Nickel Engraved Model 29

[KSK]

4 screw Model 29, S/N S 216592 shipped October 23, 1961 to Whitney Sporting Goods in Denver, Colorado. It shipped with an 8-3/8 inch barrel, Nickel finish and 20 hours of engraving billed at $5.00 per hour. The custom stocks are smooth Ebony Targets by Culina.

 

[paplinker]

Very nice. Does this gun letter with certain target grips?
I still am in awe of the pair of engraved guns you brought to the symposium.One with targets and another with magnas,both being from the same order!!

 

[DARE]

Wow. Five dollars per hour for engraving in 1961. Guess S&W made a profit, so the engravers got less than that. Trying to remember what my first job paid. IIRC I got $1.60 per hour at the local pizza place in 1966 for making pizzas and doing delivery.
Assume S&W still does engraving. Wonder what the hourly rate is these days?
Nice gun, thanks for showing it.

 

[22hipower]

Another nickel one, I like it a lot Karl, very nicely balanced engraving. I don't have Kennelly's book with me but that engraving pattern seems familiar, who do you think engraved it? I'll echo Rich's comments on your engraved pair at the Symposium.

 

[KSK]

Very nice. Does this gun letter with certain target grips?
I still am in awe of the pair of engraved guns you brought to the symposium.One with targets and another with magnas,both being from the same order!!

I have the original Goncalo Alves Coke bottle stocks that came on the revolver. The factory letter doesn't specify the type of stocks otherwise as these were the standard stocks for the 44 Magnum at the time. Thanks for your nice comments on my display at the symposium. It was good to see you!

 

[KSK]

Another nickel one, I like it a lot Karl, very nicely balanced engraving. I don't have Kennelly's book with me but that engraving pattern seems familiar, who do you think engraved it? I'll echo Rich's comments on your engraved pair at the Symposium.

Thanks, Jeff. Regarding the engraving… The gun is not signed or initialed in any way. My best guess on the engraver is Virginia LeBlanc based on the style of the engraving. It was good seeing you too at the symposium.

 

[paplinker]

I have the original Goncalo Alves Coke bottle stocks that came on the revolver. The factory letter doesn't specify the type of stocks otherwise as these were the standard stocks for the 44 Magnum at the time. Thanks for your nice comments on my display at the symposium. It was good to see you!

So your comment about the Cokes being stock for a 44 mag has me wondering.

I cannot tell by your pic but I am thinking your engraving line matches perfectly with your original coke stocks. Would a standard diamond target or a smooth target fit the same line or does a coke grip have a slightly different profile at the top. I do not own any coke grips to study next to a standard grip.

 

[KSK]

So your comment about the Cokes being stock for a 44 mag has me wondering.

I cannot tell by your pic but I am thinking your engraving line matches perfectly with your original coke stocks. Would a standard diamond target or a smooth target fit the same line or does a coke grip have a slightly different profile at the top. I do not own any coke grips to study next to a standard grip.

Good eye. The bordering edge of the Culina grips are just a bit proud above the Cokes. The Cokes match perfectly to the border of the engraving. Factory S&W N frame Diamond Targets or Smooth Target stocks of similar vintage should fit equally well. On the other hand, I like the look of the black Ebony and the Nickel finish.

 

[65Whelen]

Very cool. I'm not big on nickel but that done nicely.

 

[RKmesa]

Love it Karl!!! That is a bealutiful long tube 44.

I too once had a set of the ebony Culinas that I kept on an engraved 629. Unfortunately, I left them on the gun when I traded the gun... Your photos made me go back and see what they looked like (reminging me of how sad I am that I let them go) ...

 

[KSK]

Thanks, Richard. That's a nice looking 629! The Ebony stocks look great on that gun too. Gives it a nice contrast. I'm sure you can source another pair with a little work.