mod 29 days (1970's)

[noro]

Hi All,

In my other post about the 1917 and WWB, we started talking about the Model 29 in the 70's and how they were unobtainable
at the time. Figured I'd start a new thread.

As I recall, the Model 29 was always a slow seller until the "Dirty
Harry" movie. The factory list price was around $229. After the
movie came out, everyone was looking for the "most powerful handgun in the world" Now you have to remember that most LEOs were issued .38 specials at the time, and although a lot carried .357, a lot of departments required 38 specials to
be issue ammo. No LEOs carried semi autos in my area.

Only S&W manufactured the .44 Magnum, and it was only manufactured a few months out of the year, not throughout
the whole year. S&W couldn't make them fast enough., or
feed the demand. Waiting lists were over 2 years.


The price dramatically rose at the dealers. If you wanted one, you had to pay the price, pretty much double the list price.
More "Dirty Harry" movies fueled the demand back then.

I found a 4 inch nickel plated Mod 29 for 425 back then, and it
was a LOT of money at the time, and I was lucky to get it. I hated the nickel and the short barrel but I had "the most powerful handgun in the world" (LOL) IN 1976, I found a blued 8 3/8 and traded the nickeled one in (at a loss)

Although its been over 40 years ago, I often wonder where
my 29's ended up since they were traded off. I just picked
up a new 629 and it sure brings back a lot of memories for me over 40 years ago. I just had to go back in time, so to speak.

I'm sure a lot of you guys have the same story, but I cant think of any other firearm that caused this much commotion during its manufactured lifetime. Thanks for sharing.

 

[Doc44]

I became interested in the 44 Magnum in the spring of 1968 while attending graduate school at the University of Montana in Missoula. My neighbor introduced me to the Ruger Super Blackhawk and I bought one of those within a couple of months. I read about the Model 29 in Guns & Ammo and was intrigued by this revolver, but none could be found in Missoula or in the state of Montana (J & G Rifle Ranch had used ones listed for over $400, but would only sell to law enforcement officers at the time). It took me five years to finally buy my first 29-2 (July 1973). I think it was the scarcity of the model that started me collecting it. If I had been able to buy one in 1968, I probably would have enjoyed shooting it over the years and never started collecting the 44 Magnum.

Bill

 

[loc n load]

Model 29

I remember those days quite well. Dealers were inflating the selling prices on the 29’s, and nobody had them. I bought my first 29 in 75. It was a 8 3/8” version, I really wanted a 6 1/2”, but those were impossible to find. I bought the 8 3/8” with the intent of lopping off a couple of inches. But then I got involved in shooting metallic sil. I shot steel with the 8 3/8” and found that it was well suited for that game, then I hunted deer with it, still do today.
It has shot nothing but 240 grain bullets over 20 grains of 2400.
Bought a 4” nickel 29 from J&G in Prescott in 79. Carried it as a duty gun for a year until I replaced it with a 58. Still have the nickel 4 incher, carry it and shoot it regularly.
Have accumulated several 29’s and 629’s since then. The first two “ brung me to the dance” as far as entering the world of the 44 magnum.

 

[Laketime]

I became interested in the 44 Magnum in the spring of 1968 while attending graduate school at the University of Montana in Missoula. My neighbor introduced me to the Ruger Super Blackhawk and I bought one of those within a couple of months. I read about the Model 29 in Guns & Ammo and was intrigued by this revolver, but none could be found in Missoula or in the state of Montana (J & G Rifle Ranch had used ones listed for over $400, but would only sell to law enforcement officers at the time). It took me five years to finally buy my first 29-2 (July 1973). I think it was the scarcity of the model that started me collecting it. If I had been able to buy one in 1968, I probably would have enjoying shooting it over the years and never started collecting the 44 Magnum.

Bill

And now look at you Sir!

 

[THE PILGRIM]

Heard about them.
Read about them.
Don’t think I ever saw one til a Dude in Ft. Collins, CO showed me his.
I was confused by the black case.
Did it really come in that?

 

[noro]

I don't remember a black case in the 70's. Both of mine came with the presentation cases. The 4 in. nickel had a padded soft
insert, while the 8 3/8 had a cheap plastic inserts. This was over a 4 year period of high demand. (1972-1976) A lot of guys bought presentation cases from the factory to upgrade their model 27's 57's and 29's which the factory was offering as an upgrade. The cases were for N frames of 4in. 6 1/2 in. and 8 3/8 in.

 

[Pizza Bob]

I was fortunate to live in NE PA relatively near a wonderful store called Sugarman's Eynon Drug (out of business in the mid-90's). When the frenzy for model 29's was underway, Sugarmen's was actually selling them at list price. You had to get on a list and when there was a gun available, and you were at the top of the list, you got the call.

