Well I lucked out today. While killing time before meeting a guy to buy a S&W 439 I stopped into an unfamiliar gun shop about 30 miles from home. Lo and behold I found something I was not expecting, but had to pick up.
I would appreciate any information you can give. The catalog mentions SN ranges of the N prefix, however mine falls before by quite a few digits. SN 3185XX Gun came with everything. Screwdriver, brush, bore mop, wax paper, original warranty card, manual, and pamphlet.
There is no turn line. The line you see in the pictures is black as can be. It appears to be unfired. Absolutely mint!
The factory of the future will have only two employees, a man and a dog. The man will be there to feed the dog. The dog will be there to keep the man from touching the equipment. � WARREN G. BENNIS
The 6 or 6.5 inch barrels command a premium, however the 8 3/8" is classic. Any factory ordered non-standard barrel length is a stupid premium. Even though I know this will shoot itty-bitty bug hole groups, I won't even cock the hammer or handle without gloves. I know it sounds a little crazy, but this piece is mint. I'm going to sell two other guns that I shoot just to keep this one! So that this can sit unmolested forever.
The factory of the future will have only two employees, a man and a dog. The man will be there to feed the dog. The dog will be there to keep the man from touching the equipment. � WARREN G. BENNIS
Most are meant to be shot. I've got some scary looking model 10's and model 36's just ugly looking pitted "drop" guns that I shoot religiously. But this beauty is meant to be stared at from afar and never touched by human hands.
The factory of the future will have only two employees, a man and a dog. The man will be there to feed the dog. The dog will be there to keep the man from touching the equipment. � WARREN G. BENNIS
Just a bunch of barbarians here wanting me to chop an unfired (almost 40 y/o) gun. Its a collector.
I really can't even cock the hammer, and am especially careful about opening the cylinder. I waxed it as soon as I got home with renaissance wax. You just can not go out and buy a NIB 29-2 at a whim.
The factory of the future will have only two employees, a man and a dog. The man will be there to feed the dog. The dog will be there to keep the man from touching the equipment. � WARREN G. BENNIS
Thanks! The gents over on the S&W forum are having a nice time viewing it as well.
The blueing looks 'wet' and you can use it as a mirror. Really is something
The factory of the future will have only two employees, a man and a dog. The man will be there to feed the dog. The dog will be there to keep the man from touching the equipment. � WARREN G. BENNIS
Good grief, that's a beauty. No way would I do anything to alter it, and I can respect you wanting to keep it pristine but I would have to shoot it. That's just me.
Inevitably someone foolish may violate it; though it shall not be on my watch.
The factory of the future will have only two employees, a man and a dog. The man will be there to feed the dog. The dog will be there to keep the man from touching the equipment. � WARREN G. BENNIS
I bought a pristine Colt New Frontier a few years ago, a classic 7 1/2" barrel in .45 Colt. It too was NIB, and made in the early 70's. I vowed to shoot it to pieces, but couldn't bring myself to even draw the hammer back. It belongs to someone else now and I am shooting my newer Smith's and Freedom Arms. You found a real prize there.
I'm afraid I am in George's camp... I had a nickel Model 57 .41 Magnum just like it a few years ago...unfired in the PC..it later went to a collector in Texas I beileve. At the same time I also picked up a consecutivly numbered pair of 6" nickel guns with Jink's letters...they later went down the road too.
There are enough long barreled Magnums out there to turn into 5" guns without ruining a collector grade gun...
Mac, Ed, Hawkeye and the rest are just animals....Bob
ps...course I am one to talk...here I am sending a rare USFA Shooting Master to Clements for conversion...
If you can not deal with reality, reality will deal with you....
The 6 or 6.5 inch barrels command a premium, however the 8 3/8" is classic. Any factory ordered non-standard barrel length is a stupid premium. Even though I know this will shoot itty-bitty bug hole groups, I won't even cock the hammer or handle without gloves. I know it sounds a little crazy, but this piece is mint. I'm going to sell two other guns that I shoot just to keep this one! So that this can sit unmolested forever.
Good! I wouldn't use it either - a specimen like that will only rise in value over time.. Look at it as a small IRA..
I had a 3-screw NIB Ruger SBH (1962 mfr) with original red/black box, manual and warranty registration card I held onto for a few years and sold it recently at a profit I'd never have gotten in the stock market..
You found a beautiful revolver sir.. Congrats!!!
Ex- USN (SS) '66-'69 Pro-Constitution. LET'S GO BRANDON!!!
That's a great find for a serious collector. Every serious collector's piece I've ever had has been sold (except one). If I can't shoot it, I'm not interested so I'll leave it for those who are into guns they can't shoot. I have a 1927 Winchester 94 that's a configuration such that there are only 10 known in existence. Collectors have kittens when I tell them that not only do I shoot with it, I hunt with it. It was given to me by my grandfather to be my deer gun, and that's what it is...although oddly enough, I've never killed a deer with it. Killed several bears, oodles of hogs, Coyote's, etc; but somehow never a deer. In my hands it's deer repellent for some reason:)
It will take more than a few rounds to leave a turn line, in fact one could swing the cylinder out pull the cylinder release back and then cock the hammer, load one round then close the cylinder with the round in line with the barrel aim, fire and no chance of a turn line
Last edited by jwp475; 02/27/13.
I got banned on another web site for a debate that happened on this site. That's a first
At this point about the only thing you can do with it is keep it pristine. I don�t know how much you paid for it but I�m sure it wasn�t cheap. You can find excellent condition shooter grade Model 29�s in abundance, and if you get a -3 or above it will have the endurance package.
