New guy with a "burned" model 29 needs advice..

[cheapbeater]

Hey everyone, sorry for the long-winded post, I'm new to this forum, and S&W pistols. I recently aquired a model 29-3 that was burned in a housefire at my uncles a few years ago. The bluing was damaged, and the gun was dirty, and a little sticky (still is) but I think it is a salvagable gun...
I offered his son $100 for the gun in hopes of fixing it up in my uncle's memory. I thought it would be an easy fix but then I showed my neighbor who used to be a "gunsmith" and he said it would not be worth fixing, and certainly not worth $100... so... now I'm stuck. Should I fix it or forget it and give it back to my cousin??

I cleaned the insides up as best as i could, and the chamber spins freely but the trigger sticks in if you dont let it go real quick, and the hammer doesnt positively lock back... if you give it a nudge it will drop (I think this is because the hammer spring is damaged from the heat). Also, when the chamber is flipped out and the gun is tilted forward the whole chamber assembly falls out... is this normal or is there supposed to be a pin or something to hold it in?

My "gunsmith" neighbor also said that the barrel could be warped which I find hard to believe because it is so thick, and he also said the piece above the chamber (where the sight goes) could be weakend and come flying off when I shoot it... is this even possible? I dont think the gun really got that hot, but who knows..

So I basically want everyones opinion on whether or not to keep the gun and stick some money into it, or just give it back..
I plan to do the rebluing myself...

Also, where is the best place to order spring kits?


Heres some pics of the gun:









Any help/opinions are much appreciated. Thanks for reading!!

 

[The Last Standing Knight]

I'm sorry....

...but if it was in a fire, the heat treating of the metal has been compromised. In short, I'd suggest that you use it as a wall hanger.
Even the parts within are probably unusable.

It would be VERY unsafe to use.

Yes, I'd be disappointed, too. The pics made me kinda ill.

 

[ElToro]

send it to S&W for an overhaul. see what they say

 

[Tractorshaft]

Hi,

You can get an idea of "at least" how hot it got by the absence of the red insert that used to be in the front sight, I would guess at least 400F to burn this pretty durable and hi-temp plastic out.

I would buy a box of Buffalo Bore 240 grain .44 Magnum "Elephant loads" and securely tie the pistol to a log with a long string attached..You get the picture now?

Being a gradumate and professor Emeritus of "The Wil-E-Coyote School of Gunsmithing" this highly structured and scientific metallurgical "Test" will show any weaknesses. If the cylinder "Grenades" its "Too Hard", if it "Swells or Bulges" its "Too Soft" , if it "Looks like it did before I pulled the string" I would probably trust it to shoot light .44 special loads in it while wearing a USMC flak jacket, welding gloves and a motorcycle helmet with goggles.

Seriously, its totally and irrevocably ruined. It would be a good "Practice" gun to take apart and put back together for fun. EG: Gunsmith practice piece....

Get the Kuhnhausen book on S&W revolvers. With probably less than $30.00 worth of internal springs from the Brownells catalog you can get it back where it works like a "Real One".

 

[borntoraisehogs]

El Toro has it

I would take nobody's word but the factory's . If they said it was good to go , with all that might entail for them , It would be like a miracle gun , like a Phoenix . My opinion might be so grim because am the unluckiest sob , you never met .
If they said it was ruined and I decided to make a wall display of the piece , I would have the internals removed or welded inside the gun up in some fashion , so years from now , somebody with my luck does not chamber a round and get killed or worse . I think you have a grenade waiting to do real harm .

 

[cheapbeater]

thanks for the advice so far everyone... looks like a no go so far...
YES, the plastic piece is melted out of the site...
I wonder what S&W could do for me...

 

[StingrayG4]

I agree with the advice to disable it, but nothing's stopping you from blueing it, getting some new grips and making a wall hanging in your uncle's honor.

-S

 

[Sebago Son]

Smith & Wesson?

They'd probably tell you that it's a trot-line weight or with the 8 3/8" barrel, maybe a tomato stake...

