My First Smith Pre-29

[Farny]

Hello,
Joined your wonderfull group a week or so ago and finally got around to posting. I grew up around Colts and Winchesters and such, but my dad was fully hooked on 1911's and out of wheelguns by the time I started buying. I've always admired the Smith's but never really understood the models, frames, ect....but your site is helping with that. After looking at Smith's for years at gun shows and stores, but never really studying them I decided to buy this one. Haven't sent for a letter yet, but am planning on it.
It's a pre-29 S180,XXX 6 1/2" barrel. From what I've read here it has been re-nickeled???(I'm guessing from the sights). Hope you enjoy anyway.....I do.

Thanks,
Josh

 

[moosedog]

Nice way to start with a beautiful pre 29 like that.
You'll have a great road ahead collecting S&Ws. Welcome aboard.

 

[gm272gs]

If it has been re-chromed, they did a fine job. That is a beauty, and a great way to start with Smith&Wesson.

Based on that serial number, it was shipped in 1958.
(S176000 - S181999 were produced from 1957-1958)

 

[snubbyfan]

She's a beauty.

 

[TACC1]

Welcome aboard from Wisconsin. Nice gun/good pic.
TACC1

 

[Cpt. Obvious]

That's a helluva way to start! Nice!

 

[glowe]

If it has been re-chromed, they did a fine job. That is a beauty, and a great way to start with Smith&Wesson.

Your fine Pre-Model 29 is nickel not chrome and it looks good enough to be original finish to me.

5 screw Pre Model 29s did come in nickel, so take off the stocks and look for an N stamped in the frame and/or the rear of the cylinder. They are rare, but they did make them. Let us know if there are any stampings signifying the finish, then get a factory letter to be sure.

 

[29aholic]

Welcome to the Forum

Nice gun. You are correct that it is not a factory finish. Nickel guns up to about the late 60's early 70's still had a blue front sight (the rear sights are always blue) and a blue ejector star.

 

[dewey]

If factory refinish, a date like 11-72. Not always a R-N in a rectangle.
(perhapes DOC44 will chime in, guru of all things .44MAG) Do a search for his posts by searching his name in Search,ADVANCED, type in name and look for his posts which are almost always about 44s)

Beautiful gun,Sir.

 

[Farny]

Thanks everyone. the finish really does look good enough to be right. I'm just going on what I've seen here in regards to the sights. The sight leaf is black, as is the screws holding it in. The ejector star is black and the front screw for the rear sight. The markings are all very crisp. I'll get some pictures on of all of them, but I seem to be having trouble uploading them. The left side of the grip frame has the assembly number and an O over a J. The right has what looks like the number 2, but not cleanly struck. There is an H and W with the assembly number and a small dot on the yoke. Serial number, J, dot and a 3 on the frame. Also it is a four screw.

 

[DCWilson]

Welcome to the forum. What a fine way to introduce yourself!

 

[glowe]

Also it is a four screw.

I can not see the right side - are there 4 screws in the sideplate, and if so isn't the 5th a cylinder stop screw in front of the trigger guard?

 

[Reddog]

That's a beauty, Josh!

 

[Farny]

Figured it out. Had to resize my pictures first.

 

[Farny]

The Smith And Wesson tradmark on the sideplate appears off-struck as well. I'll try to get a good picture of that as well. Doesn't look like it was buffed out, just thin on the bottom.

 

[WHelena01]

Welcome! Have you looked in the mirror while holding it, saying "Go ahead punk, make my day" yet?

 

[fyimo]

Welcome to the forum and a pre 29 for your first rebvolvers is quite an entry to the group. If you gun was a factory nickel finish it would have an N on the frame in the grip area and usually one on the back of the cylinder near the ejector star.

 

[rbswede]

That is one nice nickel pre-29 not sure about the re-finish from the photo. As stated here before there should be N on the grip frame if the original finish was nickel. See that you are from Indiana grew up there, went to school with some guys with a last name as your handle. Sounds like you have been educating yourself pretty good. Nice start on the forum!

Thanks RB

 

[Farny]

RB,
Not my full last name but, you wouldn't happen to be from the Leo area by chance.

 

[Farny]

WHelana01,
Not in the mirror, but got a good picture of my wife holding it for my daughters boyfriend in a text, and cliche as it was that indeed was the line used.

Fyimo,
Really enjoy your pictures. There is no N anywhere. The only thing on the back of the cylinder is the serial numer.

 

[rbswede]

RB,
Not my full last name but, you wouldn't happen to be from the Leo area by chance.

Up just north Lafayette.One never knows had to see.

 

[Farny]

Found a star marked under the ejector star. Theres some othe fainter markings under there I can't quite make out as well.

 

[Nightowl]

I also wonder about the stocks. They should be the "coke" style, and these look to be diamond targets. It is a very nice looking 4 screw, though and I suspect it will be a fine shooter.

 

[410bore]

It is definitely refinished. As 29aholic stated, guns of that area (and into the late 60's) that were finished in nickel had a blued, proud pinned front sight. the grips are also standard diamond targets and not cokes, still worth good money.

Looks like it will be a fine shooter

 

[66Park]

A very pretty gun and welcome to the forum! I'm not directing this at you, as I have always said the same thing, but it just strikes me odd that we all say "Smiths." I know why we do, but really the company is more "Wesson." I'm not trying to change the world here, it's just the first time I ever thought about it! D.B. and family deserve more credit!

 

[Farny]

Hate to keep posting pictures, but asking questions is how we learn. (Asking questions, and then listening) That second part is really important.

1. Grips--I know from looking at the excellent grip thread that the checkered panel looks smaller than some, but the rear profile looks more like the "coke" picture to me. What do you all think?

Also added a picture of the rear sight. Does anyone think this was re-nickled at the factory? Half the fun of these older guns for me is the research and chance to learn.
Thanks again.

 

[Doc44]

The stocks are diamond targets and not correct for your Model 29. They are still nice stocks and look good on the 44. If the revolver had a change of finish at S&W it would have an R-N inside of a rectangle stamped on the left side of the grip frame. The red ramp on the ramp base would have been left with a blue finish and pinned to the base with two pins that you could easily see (i.e. not polished flush to the barrel rib, or proud as some posters have said). See photo below.

Bill

 

[Farny]

Thanks Doc44. Have enjoyed very much all of your information on these fine guns. Haven't read them all though, LOL. I see your a Hooiser. I reside in the North-East corner.
I've guess I've realized from the start it was re-done at some point, just trying to determine if Wesson & Smith (that was for Park66) did the work or someone else. What is the star marked under the ejector star? And, when S&W re-finished a revolver would they do it in the current production style or the original period. Thanks again, and I hope I'm not wearing out everyone's patience.

 

[Farny]

As far as the grips, just to understand correctly. Cokes are more about the size of the checkered panel than the swell, or am i focusing on the wrong features.

 

[Nightowl]

The first thing I look for is the distance of the checking from the bottom of the stocks. Cokes checking extends farther than the diamond targets, leaving a smaller unchecked area. Then look at the checked panel. Cokes checking extends farther side to side than regular target grips. Then there is the coke bottle swell in the panels, but you cannot see this on side views. When you have looked at enough pictures here, you will be able to pick them out pretty fast.