mod 29 days (1970's)

[Doc44]

Laketime...My interest in the 44 Magnum shifted in the 1980s to the earliest guns I could find. The 4-screw was shipped in 1958 and fit well with my collecting interests. Early 44 Magnums (both S&W and Ruger) are still my main interest.

Bill

 

[CajunBass]

I remember those days after the movies, but only from reading about the craze in the magazines. I had never fired even a 22 pistol at the time, so I knew the "mighty" 44 was out of my league. That and the fact that they might as well have cost a million dollars as whatever they were selling for. I had about as much chance of paying one as a I did the other.

I've owned a few 29's since then, and liked them, but always managed to find something else I wanted more. These days the only 44 magnum I have is a Model 69, but I do have a Model 57, with a 4" barrel, that came in a presentation case. The S/N dates it to 1973. I hadn't thought about it until reading this thread. I wonder if someone originally bought it, because they couldn't find "the worlds most powerful handgun." It's still pretty much in NIB condition.

 

[jmclfrsh]

The Model 29 to me is as an iconic piece as a Colt .45 SA, although folks did not stake their lives on a 29 the way folks staked their very existence on a Colt 45 when it came out.

That being said, in my lifetime at least, there is no other firearm that has such an allure as a Model 29 .44 Magnum at this point in my life.

I bought a Model 57 in 1981, a nickled P&R no-dash. To this day I do not know if it was a 6” or a 6.5.”

I’d like to think it was a 6.5” because I used to just admire it as one of the most beautiful things I had ever seen. And I had some pretty hot girlfriends, more than I deserved. It was later stolen in college when my apartment got broken in to while I was at class.

In recent years I have acquired a 6” 29-3, a P&R 8 3/8” Model 57, a 6” 629 and a 8 3/8” 629, but none invoked the same internal feeling - like it did in the day - until I acquired a P&R 6 1/2” nickle Model 29-2 a couple of months ago. And now, I find myself doing the same thing as I did back in the early 80’s. I sometimes watch TV with it (unloaded) sitting on my coffee table with a prop rod through the trigger guard. Just looking at occasionaly makes me smile and still feel it is one of the most incredible things ever invented.

That has to come from watching “Dirty Harry” with my next-door neighbor numerous times back then and just thinking I had to have one someday.

I still love the .41 Magnum cartridge, and have that beautiful 8 3/8” P&R 1978 Model 57 I really, really like.

But if it came down to it, my 1979 Model 29-2 would be the last firearm I’d ever let leave my possession. From watching Dirty Harry, to looking at it on my coffee table, a 1970s Model 29 .44 Magnum in my mind is as good as it gets.

 

[Dr Charlie]

I bought my first 44 magnum a five screw in 1959 or 60. My mother had to pick it for me from a pawn shop as I was only 15. Dad did not like revolvers but living on a farm it was possible to get far enough away from the farm house to shoot. I own it to this day,

 

[Art Doc]

I grew up in Central California. All new S&Ws were hard to find as I recall. If a dealer had anything it was a Model 10. Once in a while a 19 would show up.

In 1976 I was just 21 and walked into my favorite gun store. "Glad you're here. I've been holding something for you" the clerk said as I entered. I guess I spent more money there than I realized. Anyway he pulls out a 6.5" 29-2. I never wanted a 44 until I saw that one. How much? I asked. The clerk turned to the onwer standing behind him and asked the price. The owner thought for a moment and said "350" and walked away. I think the MSRP was $287.50 but I could be wrong. Anyway, the clerk said that was a great price. They had been getting $500 for them when they came in. How much money was I spending there anyway?

So I bought it. Shot 50 rounds through it and then looked at it until it was stolen in 1986. N306868 if you happen to see it. Bought an identical revolver of 1978 vintage (this time used of course but looked to unused) in 1987 and I think I paid the same $350.

Still have it. Shot 50 rounds through it. I can't tolerate the recoil.

 

[shawn mccarver]

I got my 29-2 in 1974 after a year long wait from the time I ordered it through a local hardware store. The owner did not mark it up at all, nor did he discount it. If I recall, I paid around $249.50, including tax, give or take. It was blue with the 6 1/2 inch barrel.

 

[jmclfrsh]

Art Doc, sorry to hear you had one stolen. That is terrible.

