Pics of My 29-4 3" Unfluted, Ported. Need Info! RSR? Lew Horton? Endurance Package? Value?

[Ill Bill]

Pics of My 29-4 3" Unfluted, Ported. Need Info! RSR? Lew Horton? Endurance Package? Value?

This is my new 29-4 3" I won on gunbroker. Unlike most others it is ported and has S&W logo Hogue grips. They usually come with Pachmayr grips. Does anybody know anything about this particular run? Are they from RSR wholesalers? Are they from Lew Horton? What are they worth? I'll never sell it, but I'm curious.

 

[no dash]

Did this come with the box? How about a partial serial number to help. The porting looks like it might have been added by a previous owner, not factory. Having the box would provide the product code which would make it easy.

 

[Kanewpadle]

It MAY be a Classic Hunter series. S&W made a 3" model in the late 80's or early 90's. There were other variations as well. Supposedly only 3200 were made.

John Taffins article here mentions the 29-4 briefly.
Smith & Wesson's .44 Magnum

 

[Ill Bill]

I don't have the box. The seller was the 2nd owner and I couldn't get any info from him. The partial serial is BDZ46XX.

 

[Allen-frame]

29-4 3"unfluted

The 29-4 3"was part of the regular production run of 29 classics. Mine with BDZxxxx serial # dates to May 1989.

The porting on yours is commonly referred to as 'V-6" porting ,and will effectively reduce muzzle flip on these short 44 magnums.

The grips are from a later gun ,and may be round, or square by appearances.

I place value on guns as to how they shoot. For, after all ,a gun that don't shoot is nothing but a fancy parerweight.

Welcome to the forum and enjoy your new heater!

Regards ,Allen Frame

 

[8emem]

I have posted this information elsewhere in these forums. What you have is a model from a special run of 29-4's made for RSR Wholesalers in 1989. Product code is 101251. Just over 2500 were made. Your grips look like replacements, as the factory-supplied grips were Pachmayr grippers. Also, it appears the porting is aftermarket, as S&W does not list porting for this product code.

Both the 29-4 and 29-5 models featured "endurance package" modifications. A quick web search will get you the details. What your research will reveal is that the -4 package was not considered to have been effective at improving endurance, and the -5 package quickly followed.

I have a 29-4 from this same run. I got mine cheap as it was shot loose. I sent it to S&W and they restored it to factory specification free of charge. Mine won't be seeing anything stronger than mid-range handloads now that it's factory tight.

With today's prices I would expect this model of 29-4 in excellent, unmodified condition to sell in the range of $600-$650. Assuming the porting is non-factory, probably somewhat less. Just an opinion.