MOD 29 no dash

[headwaters]

First off, thanks for having the most informative and civilized forum of my acquaintance.

Second, well...see for yourself.

I recently traded for a 29 no dash 4" shooter. I wasn't looking for anything in good shape, because I didn't want to have any qualms about shooting/carrying/knocking it about. For me, guns are just tools (as far as my wife is concerned) and toys (my grandsons know the truth).

The story was that it spent most of its life as a LEO gun, and the blueing wear and pitting on the sideplate would seem to be an appropriate reflection of that. It came with a pair of recent target grips, and a pair of period correct Magnas that were chipped and worn beyond redemption, and didn't number to the frame. OK, they looked like they had spent a lot of time in a patrol car. I am still not able to verify the story I got from the seller, and I suppose it really doesn't matter that much.

It numbers at S2004xx, which seems to be right for the no dash, but I found something interesting with the front sight that I never saw on any of my 29-2's or 29-3's, which is illustrated in the last two pictures. I think I know what it means, but it would be nice to know what the experts know.

Excuse the wretched photos. I just thought I should let everyone see how bad the finish was...lest anyone should feel pangs of jealousy over my "find". It's my first no dash, and not nearly as nice as my other working Smiths, so the real question is which of my grandsons will draw the short straw and get stuck with it.

Thanks for any and all help.

 

[kritter]

doesn't necessarily mean what your thinking.. there was a thread on this a while back.. and the muzzle & barrel stampings also look centered....leading me to think this is factory....

That, and I also have a few like that too.... and they are definitely factory and not cut..

And nice no dash.

 

[merl67]

As we say in the south aint a thang wrong with that one shoot and enjoy.

 

[bettis1]

I can't confirm how the sight would have been mounted on the M29 at that time. I can say that with the early ribbed barrel (i.e. Reg. Mags.) the grooves on the rib would have have been removed before the sight base was mounted. I also note, for what it is worth, that there are 10 grooves on the barrel and 9 on the sight base.

Bob

 

[headwaters]

Thanks for the help, guys. Bettis1, I missed that completely.

 

[Deacon KC]

That is a fine gun, and i bet it will become a treasured companion.

 

[JSR III]

Stocks can be repaired. Contact DWFAN on this forum if you would like to see what he could do with them. Chips, cracks and bad checking can all be fixed.

Welcome to the forum.

 

[headwaters]

Thanks, folks. I feel better already.

 

[Kavinsky]

A working mans gun, nothing better than a LEO trade in with abit of patina as they say just like that one, although how are the mechanicals like the back of the clyinder?

it could have been a carried much but never shot kind of gun like a pre dash 49 I got my hands on that had a ton of holster wear but the mechanicals were all practically brand new.

 

[headwaters]

The revolver is tight everywhere. When I removed the sideplate the inside was completely clotted with a black grease (?) that had started to dry. Cleaned her up and she shot like new. I doubt the revolver had been shot with full power loads very much at all. Some evidence in the cylinders that .44 Spl cases had been used. Cleaned up nicely, though.

 

[aphelion]

It numbers at S2004xx, which seems to be right for the no dash, but I found something interesting with the front sight that I never saw on any of my 29-2's or 29-3's, which is illustrated in the last two pictures. I think I know what it means, but it would be nice to know what the experts know.

Nice revolver. I guess you are asking if the barrel has been shortened and front sight reinstalled because grooves are visible at the muzzle end. Somebody else mentioned the different number of grooves on the sight base versus the barrel rib. I am surprised this is still a matter for debate. Your gun is completely normal. That is how it was done. The sight ramp was not forged integral with the barrel. The sight ramp is pinned to the barrel rib. The factory did this on many different models. I have 29s, a 53, a 48, a 17, among others that are made that way. If you need convincing, I can post pix of a 6 1/2" M29 S214xxx or a 4" M29-2 S314xxx that look just like yours.

 

[bettis1]

I believe that aphelion is correct that the barrel and sight are original. As I mentioned in my first post, I didn't have an opinion on the M29's of that vintage. Most of my focus has been in the prewar magnums and in those cases all of the barrels began life as 8 3/4" and when they were cut to the ordered length, the grooves were machined off and the sights were attached.

Aphelon's post caused me to dig out the only 4" .44 Magnum that I have that is close to the OP's (mine's a 4 screw Pre-29 in S170xxx range). The barrel and sight are identical to headwaters'.

Nice gun!

Bob

 

[headwaters]

Thank you, gentlemen. It's nice to know what was happening with manufacturing/assembly procedures during this era. Besides, now my grandsons will be able to sound like old pros when they share the explanation with their friends. Knowledge is a wonderful thing.

I certainly don't need convincing. I've read enough of the discussions on this site to know that folks only speak when they know what they are talking about, or when they have an exception to share that contributes to the knowledge base. I appreciate the willingness of all of you to share the information you have acquired, often over a lifetime of dedicated collecting, while treating neophytes with respect...even those who wander in asking what probably seems like a tediously obvious question. Would that other forums could learn from you.

 

[durco]

Besides, now my grandsons will be able to sound like old pros when they share the explanation with their friends.

Or (unfortunately), after you kick the bucket and they are selling it at the local pawn shop. Who knows what will really happen??? Nobody, for certain. But, we all have a dream and a hope that our offspring will carry on with the collecting bug.....

Mike

 

[headwaters]

Mike:

I know that happens a lot, unfortunately...but it does provide the rest of us with occasional opportunities to pick up some nice guns for prices even a working man can afford. That's getting tougher to do every day. I don't really consider myself a collector; just a shooter with a taste for firearms built by craftsmen who take/took pride in their work.

Fortunately, my grand-boys have been shooting handguns (and everything else they can get their hands on) since each of them was eight. They regularly raid my gun safe, explaining that I'm not using "this one" near enough, and I'll probably just sell it when cash gets tight. They keep them all, share them with each other...and their folks...and always keep up on current values. In exchange for raiding my armory, they scout the remote gun shops and pawn shops in the north state for that elusive, affordable 24-3 that I never managed to acquire. Winner gets to carry off anything else I own in trade. Well, not my truck, but anything that goes "bang".