New To Me S&W Model 29

[dr_cmg]

In January 1972 less than a month after it premiered I saw the movie Dirty Harry on Cannery Row in Monterey, CA. From that day I wanted, craved, nay - coveted a Model 29. I have had several opportunities to buy one, but something, usually lack of funds, has interferred. A few weeks ago a friend mentioned that he had a 29-6. I asked if I could try it and he brought it over and left it with me.





Unlike the original this 29 Classic has the full length lug, but it is in near perfect shape and was purchsed new by my friend in 1993. He originally thought he might like to do some handgun hunting, but after firing his first cylinder of Hornady hollow points put the gun up and never fired it again. Well it has been fired quite a few more times now. After shooting it I asked if he wanted to sell it and he said he was willing to. I told him that I have a rifle on order and it would be after it came in before I could buy it if that was okay. He said that he had held it for 16 years a little longer wasn't a problem and to keep it and shoot it.

He has been looking for a good not too expensive over and under 20 ga. to buy for his daughter and a few days after his telling me to keep the 29 I found a very good price on a Remington ISP 310 and told him about it. He looked at the ad and told me that if I wanted to get one of the shotguns he would trade me the 29 for it. I told him that the Model 29 was worth a good bit more than the shotgun. He said he would be happy to make the trade anyway. So I called a dealer friend to see if he could get me one of the shotguns. He called back a couple of days later and said that he could not get the one I wanted, but he could get the same shotgun with the receiver engraved for less money. I went ahead and ordered one. I explained to my friend that now I was buying the shotgun for even less money and tried to get him to let me pay him some extra. He refused. So yesterday I picked up the shotgun and we were all surprised how nice it was. The wood was beautiful and the engraving was excellent. It had a duck landing on a pond on one side and a pheasant taking off on the other. The action and the barrels were great. So I traded a new 20 ga. over and under that cost me considerably less than $400 for a Smith & Wesson Model 29-6 "29 Classic" with 6 rounds fired through it. Today he brought me a belt carrier with two HKS model 29 speed loaders and a 20 round box of Hornady Custom 240 gr. JHP/XTP containing 14 rounds.



They shot the shotgun yesterday afternoon and both he and his daughter are very pleased. He is happy with what he got for the Smith. I am ecstatic about having the Model 29 and for getting it at such a bargain price. I guess this is the way we are both supposed to feel when we have gotten just what we wanted out of a trade.

By the way the Model 29 shoots to point of aim and is a pleasure to shoot for about a dozen rounds. Then you want to shoot something both lighter and with a bit less recoil.

[DefensiveCarry.com]

[grady]

I can hear you saying, "Go ahead, punk... make my day."

Nice weapon. It's a good trade when both parties are satisfied.

[retsupt99]

Great find...
You are an 'honest' friend, and they are hard to find.
Nice 'powerhouse' pistola...

Stay armed...make everyone happy...stay safe!

[Rugergirl]

What a deal, I'd take two. Glad to hear you and friend are happy.
When you get tired of it let me know what you're looking for in trade,LOL.

[Guardian]

Can't beat a deal like that.

[Roadrunner]

I got my Dad one of those for Christmas a few years ago with a 8 3/8" barrel. It's one of the sweetest shooting revolvers I've ever had the pleasure to handle. The single action trigger break is incredible and it's dead nuts accurate. You've got a real winner there.

[automatic slim]

A few years back, I was able to obtain what appeared to be an unfired Model 29-2 which I gladly paid $500.00 for. I've never fired it as I have a 629 I shoot instead. I mainly purchased it for investment purposes. It's just like Harry's; 6.5" Bbl, blue, pinned and recessed. No, won't part with it.

[pgrass101]

Very nice George

[ppkheat]

Congratulations you have a "classic", they are fun to shoot.

I bought one similar off of gunbroker a few years ago. Every now and then we have a family shoot on our property and my son and I have a target contest we call "nerves of steel". Each shooter gets one shot, DA only, one-handed, 100 feet away.

I let my wife shoot it loaded with .44 specials, she was fine with it. We later loaded it with magnums, and we fired it a few times, offered it back to her, she declined. Actually I was going to discourage her from shooting the magnums, no need in hurting her hand.

BTW mine has wooden grips and they can be a bit brutal.

[archer51]

Nice looking gun.

That reminds me, I have 3 1/2 boxes of .44 mag 230 gr JSP and 1/2 box of .44 SP 230 gr JSP in my safe. Sold the .44 Mag I had and don't foresee ever buying another one. guess I need to find someone local who shoots a 44 Mag!

[dr_cmg]

Thanks, guys. Later this week, I'll try to get some pictures of the shotgun that my friend got for his daughter. For the price it is great looking and by then they will have shot some more so we will know more about how it shoots. His son was already trying to talk my friend into letting him have the O/U and giving his sister his youth model Escort semi-auto 20 ga.

My wife shoots everything I do and has shot a .44 mag once. It was her brother's with a 4" barrel and she only shot it once. She has shot my Charter Arms Bulldog .44 Special a few times as well. She is looking forward to shooting the 29 with the 6.5" barrel with both mag and special rounds. When she does I'll take some photos of that as well. I'll post them along side some of the old ones of her shooting the 10mm S&W 1066.

[shooterX]

Great deal!!!

[jfl]

It is a beautiful gun, and a classic too.
Congrats

[dr_cmg]

Talked to my friend tonight about the Remington SPR 310N O/U that I traded for the S&W Model 29. He and his daughter are very well pleased with the shotgun. They shot two boxes of shell on Sunday afternoon and the daughter shot one of them. My friend and his son shot the other box. They like how it shoots and said it works great with high or low brass. The daughter shot it pretty well and broke a good number of clays with it. So they are very satisfied with the deal. I mentioned that I would try to get some photos of the shotgun and I have. I am not the best photogapher, but I think you will be able to see the engraving and the wood pretty good in these.

[Stealie]

Beautiful 29-6. I have a 29-2 I bought back in the 80's, it's just like Dirty Harry's except it's nickle.