Slab-Barrel S&W 29-2

[poledorus]

From the collection:

Can anyone identify the maker of this customized Smith and Wesson 29-2 44 magnum? The piece is an early 1970s revolver with a very professionally customized heavy slab barrel. The barrel is unmarked and sports ramped front sight with what appears to be an early attempt at a red-in-color fiber optic insert, the rear portion of which is missing. The trigger is equipped with an adjustable stop and the trigger pull is exceptional in both single and double action. The revolver's overall weight is about 3.5 pounds. The Pachmayr Presentation Grips are quite old, and I suspect the piece was made in the 1980s.

The revolver appears similar to the SSR-type revolvers offered by Clark Custom Guns, though as said the piece is not marked. I acquired it several years ago and have only seen one other like it. That revolver was a S&W 25-5 with an identical barrel setup and a Patridge sight.

I am curious if anyone can offer a guess as to who might have produced the revolver. Cheers

 

[bobsguns]

I took the liberty of tweaking the pics so as to lighten the details more. poleduros, if this doesn't work for you, let me know I'll take them down.

 

[bobsguns]

I think this was made for the old PPC class, which was basically souped-up patrol pistols. Some of the models used were K-38. 10, 14, 15 & who knows what else. Someone will know & post it.

Clark Custom was a leader in tweaking Smith revolvers. Slab bbls, bull bbls, all sorts of Buck Rogers-looking designs came out of Clark Custom over the decades. I don't know a lot on PPC bbl makers (in fact, nothing), but I wonder why there's no mfgr's name on the bbl?

It's not as ostentatious as some conversions I've seen. I've seen some that were just awful.

 

[Jeep 1]

I would say it was somebody's version of a bowling pin gun

 

[stansdds]

Bowling pin match revolver makes the most sense.

 

[poledorus]

I took the liberty of tweaking the pics so as to lighten the details more. poleduros, if this doesn't work for you, let me know I'll take them down.

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Thanks very much, for that. The pictures are so much clearer.

 

[poledorus]

I think this was made for the old PPC class, which was basically souped-up patrol pistols. Some of the models used were K-38. 10, 14, 15 & who knows what else. Someone will know & post it.

Clark Custom was a leader in tweaking Smith revolvers. Slab bbls, bull bbls, all sorts of Buck Rogers-looking designs came out of Clark Custom over the decades. I don't know a lot on PPC bbl makers (in fact, nothing), but I wonder why there's no mfgr's name on the bbl?

It's not as ostentatious as some conversions I've seen. I've seen some that were just awful.

I agree the absence of a maker's mark is interesting, especially given the conversion is quite well executed. The reason it appealed to me was that the piece was a bit Buck Rogers/Blade Runner, but in a subtler way than some of those early examples. Thanks much.

 

[bobsguns]

Have you shot it yet? I would love to shoot some .44 semi-wadcutters at Special velocities, see how the accuracy is.

The only advantage I can see with all that weight is muzzle flip in rapid fire. Hence the bowling pin mention earlier, I would think. Bowling pin loads have to be a good bit heavier than even steel plate loads, IMO. In pins, you have to knock them off the table, not just knock it over. I would buy it in the hope it would be accurate enough for multi match use.

Also, looks like threaded holes in the lug for weights to be attached onto. I would think a holster would have to be a custom-made kydex type.

Regardless, I bet it'll be an interesting addition.

 

[poledorus]

Have you shot it yet? I would love to shoot some .44 semi-wadcutters at Special velocities, see how the accuracy is.

The only advantage I can see with all that weight is muzzle flip in rapid fire. Hence the bowling pin mention earlier, I would think. Bowling pin loads have to be a good bit heavier than even steel plate loads, IMO. In pins, you have to knock them off the table, not just knock it over. I would buy it in the hope it would be accurate enough for multi match use.

Also, looks like threaded holes in the lug for weights to be attached onto. I would think a holster would have to be a custom-made kydex type.

Regardless, I bet it'll be an interesting addition.

As it happens, I just had a range outing last week. I tried out the Buffalo Bore Heavy .44 Special Outdoorsman. The load features a 255 grain Keith-type SWC bullet traveling at 1,000 fps. The round still is stout, but very manageable in this revolver, with little muzzle flip. Accuracy was good on FBI silhouettes, within operator limitations.

I also tried the Buffalo Bore Lower Recoil .44 magnum rounds (240 gr JHP @ 1,350 FPS). Again, Good accuracy. Recoil was stouter but still controllable. That said, I have always preferred hard lead to jacketed ammunition in large bore revolvers and will likely stock up on the Heavy .44 Specials for future use. Also, the heavier magnum round produced one skipped round, possibly from the pronounced recoil. (I may need a heavier cylinder stop spring, in that case)

I do have some .44 Russians sitting about, and may see how they perform. I imagine in a piece of this heft it will be like shooting .22s.

Also, I agree the revolver was likely set up for additional barrel weights. Perhaps these might be turned to accessorizing the revolver, though I admit I prefer its present clean lines. I am also toying with having the European metric designation for .44 magnum (10.9x33R) engraved on the barrel, just for fun, and replacing the front sight to a Patridge. Finally, I plan to replace the old Pachmayrs with a set of Nills Grips Rhomlas.

As for a holster, I have been using an old-school Bianchi #128 Cross-Draw holster. The piece fits securely, and frankly looks awesome. I'm traveling at the moment, but perhaps I will manage a photo or two when I return (of better quality than the previous!).

Thanks so much and Cheers.