the second (and one in the OP) is a 629-6, similar but with the interlock. I believe (and may be incorrect) there were less of the -5's produced than the -6's.

There is one other difference in the frame. If you will look at the top of the frame (near the hammer) you will see that the -5 is squared off like a Model 36 and the -6 is rounded like a Model 64.

The -5 guns have more of a polished finish and the -6 is more matte.

S&W also made several "runs" of the fixed sight 629's for Lew Horton. The first iteration was a -3 and I believe that 495 were produced in two separate groups. These were Performance Center guns and had a three inch, top compensated barrel. They were marketed as "Carry Comp" and sometimes as "Mag Comp." Later some -6 guns were produced with the interlock and had a change to the ejector shroud. (Sorry I don't have one of these or a photo).

Examples:

629-5 Camfour




629-6 Camfour




Photos showing the difference in the frames


629-3 Lew Horton Performance Center




Group shot (and Yes I do like Ahrends grips as they fit my hands better)

 

[yfdcap]

Very nice.

 

[Evil One]

I was hoping you would chime in Bill.
I have heard 300 and 3000 production runs for the -5 and -6, but with the lower number claimed for each.
Do the -5 guns have a sequence number etched in the crane?
All 3 of my -6 versions have had it.
The later carry comp seems to be the most prolific of the fixed sight 629s.


Jim

 

[WCCPHD]

I was hoping you would chime in Bill.
I have heard 300 and 3000 production runs for the -5 and -6, but with the lower number claimed for each.
Do the -5 guns have a sequence number etched in the crane?
All 3 of my -6 versions have had it.
The later carry comp seems to be the most prolific of the fixed sight 629s.


Jim

Jim,

Don't know exact numbers. My -5 came with a "Jinks Letter" and identifies the serial number series and that it was one of 164 shipped to Camfour. I don't know if that is all of the -5's or just the number in that particular shipment.

As for the number in the crane, all three of the Model 629's that I posted above have a two or three digit number on the inside of the crane. I do not know the significance of that number. The Lew Horton Performance Center gun has the serial number engraved on the underside of the top strap and those guns had a specific Lew Horton serial number series, the prefix of which differed from the first to second run.

I checked the inside of the crane on several other guns and found similar numbers on a 296 and 986, so I don't know whether or not it is of significance.

I agree that the post lock Carry Comps seems to have been made in greater numbers. I believe there were only 495 of the pre lock guns made. I was told that 495 frames were produced and marked 629-3 for Lew Horton. Not all were ordered initially and a smaller group of frames was "found" in the vault some years later and built out as a second run for Lew Horton. These later guns had a different serial number prefix and both runs began at "1." My Carry Comp is number 062 of the second run. The later Carry Comps were built/shipped as 629-3's at the same time that the factory was building/shipping 629-5 guns.

I qualified with and carried both the -3 and -6 guns, but when I saw what they were bringing I put them in the safe and started carrying other guns.

They are interesting with full magnums but are a pleasure to shoot with .44 Specials.