Model 29-2 with 5 inch bbl

[mikey52]

Hi! Does anyone have any info on how many of the Model 29-2, with 5 inch bbls. were produced? I can't find any numbers on total production. Even a good guess, will help. I know they are scarce, but I don't think a 5 inch bbl., makes them worth a 300-400% premium. Maybe, I'm wrong, but that is a lot of extra money for just more/or less barrel. Any help or thoughts will be appreciated. Thanks Mikey

 

[feralmerril]

I have heard there was about 500 of them. I bought what I thought was one many years ago. Looks straight to me in every respect. A couple years ago I lettered it and found it left the factory as a 6 1/2". I ran across a identical one at a gun show that was about 7 numbers off mine. Lettering is centered, muzzel is crowned exactly like my others, front sight the same, all numbers are right etc. I have owned two other 29-2s to compare the details. Sometimes it makes me wonder if I got wrong info in the letter. That said, I always have liked a 5" barrel. I own a HD that I found a model 21 5" barrel for and had the barrel put on and the clyinder reamed out to .44 special. I also own a texas wagon train commemrative in 44-40 also in 5". They look almost the same. Since there was only about 500 made and it seems that everybody also loves the 5" barrel in the model 27, there is a almost cult status wanting a 29-2. All that leads to the high price. I do have the original cokes to this gun stashed.

 

[feralmerril]

Mickey, if you think the price is unique because of the rarer barrel length, try pricing a 3" colt python. That extra 1/2" is close to that ratio too.

 

[shaggist]

I don't know how many were made, but I have one of them. The sweetest handling and shooting gun I have ever owned. I just can't see the sights anymore without glasses.

 

[Nightowl]

According to Roy Jinks History of Smith & Wesson, 500 were ordered by H.H. Harris in 1958. From discussions here, it is unknown how many were delivered, and less than 300 have been accounted for. They were delivered in the 29, 29-1, and 29-2 range with the last one that we know of delivered around 1965. There have also been two or three documented pre 29 5 inch barrel guns shipped prior to the H.H. Harris order.

They are in high demand and command some pretty healthy prices. There are several forum threads about them and sometime back we had a very long thread about the 5 inch .44s. I don't think the thread has survived as I could not find it last time I looked.

 

[mikey52]

Hi Everyone! Thanks to the forum for putting my post, in the correct category! My mistake, I'm sorry!
Thanks for all the replies, to my questions. I guess if the Model 29, 29-1 and 29-2 combined; had 300 or less, with a 5 inch barrel, then that's not very many. They are out of my price range, If anyone is interested, they have a Model 29-2 with 5 inch bbl #N815xxx, at Gander Mountain, Evansville, In. It looks to be in nice cond., but I did not handle the gun, so can't say for sure. Just shy of $3800. Again, thanks for the help from everyone. Mikey

 

[Nightowl]

Hi Everyone! Thanks to the forum for putting my post, in the correct category! My mistake, I'm sorry!
Thanks for all the replies, to my questions. I guess if the Model 29, 29-1 and 29-2 combined; had 300 or less, with a 5 inch barrel, then that's not very many. They are out of my price range, If anyone is interested, they have a Model 29-2 with 5 inch bbl #N815xxx, at Gander Mountain, Evansville, In. It looks to be in nice cond., but I did not handle the gun, so can't say for sure. Just shy of $3800. Again, thanks for the help from everyone. Mikey

Doc44 will have to respond here, but an N serial that high would be shipped in the late 70s, well beyond the 1965 date that I seem to remember was mentioned as the latest shipped. From what I have read, I would think that all the serial number Model 29s with 5 inch barrel should begin with an "S". It could be my information is incorrect or incomplete.

 

[Doc44]

All documented 44 Magnums (Pre-29, 29, 29-1, and 29-2) with a 5-inch barrel, except one, have a serial number beginning with the letter S and date from 1956 to 1969. The majority were shipped in 1958 and 1963. The exception is N75847 that was shipped on May 30, 1973 and was a special order for a factory employee.

Bill

 

[flundertaker]

All documented 44 Magnums (Pre-29, 29, 29-1, and 29-2) with a 5-inch barrel, except one, have a serial number beginning with the letter S and date from 1956 to 1969. The majority were shipped in 1958 and 1963. The exception is N75847 that was shipped on May 30, 1973 and was a special order for a factory employee.