That's what I would say to you...

If that gun started life in nickle and the heat, chemical exposure was sufficient to remove the finish, you can bet the gun's been seriously compromised.

 

[cheapbeater]

i agree... i just emailed s&w... we'll see what they say.
btw, it was blued finish..

 

[wheelgun28]

Put me in the never to be fire again crowd. Its a shame too!

For what the value is of another similar gun its not worth taking the risk of injury or killing yourself or worse someone else.

However I think it could be made into a very nice plaque. Id fill the barrel and cylinder with epoxy or the similar. I would also remove some of the inner workings and leave a note inside, as to why it can be shot. Who knows where it might wind up in twenty years or more. Perhaps have it chrome plated add a nice target stock with a new red ramp...

You can save up some cash, buy its twin brother. Then show everyone just how great your uncles gun cleaned up, wink, wink

 

[webley green]

One comment, if you do make it a wall hanger I'd suggest drilling a hole through the barrel, sideways or putting pin through the cylinder. Just something to keep it in de-wat status.

 

[borntoraisehogs]

As for making a wall hanging tribute to your uncle , that could be a lot of fun . Polish it up yourself , use Blue Wonder product . Frame it . I would gladly pay a $100.00 for such a family keepsake of my own . An additional plus is , if the worst is confirmed by the factory ,you will look like a hero for the $100.00 donation , instead of a rat taking unfair advantage of a kinsman . I am not making that suggestion of course , but I have cousins .

 

[parts]

It'll be interesting to see the reply from the factory. My guess, simply from a liability standpoint, they won't touch it.

David

 

[mikelain]

Looks like it got real hot. The sight insert is melted and it sounds like all the springs were colapsed by the heat that is why it fails to function. It would be a good learning project if you replaced the springs. I would thing the heat treating properties were changed. That is why the springs do not "spring anymore". See what the factory says they might be able to do a hardness test on it. A proof load as previusly stated would be the ultimate test. I would use a long string though. If nothing else you have a fun project on your hands.

 

[shacobo]

Save it for when they give those police turn-ins for a holiday cash gift card. At least you will get your money back and maybe a bit more.

 

[Leonard]

Many years ago I bought a Weatherby that had been in a fire in fact firemen and police were selling damaged guns all over town as it was a sporting goods store that burned.

I had the action Rockwell hardness tested and it passed. You might as S&W if such a test is practical and of any value on a revolver.

 

[dant]

only the factory could possibly make the proper determination, ( if they even wanted to bother with it...) yes, the plastic could melt out( shrink and fall out ) do you have the original grips?? this was how we made our determination years ago, when we refinished some guns that were in fire...direct heat to the gun will effect the metal ( mainly the springs) the outside damage is usually smoke and water damage, plus the water if left in there can ruin any and all the springs........takes quite a bit of high temperature to "kill it"...we've had worse, and they came out quite nicely...its a crap shoot if most want to even bother, but by the pictures , the outside is NOT that bad............I certainly would have bought it for the $100.............
ask Dan M ( the Mod) about one we redid for him some years back, an old Ruger flatop that was in a fire....looked WAY worse than this gun.

 

[K&Nframe]

I agree with the advice to disable it, but nothing's stopping you from blueing it, getting some new grips and making a wall hanging in your uncle's honor.

-S

That's what I was thinking. Put it in a nice display with some of your uncles other posessions as sort of a tribute to his memory. It doesn't need to shoot for that purpose.

Kevin

 

[DWFAN]

I'm going to be the guinea pig here and give it a chance. Rockwell hardness is achieved by heat. I don't think if under 800 degrees it would make a difference. The best possible answer is to send it to the factory and let them evaluate it for you. Hey they might feel sorry for you and offer you a deal on a gun.
DW

 

[JSR III]

I agree with DWFAN. Ask the factory and go from there. It would take significant heat to ruin the heat treating and much less to melt the front sight insert IMHO.

At the very least, I would fix it up for sentimental value and put it on the wall in my gun room.