Need Some Help Identifing A 29-3

[fordnut]

I have a nice Nickel 29-3 S&W...I have had it for some years and it gets a steady diet of .44 special ammo...I don't like the big bang stuff....

I was talking with a gun store commando a couple of days ago. He was carring a Glock but telling about the great 29-2 S&W he had on lay-away. I told him I had one and that he would lobe the gun.

He ask me what I had. I told him I had a Nickel 29-3. He said a 6" or 4"?

I told him neither. Mine was a 5". I told him it was kind of rare to find a 5" .44...Then he called me a liar...He said he knew I didn't have a 5" 29-3. Then he procceded to pull out the gun "BLUE BOOK"...

He showed me that a nice 29-2 5" blued was worth $2500.00 to $3000.0
So he knew I didn't have a 29-3 5"...

I ask him what the hell his problem was...then left...Now, I am getting old and my mind is not that sharp...but, damn, I know what I got.

I felt bad all the way home. Then, I pulled the old presentation case Iout and took another close look at the old 29...

As I told him...It is a 29-3 Nickel with a 5" barrel.

I can't believe the gun is worth that kind of money...even though you ain't going to get it for any price...

My question is. Is this gun that rare???

The book said less that 500 of the 29-2's and didn't even show a 5" for 29-3...What gives...

Thanks for any help....but, please don't try to talk me out of the old gun...She ain't going anywhere.

Steve

 

[Lenny_D]

Steve,
I didn't know that the 29-3 came in a 5" length barrel! Sweet find. Just make sure you are measuring the barrel length from the cylinder face to the muzzle end. Even if it is not a 5" barrel a 29-3 is a nice 44. Good luck with yours.
Len

 

[fordnut]

It is a true 5" I have measured over and over because I thought I might be off...

It is still a great shooter. With 44 specials in it. I have had a 12 year old girl shooting it and loving it..

Steve

 

[jjbrewst1]

29-2 with a 5 inch is pinned and recessed and Highly desirable...the 29-3...though still a Great Revolver is not Pinned and recessed and not as desirable compared to the 29-2 IMHO...But still I havent heard of it with a 5 inch barrel...Does everything look legit..Is there signs of the Barrel being cut down or swapped?

 

[DWalt]

It might be worth a factory letter, as I also have not heard of a 5" 29-3. It could be a real rarity. Mine is like yours, nickeled, but has a 6" barrel. I see nothing wrong with an unpinned barrel and a non-recessed cylinder. In fact it is a safety advantage as you can easily see if it is loaded.

 

[TAROMAN]

 

[fordnut]

I will try to get a couple of pictures of the gun...but, I am no artist with a camera...and I have no special phone with a camera on it...