Home Forums Hunting & Shooting Handguns S&W 29-2

just picked up the first smith I've ever owned its a 29-2 blued 6.5" barrel .. can anyone date it for me ? I couldn't
find anything online ser # N442xxx

thanks plab

Plab: My copy of the "Standard Catalog Of Smith & Wesson" lists that serial number range "date of manufacture" at 1977 - 1978.
Enjoy that nifty revolver.
Hold into the wind
VarmintGuy

Apparently the 6.5" barrel brings a slight premium in price vs 6", even though more of dash twos were made with that length. In 1979 the 6.5" barrel was dropped completely, in favor of the 6" barrel. That must be why it brings a slight premium over the 6" barrel. I believe the gun used by Dirty Harry was a 6.5" barrel one.

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.

Yep. They were hard to find, and higher priced than new Colt Pythons or new Colt SP-1 AR-15’s at a gun store I worked at in HS in 1978. A new Python was $399.
The new AR-15’s were $429.

I bought my first Model 29 in 81 for $500.
It was the first one I could get my hands on. It was used but like new with a 4” barrel.
I already owned a new Ruger Suoer BlackHawk in 44 mag, at the time. I think I payed around $269 for it.

thanks Varmintguy ..
so I've been poking around the web,, kind of hard identifying what version it is
but I 'm thinking a target model ? I'll get some pictures posted

plab

Nice find. Those earlier Smiths are sweet

My brother has a 29-2 8 3/8” Nickel. He’s killed a bunch of deer with it.

I'll try a few pictures .. I don't have this down right yet I guess I got it so I think think is a target ??

Sweet. Did you mention what you paid for it?

I got my first M29 in 1972 when I got out of the service. I bought it along with a 12 gun cabinet from Montgomery Wards. The gun cabinet had broken glass in it and was sent back twice. They finally got it correct and as it was a lay a way I made the final payment of $172 dollars for the Smith. The check cleared for $1.72! My final price for the M29 (which was a 6.5 inch Nickel in the presentation case) was $175. I still have it and a year or so ago added a 4 inch blued one for significantly more than the original one.

You got your first one about a year after Dirty Harry came out. I'm surprised you paid so little, because that movie made it almost impossible to lay your hands on one, let alone pay anything close to MSRP for it.

Very nice pickup, blab.

S&W 4" Nickel 29-2 I picked up a few years ago. It was trashed when I bought it. Could barely open the cylinder, it was so filthy. I paid a pretty good price for it but thought I could get it back to a pretty good state. Took it apart, cleaned it thoroughly and then polished it with Mother's Mag and Aluminum Polish. Probably paid too much for it, but it came out pretty nice when done.

Looks like new, if that image is any measure.

No, you didn’t pay too much for it.

Thanks. I paid $1100 for it. Bought it at an LGS/pawnshop.

Hawkeye, I think somebody bought it, shot it and never cleaned it the whole time they owned it.

You did real good.

29's are nice!

I've had a couple over the years. My S&W 44 now is a 629. I much prefer blue and walnut. But this S&W is my nasty weather revolver and it'll do on nice days too. It's the only SS S&W, I own.