Used to go to the city to look at model 29's, the only place to see one was a huge gun shop there. You could buy one for $500 plus tax, no haggling. Thinking a 29-1 retailed at $253.00 then. I was bringing home about $110 a week.
In '77 a co-worker ponied up a paid the 500. I kept an eye on him & sure enough, he got in a pinch & I bought it for about $300 or maybe a bit more. Not sure how I came up with that, but had been saving for an Oct. 78 Elk hunt in Colorado. Sure enough, after picking up some gear for the hunt I didn't have the cash for the trip. The 29 was sold again.
When I got back home I traded my Browning trap gun for the 29 & a bit of cash. And that's how hard it was to own a S&W 29 in the 70's for a young blue collar worker.
Just A silly story from a getting old shooter. But thought I'd pout some perspective of how scarce & expensive the gun was in the day.
