My first Model 29-5.. have ?s

[Clobbersaurus]

Hey everyone. New guy here.

Ive been wanting a 44mag and just picked up my first S&W the other day and was wondering if anyone can give me any information on it.

I picked it up and brought it to the range the next day. Great shooter. Very minor scratch on the bottom of the lug and light cylinder ring. Other than that its pretty spotless. Cost me $600 (seemed reasonable).

-Its a model 29-5. I was told its a Classic Hunter. Not sure if it is or not.
-6in barrel with full lug. One side of barrel is stamped "Smith & Wesson". The other side "44 Magnum"
-Unfluted cylinder
-Hogue grip. Held on by one screw in the bottom opposed to the side like my Colt.
-Serial #: BFW29xx
-"679" etched on the "arm" of the cylinder.

Ive heard about round butt and square butts but im not sure what I have here.

Also I read about a "limited production" Classic Hunter run in 1991. I think the BFW prefix dates it around that time but I really have no clue.

Is it safe to carry with the hammer down and all 6 cylinders loaded or should the hammer be down on an empty cylinder?

Any thing to look out for? Any known issues? I hear people that shooting "full power" loads will loosen it up but I dont reload, just factory ammo so I dont think Ill have an issue but I would like to be informed.

Here are a few pics of it. Sorry about the quality. If you need any other pics or info please let me know.

Thanks for any info you guys can supply.

Clobber.

 

[Gun 4 Fun]

Welcome to the forum!

That is a 29-5 Classic Hunter. I has one just like it that was built in 1990, but your serial number puts yours in 1991 like you thought. They have all of the endurance upgrades that kep the gun tighter, longer. Mine was very accurate!

BTW, yours is a square butt gun.

Here is the one I had-

 

[Clobbersaurus]

Thanks for the welcome and quick reply. Thats a nice one you have there. I like those grips a lot. How do they do under recoil. My step dad has a new 629 Classic Hunter with wood grips but no finger grooves. Not very comfy. I assume that the grips on mine are not factory.

 

[Gun 4 Fun]

The rubber Hogues on your gun are original. The combats on mine are factory combats that I had on it when I owned it. They are fairly wide across the palm area, and do a good job of dispersing recoil. I am not sensitive to the .44's kick, but they do help over long periods of shooting.

 

[pharmer]

The lower gun is a 29-5 with a BER ser# prefix. Pretty decent 20 year old gun. Joe

 

[Clobbersaurus]

Nice. Whats the other one?

BTW. I took the grip off. Def a square butt. Took the grip off. Very clean underneath.

ETA:

Any input on carrying with all 6 cylinders loaded with a dropped hammer? I plan on bringing it with me hiking with the kids.

Also any recommendations on a holster? I have a "universal" shoulder holster. Kinda bulky under the arm. Maybe I should consider a OWB holster? I usually wear long Ts or button up shirts. Currently Im in NY so it has to be concealed. No open carry for me.

I feel kind of "under gunned" with my SA EMP 9mm in the woods (never know what you come across) and dont want to carry my Python.

Thanks again.

 

[Gun 4 Fun]

You can safely carry it fully loaded with no problem.

Try a Galco Phoenix holster. The are lined, can be worn strongside or crossdraw, and are of high quality. I have several of them as well as Bianchi, Safriland, and El Paso Saddelry. They are a very good trail holster for the gun you have.

 

[tom turner]

Hello, and welcome to the forum. This place is ADDICTING!!!

Yes, you can absolutely and positively carry that 29-5 fully loaded with zero problems. The hammer block became standard in the S&W revolvers during WWII and thereafter this feature completely prevents the hammer from being able to touch a primer unless one pulls the trigger (which allows the block to drop out of the way to fire the revolver).

Here's mine . . . made in late '89 or early '90. It is also a full lugged, unfluted barrel 29-5 . . . but having the four-way adjustable front "Silhouette" sight (removed by me and stored, since I use a red dot "Holosight" on this revolver).

I've taken a lot of deer through the years with this gun, including a piebald whitetail buck (the buck's hide is under the gun in the photo).

Below that photo is a nice buck I took this past season with the M29-5.. It is an awesome and accurate revolver.

The grips are Hogue "Lamo camo."

 

[JDBarrister]

I recently got a 29-5 as well and like you I wondered about the grips. In my experiance the hogue monogrip did it's job too well. It gripped my hand too well transferred all the recoil directly to my wrist. I replaced them with a pair of square target grips from the Smith and Wesson web site and love the look and the feel of the gun. They give just enough that my wrists haven't complained at all.

 

[pharmer]

Nice. Whats the other one?

BTW.

A 14-5. Those FG grips came on it but they belong on my 19-5. Joe

 

[Frostback]

Here's my 29-3 Classic Hunter. It's a bit older than yours. S/N is AZC9xxx. I bought it new in 1988. I replaced the grips with a set of Hogue laminated rosewoods without finger grooves (I hate finger grooves. They don't fit my hands).

Frosty

 

[Clobbersaurus]

Thanks for the replies guys. After checking out your pics Im liking the wood grips a lot. Ive checked the SW site for grips and the square butt ones have the side screw not the bottom. Maybe Im missing them. Ill have to look a little harder when Im not sneak browsing at work.

Gun4Fun thanks for the suggestions on the holsters. That Phoenix is lookin good. Real good.

Tom.. Nice shootin. I was hoping for some venison jerky this year but it didnt pan out.

So have you guys had any issues with yours? Anything I should keep an eye on?

Thanks again.

Clobber

ETA: Frosty.. LOL.. is that a stormtrooper on the crapper?

 

[Frostback]

Everybody needs a time out now and then!

Frosty