As I recall, the gouging on 29 prices carried over to just about all N-frames, although the 29 was the hardest to get. I was on Sugarmen's "list" for both a 25-2 and a 29-2. I got the 25-2 in July of 1977 for $229.95. I don't remember when the 29-2 came through - it was either later that year or early 1978 - it cost $269.95. They are both still with me languishing in my safe with ten of their brethren.

Adios,

Pizza Bob

 

[rbmac52]

I bought my first Model 29 (a dash 2) in 1973 at the Smith & Wesson warranty service center known as Cheshire & Perez. This non-descript concrete block building was in an out-of-the-way neighborhood in Monrovia, California (east L.A. County) and most of the customers were cops. I used to go there to buy parts and have service performed on various revolvers I owned at the time.

I was standing next in line behind a young plainclothes LAPD officer who had just picked up his new 2-1/2" Model 66. Henry (Mr. Perez) then showed him a brand new blued Model 29-2 with 6-1/2" barrel in mahogany presentation case that had just come in and was now available. The officer could not afford it and Henry put it under the counter.

When the officer finished his business and left, I asked Henry if the Model 29 was available to me (since I was not in law enforcement at that time I did not know if I would be eligible). He stated "of course." I asked him how much. He replied current retail, which was, at the time, $203.50. I tried to act nonchalant when I said I'd take it, and whipped out my wallet in an instant.

I could not wait to get home and tell my best friend and shooting buddy of my good fortune (he'd paid $350.00 at Warner's Gun Shop in our hometown of Fullerton, CA for a used Model 29-2).

Cheshire & Perez did not mark up the prices above MSRP on the guns they sold to the general public. I bought several more guns at great prices from C&P once I entered law enforcement and was saddened when they closed the business some years later.

I sold that Model 29 in the mid-80's for $350. Owned a blued 29-2 with 8-3/8 barrel for many years but sold that one, too. Still have a beautiful Nickel 4" 29-2 as my only S&W 44 Magnum presently.

 

[noro]

rbmac52,

The S&W distributor we had in Pittsburgh (Home Town) only sold to LEO's at list price back then. When the .44 craze hit, they continued to sell at list, but you'd have to find a LEO to order it for you. Turned into a 2 year waiting list.

Dealers, on the other hand, pretty much charged what they wanted, and pretty much made a killing. Most were charging double the list price when they had them. Don't believe S&W made anything out of the craze.

Like I said, I cant remember any other revolver causing this much commotion when they were in their prime.

 

[NYlakesider]

I remember the era well. I bought 2 29s back then, a 4'' nickel and a 8 3/8 blue. Both in those nice wooden boxes.

We had one dealer in the area that always had a couple in stock, of course he was adding a healthy increase to MSRP, like about $200 more) but we had people in the area that just had to have one today and he got his money!

As for me I did a lot of business with this one big dealer in another city and went on the waiting list and I got both my 29s at MSRP. He took care of his better customers and your name could suddenly move up on the list as he controlled it.

Just to add it was just not 29s that were hard to get in that time, many of the "better" Smith's were difficult to find and many went at a Premium. 60s,36s, 15 2'', 19s -2 1/2"&4'' 18s and 27s

Smith at that time had a system of sending guns to the dealer depending on what and how many they were selling. If you sold a lot of 10s and other mostly fixed sighted guns they would send you a couple of "premium" guns (named above) Till the carton was opened the dealer did not know what he was getting.
I know that sounds crazy but that was how it worked back then!

I got real lucky as I was on the list for a 18, and just by luck I was there when the Smith delivery hit the store. I spotted the lettering on the box and removed it from the big shipping box. Like said I did a lot there and was friendly with the owner!

Said to the dealer heck I'm here now and have the money in my pocket (MSRP) just move me up the list and the deal is done. I got the gun, but back them neither I or the dealer talked about the particulars of that sale!

 

[noro]

nylakesider,

You were very lucky in those days. In my case, money talked. A lot of guys wanted them, but no one could afford them at the dealers' prices. If S&W could have maintained the list prices, they certainly would have sold more.

However, S&W didn't forsee the demand the movies would cause, and limited their production to a few months out of the calendar year. It took them years to satisfy the demand for these revolvers. I really don't remember the Mod 27 or Mod 57 with this much demand. Everyone then wanted "the most powerful handgun in the world" (quote Clint Eastwood) Thinking about this a little more, I'll have to go thru my records and find the serial numbers for the ones I had back then. Maybe someone here is enjoying them as much as I did.

 

[charles_the_hammer]

My dad bought one back then. I'll ask him how much he paid and what the buying market was like back then when I see him later. This Polaroid I scanned is all he has left of it now. Sold it long ago.

 

[Nightowl]

I ordered mine from Law Enforcement Equipment Co. in Kansas City sometime around the first of January, 1968. It was listed in their catalog at $105. By the time I received it a few months later, the price had gone up to $125 and they asked if I still wanted it. Duh!

