29 no dash, gun porn at its highest level

[squawberryman]

I went to visit with some very dear friends last weekend I haven't seen for twenty five years. Mr. Tasch is an uber technical person head to toe who worked for and retired from NCR, or National Cash Register. I took some converted single actions and a Freedom Arms to show him my foolishness. When I got done he said "Let me get something" and brought out this unfired (except factory) 29 no dash. Folks I've seen a handful of S&W's in my time and I've had guns refinished by great men but I have NEVER seen a finish on a gun like this one. The hammer and trigger are as wide as the bullet it shoots. I don't know if the grips are Goncalo or not, but they are gorgeous, and perfect. A cursory search on the web indicates a '54 or '55 build date. We believe the second number to be a zero and not a nine. Any help would be appreciated. Folks, this thing was amazing.

[Encore64]

I've posted before that my S&W Knowledge is lacking.

But, I know enough to see a true treasure when I see one.

Beautiful piece of craftsmanship and I look forward to learning more...

[kevshell]

The first S&W 44 Mag that I handled was my step dad's "44 Magnum" (Pre-29). I loved that gun. Phenomenal trigger, honest patina from being carried hunting and my first shot with a big bore. The grips were not the fat bottomed things they put on later revolvers. I didn't know what I held at the time. And it was the revolver I judged all others against for a long time.

[dobegrant]

wow that is incredible, what a treasure

[wpeel]

Beautimous

[blackmamba]

As kevshell says, the first 29s came after the simply "44 magnum," otherwise known as the "pre-29s." At one time I owned a pre-29 6½" that was authoritatively dated to March of 1957, so your revolver was most likely made in late '57 or early '58. Someone should come along with a copy of Roy Jinks' book and be able to date it more accurately for you.

[needsmostuff]

Beautiful gun but I think you are misreading the ser# getting bad dates.
My book thinks the first "model marked guns came in at aprox. ser# S17000 which would indicate his second number to be a 9.
Model marked as 29 no dash guns started in 1957 and became dash 1 in 1962. An easier to read ser# can be found under the grips at the bottom of the grip frame. Hard to tell from the picture but the grips MAY be a later rendition of the vaulted "coke bottle" grips and deserve a careful study of their own.
YUP! The more I look at them the more I think they are.
Again , beautiful gun!

[blackmamba]

I was doing some more research and must agree with needsmostuff, the second number has to be a 9, which puts your gun from late 1958 to early 1959.  It sure is a beauty!

[bradshaw]

S&W .44 Mag
* 5-screw----4 sideplate screws + 1 screw to secure spring-loaded plunger for cylinder stop.

* 4-screw----3 sideplate screws + 1 screw to secure spring-loaded plunger for cylinder stop.

* 3-screw----3 sideplate screws.
David Bradshaw

[pattontime]

I own a pre-29 four-screw gun with a Roy Jinks factory letter, mine shipped in October 1957 and I had always heard that to be the year they went to Model numbers, AKA Model 29.
So, as the other poster had said, likely very late like December 1957, which I would be jealous of as that's my birth month, or later.
The number of screws, mentioned by Mr. Bradshaw can also pin it down, a factory letter is best although I guess they are really backed up, I have heard Mr. Jinks may not doing them anymore, someone else may have taken over, due to his health

[blackmamba]

There was actually a year or so overlap between the 5-screw and 4-screw frames, as they just pulled them willy nilly from inventory. I have seen 5-screws with higher serial numbers than my 4-screw pre-29 had.

[strawhat]

The 44 Magnum was introduced in late 1955 so you can rule out the 1954 date.

Kevin

[akray]

My friend's dad had one of these early Smith & Wesson 44s with the 8 3/8" barrel. Back when I was young I thought I was buying accuracy via the long tube so I carried a stainless clunker around on my early outdoors adventures. I've thought about it many times and I should have realized Dirty Harry was just a movie, the Smith & Wesson wasn't the best 44 going and I should have gone practical instead of prideful. I could have had a 5 1/2" Redhawk that would have served me a lot better.

[taffin]

postimg.cc/7GvRckVZ

postimg.cc/2V8CTQyX

[mike454]

Here's mine which is a pre 29. shipped in Februray 1957



No model number because it predates S&W's giving this gun the model number 29.