Model 29-2 in a parkerized or powder coated finish

[blackpowder]

Attached is a picture of one of my Model 29-1s that was parkerized by the factory. I took the photo this morning so I know it is a real gun.

Interesting! Was your 29-1 offered in that finish by S&W or did you send it back to them to have it parkerized? It seems that S&W may indeed have offered parkerized 29s on occasion.

 

[blackpowder]

Did the seller give you his asking price ?

$ 750

 

[LAH]

If you want a shooter & it is mechanically good I would go for it.

 

[ariandshan]

Attached is a picture of one of my Model 29-1s that was parkerized by the factory. I took the photo this morning so I know it is a real gun.

Nah, not my kind of thing. I'll stick with my Blue, Nickel and S.S. Thanks for the look though, obviously I've never known that those existed.

 

[Taj]

Hi Everyone,

I am offered a N-frame model 29-2 .44mag with a 4" barrel in what appears to be a parkerized or black powder coated finish. Never saw that before on a M-29. The owner says he bought it new in the mid 1970s. Does anyone know when and why S&W produced the model 29 in this type of finish? how many were made? Are they collectible and did they come with any special accessories, boxes or cases?

many thanks for any info

Blackpowder

Could be that some one just bead blasted it and blued it. I used to see guns like that come through the shop all the time. It was a cheap, easy way to refinish, but it sure made any real refinishing more difficult in the future. To the best of my knowledge, S&W never did anything like that at the factory.

 

[LAH]

This is a bead blasted Smith MMC did for me in the 70s.

 

[YouveHadYour6]

I've seen similar refinishes pop up at shows and shops over the years; there's a local gent trying to sell a 25-2 with a similar re-finish on it.

They've come down on their price a LOT - over many months.

I'd give this one a pass, even on a 29, unless you just want a knockaround 29.

 

[Lt.Donn]

I have not seen the gun yet, nor do I know the owner. He is about a two hour drive from me. I have only seen this type of finish on military S&W Victory Models, old army models, and some special commemorative editions like the .357 Border Patrol, etc., and on one pre-model 10 with lanyard ring, made for the Hong Kong police department contract. But never on a model 29. So, if it is not a factory finish, I will not drive two hours to have a look at it.

Like others have posted, Highly unlikely a factory finish; because in the 70's only the 27 received a better blue finish, and the 29 was the "darling" of the 70's due to Dirty Harry

 

[DWalt]

My guess would be a spray and bake black Teflon finish. Not factory. As a shooter, if everything works, and it is attractively priced, why not? That type of finish is durable and corrosion resistant. I have refinished many M16A2s that way.

 

[bigggbbruce]

For just a couple bucks more. Just sayin.

Deals are out there.

 

[Model29-26.5]

It looks like a plastic toy!!! A beautiful firearm ruined for sure.

Hmm, yes and no. I have blue, nickel and stainless in most barrel lengths and although this wasn’t an original finish I would still want one… and a cerakote!

 

[Model29-26.5]

For just a couple bucks more. Just sayin.

Deals are out there. View attachment 762852

I saw that one. Decent deal

 

[MAUSER888]

Factory finishes available on the Model 29-2 were polished blue or polished nickel. Finding a 29-2 with any other finish indicates a 99.99% chance it was refinished.

Exactly!

 

[Jul]

At least you get a chance to put your eyes and hands on it before you buy. Can't do that on an online auction.

 

[roundels]

Stranger things have happened. I remember back in the '80s there was a NIB Parkerized N Frame break top flare pistol that sat in the case at my LGS for quite a while. Wish I'd taken a picture of it.

 

[dghal]

If you are wanting a revolver to go shoot and the internals are good, Then its probably great, If you buying for any kind of potential future value,, Like with most guns you don't lose money but its not big futures.

 

[SGT ROCK 11B]

Attached is a picture of one of my Model 29-1s that was parkerized by the factory. I took the photo this morning so I know it is a real gun.

Did you send it to the factory to be parkerized?

 

[SGT ROCK 11B]

Interesting. I have a 66-2 in a similar finish. It was originally sold to the San Jose Police Department in 1985. This was just before the SJPD began making the switch from revolvers to pistols.

We had an officer who worked Public Affairs that had a 66 and a 60 and they both were rusty from sitting in his locker. Stainless steel does not mean "rustproof".

At some point, the officer that bought it had it disassembled and meticulously finished in black. It then became his little safe queen. I'm thinking it may be a Cera coat finish.

I'm thinking it was put in the closet for many years and had surface rust so whoever inherited it, refinished it so can get a better deal.

 

[GregPaulman]

Interesting! Was your 29-1 offered in that finish by S&W or did you send it back to them to have it parkerized? It seems that S&W may indeed have offered parkerized 29s on occasion.

As a [professional refinisher and someone who watches a lot of auctions (not gunbroker) I see these anywhere from $600 to over $1,000 in decent condition. A few rats that could be brought to look good cheap by doing a matte blue or parkerizing. It really comes down to if you like it, it functions well (as parkerizing makes some revolvers run too tight) and what he wants for it.
If I was guide in Alaska or going there on a trip it may be just what I would want to have a hand cannon well protected from the elements. Due to cylinder drag on revolvers (which I can see some on that one) Ceracoat is the last thing I would want on one as once it gets worn on the cylinder you have to have to cylinder stripped and redone. Each time you change the outward dimension on a well made revolver like that you may have drag on certain chambers or trouble shooting some ammo that has a thicker rim. I have this problem with some of my Ruger Vaqueros in 45 Colt as there some some brands of ammo that restrict smooth cylinder travel or sometimes will lock up to the point that I need to disassemble.
All of your coatings whether Ceracoat, Duracoat, KD Coat, or phospahte (parkerizing) are great for hiding underlying corrosion. So the thought you may be able to bring it back to a nice blued finish would questionable at best.

All that said, if it's what you want and it will chamber a variety of rounds it could be a good gun for you. A call to S&W may shed some light on it to start. letter will come at a cost which I would only spend the money to get it someone at S&W can confirm that they were putting such a finish on them during that time period. Assuming that it did not come S&W like that and what most likely looks like under it, if it's the way you want it I would be in the $500 range.

 

[lynnbarrow]

Blackpowder and SGTRock I purchased it that way. It is marked with a factory return star. Has had a trigger stop screw and more modern 29 Classic grips installed as well. Not something I would do to a rare gun but to each their own.