Who here is an original owner of their P&R and earlier revolvers?

[borntoraisehogs]

Father and Son 19

Your simple story is powerfully moving to me for my own reasons. My membership renewal has already been multiplied in return value.

Hello. I bought this Model 19 NIB in the '70's and later gave it to my father for home protection. With his passing it returned back to me.

Best.

 

[Moondancer]

My list of P&R guns I shoulda never sold:
1971 - NIB purchase Model 14 K-38 Masterpiece
1972 - NIB purchase Model 19 Combat Magnum (4" of course)
1979 - Used Model 28 4". No idea DOB, but I carried that gun on duty until the 686 was released for sale.

I miss 'em all, but I'm actively looking for a good Model 28 4" or Model 27 3.5".

 

[Black Knight]

Original owner of a 4" S&W mod 28-2 bought in 1982. I had ordered it from my local gunshop with smooth trigger and target grips. I later had a Wolf Spring kit installed. I carried it on duty for several years. Great gun that I still enjoy today.

 

[Mike SC Hunter]

My original P&R's purchased new and still have are 2 ea. 29's, a 28 and a 19.

 

[Jimmymac46]

My Era

Being a first year baby boomer, I became financially capable of acquiring quality firearms in my late 20's and early 30's. Those who care enough to do the math will note that means I began purchasing new Smith and Ruger revolvers in the early 1970's. The late 60's found me with primarily Rugers, a super single six, then a Blackhawk, and finally a Flattop and Super Blackhawk 44 magnum. What was next.....of course, a model 29. My first 'N' frame was a Model 29-2 4inch blue in 1973, then it was off to the races. I bought roughly two new Smith 29's, 27's, and 25's annually, as often as I could find them primarily from Montgomery Wards in Southern California and other venues. I also acquired a number of 'K' frames, and still possess a few 'J's, but 'N's with the caliber beginning the number '4' were (and continue to be) my favorites. I continued doing so as funds became available up to my last pinned and recessed in roughly 1980, an early model 629 6 inch. I believe I still own all of them, but a few could have dropped from my memory. Most were/are 3 T's in mahogany presentation boxes. The majority are model 29's, in that I was and continue to be enamored with the caliber. My favorite 27 is my five inch, primarily due to my belief that a five inch 'N' frame is perhaps the most well balanced and attractive of them all. Being as all were pinned and recessed, it didn't mean anything to me at the time. My steady purchases of non pinned and recessed continued through the 1980's up to the mid-90's with most being stainless and blue three inch 'N's and a few Mountain Guns. Then, the IL and other factors caused me to stop new purchases and hunt for more of the the older models.

Referring back to the original posting, I bought all these firearms because of my timing in life and had no idea, nor did I even care, that they were pinned and recessed, or that they would become desirable or increase in value. I just enjoyed the beauty, workmanship, and shear pleasure of handling and shooting the best of the best. I continue doing so today.

I believe Smith continues to manufacture unique and quality products but my heart remains with the earlier models. For the past 10 years, I have continued periodic purchases of five screw Smiths and three screw Rugers, when the timing and condition warrants my doing so.

That's my story and I imagine it mirrors that of many other vintage forum members.

 

[TDC]

Here are three of the "N" frame Mod 29-2s in my collection that I'm proud of...

They were all acquired during the time when Mod 29s were almost non-existent through regular channels The Vietnam Was was still in progress and firearms production was being consumed for that effort.

It was also a time when the "Dirty Harry" movies had been out and people were paying 4 times the retail price to purchase all barrel length 29s when they could find them. Many 29s were sold for $500 and that could be two months pay.

I was a first year college student when I bought all three of these pistols. I was working on a ranch during the summer hauling hay and making $1.50 per hour. To say it was a hardship to buy them at the time would be an understatement.

Here is a picture of the three 29-2s I've managed to keep all these years. They remain new and unfired since leaving the factory and I'm the original owner. (I have others I shoot and hunt with)...

 

[M29since14]

Those are beautiful. I don't know how you managed to keep them all these years without relenting and shooting at least one of them!

I understand your story well. Mine is different in the details, but I think I can say I know where you are coming from.

 

[TDC]

Those are beautiful. I don't know how you managed to keep them all these years without relenting and shooting at least one of them!

I understand your story well. Mine is different in the details, but I think I can say I know where you are coming from.

Thanks for the complement....

I was fortunate to create a successful business while still in college. The money that didn't go into the business went into guns.

I was also fortunate to have started my collection in 1971 during the period of P&R S&Ws. A network of friends up and down the west coast, as well as some jobbers and distributors, would notify me when particular firearms of interest were delivered to dealers and I would be on my way.

When many of my friends were out partying I was chasing handguns. I've ended up with quite a large collection of NIB pistols of which I am also the original owner.

Yes, I shoot them too... I've also hunted big game (black bear and elk) successfully with them for over 35 years. Two of the pistols in my current shooter group have been with me from near the beginning.... a 6 inch Mod 57 and a 2 1/2inch 66. They were duplicate revolvers as is a Mod 29-2 8 3/8 not shown in the picture of current shooters below.

I love S&W handguns and nope, none are for sale. They all have their individual story and I couldn't part with any of them. My family will have to deal with there future when I'm gone....

