Model 29-2 with 5 inch bbl

[410bore]

I am really puzzeled by mine. It lettered as being shipped june 24th 1964 in 6 1/2" to stoger arms N. J. Butt, barrel, clyinder and frame number above the model # are all S231718

This tells it all unfortunately. A gun of this era should only be serial numbered on the butt, inside the yoke cut, and on the back side of the extractor. The soft fitting dept was eliminated in the late 1950's so there was no need to number each part afterwards.

The factory did, however, number these parts on occasion when a gun was sent back to the factory for service as to ensure that all of the original components found their way back together during reassembly. I would say that your gun was sent in for a barrel change/modification.

 

[feralmerril]

If that be so then why isnt there a star? Anyway it doesnt make a differance to me as I am keeping it but it will to my heirs. Possibly if and when I am totaly incapacitated I would sell it and most my collection for the best price but most of us dont as that is like acknowledging their is no hope and giveing up.
Anyway are you saying that someone could send a gun to the factory for a barrel change and the company would put on a new barrel, letter it with the gun but not put a star on the gun? I didnt know that.

 

[410bore]

What I am saying is that the gun should not have came from the factory originally with all those parts being serial numbered.

 

[feralmerril]

Thanks. ??? So someone else put on all the numbers? Or it was factory practice to get a gun back, replace or cut the barrel to 5"s, stamp the guns serial # on the barrel (where there never was one) along with some more locations but not stamp a star? That solves everything, still clear as mud to me. Thanks anyway. By the way, what was " the soft fitting department"?

 

[Bill Bates]

Before 1957/58 parts were machined and then each major component was fit by hand then polished, finished and assembled. The parts after that were hand fitted were all serial numbered including grips so they could be matched up for final assembly.

Okay, I'm just guessing here but I'll bet one of the last operation was to drill the hole for barrel pinning when the revolver was assembled. That means the barrel would be fit first and would need to be kept with the frame after drilling the pin hole.

On your revolver if it went back for service, like having the barrel cut, they would stamp the serial number on the barrel; send it to have the barrel cut; the sight re-installed and then back to for re-assembly. It was a way to make sure the right barrel got back to your frame so the pin hole lined up. They can screw the barrel back on and re-pin it to the frame and nothing has been changed when it comes to cylinder to forcing cone gap.

When it comes to rework stamps I've seen lots of revolvers reworked without stars and only date stamps under the grip. I've seen stars without dates. I've got a 1917 Commercial with no stamps beyond a single diamond on a replacement barrel that had major reworking.

I have no idea, if say someone put in a change order, before shipment what happened to the records or when it comes to rework stamps.

It sounds like your revolver is right as rain and the work was all Smith & Wesson but it wasn't how the revolver came off the line originally. After assemble, who knows when, Smith & Wesson removed the barrel, serial numbered it and shortened it to 5 inch.

This does beg a question, and this is the old machinist in me coming out, were all the barrel blanks say 8, 6 1/2 & 4 plus inches and the crowns cut to the desired length. If that is the case it make some sort of sense that all the 5 inch barrels (and other special order barrel lengths) started longer and were cut to the desired length by Smith & Wesson so we're all just talking about when in the process, when it comes to the record entries.

I wonder if and when all the records including the service records are digitized if some of the special order reworks will jump in value when the work can be proved to be factory?

 

[Doc44]

Four of the approximately 220 known 44 Magnums with a 5-inch barrel have extra charges invoiced to cut the barrel. I believe barrels for the 44 Magnum were forged in 6 1/2, 4, and 8 3/8-inches. Barrels were only cut when a custom length was ordered for this model (known lengths are 3 1/2, 4 1/2, 5 1/2, 6, and 7 1/2 inches) or the required barrel was not in stock.

Bill

 

[S.B.]

I've often wondered why Smith & Wesson didn't produce more 5 inch .44 Magnums. I've owned 8 3/8 in., 6 1/2 in., 6 in., 4 inch and one 5 inch .44 magnums. The 8 3/8 are great shoot but a pain in the neck to carry. The 6 1/2 and 6 inches are nice to shoot and not to bad to carry. The 4 inch is a little nasty to shoot with full house loads but carries great.

The 5 inch carries almost as nice as a 4 inch but with out the bluster when shooting. To me, it also seems to point and handle the best. Plain and simple the Smith & Wesson 5 inch .44 Magnum is pick of the litter.

Here is my 5 inch pre-29; one of the few guns I own that is on my "I won't ever sell it" list.

I've recently aquired another 29-2, 6 & 1/2"er and had forgotten how much better they balance than any other I've carried(to me anyway). I've often wondered the same about the 6 & 1/2" barrels(why they dropped them from production).
Steve

 

[Boxhead]

I yearned for one for years and decided to have one built on this $400 piece I picked up whilst living in Alberta 4 or 5 years ago.