The American Rifleman, Rick Hacker, and the M29

[shawn mccarver]

I have often heard the phrase: "You are entitled to your own opinion, but not your own facts." In this article by Hacker, he writes that, " Model 29s were in short supply at the time (due to lack of demand, not popularity, as is commonly believed)..." That is in contrast to historian Roy Jinks who wrote in "History of Smith & Wesson" on page 221: "The sales and reputation of the Model 29 have continued to grow throughout the 1960s and into the 1970s..." Lack of demand? I don't think so Tim...

Yes, and the intro to the article even referred to the Model 29 as "out of production" at the time, which IMPLIES something that is clearly not true - the implication being that the 29 was discontinued.

Truthfully, that article should have been written by someone who actually knew the facts.

 

[Doc44]

I have heard and read when the guns for Dirty Harry were needed the Model 29 was not in the production schedule as other guns were being made. It was not discontinued as "out of production" might suggest.

Bill

 

[opoefc]

Shawn, As you cogently noticed, I phrased my post regarding Roy's response to me question to be more politically correct for public exposure. I knew S&WCA members could read the entire message on the members only forum, as you have. I have since edited and forwarded Roy's answer to Mr. Hacker, together with the suggestion he have any future articles involving S&Ws proof read by the NRA S&W Expert-in-Residence, Mr. Jim Supica, before they are published. So far , no response for Mr. Hacker. Ed.

 

[rockquarry]

While there's nothing wrong with useful criticism, there are only so many ways of stating that Mr. Hacker made some factual errors in his article. Each has received adequate coverage.

 

[Nightowl]

Nightowl, I posted above Roy's answer to my question about him being the source of the "S" frame asserted by Mr. Hacker. In two words " No way !" Ed.

Thank you. Just what I expected.