Thank you very much,. I posted some pictures maybe that will show more. What is the Endurance package ? Thanks again.
OK. What is stamped in the "Yoke Cut" is MOD29-5, the Model number, and the SN "very lightly" Why did you post the -5 as part of the SN? I wonder why the model and serial numbers were stamped inverted? Normally they are right-side-up. I will take everyone else's word that they looked for the BKF combination and didn't find it in the "Standard Catalog of Smith & Wesson" often abbreviated "SCSW". If you call S&W Customer Service at
800-331-0852 they will be able to tell you to the
day when your gun was made.
If you have the original box it will also have a date on the label. Depending on the year the gun was made the date may be all run together such as 7251983, or it may be shown in the "Spec Ord" field as a Julian date. The first date is the last digit of the year made, by decade. Assuming the gun was made in 1983, 1993 or 2003 this will show as 3123 which would be the 123rd day of 1983. Google "Julian calendar" and you will find January 1st is day 1, December 31st is day 365 or 366 in a leap year. Day 123 would be May 3rd, or 4th if the year is a Leap Year.
The 5" barrel length is very desirable just because many like it and S&W makes very in any model. 5" used to be a standard length and was dropped back in the 1970s(?) when they standardized at 4", 6" and 8 3/8" for most models, even deleting most 6 1/2" models. Since then they have re-instituted 6 1/2" as a frequent length, and 5" as infrequently seen. The 5" barrel is shown as "rare" only under the Model 29-1, so there would be no "Premium" for other dash numbers!
The "Radius Stud Package, AKA "Endurance Package" was instituted to make the guns more durable. It is very simple but not easily recognized unless you have the SCSW shows the particular model has it. It consists of making the hammer, trigger and other studs in the frame with a small radius at the base to strengthen the studs. They were originally had square corners and infrequently broke at that point, especially on Magnum models. The hammer and trigger also have a small bevel ob the pivot holes on the inside side to clear the radius on the studs. The package also lengthened the cylinder stop notches to cure an un-locking on firing issue the large magnums sometimes had. The Endurance package was instituted in the early 1990s at model 29-3E and later.
If this doesn't cover all your questions please PM me.
Just as an aside the SCSW is a very good book to have if you are interested in S&W history. It is available at most book sellers both "brick & mortar" and on-line.