After I shot it a few times, I had to put it away and spent about three months getting my trigger finger to quit jerking the trigger. We were shooting a bullseye course with model 15s back then and I had a lot of trouble getting back to where I was before the .44 arrived.

I set up for reloading and started with light loads and worked up to the 20 grains of 2400 and 240 grain cast bullets. Shot a lot of those and also 8 grains of Unique.

I still have that Model 29-2 and its in great shape. Its mostly retired, but I get it out and shoot it on occasion.

After the move came out, I was offered $400 for it sight unseen. No deal! I once saw one at a gun shop in Illinois for over $600 during that era. Right at 3 times list price!!

Very few people who shot it that .44 back then could get through 6 rounds!

 

[usafcct]

I paid $450 for an new 8" nickle 29-2 in 1975. At the time I was an Airman 1st Class in the USAF. Had to get a loan from the base credit union to purchase it. Not sure but I think I was paid 300 a month. In 2018 dollars that 29-2 cost about $2100. By todays prices I still overpaid!

 

[TAROMAN]

I also remember those days.
At the time, I was captain of the Ft. Huachuca pistol team.
One of the members has just transferred in from Ft. Wainwright.
He brought with him 3 new 29-2s. 4". 6-1/2" and 8-3/8".
Purchased them at the R&G club there.
Was keeping the 6-1/2 so he offered me my pick of the other two.
I chose the 8-3/8, which was my second S&W, after a Model 60.
Paid him $400 for it. A lot of money at the time.
Carried, hunted and competed (IHMSA) with it until it shot loose.
A few years ago, I shipped it back to S&W for an overhaul.
Came back like new.

 

[viceunit]

I got my first 29-2 around winter of 1977/78 - don't remember exactly when. The place I got mine (blue 6 1/2") is long out of business, I don't remember the name. But, to get the 29 you had to buy a "package" deal. For my 29, I had to also buy a black powder rifle kit. I had no intention of building that thing and sold it to a friend. I had the 29 for a few years until I got bit by the 1911 bug and traded it off. I have been able to accumulate a few other nice ones, so I made up for that mistake.

The reason I remember it was wintertime is that I was so excited to bring that 29 home I slid into a ditch turning too fast onto my snow-covered street. I had to walk home and get a shovel to dig my car out.

 

[Muley Gil]

Back in the '70s, there a small hardware store near Auburn University that sold at suggested retail. Harris Hardware in Notasulga, Alabama had been a S&W dealer for many years. As mentioned above, dealers received whatever the distributers decided to send them. HH seldom got more than one M29 at a time, so there was a waiting list. I never did get to the top of the list.

I have owned several M58s, a M57, a Ruger Super Blackhawk and a new .44 Magnum flattop. I finally got a S&W .44 Maggie, a M629 Mountain Gun, about 12 years.

 

[Doc44]

As stated above, I purchased my first Model 29-2 (8 3/8-inch, bright blue, in the presentation case) in July 1973. I was stationed at an Army Research Center in Watertown, MA and subscribed to the Shotgun News. I saw an ad saying a person in Springfield, MA had a mint Model 29-2 in the mahogany case and wanted $375 for it. I made an arrangement to meet in Springfield (about 100 miles from where I lived) and purchase the 44 Magnum. I had a Massachusetts carry permit so all the papers were in order. I was the proud new owner of my first 44 Magnum in late July 1973. I kept that revolver for over fifteen years before using it as partial trade on a mint 4-screw in the dark blue case.

Bill

 

[Laketime]

As stated above, I purchased my first Model 29-2 (8 3/8-inch, bright blue, in the presentation case) in July 1973. I was stationed at an Army Research Center in Watertown, MA and subscribed to the Shotgun News. I saw an ad saying a person in Springfield, MA had a mint Model 29-2 in the mahogany case and wanted $375 for it. I made an arrangement to meet in Springfield (about 100 miles from where I lived) and purchase the 44 Magnum. I had a Massachusetts carry permit so all the papers were in order. I was the proud new owner of my first 44 Magnum in late July 1973. I kept that revolver for over fifteen years before using it as partial trade on a mint 4-screw in the dark blue case.

Bill

Bill if you dont mind being asked.What was it that attracted you away from your 3 screw to the 4 screw model.Was it a shorter barrel length,or was this just the start of collecting the older pre 29's for you.

 

[bulldog06]

First .44 mag

I got mine in 1980 or 81 while serving in the Army in Germany.

Another soldier bought the 6" 29-2 (shipped May 79) for $400 from the Post Rod and Gun Club in June 1980. (I have the receipt) The paperwork process to take it back to the US required 4-6 months. This soldier did not do the paperwork and had to either sell it or abandon it to the MP's.

I bought it in 80 or early 81, but don't remember how much I paid. I think I got it for $250 or $300, in new condition, with the box and tools.

Still have it though I threw away the disintegrating box inserts years ago.