I will say the one you have is very fine, and glad you have that one!

 

[LittleCooner]

Those days and my 29-2 are why I am here tonight. Grew up in the Appalachian Mountain Valleys of the Tennessee River. In the 1970's, a bunch of us guys in our 20's lived in the deer woods in the fall and winter and the bean fields in the summer shooting woodchucks and crows. Running buddies had a ruger in 44 mag, so I purchased my first hand gun, a Blackhawk in 357. It did not take long to decide that old single action grip was not for me and that 357 hurt the ears if you shot it without hearing protection. It went away quickly.

Wanting a deer hunting handgun, I am off to see Larry's in Huntsville. He is still a very large gun shop there. I wanted a Smith and Wesson in 44 mag to hunt with. They told me they were only made "once a year" and I could get on the waiting list, which I did. This is 1977. Every month or so, I would drop buy and remind Larry I was waiting on my S&W to arrive. It was almost a year later in 1978 that they called and I am off to pick up my gun. I paid list price. Somewhere around that $ 268 amount someone else posted. They accused me of wanting it because of the Dirty Harry movies and I told them, no, I want it to shoot and hunt with. Larry apologized for the price increase as the 1977 price was in the $240 range and that new one was the 1978 price. was I every lucky, I knew they were in great demand.

I made it all the way to 2006 before another S&W came here, they stopped making the 396Ti and I found one, it has been a constant companion for 12 years now. I still have the 29-2, quite a bit of holster wear and a lot of 44 specials down range. It started the trend and must be lonesome. Last month three 357's showed up in the safe, all pre lock, to keep the old gal company. Dang, this stuff is habit forming.

That 29-2 is still shot some and goes to the woods in the fall.

She may get replaced in the deer woods this fall, that new to me 1950 Target in 44 special thinks it needs to take one of these Alabama deer for the freezer. Yep, bought them to shoot and these 44's are learning the mountain side of the Appalachian mountains.

 

[Laketime]

They were still in short supply in 1977-78. I always thought the factory caught up by 1975-76.

 

[BC38]

I had this very nice 29-2. But it was too nice - I never even shot it in the 3 years I had it. I sold it and used the $ to buy 4 other good shooters. I still have and shoot my 29-3 Classic Hunter though. It was only about a 90% gun to start with, so I'm not afraid of devaluing it it.

 

[noro]

Hi Guys,

I still cant remember any other firearm that attracted this much attention during its production lifespan. Dealers doubling the MSRP, waiting lists,
deposits to get on a waiting list. I think someone did a conversion of money and found the $229 of 1972 is like $2100 today. I was only able to afford the $425 in 1972 because I was young, dumb, unmarried, and lived at home. It was nothing to me to spend a whole paycheck on a firearm THEN and then some. BUT you have to remember, I had "the most powerful handgun in the world"

When I look at my new 629 (couldn't afford the new classic 29 today) I think back to those days when no one could find one or afford them. Brings back a lot of memories.

 

[viceunit]

I always regretted trading off that first 29-2. In the mid 1980's I got a 6" 629-1 with plans to use it for Ohio deer hunting when handguns were first permitted. A very nice gun, but for some reason it did not have the appeal of a blued 6 1/2" P&R 29.

We hunted the woods of my in-laws southern Ohio property. The evening before the season opened, I went to town to buy my deer tag. In the gun case was a nice shooter grade 6 1/2" blued 29-2 and I asked to see it, but put it back. The next day, sitting in my deer stand, I kept thinking about that 29. So, at lunch, I drove into town and traded the 629 for the 29. I was back in my deer stand about an hour and a half later with a 29-2 that I had never even shot. Thursday of that week, I took a small buck with that gun.

My son now owns that gun - given to him as a gift when he graduated the police academy. It was his choice of three guns; another 29-2 and a 629.

