What exactly is this...

[Truckman]

I'm only posting in this forum because the gun I bought came to me in this presentation case...The gun was a 6 1/2" Model 29-2...It fit correctly in this box, but is obviously not a 125th Anniversary gun which would have been a Model 25-3...The poorly fitting fabric in the bottom half is blue velvet which is overlapped into the top half above the hinge...The bottom insert is styrofoam with a cardboard perimeter...The upper fabric is a purplish satin like material...

The puzzler is the S&W 125th Anniversary plaque unlike the ones seen on the genuine 125th Anniversary boxes...I thought at first it might have originated as a belt buckle, but it does not have the characteristic inside curvature of a buckle...It is flat...

Does anyone recognize this, or any part of it?......Ben

 

[VM]

IMO, it is not a factory box and someone made it at home. May have used box from another manufacturer.
I agree that plague could have started life as belt buckle. Could have had backside ground off then flattened…….
All just a guess as never seen anything from the factory with that hardware and different fabrics/ colors.

 

[Doc44]

I agree. A homemade presentation case.

Bill

 

[murphydog]

Does the model 29-2 that came with the case happen to date to 1977? If so, it might have been someone's personal project for 'a' 125th anniversary gun, not 'the' 125th anniversary gun.

 

[Truckman]

Does the model 29-2 that came with the case happen to date to 1977? If so, it might have been someone's personal project for 'a' 125th anniversary gun, not 'the' 125th anniversary gun.

I hadn't thought of that...The gun does date to manufacture in 1975-76, but It was factory refinished in October 1977, so somebody might have bought it and embellished it with a box...I found some belt buckles on Ebay that look exactly like what's on the box, so it's very likely that is what happened...

The date 10-77 and R-N is stamped on the left toe of the grip frame, and a star is stamped on the rear of the cylinder which is why I think it was factory refinished...Also the S/N is stamped on the back of the cylinder and inside the ejector rod housing...Why a year old gun would need to be re-nickeled is a mystery, but I agree the occasion must have warranted building a celebration box......Ben

 

[sndbggr1484]

Does your barrel have the 125th Anniversary marking on it?

In the For Sale section there is a 29-2 barrel with 125th Anniversary marking on it. The ad title is:

Outstanding NOS K and N Frame Barrels, Model 41 Box by 410 Bore

6.5" 29-2 .44 Magnum barrel WITH 125th Anniversary Marking - VERY odd as the only Anniversary gun was the 25-3, $255.00 shipped Now $225 shipped

 

[rct269]

Maybe the year old gun was blue------and needed to be nickel??!!!

There ain't no accounting for some folk's taste!!

Ralph Tremaine

 

[Truckman]

Does your barrel have the 125th Anniversary marking on it?

In the For Sale section there is a 29-2 barrel with 125th Anniversary marking on it.

You're right, that is a really odd one...Mine does not have that marking, and I'm not interested in remaking it into something it isn't...Besides both my barrel and cylinder are numbered to the frame...However, I think I'll present the question to Roy, he may have some insight if anyone does...

Maybe the year old gun was blue------and needed to be nickel??!!!

There ain't no accounting for some folk's taste!!

Ralph Tremaine

I agree, Ralph...I would have preferred original blued if that was what it was, and I'm not sure S&W was still refinishing in something other than original in 10/1977......I think I'll let its next caretaker contend with the mystery......Ben

 

[mtgianni]

Be grateful that some previous owner considered himself a cabinet maker rather than a metal smith.

 

[Barbarian-CBX]

It's a great looking case at any rate.

Sent from my SM-G955U using Tapatalk

 

[Truckman]

For those interested, Roy could neither confirm nor deny the existence of any S&W .44 Magnums which commemorated the company's 125th Anniversary, but did certify mine was shipped in September of 1976, and factory re-nickeled in 1977...I'm just pleased to add another 29 to the family plus a potential, though non-original, home for an unsheltered 25-3......Ben

 

[jcelect]

though non-original, home for an unsheltered 25-3

Sir, as mentioned above, your case is a homemade case. It is most definitely not a 125th Anniv. case! That case used an inlayed hinge and a recessed latch. The gun pointed the other way and there was a coin recessed in the bottom with Roy Jink's book mounted it the lid. The brass plate mounted on the outside of the lid was in a slight recessed area. All that said, I believe your case is well made and useful except for the difference in the top and bottom material. The inside hinge cover is a nice touch.
jcelect

 

[Truckman]

Sir, as mentioned above, your case is a homemade case.

I understood that, Joe...Since it is a sturdy, well made box though, I was just going to hang on to it until I can find a worthy candidate for it...I'm certainly not going to pass it off as high society, just pretty - like some of the women I've dated......Ben

 

[damienph]

Even though it isn't original it is a good looking box, IMO.