Model 29 best and worst model or years?

[Deadringer6]

I recently purchased a 29-2 with a 6 in Barrel unfired. It was my first 29 and I bought it to resale but unsure after buying it if I do want to sell it. Beautiful gun.

 

[29-1]

I have one of the larger Model 29 collections.

 

[Art Doc]

No way to say what is best. Too many criteria. Cheapest? Most popular? Rarest? Most accurate? Etc. Too many opinions. A super serious collector like Doc44 will want early guns in top condition. To him that's best. Somebody else would have his own concept of what constitutes best.

As for years to avoid, well, the P&R features were dropped in 1981 and many S&W lovers think the guns were reduced in refinement when that happened. Still good shooting guns, just not as fine.

But what do i know? I'm not an expert and I prefer 27s anyway.

 

[grip frame]

IMO the 29-5 is the best overall.

Earlier guns were not designed to handle the .44 magnum. The 29-6 did not have the same amount of attention paid during assembly-same holds true for the 629-3 verses 629-4 from my ownership of several examples of all of them.

 

[Randallsw67]

44 Magnum 8 /38 barrel blued

I have a Model 29-2 blued 8 3/8 barrel in wooden presentation case that has never been fired. It's serial number is N20372 I'd like to know what year it was produced and the value of it? Been in my safe for many years without looking at it. Can anyone help me with this? Have a few others I need to look up also.
Thanks,
Randall

 

[rays44]

I own a blued Magna Classic. Awesome machine except for the fact that the throats measure .427. I size lead to that diameter and despite the mismatch between throat and bore, it's a fine shooter.
I have two 29-2's. One of these is fitted with a 10" Douglas barrel. All three were fed a steady diet of max loads (21.5gr/2400/240gr jacket and lead). All are as tight as the day I bought them (new in the day).
I have no experience with the 10" silhouette model from the 80's, but I am told they were somewhat lacking.

 

[biku324]

I bought an unfired -3 that had been Magna-ported a couple of years ago as a shooter. It's accurate and nicely finished; I don't worry about overusing a collector's piece.

Incidentally, I would never bother with Magnaport on a revolver - it just doesn't seem to make a noticeable difference to me.

 

[Neversink n Klapperthal]

doesnt Hickock have a 29-2 with 75k rounds through it?Still tight

 

[shocker]

doesnt Hickock have a 29-2 with 75k rounds through it?Still tight

Zombie thread lives. Hickoks 29 had action repairs done. Also, many of those rounds were 44 SPC or "moderate" magnums.

 

[jay72]

For collecting you can't go wrong with any of the S prefix 29's (pre, no dash, 29-1 and 29-2).
For shooting you cant go wrong with a 29-5 Classic DX.

 

[rockquarry]

I began shooting 29-2s in 1973 and a single 29-3 in 1983. These were fired with magnum handloads almost exclusively for many years. I never used the needlessly heavy bullets, but did cast the standard 250 grain semiwadcutter designs that worked well.

My two remaining 29s, a 29-2 and a 29-3 were purchased new more than thirty-five years ago. I can see little difference in these guns. Accuracy, endurance,and reliability is about the same. I realize pinned barrels and recessed cylinders are a big deal to some, but in the field or on the range I've found these features have no real significance.

I stopped shooting magnum cartridges a few years ago. The 29s shoot quite well with cast .44 Special loads.

 

[pharmer]

Nice to see, after 11 years the same questions are relevant. I have a 4" 29-2 I bought used that's as tight as the day it was made. With standard loads (WWB 240 gr are less than 1200 fps) it's fun to shoot. 29-5 seems easier to shoot but it has more than 2X the barrel. I'll be long gone before either wears out. Joe

 

[CH4]

So from what I gather here, would it be safe to say the 29-5 is probably the pinnacle of the Model 29s development?

I would tend to agree!

 

[Narragansett]

I would tend to agree!

M29-5 classic DX 1992 5"bbl. Sorry the pic is so dark. I need to take another picture some day. I tried to find out a production quantity on the 5" bbl but no info available. I have never seen another 5"

 

[bananaman]

Can anyone tell me how to determine if my 29-3 has the endurance package? Did not know they existed. Serial# AZE5338, 1988. No box to check info. Thanks, Bob

 

[Narragansett]

Can anyone tell me how to determine if my 29-3 has the endurance package? Did not know they existed. Serial# AZE5338, 1988. No box to check info. Thanks, Bob

I could be all wet here, but I think it has to be a -3E

 

[murphydog]

Can anyone tell me how to determine if my 29-3 has the endurance package? Did not know they existed. Serial# AZE5338, 1988. No box to check info. Thanks, Bob

The usual visual clue to the endurance package is deeper and wider cylinder notches, so I would guess yours does not have the upgraded features.

 

[Frank Black]

Whatcha think?

Interesting Necro thread, ...

Because about a month ago at my LGS, just as this pandemic stuff was peaking, two Old School S&W Magnums popped up on consignment sale, both brought in by the same owner.

One is a 'no-dash' blue Model 57 with 6" barrel. The other is a blue 29-2 also with a 6" barrel.

Both have their original grips, and each is sitting on the 'pre-owned' shelf in its own presentation box with factory paperwork, etc.

Condition-wise, the grips and blueing on the M57 are more worn than on the M29-2. IOW, the M29-2 looks to be in somewhat better shape, although the bores of both guns look really good.

So I'd rate the M57 at about 85%, and the M29-2 at 95%.

Owner wants $1600 for each gun, and he told the counter-guys to tell potential 'low ballers' 'to pound sand, 'cause I ain't budging.'

And that's basically what the counter guys have been telling folks who come in and look these revolvers over, and then ask if the owner 'is open to offers.' Price is fixed. Take it or leave it.

As of yesterday, they were both still on the shelf.

Whatcha think? $1600 way too high?

 

[captaint]

In my meaningless opinion, it's a little soon for those prices. May not be too far off, though..

 

[murphydog]

Interesting Necro thread, ...

Because about a month ago at my LGS, just as this pandemic stuff was peaking, two Old School S&W Magnums popped up on consignment sale, both brought in by the same owner.

One is a 'no-dash' blue Model 57 with 6" barrel. The other is a blue 29-2 also with a 6" barrel.

Both have their original grips, and each is sitting on the 'pre-owned' shelf in its own presentation box with factory paperwork, etc.

Condition-wise, the grips and blueing on the M57 are more worn than on the M29-2. IOW, the M29-2 looks to be in somewhat better shape, although the bores of both guns look really good.

So I'd rate the M57 at about 85%, and the M29-2 at 95%.

Owner wants $1600 for each gun, and he told the counter-guys to tell potential 'low ballers' 'to pound sand, 'cause I ain't budging.'

And that's basically what the counter guys have been telling folks who come in and look these revolvers over, and then ask if the owner 'is open to offers.' Price is fixed. Take it or leave it.

As of yesterday, they were both still on the shelf.

Whatcha think? $1600 way too high?

For lightly to moderately worn examples, even with the original boxes and contents, the quoted asking prices are "aspirational". Guess the seller is not in a hurry.