Which revision included drilled and tapped scope mount holes for 29's and 629's?

[Abflyboy]

I am in a friendly discussion with a gentleman on social media about 629-3's having or not having scope mount holes from the factory.

I have several -3's that all have factory drilled and tapped scope mount holes and a rounded front on the rear sight assembly. He reportedly has several that do NOT have mount holes and all have the square front rear sight assembly.

My prior assumption was that the endurance package (629-2E, 29-5E) included scope mount holes from the factory.

I would dearly appreciate if someone would help straighten me out here. It's trivial, but I do love Smith and Wesson .44 Magnums!

 

[Engine49guy]

According to the SCSW 3rd ed the new rear site was introduced in 1993 during the 629-4 revision .....But I seemed to recall having a 629-3 with the new site so went to the safe and pulled my 629-3 Mountain Gun and it has the new rear site with drilled and tapped scope mounts underneath.

Since the 629 was introduced during the 29-2 revision the 29 series is two dash revisions ahead so would in theory mean the 29-5 should have the new rear site,
This is where it gets weird as the SCSW 3rd edition seems to have skipped the 29-5 revision (obviously a typo) so I went back to the safe and pulled out a Model 29-5 Classic and it also has the new rear site with drilled tapped frame for scope mount

 

[grip frame]

All classic models starting with the 629-3
and 29-5 were drilled and tapped. Standard partial shroud models were not until the 629-4/29-6.

The exception is the Classic Hunter (full lug,square butt,non fluted cylinder) models which were not.

Also of note is that the first generation rounded front rear sight that came on the 629-3 and 29-5 Classic models is unique and was changed to a shorter length rounded front rear sight on the 629-4 and 29-6 versions (still in use ). It is very hard to find these first generation round front rear sights as they were only produced for a short time.

The factory drilling and tapping for scope mounting was one of the new features introduced with the Classic series in 1990.

 

[CH4]

My 5" 629-3 Classic also has the new rear sight and is drilled and tapped.

 

[murphydog]

Hey, 5 1/2 year old thread!

Rounded front edge to the rear sight leaf is the visual cue, as noted above.