S&W Model 29-3

[pacecars]

OK I made the mistake of stopping by a pawn shop while my phone was being repaired and came across a beautiful S&W 29-3 for $900. I must confess that I do not own a .44 Magnum at the moment and I have never owned a Model 29. This one has a 5” barrel and nice looking blue and was either cleaned really well or shot very little or both. I am weak and they offer layaway. Is there anything I should know or look out for on this model before I head back over and see if the have any negotiating room?

Thanks
Ronnie

[Encore64]

Started production in 1982. That's the year they dropped recessed chambers and pinned barrels.

Sounds like a fair price in today's market. But, with inflation tightening budgets, they may work with you.

[oddshooter]

yep, the unknown effect of the macro economy is hard/impossible to predict. We could go up and we could go down. Current professional analysts are flipping a coin. We have spent a few Trillion dollars we didn't have and just ran the money presses and made more. The Fed says we may need more pain before inflation drops. However, the market seems to be on a reverse course and going up. Who the hell knows?

Trying to buy anything, not just guns, may be difficult; as we see large moves in prices this year.  This is definitely gambling territory for investments.

Toys, on the other hand, are bought no matter the economy.


Prescut

[taffin]

Feb 17, 2023 12:33:15 GMT -5 pacecars said:

OK I made the mistake of stopping by a pawn shop while my phone was being repaired and came across a beautiful S&W 29-3 for $900. I must confess that I do not own a .44 Magnum at the moment and I have never owned a Model 29. This one has a 5” barrel and nice looking blue and was either cleaned really well on shot very little or both. I am weak and they offer layaway. Is there anything I should know or look out for on this model before I head back over and see if the have any negotiating room?

Thanks
Ronnie

BE AWARE THE 5" IS NOT ORIGINAL TO THIS MODEL.

[pacecars]

Thanks. That’s kinda what I was thinking since every picture I could find was a 4”or an 8 3/8”. It doesn’t appear to be cut. It has an orange insert front and a white outline rear.

[pacecars]

It is a half lug barrel also

[bradshaw]

Feb 17, 2023 15:00:53 GMT -5 pacecars said:

It is a half lug barrel also

*****

By “half lug” do you mean shrouded ejector rod? No Model 29’s were built with exposed ejector rod.
David Bradshaw

[pacecars]

David,
Correct with the shrouded ejector rod. I couldn’t think of what to call it at the moment

[bradshaw]

Feb 17, 2023 15:38:41 GMT -5 pacecars said:

David,
Correct with the shrouded ejector rod. I couldn’t think of what to call it at the moment

*****

S&W term, shrouded ejector rod. With the S&W rod suspended at front by a tapered, spring loaded stud or pin, a bent rod impedes cylinder rotation. Unlike the Colt----unless the rod is bent enough to tough barrel on cylinder rotation. Pistol whipping was a known behavior in the old days. Reckon some of the Colt’s I saw with bent rods reflected a disregard for firearms etiquette. Ejector ads can also get bent by Gorilla Monsoon with a plier.

Nor should a revolver with the front half of the trigger removed be used as a club.
David Bradshaw

[taffin]

Feb 17, 2023 15:00:14 GMT -5 pacecars said:

Thanks. That’s kinda what I was thinking since every picture I could find was a 4”or an 8 3/8”. It doesn’t appear to be cut. It has an orange insert front and a white outline rear.

There were a few factory 5" barrels only left over from the 1950s. I think I got the last one that Smith & Wesson had several years ago. This one could also be re-barreled with an original barrel. Look closely at the front sight and how it is attached to the barrel. Actually, $900 for any well done 5" sounds like a very good price to me.

[pacecars]

I am going to head back there tomorrow and check it out closely and probably make an offer.

[x101airborne]

I would have probably just paid the 900 and called it a day.
I hope you get it. Good used S&W revolvers down here are pretty slim pickings down here. They are snatched up quick if they are in decent condition.

[Encore64]

Ronnie, hope you investigate and learn more about this gun.

It could be a Frankengun worth less than they want for it. But, it could be a greatly upgraded gun by a competent gunsmith too.

[pacecars]

I am going to take a tape measure to make sure on the barrel length. Luckily it is on a bottom shelf amongst a bunch of plastic pistols.

[Encore64]

Feb 18, 2023 8:42:14 GMT -5 pacecars said:

I am going to take a tape measure to make sure on the barrel length. Luckily it is on a bottom shelf amongst a bunch of plastic pistols.

Ah, so it could actually be a standard 6"?