MODEL 29-5 CLASSIC DX VALUE

[SFLYNN]

I have a model 29-5 Classic DX that bought new in '95. I Haven't used it much and thinking of selling it. Almost new condition with original box, packaging, 2 sets grips, sights, cleaning kit, test target, etc. everything just like the day I bought along with its original presentation case.

What would a fair retail price be for this entire package?

 

[SVT28]

I would say 1200-1500 at a minimum. The combat grips and presentation case really help the value.

SVT28

 

[SFLYNN]

To be honest, my expectations were a little higher than $1200-$1500 range, but that's just wishful thinking on my part and not market reality.

I couldn't find anything exactly like mine in recent sales for comparison. I know they made the DX's for only a couple years and although not considered rare to collectors I read that the wood combat grips can fetch $200-$250.

I deer hunted with it back when I first got it few times with some very good success- I think the 6 1/2" full lug barrel and rubber grips takes a lot of the 44mag felt recoil out of this model 29. These were some nice shooting revolvers right out of the box.

 

[Inspector-Callahan]

I agree with SVT, around 1200-1,300 +/-. I have purchased quite a few of these over the past 10 years and feel I have a good handle on pricing. You can check Gunbroker closed (and sold) auctions for another reference. I just purchased a 5" 29-5 DX for $1,650 last month off of GB and that is the hardest barrel length to find and commands the highest prices of the DX's. I recall seeing a 6.5 inch 629 DX selling for $1,150 on GB over the past month. It was in box with all accessories. Send me a PM and I can share the link if you like. That is a really good approximation as I don't see much difference in pricing on the stainless models versus blued.

Make sure you look at sold prices and not what people are asking and fail to sell. Some dealers on GB are notorious for listing their stuff at about 150% or more of the normal selling prices, and sit on inventory for years lookin for the most impatient foolish buyer.

Sent from my SM-G920V using Tapatalk

 

[7mmPhysicist]

Beautiful gun. Do you have any recent pictures of it? I am interested.

 

[SFLYNN]

I will post some new up to date pics when I get a chance sometime next week.

Not sure if I am ready to part with the gun yet- just trying to establish its value and do appreciate all input from the forum.

I am no expert but from what Ive read and what I am seeing this 29 is 98% NRA excellent condition grade with only the slightest bluing wear on muzzle and very very light cylinder scratches. I'm taking it back to dealer I bought it from next week to get his opinion on the grade and also is gun marked as special order on the blue box because of presentation case that came with it? There are no serial numbers on the case linking case to gun but I do remember the case came with the gun.

 

[laytonj1]

Two things: according to the Standard Catalog of Smith & Wesson the 29-5 Classic DX was discontinued in 1992.
It also shows the only model of 29-5 offered with a wood case was the 29-5 Magna Classic.

Could you post a picture of the box end label.

Jim

 

[SFLYNN]

Jim,

I looked it up one time and I believe this gun was built in '92. I purchased it from my local gunshop on Dec 1st, 1995 (I have original receipt) it was in unfired N.I.B. condition at time of purchase.

What I do remember is this gun was originally special ordered by a local law enforcement officer at the gunshop I frequented. Same guy took it the back to the same local gunshop and put it up for consignment sale.
It caught my eye immediately when I stopped in the shop to trade a rifle for a high quality S&W 44da revolver to hunt deer with. Because it was exactly what I was looking for I traded on the spot for the rifle +$295.90 cash.

The gun was in the mahogany presentation case when I bought it and also came with original blue box, a cleaning kit sealed in plastic (never opened), 4 additional front sites wrapped in tissue paper and in a plastic baggie, a nice little catalog of apparel and firearm accessories, a consumer questionaire, warranty statement, and the safety/instruction manual.

Most importantly to me though was the 50yd test target I got with a 1.25" 5 shot group showing with 4 touching- awesome performance in my opinion and more than perfect for my intended use.

I will speak to this gunshop owner whom I know later in the week and see if he remembers ordering the presentation case with the gun or if it was just an add-on accessory- in the catalog I got with the gun, a solid mahogany S&W branded presentation case part #19045 could be purchased for a whopping $108.00 back then.

 

[BillyMagg]

Yep, very nice 29-5, and thank you for the response to my PM. IMHO the 1988-1994 or so Smith and Wesson's were the finest modern firearms in many years, and current S&Ws simply are not in the same league, although some are indeed very nice.

My DX had a lovely trigger, and fit and finish, particularly the crane to frame fit and sideplate to frame were extraordinary...

 

[SFLYNN]

Billy,
I agree with you that they dont make em like they used too- those were very good years for s&w.

And it looks like I must have been wrong about thinking my 29-5's year of manufacture was '92 because test target is dated 3-21-91.

Anyways, I am posting a few more pics I took today of my 29-5 DX for those who are interested.

 

[sw282]

A 29-5 Classic DX five inch sold on GB last week $1350. Great shape. No box

According to what l have read only app500 29 DX 5"ers were made..

Prior week Another 5" 29 DX went -$925..Still no box.. 5" made one year.

6 1/2" 29-5 DX = many many more...Maybe 4000-5000.. For me-$1100max..

Depends on what you want to do with it. Shoot it.. Or, Look at it..

 

[laytonj1]

and it looks like I must have been wrong about thinking my 29-5's year of manufacture was '92 because test target is dated 3-21-91.

Makes sense, the spec order code on the box is 1082, which is the julian date it was packed. 1082 = 82nd day of 1991.

Jim

 

[SFLYNN]

Thanks for that clarification Jim-

And just to clarify another point, this is my "looking at" gun which I retired a long time ago. I felt it to be just too nice a piece to take out in the woods and take a chance of messing it up, so I use its companion 44mag for deer hunting nowadays.

 

[SFLYNN]

I thought this must be a '91 model because of "Julian" date and target date coinciding, but "BKB" serial # prefix shows up as '92 model in the standard catalog of S&W book 4th ed- so what gives? book must be wrong?

Can anyone run this "BKB" serial# prefix for me thru another reference source to doublecheck this year of manufacture?

 

[SFLYNN]

Upon reading further into this subject of the "dreaded" triple-alpha code the book states the prefixes are based on general observations and not a 100% reliable way in which to date a gun- so I would say in my particular case either the book has wrong year or maybe that prefix actually was used in '91 & '92?

Anyways, looks like I may have jumped the gun here (no pun intended) and will stick with the '91 Julian date of packaging on the blue box.

I also read if finding exact date of manufacture was important I could request a "factory letter" historian Roy Jinks for $30?

Can anyone tell me if this factory letter only provides the production date of manufacture using the serial numbers or does it give some other kind of info that may be of interest about the gun?

 

[laytonj1]

Can anyone tell me if this factory letter only provides the production date of manufacture using the serial numbers or does it give some other kind of info that may be of interest about the gun?

The letter will have the shipping date which could very well be 1992. It also tells you who it was shipped to and what features it had.

The serial number for a 629 Classic Dx I owned showed 1996 for manufacture date in the SCSW but the box date was Sept 1995 and the test Target was dated May of 95.
The point being, the dates listed in the catalog are only guidelines.

Jim

 

[SFLYNN]

Jim,

OK , from what I've gathered from reading up on the subject in SCSW and from I've been told in this forum- serial number codes can be misleading and are not reliable for dating a gun.

The number under "special order" on blue box is not a special order number, but rather it is the "Julian" date when gun was packaged.

Only way to tell for certain the exact shipping date and features a particular revolver had when it left the factory would be obtain a letter from factory- this is starting to make sense now!

Thanks