Mountain guns
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Andy Taylor
Member
The first Mountain Gun was a 629 .44 Magnum. There have been a few variations over the years. They all have these things in common:
Tappered, 4" Barrel
Adjustable sights
Round Butt
Most are built on the N frame, although the .357 was made on the L frame.
Calibers include .44 Magnum, .45 Colt, .45 ACP, .41 Magnum, and .357 Magnum. I think that is all, but I might have missed one. The .45 Colt has been made in both Stainless and Blue. I believe the rest have all been stainless.
Tappered, 4" Barrel
Adjustable sights
Round Butt
Most are built on the N frame, although the .357 was made on the L frame.
Calibers include .44 Magnum, .45 Colt, .45 ACP, .41 Magnum, and .357 Magnum. I think that is all, but I might have missed one. The .45 Colt has been made in both Stainless and Blue. I believe the rest have all been stainless.
ColbyBruce
Member
My .41 mag mountain gun does not have RR/WO sights.
The 41 Magnum and 44 Magnum have both been made in blue as well.
Traditionally Mountain Guns have black Baughman front sights and no outline rear sights.
Also all Mountain Guns have black powder bevels on the cylinders.
Traditionally Mountain Guns have black Baughman front sights and no outline rear sights.
Also all Mountain Guns have black powder bevels on the cylinders.
I can add a few details.
The front cylinder edge of Mountain Guns are beveled. That's called a black powder bevel. The only sight combination I've noticed on Mountain Guns other than a plain black ramp front and plain black adjustable rear is the red ramp and white outline on the .45 ACPs made about 2000.
.41 magnum and .45 Colt Mountain Guns were made in blued and stainless, one batch of each color in .41 mag., one batch of blued .45 Colts and multiple batches of stainless .45 Colts.
I don't think Mountain Guns were ever continuously available cataloged items. They only came out in batches, apparently when distributors ordered them. Some of the batches like the .41s, blued .45 colts and .45 ACPs were never repeated so they only exist in small numbers. The only cartridge that was repeated often enough that you've just about always been able to find one is .44 magnum.
When they were introduced they were the lightest big bores S&W had produced since the .44 specials made in the 1980s and the lightest .44 magnums made. They lost that claim to fame when the aluminum & titanium revolvers were introduced in the 1990s.
Edit to add: colt saa got part of this up ahead of me. That happens to us slow writers. He also posted a picture of one I forgot, a blued .44 magnum commemorative. Since were adding commemoratives, there was also the 1994 Springfield Armory Commemorative .45 ACP which was a Mountain Gun in every detail except its name.
The front cylinder edge of Mountain Guns are beveled. That's called a black powder bevel. The only sight combination I've noticed on Mountain Guns other than a plain black ramp front and plain black adjustable rear is the red ramp and white outline on the .45 ACPs made about 2000.
.41 magnum and .45 Colt Mountain Guns were made in blued and stainless, one batch of each color in .41 mag., one batch of blued .45 Colts and multiple batches of stainless .45 Colts.
I don't think Mountain Guns were ever continuously available cataloged items. They only came out in batches, apparently when distributors ordered them. Some of the batches like the .41s, blued .45 colts and .45 ACPs were never repeated so they only exist in small numbers. The only cartridge that was repeated often enough that you've just about always been able to find one is .44 magnum.
When they were introduced they were the lightest big bores S&W had produced since the .44 specials made in the 1980s and the lightest .44 magnums made. They lost that claim to fame when the aluminum & titanium revolvers were introduced in the 1990s.
Edit to add: colt saa got part of this up ahead of me. That happens to us slow writers. He also posted a picture of one I forgot, a blued .44 magnum commemorative. Since were adding commemoratives, there was also the 1994 Springfield Armory Commemorative .45 ACP which was a Mountain Gun in every detail except its name.
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Correct. Considering that an adjustable sight is part of the definition on "Mountain Gun", the closest thing would be a rare revolver from the 1950s or before. Whether revolvers that meet the Mountain Gun definition were made back then and how many were made would make an interesting question for a thread in the 1896-1961 forum. There are however, a fair number of cut down 1917s around, like mine with a J frame sight and a Redfield Sour Dough blade in a shorty rifle ramp on its 4" barrel.
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batmann
Member
My current MG is a 629 and it has all the features listed and is a joy to pack. The very first MG I had was 29-8 (blued) with the 4 screw frame.
I have heard that the frame were left overs from a 'classic' run about the same time.
I never warmed up to it and one thing that stood out was it DIDN'T have the black powder beveled cylinder like my 629 does.
I have heard that the frame were left overs from a 'classic' run about the same time.
I never warmed up to it and one thing that stood out was it DIDN'T have the black powder beveled cylinder like my 629 does.
