Lew Horton has not been the only distributor contracting with S&W and others to make special versions.
Another S&W distributor in the late 1989 period was in Germany, and a lot of US military folks bought firearms while there, and MY Model 29-5 6" full lugged barrel, w/the 4-position front silhouette sight and unfluted cylinder came back to America in 1991.
It didn't have a Hogue "rubber" grip on it, but a Hogue Rosewood Laminate grips with the same finger grips and shape as their rubbers . . . BUT the top of the grip on both sides had the same look as the LEFT side of the rubbers . . .
I strongly expect the German distributor selected Hogue Rosewood laminated grips and it really made the revolver look incredible.
What a stunning revolver it is! Identical to the 29-3s pictured here, mine was a 29-5 (with the larger "reliability" treatment that came with the 5th change model . . . larger notch length for better bolt lockup and all).
Basically identical than these 29-3s here. When it showed up at one of my favorite gun/pawn shops, one about 80 miles from home, the owner called me and said, I just got in a Smith revolver I KNOW you will love! I said, I'll take it and be to see you tomorrow!
ONE INTRIGUING DIFFERENCE THOUGH . . .
One the bottom of the lower lug, in very tiny engraved letters was something that looked more like some middle eastern writing, but was not at all. It took me a couple of years before I discovered it was the mark of the German distributor.
IT WAS BOUGHT FROM S&W GERMAN DISTRIBUTOR who liked to also get some exclusive runs of things, like Horton used to do here.
That distributor is: Albrecht.Kind.GmbH One facebook/messenger is this site too:
AKAH - Home | Facebook and they have been in business more than 100 years!
After a couple of years I replaced the beautiful rosewood laminate grips with the Hogue "CamoLamo" grip. It looks incredible on my 29-5 that has been my GO-TO firearm deer and hog hunting firearm ever since.
BTW: My front 4-way sight is still dialed in for the correct distance in meters for silhouette matches, as is the rear sight. Simply removing the two pins and the front sight is now securely saved, and the tall, sharp front sight no longer makes noise when I remove the revolver from the holster. Oh yes, and the revolver is topped with the 1st gen. Bushnell Holosight of the early '90s. Sure, it looks goofy, but is so much better in the thick Georgia woods that either iron sights or pistol scope. Just "point and click!"
HOPE THIS HELPS YOU UNDERSTAND ABOUT DIFFERENT DISTRIBUTORS! Some of you may find the tiny distributor's engravings on the bottom of your lower barrel lug too!