Anyone with The Standard Catalog of Smith & Wesson handy?

[Rokyudai]

Anyone with The Standard Catalog of Smith & Wesson handy?(pics added)

Just got back from the Saxet show in San Antonio. I came across a table occupied by an older gentleman and his wife. He had a case with what I believe was mainly his personal collection. My jaw dropped as I stared at (what i think anyway) a seemingly unfired model M629-2. The .44 mag stainless had one, vague partial cylinder ring noticeable only in a very direct light source. The grips are rosewood rounded on the butt. The story is that he has had this in his safe since he bought it back in '97.

Now, I know, don't believe the story, believe the gun and your own research. In my quick search here and wiki etc... I can find that this model was quite common and was replaced by the -3 somewhere in the early 80s.

My question is for the person with a Standard Catalog who would be able to confirm based on my partial SN when this particular batch was made.

The SN begins with prefix BBW

Thanks. If I end up confirming what I think I know, I will put some pics up.


Rok

 

[DaleCooper51]

I don't see BBW listed and whats in the book with a B prefix ranges from 1988 through 1994.

The 629-2 was made from 1988 until 1989.

 

[Rokyudai]

Interesting.... thanks Dale

 

[DaleCooper51]

No problem.

Was it a 3" barrel with combat grips?

How much was he asking?

 

[Rokyudai]

Definitely 3 inch. Grips were high shine smooth rosewood similar to these. They did not have the SW logo though...bothers me some.

http://www.grips4guns.com/revolver/smithwesson/item_1716007.html

$600 asking

Is this what they called a "mountain gun"?

 

[DaleCooper51]

$600 is not a bad price for a pre-lock pre-mim 3" 629. It is not a mountain gun. They are 4" light contour barrels. The grips are not original. If I had to guess, it probably came with round butt goncalo alves combats, but those have been selling for between $150 and $200 recently.

 

[rcmodel]

Not if it's a 3".

Mountain Guns are 4".

Sounds like a Lew Horton special, (86-87) except those were 629-1's.

http://www.gunbroker.com/Auction/ViewItem.asp?Item=98274268

rcmodel.

 

[Rokyudai]

Some pics of my purchase

It was just too purty to pass up. $550 out the door....

 

[Brian Williams]

Might be a Classic Hunter, product code #103650 made in 1989 but it should have an unfluted cylinder. The 629-2 was only made in 88 and 89, with a enhanced version made late 89.

Best bet, call S&W or go to the web site and get a letter request, it will cost you $35 and a few weeks wait.

 

[Rokyudai]

Thanks Brian.

I did check on Smiths site and it says that they have quite a bit of a backlog for the background search. I was hoping the Revolvificianados could have a go at it.

 

[Gator]

Nice gun, and the price was right too.

P.S. Those grips look like Badger's to me.

 

[Walkalong]

Nice gun. You got a good deal, and maybe a great deal.

 

[Rokyudai]

Thanks folks. I have to say this may be my first (and likely only) great deal I have found at a gun show.

It's funny to think of it this way, but, when you aren't looking for something in particular sometimes it finds you.

Couldn't ask for a nicer guy running the table. Big difference from the big dogs is he had just 1 table that he shared with his wife who had some knick knacks on her side. He only had one 3 ft case with about 8 handguns. He made the effort to say if I was interested and had to take the Saxet cash advance, he would knock off whatever % they were charging "these days"...now that is a subtle hint in how he does things! Perhaps the best part is the direct eye contact, smile, and a good handshake...not those "pleased to do business, now, I have to go sell a nazi dagger to some kid sense of hurriedness...."

I also saw 3 or 4 old timers walk over to the table with rifles slung over the shoulder while I was waiting to purchase. They greeted the old woman by name and said, "We'll catch Don on the way back." I just like that vibe...

 

[peyton]

You did well, I have a 629 with a 4 inch barrel.

 

[BADSBSNF81]

Have you tired over on smith-wessonfourm.com?

 

[Rokyudai]

Did not do that Bads. I will check it out. Thanks!

 

[Oro]

Hey, that's nice. This is a great buy at $550. This was one of the first regular production of the 3" 44 magnums. It started in the late 70s early 80s when Jovino started customizing 29s and then 629s, cutting them down to 2.5", and doing a crude "rounding" to the grip frame so that k frame round butt grips could be fit on them (never matched properly at the knuckle so always looked a bit "crude").

In 1984 the distributor Lew Horton got in on the act and ordered up several thousand (five each I think) of 24s, 29s, and 629s with 3" barrels, and fancy Goncalo Alves round butt grips (called "1st generation factory combats") on a newly-created "factory" N frame round butt. These were made 1984 to 1986 or 87.

The 629-2 is based on that gun, with some of the "enhancements" that they started putting in them to make what was called the "endurance" package, fully completed with the 629-3. I think your grips are aftermarket Altamont types, as the factory didn't use laminate like that back them. I think the original grips on those were made of Morado wood and looked like the darker ones in this photo. They were slightly thicker and longer than the 1st generation, and didn't fit as many hands as well (this is a pair I had but sold since they didn't fit my hand. I was planning on using them when field carrying my Lew Horton, but they didn't fit my hand, so I can understand why someone altered them). The 1st and 2nd generation combats are indeed pricey - $200 for the 1st gen and $125 or so for the 2nd gen seem to be the going rates on the S&W forum and ebay.

Anway, hope that helps. These are great guns - I love mine and it is a fantastically well balanced, packable, and controllable big-bore snorter. They have a real and growing fan base.

1st vs. 2nd generation N frame factory combats.


1985 Lew Horton 3" 629, ready for the field.