SgtSam
Member
I've got a blue M25, .45 Colt Mountain Gun. It came through with some really nice wood stocks on it.
I bought it new over six months ago and haven't put the first round through it yet. All of my .45 Colt shooting lately has been through my Ruger Bisley Blackhawk. It is such a blast to shoot. I guess I ought to take the M25 out and just see what it can do.
When I bought the M25, they had both the blue and stainless versions in stock, as well as the .45 Colt Ruger Redhawk. I really played with all three for quite a while. But, in the end, I felt the blue M25 was so much better looking and it had a much smoother action than the other two.
One of the guys working there tried to talk me into the Redhawk because, in his words, "it is so much stronger than the Smiths". I didn't really need stronger as I already had the Bisley if I needed stronger.
I bought it new over six months ago and haven't put the first round through it yet. All of my .45 Colt shooting lately has been through my Ruger Bisley Blackhawk. It is such a blast to shoot. I guess I ought to take the M25 out and just see what it can do.
When I bought the M25, they had both the blue and stainless versions in stock, as well as the .45 Colt Ruger Redhawk. I really played with all three for quite a while. But, in the end, I felt the blue M25 was so much better looking and it had a much smoother action than the other two.
One of the guys working there tried to talk me into the Redhawk because, in his words, "it is so much stronger than the Smiths". I didn't really need stronger as I already had the Bisley if I needed stronger.
Engine49guy
Member
Heres a 629-2 Pre MIM non Mountain marked Mountain gun...
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nawilson
US Veteran
Andy Taylor
Member
Heres a 629-2 Pre MIM non Mountain marked Mountain gun...
Was that custom made using a 624 barrel, or did it come like that?
5Wire
Member
Here;s a 686-5 Mountain Gun, .357 Mag., 7 round cylinder.
batmann said:
Other than the S&W Collectors' Association 25th Anniversary commemorative colt saa posted a picture of I had not heard of any blued .44 magnum Mountain Guns. Was your 29-8 marked "Mountain Gun"? It does sound like S&W used up left over parts and it may be one of a very small batch.
gasaman said:
No, a 396 is not a Mountain Gun. Like the Back Packer, Trail Boss and others, S&W chose to give those 396s their own model name, "Mountain Lite". Besides, all the revolvers that S&W has labeled "Mountain Guns" have 4" barrels.
Heres a 629-2 Pre MIM non Mountain marked Mountain gun...
Going purely on memory, I think your 629-2 is a Mountain Revolver rather than a Mountain Gun. The Mountain Revolvers were made first and were not marked with their model name. S&W did not change anything except the name when they relabeled them Mountain Guns, and in this thread were calling commemoratives that also have their own names Mountain Guns so I'm happy with either label on yours.
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batmann
Member
Yes it was blued , had the 4 screw frame and said Mountain Gun on the barrel. it was the same as my 629 except for the bevel on the cylinder.
Thinking back, I may be wrong on the 29-# but I thought it was a -8
Thinking back, I may be wrong on the 29-# but I thought it was a -8
andyo5
Member
VaRecon
Member
I have a stainless model 66, 4 inch, fluted cylinder K-frame.
The barrel is not as heavy as my L-frame 681, but does not appear as obviously tapered as the 1950.
Is this considered a mountain gun?
The barrel is not as heavy as my L-frame 681, but does not appear as obviously tapered as the 1950.
Is this considered a mountain gun?
Broker50
Member
No..................................
VaRecon
Member
Only reason I ask is the half lug gives it the same appearance.
The answer, at least, is appreciated.
The answer, at least, is appreciated.
Broker50
Member
The half lug was standard on 66's, but with a heavy barrel. Most "Mountain Guns" are N-frames. The only 357 Mtn Gun is the L-frame 686+.
celticfisherman
Member
Doesn't the Mountain Gun designation just date back to the mid 80's? Or when did they actually start calling them MGs?
one eye joe
US Veteran
Broker50
Member
I could be wrong, but I think the first marked Mtn Guns were in the 90's. Pre-mim Mtn Guns are pretty scarce.
nawilson
US Veteran
One eye Joe, those Ahrends grips look sharp on those MGs! Personally, I prefer the look of the 686 MG over the standard 686. The half lug reminds me of the old M27. I need to keep my eyes peeled for one.
celticfisherman
Member
I've never been sure.
The question for me comes in when so many 25's and 29's were made that fit the descriptions mentioned. They were just not called Mtn Guns.
But I have always lusted after a 625 Mtn Gun.
Stranglehold
Member
Here's another example of an early 629-2 "Mountain Revolver". Production was limited to 5000 units in 1989 and it differed from later Mountain Guns by it's hard-chromed forged internals, satin finish, and Pachmayer grips.
Roe
Roe
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