 

[pd1964]

My story with the Model 29 doesn’t go back as far as most of you, I was around 7 when the Dirty Harry movie came out.
I had mostly new guns and decided to get into some vintage. First one that came to mind was “The most powerful handgun in the world” I’m in Canada and soon discovered they weren’t very easy to come by. There was a nickel 6.5” for sale but it was on consignment and overpriced. After a month I never came across another one so I bit the bullet and bought it. Soon after I came across a 8 3/8” for a much better price. Here's my two 29-2's: 1978 nickel and 1975 Blued:

 

[THE PILGRIM]

After seeing that probably Pre-29 up in CO, for a long time only saw a very few more of any vintage.
During that time, I did buy a few guns but not a 29.
Then I was in-out of the country, had a lot going on.
When I got back stateside, I noticed there were a lot more 29s for sale.
Pretty soon they were everywhere!
Got more involved buying-selling, lots of later model 29s showing up.
Mostly 6, 61/2, and 8s.
This is the 29-2 that I kept.
My only regret is I didn’t get my paws on a 4 incher.
Later, I did get a pre -29, but I’ll do a separate thread on that beauty!

 

[ParadiseRoad]

...Dirty Harry premiered the year I graduated from high school...

...I became a gun owner two years later with a Remington 870 Wingmaster...I was a pump shotgun guy for the next twenty years or so collecting several more...

...then one day in the early '90s...my wife of about 15 years at the time said..."they're talking about banning guns...shouldn't we get some more before they do?"...

...I didn't hesitate...and bought a couple of 45 semi autos before I decided to watch Dirty Harry again on the VHS...that was it...I had to have a 44 Magnum...

...I shopped mostly gun shows back then...and came across a good deal on a Ruger Super Blackhawk...and took it home...but I still wanted the Dirty Harry gun...

...finally spotted a nice one at another show...seller wanted $325...I offered $275...and he agreed!...rushed out to find an ATM machine...got it bought and brought it home..

...it was a 29-3...I didn't know anything about pinned and recessed or the fact that the barrel was a half inch shorter than Harry's was...it had...and still does have the best double action trigger of any DA I have handled...

...I wouldn't mind owning an older model to match Harry's more closely...but I still like this 29-3...and it will probably remain my example of the breed...

 

[STG38]

Anyone who lived in the Denver area in the late 70's and 1980 might remember Swanson's Custom Firearms. As said above, like other dealers, SCF received shipments directly from S&W every 4 to 6 weeks. I was on the Model 29 waiting list and got the call in April of 1979 that mine had come in. I was mildly disappointed that mine has a 6 inch barrel instead of 6-1/2.

 

[peh_7]

My 29-2 / 6 1/2"

I was stationed in the USAF in Germany from the mid '70s. I went back to the US for training and leave in 1977. Everyone I talked guns to was looking for a Model 29, and none seemed to be available at any reasonable price. When I got back to Germany, the next time I went to the Rod and Gun Club at Bitburg AB, I was looking at the display and there was a 6 1/2" Model 29-2 in a presentation case (they actually had two). I decided I needed one and purchased it for $202.40. Didn't get to shoot it too much as the German Gun Club I belonged to frowned on fringing such a large caliber. I also picked up a Model 52 and two model 41s, a Model 14 that I shot in competition. The R&G Club did let me shoot the 52 and 14 but everyone else competed with 32s in the center fire class. I still have the Model 29 today, and shoot it occasionally, It's a great gun. Word was that the American R&G Clubs had first choice on any manufactures commercial offerings if the US Government had a contract with them. My issue gun and what I had to qualify with was a S&W 38 revolver.

 

[turnerriver]

A good friend and gun collecting buddy asked me what gun I’d want that I didn’t already have and I answered I’d like a 4” model 29. My wife gave me this 29-2 for my next birthday, sometime in the late 1980’s. I know, I’m a lucky man.
Regards,
turnerriver

 

[noro]

Guys,

There are some interesting stories and beautiful revolvers in the post. Thanks for sharing.

Turnerriver -

You've got a couple of keepers there - both the revolver and the wife.

 

[Snapping Twig]

Bought one with a box of 50 rounds that was missing 6.

Got my first S series 6.5" 29-2 in the early 80's. Still have it. Got 3 others, a 3" 629-2 custom made for me by Mag-Na-Port, then a 29-3 Classic Hunter, then I found my way into a Mountain Revolver by happenstance.

A proper and well fitting set of grips is important. Cokes, Kurac Cokes, Hogue, anything quality that fits your hand.

I cast and roll my own, so I lob a 265g from a Lyman/Thompson mould @ 1200fps and it does bring down game!