Show off your Model 29s and 629s!

[Doc44]

I have been collecting and studying the 44 Magnum for over thirty-five years and I am still discovering new things. That is the fun of it as you never know what is going to surface next.

I learned recently that S&W produced one 44 Magnum in 1959 with a 3.5-inch barrel. That makes the known barrel lengths (produced prior to 1979): 3.25 (three, including the one I posted above), 3.5 (one), 4, 4.5 (one), 5, 5.5 (fourteen), 6 (one), 6.5, 7.5 (one) and 8.375.

Bill

 

[Model39]

Two 6 1/2" Model 29-2's. One S serial number, one N serial number.

 

[410bore]

Two 6 1/2" Model 29-2's. One S serial number, one N serial number.

beautiful Cokes on that S #'d 29-2

 

[thedane]

Diversity in my Magnum Family.

 

[DRYHEAT]

My 629-3 with its "half" brother:

 

[29-1]

29/629

12 pre-29s from 1956, 5 29-1s, early 629, and 29-2 Tunnel Gun. As Bill said, there's something to find and learn about the S&W 44 Magnum almost every day Merry Christmas all
Chuck

 

[dnonac]

Wow Chuck.....
Between you and Bill, it's no wonder these guns are hard to find! Congrats on a most amazing collection of fine firearms.

How long did it take you to get the 1956 set complete?

Craig.....

 

[29-1]

Wow Chuck.....
Between you and Bill, it's no wonder these guns are hard to find! Congrats on a most amazing collection of fine firearms.

How long did it take you to get the 1956 set complete?

Craig.....

Craig, it took on an off close to 35 years. Don't think though that I would ever have been able to get a complete set had it not been for the internet and this forum.
Chuck

 

[forindooruseonly]

There are some great ones in this thread! I only have two, both 29-2s. One is the 8 3/8 inch version, and this one is a 4 inch.

 

[Mike1957]

Model 29-2

Model 29-3

 

[dnonac]

Craig, it took on an off close to 35 years. Don't think though that I would never have been able to get a complete set had it not been for the internet and this forum.
Chuck

Chuck....
I am still amazed at the serial number spread and out of order sequences on the old 44 magnums. I noticed your January gun and the August example are only 10 apart. Your 1962 guns are in a much narrower number range.

Any idea on how many guns you went through (bought and sold) before you finally ended up with these primo examples? I would imagine you would have probably upgraded at every opportunity to get a set as nice as those.
Also...do you have boxes and tools for all of them?
Thanks again for posting.
Craig...

 

[rags]

629 no-dash, 29-5

 

[PALADIN85020]

629 no-dash, 29-5

That 629 no-dash is interesting; it's not pinned, but recessed, evidently a transitional model before the dash one. Do you have a shipping date on it?

John

 

[SPEEDGUNNER]

Wow, the .44's really bring out the shutterbugs, some outstanding photography skills demonstrated in this thread.

My humble offering:

 

[rags]

That 629 no-dash is interesting; it's not pinned, but recessed, evidently a transitional model before the dash one. Do you have a shipping date on it?

John

N882XXX 1980? UPDATE: October 1981 (R Jinks)

 

[PALADIN85020]

N882XXX 1980?

Just as a point of reference, my 629 no-dash (#867xxx) illustrated in the OP, which is both pinned and recessed, shipped in 1981. The 629-1s started in 1982.

John

 

[29-1]

Chuck....
I am still amazed at the serial number spread and out of order sequences on the old 44 magnums. I noticed your January gun and the August example are only 10 apart. Your 1962 guns are in a much narrower number range.

Any idea on how many guns you went through (bought and sold) before you finally ended up with these primo examples? I would imagine you would have probably upgraded at every opportunity to get a set as nice as those.
Also...do you have boxes and tools for all of them?
Thanks again for posting.
Craig...

Craig, those 12 1956 mags represent another 15-20 that got sold, traded as I upgraded. I still need to upgrade the May gun as it is only about 97% and the rest are 98%+. Yes, all boxes and tools are with the 12 as is quite a bit of paperwork provenance that goes with some of them. The serial numbers for the early 44 mags were spread out between S130XXX and S167XXX. I used to believe every S130XXX 44 magnum was shipped before the others but learned a few years ago when this serial number range started showing up more and more that this was not the case. The August example you mention is NIB and the best one I own, condition wise.
Regards
Chuck

 

[rags]

Just as a point of reference, my 629 no-dash (#867xxx) illustrated in the OP, which is both pinned and recessed, shipped in 1981. The 629-1s started in 1982.

John

Checked again N8821XX Recessed not pined. Is that correct for 1980? What the hey do I have? Says 629 in the middle of the correct area for the Mod. #. Nothing else.

 

[aphelion]

4" M29-2

Maybe not the prettiest of my 29's, but this might be my favorite. It goes everywhere. It is put together correctly, and very accurate. Actually on second thought, it looks pretty dang good.

 

[GM4spd]

S186337 no dash 29 June 6,1960

 

[Magnum-Krazy]

WOW, theres a lot of fantistic 44's pictured here !
I'm have no photography skills but will post these pics anyway. Hopefully somebody can tell me how to get such great pics.

These are my two model 29-2's, 6 1/2" barrels. Top one is my best one kept in the vault, the bottom one is the one I have carried for many a year, and it shows.

Heres my 29-2 nickel 8 3/8" barrel.

And heres my 629-4 Classic and 629-1 3" barrel.

Ernie

 

[Nemo288]

6" 629-1 with factory smooth targets

Mountain Revolver

---
Nemo

 

[jubela#4]

Here are some of mine.

29-3.

629.

Pair of 29-2's.

 

[bgrafsr]

Model 29-2, courtesy of 29alcoholic and Keith Brown, who made the grips:

Model 29-5:

 

[PALADIN85020]

Checked again N8821XX Recessed not pined. Is that correct for 1980? What the hey do I have? Says 629 in the middle of the correct area for the Mod. #. Nothing else.

I don't think your gun is from 1980. More likely 1982, just before the dash one came on stream - you apparently have a transitional example. The dash ones were neither pinned nor recessed. A factory letter might be in order to nail the shipping date.

John

 

[Arisin Wind]

My 29-3

 

[gaijin]

Pre 29:

29-2:

629-6:

 

[bmcgilvray]

This one was purchased brand new in 1980. Has given perfect satisfaction with a fairly high round count since then.

 

[Kinman]

My one and only M29-2...early 70's model

 

[tacreload]

The 629 Classic is a -4 and my first .44 mag.The 29-2 is the closest thing to a safe queen I own.It sees range time and and occasional woods carry.The 629 is a true working man's gun.A retired Air Force Col.once told me Smith&Wesson handguns were built for using, Colts were built to look at.I don't buy into that completely,but hey everyone is entitled to their own ideas.Great guns in this thread.