 

[crsides]

3

Still got 3 I bought new in early 70's still in original boxes - my first real job under my belt. $9k a year was real money then.
The first was a model 60 in 1971 when they were bringing a 100% premium over retail. Dealer told me they had to buy tons of S&W leather goods and ammo to get one model 60. Ser #R51xxx. Retail was $65.00 IIRC- That's how long ago it was. I bobbed the hammer and have carried it as a kit gun and for defense over the years.

#2 was a mod 34 4" Sq butt around the same time frame - early '72. It was $110 + tx. Great trail gun, and really nice blue finish.

#3 Mod 29 Nickel 6 1/2. Probably 1973. Dirty Harry was making my day and mod 29 were back ordered 18 months to the public. Police officers orders were getting thru with preference. A friend of mine was ordering one and I wanted the mod 19, so that's how they were ordered. His cost was $135 for the mod 19 and $191 for the mod 29. By the time they came in, he was broke and I bought both. That was a stretch but couldn't turn it down. 29's were no where to be found. I put a scope on it years later and kill my biggest deer with it ... a 10 pointer at about 10 yrds. He just dropped to his knees and rolled over. I'm looking at him as I type.

Whoops - make that 4. I got an early mod 66 with all stainless sights, from local hardware store. The owner kept a couple handguns in his safe and you had to ask to see one. My oldest son has it now.
Charlie

 

[TDC]

Thanks guys! I guess I expected there to be more of us "old timers" who still own "original purchase" P&R revolvers to be active on this board. I hope there are more people who will show there older S&W.

Here are a couple more P&R "N" frames not often seen... They are very early 629's.

 

[firearmsunlimited]

This is my first S&W handgun which was purchased in 1973. At the time I ordered it from the local gun shop I could not make up my mind if it should have magnas or targets so the shop owner suggested ordering it with both. Remarkably both sets of stocks are numbered to the gun. I don't believe I have ever seen another pair of numbered targets. Although the photos are bit poor, here are a couple shots showing the gun with both sets of stocks.

 

[TDC]

<snip>Remarkably both sets of stocks are numbered to the gun. I don't believe I have ever seen another pair of numbered targets..<snip>

That is something I haven't seen -- or even thought of before! If I had only known!! Hmmmm ... One pistol order with both Goncalo and Rosewood targets, smooth and checkered. The same in magna's all numbered to the same pistol -- please. ..

Where were you to tell us this forty years ago???

BTW... I wish I could take pictures as well as some of you guys. I have a lot to learn . I'm thinking about photographing my whole collection again... I'm learning, for instance, that picture color and temperature looks very different when viewed on a very high resolution desktop monitor and then again on an inexpensive laptop....

 

[JoeM19]

..nearly last..but not least IMHO..

Purchased new 29Oct71, for $135.72, including tax. It went to work the next day. - 'ole joe

 

[Jimmymac46]

Purchased new 29Oct71, for $135.72, including tax. It went to work the next day. - 'ole joe

That was the same price ($135) I paid for my 29-2 with three 'T's in the presentation box in March of 1973! Mine is a 4 inch. I guess inflation wasn't an issue at the time. It went to work in a suede lined Safariland Jordan high rise, black basket weave. Oh, like yourself, it remains in my possession today also.

 

[JoeM19]

You are right!

That was the same price ($135) I paid for my 29-2 with three 'T's in the presentation box in March of 1973! Mine is a 4 inch. I guess inflation wasn't an issue at the time. It went to work in a suede lined Safariland Jordan high rise, black basket weave. Oh, like yourself, it remains in my possession today also.

Inflation wasn't the issue w/ me. Salary was. My wife chipped in to make up the difference I needed. - 'ole joe

 

[Eltioloco]

Our local police dept. ordered some of these Smiths from the local hardware store to use as practice weapons. They found out that it was cheaper to reload .38's than to buy the .22 LR ammo, so they backed out of the purchase. The hardware store got stuck with the pistols and they sold them off at cost. My father bought this one. (I think he paid $50.00) He only shot a few cylinders through it, but I put all the wear on it when I was in my early tweens.
I have posted this picture before so please excuse the repeat. Ken

 

[M29since14]

I'm thinking about photographing my whole collection again... I'm learning, for instance, that picture color and temperature looks very different when viewed on a very high resolution desktop monitor and then again on an inexpensive laptop....

Go ahead and start photographing, but before you start serious editing, invest in a monitor calibration program. There are a couple out there, like SpyderPro, for instance. Very helpful - especially if you are trying to transfer what you see on the screen to a print.

Eltioloco, whether repeated or not, that is a great shot of your .22 CM. I really like it. I'd be the last to criticize pure "record" shots as they serve a useful purpose in our hobby just like they do wherever there is a need for pure illustration, but I do enjoy pics like that one that tell a story. Nicely done.

 

[Eltioloco]

M29since14, Thanks for the complement.
Everything in this photo means a lot to me.
My Grandmother made the little pouch for my Father out of a flour sack to be used as a possible bag. When my Father was a youngster he used the bag to carry his .22 shells in.
The box of low velocity .22 bullets was always in the pistol box with the pistol and cleaning kit. I was taught to use the cleaning kit before putting the pistol away.

 

[M29since14]

Everything in this photo means a lot to me...

The photo tell us that. Thanks for the story.

 

[TDC]

I'm going to run this thread through one more time and invite a few others to share their S&W pictures and their stories with us.

As for me, I've seen at least a dozen revolvers I'd like to own. When I read some of these stories that too brings back so many great memories.... These stories can put them in a time capsule that can make firearms so much more than just a hunk of steel and wood....

Great bunch of people here with some outstanding personal treasures....