Nice gun, I used to have one, traded it in, and then almost bought it back. I could shoot golf balls from 25 yards with it. I had the same questions you did when I bought it so I called S&W and they told me it was made in a small run for a distributor in the Mid-West somewhere (I forget where). It should be a round butt with Ahrends grips on it from the factory...right? I think S&W made some kind of commorative gun that was stamped 29-8 and the frame they used for your gun was the surplus that S&W had. Mine had a beautiful high polish finish on it and locked up tighter than any other Ive played with. Price-wise almost any Model 29 starts in the mid to high 5's but the -2s and earlier go way higher. I would say around 600 or maybe 650 for a price in good condition, no higher. Good luck with it and Ill see if I can find out where the run came from.
