Model 29 4" "M&P"

[Andy Griffith]

I've got a hankering for something that hasn't been made...

I want a .44 Magnum version of a 58.
Eh, for no other reason than I want one.

Has anyone else conjured up something like this?
I suppose I could start with a new fixed sighted 58 frame and and install a new cylinder, but is there enough meat in a .41 barrel to rebore it to .44 magnum?

I guess I need to call Clearwater Reboring to find out.

Perhaps if not in .44 Magnum, I guess I could do it in .45 Colt.

 

[Doc44]

Three of these were made by S&W in 1974. They started with a Model 58 frame and fit a customized and shortened Model 29-2 barrel to it. The caliber is 44 Magnum and it is stamped MOD 29 in the yoke cut. The round butt and stocks are also unique.

Bill

 

[Andy Griffith]

That, as they say, is nice!!!

 

[shawn mccarver]

Three of these were made by S&W in 1974. They started with a Model 58 frame and fit a customized and shortened Model 29-2 barrel to it. The caliber is 44 Magnum and it is stamped MOD 29 in the yoke cut. The round butt and stocks are also unique.

Bill

Hey Bill:

I have seen pictures of your Model 29-2 before, but I just noticed what looks like the trigger guard being narrowed toward the front in the manner favored by Bill Jordan and sort of like what the factory did on the Texas Ranger Model 19s.

Is the trigger guard narrowed on your Model 29-2 in the manner of the Texas Ranger guns and were all three of these like this, or is it an "optical illusion."

Thank you.

Shawn McCarver
S&WCA 765

 

[ponci04]

Has the trigger guard been shaved down foward of the trigger?

Jeff

 

[Doc44]

Shawn...the trigger guard is narrowed in the front. I have not seen the other two guns, but I have heard all three are identical.

Bill

 

[BUFF]

Yes, a conversion is possible using a M-58 barrel. They are pretty meaty. The work, done by a capable gunsmith, would not be cheap, and the .41 Mag can do just about anything the .44 Mag can do (except shoot .44 Mag ammunition, of course!) but it would be cool.

Skeeter Skelton advocated S&W making the M-58 in other chamberings, like .44 Special, .45 Colt, .45 ACP and such. I think one done in .45 Colt would be outstanding!

Doc44, that gun is absolutely outstanding!

 

[AKtinman]

Major Nonte advocated converting the Model 58 to .45 Colt.

This one was done by Spokhandguns in 1974:

 

[sw282]

si---------------

 

[Snowbandit]

If I happen to run across one of those old 58's I may just have to have one of these. A 4-inch barrel would be good but a 3 1/2 would be even better. Interesting project.

 

[k22fan]

Hello Andy Griffith;

My neighborhood gunsmith converted a 58 to .44 mag. for a customer. I'm sure it was expensive because Randy cannibalized a 4" 29 converting the 58. The 29's barrel rib and sight had to be machined to 58 configuration. S&W refused to sell .44 mag. barrels and cylinders at the time, perhaps out of fear that people would make .44 magnums using old frames. I'm not sure why the customer didn't hunt down a used 29 cylinder and barrel. Maybe he couldn't find them or already had the 29. Obviously he had to have a .44 mag. 58 for "no reason other than [he] wanted one." I would not be surprised to see that .44 pop up here advertised as a rare 58.

While I have not seen the .converted 58, I've seen an even more specialized 29 conversion Randy made for his own 200 meter silhouette shooting. Randy is a full time gunsmith and has done good work on S&W revolvers for me. Randy loves S&Ws and has set aside other work to enthusiastically dive into my S&W revolver projects.
Rather than assume every businessman wants exposure on a forum like this one, PM me for Randy's phone # if you want to talk to him.

Best regards,

Gil