Bill

So either the employee special order is for sale in a gander mountain store or they are trying to pass off a cut down as the real deal based on their asking price. With my past dealings with GM in mind i know which scenerio I feel is significantly more likely.

Sent from my SAMSUNG-SGH-I317 using Tapatalk 2

 

[jtcarm]

So either the employee special order is for sale in a gander mountain store or they are trying to pass off a cut down as the real deal based on their asking price. With my past dealings with GM in mind i know which scenerio I feel is significantly more likely.

Sent from my SAMSUNG-SGH-I317 using Tapatalk 2

That would be an easy one to fake.

Without knowing much about it, I'll bet fakes outnumber originals 20-1.

 

[jtcarm]

Mickey, if you think the price is unique because of the rarer barrel length, try pricing a 3" colt python. That extra 1/2" is close to that ratio too.

LOL, I didn't know there was such a thing. I would have thought 3" would cut through a vent.

 

[Just another 22 shooter]

Any gunsmiths still doing a "re do" of 6 or 6.5" M29s to 5"?. I have a 29-2 that is very good "shooter" condition and I think the a 5" shooter would be just cool.

 

[garandglen]

I have been looking at the same gun too! Price is crazy!

 

[Doc44]

If the revolver is all original it is well worth the asking price of $3800 (assuming it is 98 percent or better) as it would most likely be the last factory-produced Model 29-2 with a 5-inch barrel.

Bill

 

[Bill Bates]

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.

 

[shawn mccarver]

I think 500 were shipped to H. H. Harris in Chicago.

 

[mikey52]

Thanks for all the info on the Model 29-2. My next trip to town, I"ll ask to look at the gun. A friend of mine looked at it and said it was in excel. condition, and appeared to be a good bbl, not cut down. he said blueing, lettering, centering/position, all looked right. A good inspection, might turn up something different. Thanks again! Mikey

 

[feralmerril]

Mikey, I thought mine was original for 35 years untill I lettered it. If there was 10 lettered 5" 29s on a table I would put mine on and defi
roy, doc or anyone else to show me the differance. Lettering centered, perfect traditional muzzel, front sight mounted right. All barrel, clyinder and frame numbers are right. You might put GM on the spot and tell them if it doesnt letter, can I return it or get a generous kickback?
That said I will keep mine. A lettered one coulkd be no different. I had bought a new 4", sold it and put money with it to justify buying mine in the early 70s. While I would like the 4" back, I wouldnt trade my altered 5" for it.

 

[Doc44]

I just returned from Gander Mountain in Evansville where I looked at the 29-2 we are discussing. I did not ask them to take it out of the case as I am sure the barrel has been cut to five inches and the red ramp on a ramp base mounted to the barrel with two pins that are not polished flush to the barrel rib. It is possible S&W did the work, but that is irrelevant if the barrel is not original.

A nice shooter in my opinion, that is priced about $3,000 too high.

Bill

 

[mikey52]

A big thanks to Doc44, for clearing up the confusion on the Model 29-2, at Gander Mt. If it had been a factory 5 inch gun, with that high of serial number; it certainly would have been a great find. Thanks again Doc44 , for all your time, effort and trouble, on verifying what the gun is. All members here should be proud to have such dedicated collectors, as yourself, on this forum, and in our hobby. Thanks Mikey

 

[flundertaker]

I just returned from Gander Mountain in Evansville where I looked at the 29-2 we are discussing. I did not ask them to take it out of the case as I am sure the barrel has been cut to five inches and the red ramp on a ramp base mounted to the barrel with two pins that are not polished flush to the barrel rib. It is possible S&W did the work, but that is irrelevant if the barrel is not original.

A nice shooter in my opinion, that is priced about $3,000 too high.

Bill

this is my surprised look.........

I dealt with GM in Little Rock and their level of incompetence and stupidity never ceased to amaze me. I hope they bought the 29-2 in question thinking it was the real deal and got taken with the seller laughing all the way to the bank. Hopefully, anyone considering dropping $4k on an gun will either be extremely knowledgable or do their homework before doing so. It would warm my heart to know GM took a $2500-3000 bath on that gun.

