Model 29 deals are still out there I guess

[Railway-man]

New to S&W and this forum so I'm not sure, but I think I stumbled onto a good deal. Guy from a car club mentioned selling some firearms and I of course asked "what do you have?"
He replied a Savage shotgun, a Marlin 30-30, and a "Dirty Harry revolver". So I went over to his place and walked out with what appears to be an unfired S&W Model 29-2 8"(?) barrel with the presentation box, all the papers (including the S&W wrap paper?) and the shipping box. Not a turn mark on the cylinder, the tools are great and the swab appear to have been used to swab the barrel a couple of times with a light oil. All bluing is perfect. The wood grip might be a little dry (?) No trace of having been turned or fired. Presentation case is excellent, having been stored in the shipping carton. We looked on a couple of websites but didn't see one which had a sold-for-price.
He decided $1200 was a fair price, so I picked it up. Don't know if it's more or less, but I'm happy with it. I wanted to get one to shoot, but I'm not sure I should shoot this one. I just looks too nice. Dilemma: shoot it, or find another one to run? Maybe I should take some pictures to post for input?

 

[VM]

Maybe I should take some pictures to post for input?

Indeed...................we like pictures!

 

[yfdcap]

That is a great gun and a real nice shooter. I say shoot and enjoy it.

 

[Railway-man]

I'll take some pictures tomorrow. If shooting, use a "light .44 Mag load?" I remember some reference to that, something about them not being strong? It's a N frame, at least the serial number beings with that .. a list said it's in the 1980s range. Must say I'm impressed with the quality of the workmanship and finish.

 

[murphydog]

Welcome! It's a good price in the current market for what sounds to be a not-fired-since-factory model 29. At that time the standard barrel lengths were 4, 6, 6.5 and 8 3/8" so yours is likely one of the longest barreled ones. These are perfectly fine with standard factory .44 Magnum rounds, but .44 Special will work and be much more pleasant to use. Some back in the day used heavier than standard bullets and powder loadings which often shot guns loose (mechanically) - S & W made modifications later in the 29 production run that addressed these issues but yours is perfectly safe with full factory-spec loads.

The "shoot/don't shoot" debate rages on here...purely a personal decision on your part, but a few rounds downrange and careful cleaning afterward will not affect its value significantly. Enjoy!

 

[yfdcap]

I'll take some pictures tomorrow. If shooting, use a "light .44 Mag load?" I remember some reference to that, something about them not being strong? It's a N frame, at least the serial number beings with that .. a list said it's in the 1980s range. Must say I'm impressed with the quality of the workmanship and finish.

I have several early 29's and shoot them all. They all get mid level loads ( approximately 1000-1100 fps ). I use my late model 29's for the heavy loads. Do you reload?

 

[A10]

Congratulations on a fine firearm! It's nice to get a complete package like that.

 

[Rustyt1953]

Welcome and congrats! Bet it felt like Christmas!

 

[fyimo]

Finding a unfired 29-2 with all the goodies is hard to find these days and the price you paid was a good deal in my mind.

 

[ersiii]

I have a nickel version of the same gun I would sell if you are interested.

 

[Railway-man]

Thank you all for the helpful comments. I was looking it over again last night and the temptation to punch some holes a couple of times with it is pretty strong, but I'm not sure I want to be the one to put turn lines on the cylinder ;-) Might just have to pick up a shooter. Boy, my wife is gonna LOVE that ... :-(

 

[Railway-man]

Could you please PM me on this? Thanks!

I have a nickel version of the same gun I would sell if you are interested.

 

[DWalt]

There were some known problems with reverse cylinder rotation in earlier M29s due to cylinder stop pop-out due to recoil from heavy loads. I have a 29-3 which was prone to that, but came up with a home-brew solution. But it's not a strength issue. In general, I have felt it was always best to shoot .44 Special or .44 Special-level reloads in .44 Mag cases. One reason M29s are sometimes found in nearly unfired condition is that their original owners fired maybe one cylinder full of factory loads, and decided that was enough fun to last them for a long time. My first .44 Mag was an original Ruger Blackhawk flat top, and it didn't take me long to sell it. That grip was painful to hold under heavy recoil.

 

[NYlakesider]

I'll take some pictures tomorrow. If shooting, use a "light .44 Mag load?" I remember some reference to that, something about them not being strong? It's a N frame, at least the serial number beings with that .. a list said it's in the 1980s range. Must say I'm impressed with the quality of the workmanship and finish.

I have 2 29s a 4''nickel and an 8 3/8 blue and have put plenty of full power loads through both of those guns since the mid 1970s. Guns are tight & in great shape, of course there is a turn line on the cylinder. Both guns have taken deer, one shot kills!

I also put plenty of .44 special power levels through the guns, (mostly the 4'') both of mine came in the wooden boxes but I bought them to shoot not to look at.

 

[Railway-man]

Shot some pics today ... but the are too big to upload. Don't have photo software to reduce them. Suggestions?

 

[Railway-man]

... and it says I can't create a photo album or upload to one ... :-(

 

[claudel]

My first 29 came from somebody who limp wristed it and smacked themselves along the nose with the barrel on the first shot...

Got it cheap. Wish I still had that one.

 

[KEN L]

... and it says I can't create a photo album or upload to one ... :-(

Go to Photobucket.com, upload them there, they will automatically be re-sized, then you can upload them to this site.

This one's from 1976

 

[824tsv]

Your in good company here. This was my very first new revolver purchase in 1977. As DWalt indicates, it packs quite a wallop with factory 44 Mag ammunition. I also shoot mostly 44 Special in it and it's still my favourite revolver.

 

[Railway-man]

Pictures

Thanks. Didn't know about Paint