M29 5" question

[WHO CARES]

Other than the multi-thousand dollar early guns and the Classics and Classic DXs with the full lug, were there any 5" M29's ever made?

I would like one to shoot. Is the only option to buy and cut??

Ward

 

[murphydog]

I think you have covered the known ones.

 

[29aholic]

Unfortunately...no. If you dont want a classic or pay big bucks for an original, the only option is to cut one. There are several good gunsmiths that can do one, but if you want it to look factory it is pricey. Hamilton Bowen can make one look like it came that way.
I did my own when I had access to the equipment and did not care if it looked factory or not. I wanted a 5" barrel with a patridge front sight. I added the Millett rear sight as an afterthought.

 

[pharman]

29 5" "Classic"

What is wrong with the 29 5" "Classic"?. It comes with TT and TH and balances perfectly. I have 3 of them and plan to deer hunt here in Ohio with one. I think you would be happy with one of these and it would be cheaper than cutting one down...

 

[Palmetto Sharpshooter]

There were a few 5" 29-1s. An old K-9 guy I knew carried one as his duty weapon.

 

[WHO CARES]

There is absolutely nothing wrong with the 29 Classic 5" - I do have one and enjoy it very much. I was thinking one with the standard barrel would be very nice to have and shoot!

Ward

 

[Marksman]

I made my own by obtaining an 8 3/8" M/29-2 and removing and shortening the barrel to 5" myself. I sent just the barrel to Jim Stroh/Alpha Precision for S&W style crown and remount the front sight. Jim is doing another barrel for me at present, cost including return shipping is $250.00. To see a picture of the first 5" M/29-2 I made, do a search of Smith&W's posts, I sold the gun to him about a month ago and he posted pictures here on the forum. The quality of the crown recut and sight remount is so good they are indistinguishable from an original.

 

[feralmerril]

I have a 29-2 5" barrel. I bought it in the early 1970s out of the shotgun news used. At the time I had my heart set on the 5" and I sold a 4" to help pay for it. For 35 years I was happy with it, seen one identical one about 7 numbers off, at a gun show. About 3 years ago I finaly decided to letter it. To my dismay I was told it was june 24th 1964 to stoeger arms in 6 1/2"! The numbers all match. The lettering is perfectly centered, the muzzle is as any other as is the front sight. Looks perfect to me, and I have owned many smiths and have owned two other 29s and many other old N frames. I really belive a mistake might have been made, or whoever supposedly cut the 6 1/2" barrel back was as good or better than whoevers job it was in the factory. The picture shows presentation grips I added. I have the original cokes stashed.
I also own a 5" 544 44-40 texas wagon train. If I wanted a 5" barrel .44 mag, I belive one could get a clyinder and put it in, or conversly, use the .44-40 barrel off a 544 and swap to a 29. The clyinders are different lengths and the back forceing cone may have to be milled or the clyinder depending on which way you go, but it could be easily done. I have wrote this idea before here numerous times but it has been ignored as no one here ever commented on my posts.
Here are a couple pictures of my gun. One is of my 544, another is of my 29 and 27 together, both 5"s. The 27 has my name engraved on it from the factory.

 

[WHO CARES]

Thanks for the information and the great pictures, I am going to keep working on this idea.

I seem to recall hearing about some 5" barrels that S&W had that might be installed on the right gun if returned to them. Does anyone have any info on that idea??

Ward

 

[Gun 4 Fun]

From what I have been able to find out so far (a 5" 29 is my grail of grail guns) there are no more factory barrels, and haven't been for a very long time.

 

[Rock185]

I had a 29 dash something, blue, Square butt, 5" full lug barrel, unfluted cylinder purchased NIB in Phoenix, that was Not a Classic/DX model. I did not find out till later that it was a limited run of 500 for Hill Country Distributors, product code 101249. I have since seen a couple of these in nice condition at Phoenix area gun shows, so this might be a reasonably priced 5" factory gun to keep an eye out for.

 

[norsemanhp]

About 7 years ago Vito from the peformance center came across some factory unlugged 5 in barrels. I had him install one on my 29. The revolver will not letter. Butt it is a factory 5 inch barrell installed by S&W. Sweet.

 

[WHO CARES]

Thanks guys.
Ward