trying to learn about my 29-2

[AkRocky29-2]

Hello i just recently purchased this jem a model 29-2 stainless magna ported with 8 3/8 barrel i cannot find an 8 3/8 stainless magna ported 29-2 anywhere could anyone tell me more about what this was possibly a mountain gun or perfomance shop pistol ? or was this something someon had done acording to s&w the serial number date it back to 1980 and it's a wonderful shooter any info would be great thanks i have also recently added hogue's and am getting some custom wood hogue's made up for it i am also thinking about putting a b square scope mount on has anyone tried one and how well do they do thanks



Rocky

 

[TDC]

Hello i just recently purchased this jem a model 29-2 stainless magna ported with 8 3/8 barrel i cannot find an 8 3/8 stainless magna ported 29-2 anywhere could anyone tell me more about what this was possibly a mountain gun or perfomance shop pistol ? or was this something someon had done acording to s&w the serial number date it back to 1980 and it's a wonderful shooter any info would be great thanks i have also recently added hogue's and am getting some custom wood hogue's made up for it i am also thinking about putting a b square scope mount on has anyone tried one and how well do they do thanks



Rocky

First of all, welcome to the forum...

I'm afraid you have made an error in the identity of your revolver model. Yours isn't a 29-2 but a 629 no-dash. It was among the last of the pinned barrel and recessed cylinder features that were phased out on all handguns by S&W in the very early eighties.

Your 629 with the 8 3/8" barrel was only made with the "P&R" features for about one year and has become much sought after by collectors and shooters alike.

Although some shooters like the Mag-Na-Port option it will likely be considered a modification that will lessen its value to many collectors.

It's a shooter so enjoy it for what it is. It's a fine revolver with great accuracy.

 

[fyimo]

He is correct in that it's a Model 629 and should say so on the crane when you open the cylinder. If it's stamped 29-2 then someone had it refinished in a stainless like finish which is possible.

Anyway they are great revolvers and it will be a wonderful shooter.

Here's a picture of my 629 no dash that's unfired since leaving the factory

 

[AkRocky29-2]

thanks to the warm welcome to the forum i am new to smith and wesson handguns but i am definately sold as far as my handgun being a 629 no dash it is not for sure it is stamped 29-2 on the crane when you open the cylinder that's why i am so confused someone at sportsmans warehouse told me that it was a performance center 29-2 but it is definately stainless and a 29-2 any more info or how to find out exactly what it is would be wonderful and how do you refinish it to a stainless like finish it is a solid stainless gun? anywho as far as worrying about value i'm sure it is worth more than i paid i gave 450.00 for this beautiful firearm it i *** tight as the day it was made and smooth shooting asit gets i am also a dog musher in alaska and i purchased this solely for bear defence when on the trail or feeding although i am really starting to enjoy shooting it at the range this is by far my favorite firearm that i have ever owned i hope i can pass it down to my son.


Rocky

 

[Mike Searson]

Wow, I have that gun's "Twin", only mine is a 29-2 in nickel, but its magna-ported. Mine came in a wooden box wearing diamondwood target stocks that I swapped out for Pau Ferro Targets. Mine was missing the instruction sheet, cleaning kit and screwdriver, but I lucked into the brush and swab on gunbroker and the screwdriver/cleaning rod on Ebay. I actually walked away from the gun twice because of the magnaporting, but its hard to turn down an old school pinned/recessed N Frame in the box for les than $800. (Top gun in the below pic)

Just need to find the instruction sheet that came with it (not the booklet, I have a buttload of those!)

Nice gun, I get asked a lot about certain of my guns being mountain guns. As far as I know theose were all 4-inchers, correct?

 

[AkRocky29-2]

Well update i just got off the phone with smith's historian and he says there are no stainless 29-2's either someone had it refinished in the stainless or what he thinks it may be is a mis stamped 629 which kinda excites me as a mis stamped gun could be worth more lol anyway i am paying the 50 bucks and sending them a letter of description and the historian is going to trace it back and find out exactly what it is either way i love it and all this just adds to the sentimental value of this firearm for me as far as the magna porting it is a plus for me as i purchased it to shoot it and magna porting seems to help considerably compared to my old ruger redhawk with no porting like i said this is a sweet shooting gun yes and all the mountain guns were 4 inch i am learning fast thanks for all the help and i love nickel guns mike!