Right now it is rare and unique. As soon as you fired it you�d lose the collector value and then it�d just be another shooter among millions.
Ignore the heathens egging you on, they just want to see you screw up. If you found a new, unfired pre-64 Model 70 in .257 Roberts they�d tell you to AI it and drop it in a McSwirley.
Gunnery, gunnery, gunnery. Hit the target, all else is twaddle!
I bought a pristine Colt New Frontier a few years ago, a classic 7 1/2" barrel in .45 Colt. It too was NIB, and made in the early 70's. I vowed to shoot it to pieces, but couldn't bring myself to even draw the hammer back. It belongs to someone else now and I am shooting my newer Smith's and Freedom Arms. You found a real prize there.
I had one in 45 Colt that was pretty good, but I had an even better one in 44-40. 44-40 has to be ultra rare. Of course I got rid of it.
Ignore the heathens egging you on, they just want to see you screw up. If you found a new, unfired pre-64 Model 70 in .257 Roberts they�d tell you to AI it and drop it in a McSwirley.
I got a healthy chuckle out of your quote, but I do see the similarity.I plan to keep it NIB for a long while. But it was fun waxing it last night. Felt like if I kept doing it I would go blind (Maybe I will just do it till' I need glasses)
The factory of the future will have only two employees, a man and a dog. The man will be there to feed the dog. The dog will be there to keep the man from touching the equipment. � WARREN G. BENNIS
That 8 3/8" M29 is a real beauty! Id buy one like that in a heart beat if the price was even semi reasonable! EACH of us has a different way of looking at this, I hunt with my revolvers and expect to be able to accurately place shots out to at least 100-130 yards, I purchased a M29 in 6" and soon swapped it for a 8 3/8",maybe its these old eyes but I find the longer barrel helps a good deal, I would NEVER go back, in fact I purchase a 10 5/8" version when they came out about 1984 or so
They have another 29-2 with a 6 1/2" barrel in Nickel finish NIB with all the goodies. For 950 with some wiggle room; thinking I might go back tomorrow and scoop it up.
Dates between 1969 and 1979, thinking 1977-78ish. The SN was N466XXX
Can't decide what to do about it.
The factory of the future will have only two employees, a man and a dog. The man will be there to feed the dog. The dog will be there to keep the man from touching the equipment. � WARREN G. BENNIS
Dear George....Congrats on a REALLY nice find....I have N311842 purchased new in 1975...yours is right behind mine..not 1968-1969... I have had quite a few of these S&W's just like yours "new in the box" over the last 20 or so odd years.....PLEASE..do yourself a favor and check the bore of the barrel and the cylinder charge holes...!!!!!! And I mean check them with a bore scope...!!!!!!!!!! MANY,MANY I examined before buying had SEVERE pitting, rust, corrosion etc... in said barrels and cylinders that IS NOT APPARENT to the naked eye....sitting in those "velvet flocked" cases draws a LOT of moisture and people will just wipe down the outside and forget about the insides....I do not want to rain on your parade but please get that bbl and cylinder scoped......... Pete
I don't own a bore scope, but with a nice magnifying glass it looks pristine. However in the spirit of being thorough I will run a cleaning brush and some oil through it.
In addition I'm going to stop in that same gun store tomorrow and buy that other 29-2. If the nickel freckles polish off with some flitz. Gracious am I going to be in trouble! This will be gun #4 in less than a week.
The factory of the future will have only two employees, a man and a dog. The man will be there to feed the dog. The dog will be there to keep the man from touching the equipment. � WARREN G. BENNIS
Inevitably someone foolish may violate it; though it shall not be on my watch.
Stand your ground George, I understand.
Socialism is a philosophy of failure, the creed of ignorance, and the gospel of envy, its inherent virtue is the equal sharing of misery. --Winston Churchill
I guess I need to pick up the "Holsters for your new gun" pamphlet. Off to ebay!
The factory of the future will have only two employees, a man and a dog. The man will be there to feed the dog. The dog will be there to keep the man from touching the equipment. � WARREN G. BENNIS
All I hear when I pick it up is "Oh Yeah" Written by Boris Blank & Dieter Meier Performed by Yello
Day BOW BOW. Chic CHIKA CHIKA
The factory of the future will have only two employees, a man and a dog. The man will be there to feed the dog. The dog will be there to keep the man from touching the equipment. � WARREN G. BENNIS
Be honest, have you at least once pointed that thing at a mirror and said, "So, do you feel lucky?".
hahah Today is my boy's eighth birthday. We did a little celebrating last night because its turned off cold around here and there's snow everywhere. Anyway you don't know what days you'll be able to get out and what days you won't. So after eats we went to this old-school arcade in the mall and they had a new-to-them pinball machine. Dirty Harry! Had to play it awhile.
Be honest, have you at least once pointed that thing at a mirror and said, "So, do you feel lucky?".
hahah Today is my boy's eighth birthday. We did a little celebrating last night because its turned off cold around here and there's snow everywhere. Anyway you don't know what days you'll be able to get out and what days you won't. So after eats we went to this old-school arcade in the mall and they had a new-to-them pinball machine. Dirty Harry! Had to play it awhile.
"Well do yuh punk?"
Thats awesome, I would love to play that
I predict future happiness for Americans if they can prevent the government from wasting the labors of the people under the pretense of taking care of them. -Thomas Jefferson
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