 

[flundertaker]

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.

Nice pre 29 bill. Now is that a factory 5" or has it been cut down? I am trying to figure out what a factory 5" barrel looks like and this thread has gotten confusing.

 

[Bill Bates]

Nice pre 29 bill. Now is that a factory 5" or has it been cut down? I am trying to figure out what a factory 5" barrel looks like and this thread has gotten confusing.

I've not had this revolver lettered.

The barrel has a diamond stamp by the serial number which means it is replacement or has been worked on. There is a service date stamp of 9/63. I 'm guessing this pre-29 started life with a 6 1/2 inch barrel. The work on the crown and sight look factory but I'm betting it was shortened and re-blued in September 1963.

 

[feralmerril]

Bill, your lettering isnt centered. My 5" 29-2 was supposedly sent in 6 1/2", yet my lettering is perfectly centered. Go figure!

 

[Bill Bates]

Mine is one of a couple hundred pre-29 with what is called forward roll stamping that are found in the S175-181000 serial range

 

[Doc44]

Bill Bates...the B followed by a diamond indicates a refinish most likely in September of 1963. Also, the extractor rod has the relieved area behind the knurled tip indicating it has an improved, left-hand thread that first appeared in 1962.

Bill

 

[1blindref]

I found this 5" 29-2 at a LGS a few years ago.
This LGS deals mostly with newer plastic guns and I've scored a few very nice old S&W's at VERY good prices there over the years. I bought this one at a VERY GOOD out the door price, so I wasn't really disappointed when I got my letter from Roy stating that this gun started out life as a 8 3/8's inch gun. I don't know if the barrel was cut, or just replaced. The lettering looks very close to being centered, but who knows? Either way, I'm very happy with the gun, and I can shoot it as much as I want without decreasing its' value.

 

[Doug M.]

There is just something about a 5" N frame with the standard barrel (not the full lug abomination) that looks right. One of my back burner projects for myself is to snag a 629-4 with a longer barrel and have it cut to 5" by someone who knows what they are doing. Maybe a more visible front sight and opened up rear (I'm prone to the XS front, and maybe an opened up C&S heavy duty, since my eyes are not what they used to be).

 

[Bill Bates]

I found this 5" 29-2 at a LGS a few years ago.
This LGS deals mostly with newer plastic guns and I've scored a few very nice old S&W's at VERY good prices there over the years. I bought this one at a VERY GOOD out the door price, so I wasn't really disappointed when I got my letter from Roy stating that this gun started out life as a 8 3/8's inch gun. I don't know if the barrel was cut, or just replaced. The lettering looks very close to being centered, but who knows? Either way, I'm very happy with the gun, and I can shoot it as much as I want without decreasing its' value.

I'm with you on this. I bought my 5 inch pre-29 at a regular 29 shooter price. I can put it in a holster and shot it without to much worry; just like the retired Idaho Fish and Game officer that owned it before me did for many years.

Who ever had the work done in 1963 was looking for a working gun, not a collector gun. The work done, was done with thought and with a purpose in mind. It was done professionally, with care. It is how I like my old guns, used and well cared for by men that knew what it was all about. they carried and used them with a real purpose.

I hold, care for, carry and shoot them and wonder what stories they might tell.

 

[feralmerril]

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. Both crane and left bottom of grip frame is 30753.
I own a number of other old smiths to compare with and I again did last night. Now I am positive the barrel wasnt changed. The lettering is perfectly centered, the crown and sight look as the others. Since doc said the pins should be flat and not rounded I looked hard at that. You can barely see the pins as they are flat and blended in the same as my old model 27-2 that I bought new. Another thing. I seen another exactly like mine at a gun show many years ago and the number was like 7 numbers away from mine. Now if my gun was a cut back barrel, okay, what is--is! No big deal I have had hundreds of guns go through my hands. What I am saying is I wish I had the oppertunity to have roy and doc look at this one and show me any visable sign of it not being original.
One question: Was the 5" and 6 1/2" barrels lettered at the same length on the barrel?
My 27-2 I bought new and it is also 5" and it looks the same.
My picture doesnt show the cokes but I have them.