Rocky

 

[TDC]

ARocky29-2,

It is very difficult to determine from your picture but it is possible or even probable, your gun was given a special plating called "Metallife" or "Armaloy." Those finishes can look very much like stainless - especially with digital pictures.

Many guns received that treatment along with the MagNaPorting back in the eighties. Those finishes lost some favor after the introduction of stainless to the S&W line-up.

I made the assumption it was a 629 based on the stainless looking finish, P&R, what appeared to be flash chromed hammer and trigger rather than case hardened and the 1980 date you mentioned as its production year.

I doubt your gun is a 629 no-dash or a mis-mark. It is likely to be what you bought it as - a 29-2 with an aftermarket finish....Sorry about my error....

EDIT: Looks like your last post beat me by a few minutes... If you have a good gunsmith look at your gun I don't believe you'd need to spend the $50.....

 

[AkRocky29-2]

well i went to a local gunsmith and it is not coated it is a real stainless gun this is twisting me up like crazy what my local gunsmith said is that it is most likely a mis stamped 629 and the frame has an s stamp which the smith and wesson historian told me would be correct for a stainless gun and he stands behind the face that they made no 29-2's in stainless so it has to be mis stamped right? well that's what the gunsmith says and hopefully if a pay the 50 bucks to smith they can tell me for sure i hope what a wierd deal this is turning out to be thanks for everyones info !!!


Rocky

 

[JP@AK]

Hi
You will know for certain when you get the letter from Mr. Jinks. Personally, I think it would be worthwhile to do that if you can afford it, so then you will be certain as to what you have. It occurs to me that it very well could be a 29-2 that was given the Metallife treatment.
I, too, live in Alaska and I have seen quite a few .44s with the Metallife treatment in my years here, palling around with PHs and other hunters. They were very popular with the pros 20 years ago.
Regards,
JP

 

[TDC]

Rocky,

Try to post a picture of the Mod.# and the first three or four numbers of the serial number under the crane. You've got a very interesting gun and I'd sure like to see more pictures of it if you can provide them.

If it turns out to be a 629 no-dash you bought it for about half what it's worth, even with the MagNaPort...

If you "letter" the gun be sure to let us know what you discover....... If it's a mis-mark it will be the first 629 8 3/8 no-dash I've ever heard of. You've got an unusual gun indeed!

 

[AkRocky29-2]

thanks for everything everyone i have decided to letter it for sure as i am a mechanic and i like to know what i am driving so to speak lol this smith has definately sparked my interest and i will post some more images as soon as i can use someones camera or get a memory card for mine lol i can only hope it is as valuable as i am thinking not that i care other than my kid may have something of value when i am gone but this is by far the best shooting gun i have ever owned so even if it is only worth a dollar it's worth it's weight in gold to me so again thanks everyone and for the very warm welcome to the forum

 

[sw282]

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[srgvaz]

Ak- A sure test for stainless steel is the old 'magnet' test. They wont stick to stainless. If the magnet sticks, its a 29. lf not, its a 629

Magnets do stick to stainless STEEL, it's kitchen appliances with the plastic coating over the thin stainless sheet that magnets can't stick to.

 

[sw282]

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[AkRocky29-2]

well i tried the magnet test just for ****s and grins and the magnet stuck is this bad or does it mean anything lol ? just curious i am thinking possibly i should quit shooting this gun and put it in my gun safe until i know more about it !i was also thinking about shelling out the big money and purchasing a smith .460 xvr i am thinking i wont even really need a rifle if i buy this handgun and i would really like to get away from ever having to carry a rifle again as i could mush my team into the bush pull out my 460 and take care of pretty much whatever i want in alaska opions anyone ? and i can shoot it alot cheaper at the range with firing 45 long colt since i reload quite abit of 45 ammo as i shoot cowboy action

 

[srgvaz]

srg--- l just pulled my wifes Knife sharpener off the fridge. lt sticks fine to the AMANA & my MOD 29. But NOT to my 629.

Any idea what this 629 of mine is made of???

Do yourself a favor and BUY a real magnet and not one that is designed to magnetize itself to kitchen appliances. Use the photo below as a reference.

 

[sw282]

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[mtime7]

sw282, I just got out my 686, and 66, my magnet stuck to both, all over

 

[sw282]

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[mtime7]

I guess I learned something new too, don't trust a cheap magnet