RE: 29 no dash

[headwaters]

RE: 29 no dash

A week or so ago you folks were kind enough to answer some questions about a no dash 29 I had recently acquired. I failed to ask one critical question. Although marked S2004xx on the frame and ejector star, there is no serial number stamped on the cylinder. Is this proof positive that the cylinder is a replacement?

 

[Doc44]

Revolvers manufactured after mid-1957 are rarely stamped in the ejector rod shroud and sporadically stamped on the rear surface of the cylinder. This change had to do with elimination of the Soft Fitting Department resulting in the barrel and cylinder being fitted to the frame after all parts were polished and finished in bright blue or nickel. This change also resulted in the elimination of the stamping of the serial number on these parts. However, 44 Magnums are found with serial numbers stamped on these parts indicating the revolver was "reworked" during manufacture and the serial number was stamped on selected parts to keep them together.

This is a long answer to your question, but I wanted to explain why the numbers were no longer routinely stamped on the barrel and cylinder. The short answer is the cylinder on your 44 Magnum is original.

Bill

 

[headwaters]

Thanks, Bill. And thanks for the long answer. I'm sure a lot of other folks, like myself, tuck these nuggets away for later reference.

 

[lowhog]

My 29 no dash is stamped on the face of the cylinder without the s prefix.I have seen a 29-2 stamped on the cylinder not to long ago.I sold two pre 29's in the past one was stamped and the other was not.

 

[durco]

I agree with Doc44. Most of the 44 Magnums I've owned (several) with numbers above S 175XXX had no serial number in the ejector rod shroud slot, nor on the rear surface of the cylinder.
Mike