Need Help with My 629 and Front Sight

[jspick]

I have hit the jack pot the last two weeks. I found and bought 2 629's.

One is a 629-3, square butt, 4 inch. The same day I bought it I stumbled across a 44 mag. 5" barrel in a pawn shop. WOW! For me the 5" barrel is the perfect barrel length. I now have a 629-3, square butt with a 5" barrel on it. But I need a front sight for the barrel. It is like the one it the pic. Can anyone help me?

The second 629 I believe is a -5 or -6 as I had my son pick it up for me and he lives 90 miles away. He is bringing it home this next weekend. It is a Mountain Gun version. That is cool! But it has a Bear head on the side plate just above the grip. What is the significance of the bear head? I have no clue except someone told me it is a factory done bear head.

Thanks, John

 

[Engine49guy]

Wondering if your 629-3 is a Classic or Classic DX?

The quick change front sites are still available from S&W and sources such as Brownells etc ,
They come in either Patridge or Baughman styles in different sizes for different distances (50,100,150 and 200 yards),
The IFS FS system is a spring loaded quick change design requiring no tools to swap front sites.

IIRC there are about 7 different factory options as well as several aftermarket styles such as the fiber optic bead type.

The black one you have pictured is the 50 yards .250 Red ramp part # 89900 from S&W's original brochure that came with the gun.

 

[jspick]

Thank you for all the info. Now I need that sight. Do you have one?
Thanks, John

 

[jimbo728]

Nice finds on both guns.
Midway sells the S&W sights too but I believe they just get them from S&W. Im thinking of going to Patridge front sight blade on my 629-3 Classic. The S&W cost IIRC was $17.00.
Good luck
Jim

 

[Engine49guy]

SIGHT RAMP, FRONT, BLACK | Brownells

Brownells probably gets them from S&W as well,
Their cost appears to be $31 for the red ramp style,
I prefer the gold bead patridge and they ahve them for $20 which seems fair to me.

940-000-817WB
Sight, Front, Patridge, Gold Dot, 50 Yards
Mfr Part: 904050000
$20.99

 

[k22fan]

Although it could have been from a small production run the combination of a 5" full lug barrel and a square butt frame was not regular production during the dash 3 period. That barrel was only cataloged on 629 Classics. 629-3 Classics had round butts and the then new rear sight with 3 optics mounting holes underneath while standard 629-3s retained square butts and the old rear sights like your frame has. I suspect you bought a rebarreled 5" .44.

 

[jspick]

Although it could have been from a small production run the combination of a 5" full lug barrel and a square butt frame was not regular production during the dash 3 period. That barrel was only cataloged on 629 Classics. 629-3 Classics had round butts and the then new rear sight with 3 optics mounting holes underneath while standard 629-3s retained square butts and the old rear sights like your frame has. I suspect you bought a rebarreled 5" .44.

I can see I didn't explain myself correctly. I bought the 629-3, square butt, and it had a 4" barrel on it. The same day I found and bought a 5" barrel. Just the barrel. Since I am a gunsmith I removed the 4" barrel and installed the 5" barrel on it. It is not factory as shown in the pic. It is close to being the "perfect gun" in my opinion--629-3(All the mag changes but no MIM) Square butt- I really like the square butt guns. The 5" barrel is my idea of a perfect barrel length.

Anyone know anything about the bear head on the Mountain gun?

Thanks, JOhn

 

[ars1876]

The bear head was one of 5 heads they were doing at that time.My bear head is a 629-5 mountain gun I bought new, Feb 13 2001, at my LGS for $ 460.00

 

[jspick]

OK, I did not know that. Thanks, for the info.
John

 

[k22fan]

[...] Anyone know anything about the bear head on the Mountain gun?

Thanks, JOhn

During the 1990s a brochure offering laser engraving was packaged with new S&W revolvers. It was an offer to add your choice of the pictured drawings, mostly animal heads, but also a flower and an eagle and no doubt a few I've forgotten. Neither your picture nor my memory are clear enough for me to say that's what you have but it might be. Another possibility is that it could be from a small run that all received a laser engraving.

I like the weight of the FL 5" barrel you installed. I guess I'm a sissy but I don't enjoy firing standard .44 mags in lighter revolvers.