New Gun Day Model 629-1 3"

[rbmac52]

I won this gun at auction last week, picked it up yesterday. Pretty decent price for just the gun (which is in new condition). It is minus the factory original finger-groove combat stocks, but it comes with Ahrends grips, known as Ahrends Round Butt Finger Groove Tactical Stocks.

This isn't my first one of these 629-1 44 Magnum 3-inchers, I bought one when they first came out. Sold it 30 years ago to help finance a motorcycle. Foolish move, I know. Then this one popped up on GB, closing last week, and no one outbid me, for a change. Here is a link to the auction on gunbroker:

Just a moment...

Before I received the gun, I went to the Ahrends website to learn about this grip. Among the pictures on the website displaying many styles of grips and woods, was this EXACT grip set, no doubt about it. You can see this grip set at the Ahrends website at this link:

Ahrends Grips : S&W Tactical Grips

I've read as much as there is on the internet about Kim Ahrends, his company, the passing of his wife from cancer, and losing his business. Just a cryin' shame. I pray Mr. Ahrends has found better and happier days now, and in the future.

I don't know if there is a connection with this gun and Mr. Ahrends, but if there is, it is in good hands now Kim. If not, these grips are really nice and I am lucky to get a showroom quality set of his work.

 

[Bill In Texas]

Congratulations! Nice addition.

 

[boykinlp]

rbmac52, unfortunately your GB link isn’t available. I know what a 3” 629-1 looks like, but not sure which wood your Ahrends grips are. I really miss Kim Ahrends grips. He made a great quality product for a reasonable price! At one time I believe I had 6-8 pairs. When trying to raise funds for a Pre-29, during the pandemic and after Kim had closed his doors, I was offered more than I could refuse for most pairs. I think I’m down to only a couple of pairs now, one of which is Cocobolo, that I will never part with.
Larry

 

[rbmac52]

I think I fixed the link.

This set of Ahrends is made of Cordia.

 

[boykinlp]

NICE!!! One of the pairs of Ahrends that I had and sold were highly figured Cordia. They looked awesome. I don’t know if you’ve ever had Ahrends grips before, but you will like them a lot.

Now that I think about it, you will be shooting a snub nose .44 magnum, which I have NEVER done, so I can’t guarantee that you will like them on that gun! If you end up buying a pair of Pachmayr grips to help reduce recoil, definitely keep the Ahrends grips for another gun. After all, they aren’t being made anymore!
Larry

 

[Glashaus]

Nice pick up for a decent price! I have a 3" 629-4 Backpacker, it is a nice size and carries well.

 

[RogerA]

Hard not to like a 629 3”. Every Smith collection should have one. Here’s mine.

 

[1911-10MM]

I agree, the 629, 3 inch are classics that we all enjoy

 

[1911-10MM]

I found the GB ad, beautiful grips

 

[Bald1]

Yeah that’s a beauty. And a great price considering those grips…… but it always amazes me why sellers don’t take 30 min to clean the guns before listing.

 

[Ivan the Butcher]

… but it always amazes me why sellers don’t take 30 min to clean the guns before listing.

Dad taught me, If a man has 30 dirty guns for sale at least one has a flaw that is hidden. If only one or two are dirty, that means one of two things: 1) He is in too big of hurry to get out of the house, or 2) His wife said that gun has got to go!

Gun shops with dirty guns are just LAZY!

Ivan