Pics. of Pop's pre 29 S&W

[Tailroller]

It's a five screw if you count the one in front of the trigger guard. My father carried it in Vietnam and later as Trooper in the 70's. It's made 100's hunting trips as a side arm and I've taken a few deer with at close range. It's not in perfect shape but it's got lot of history. I was thinking about sending it S&W to have it brought back original cond.

I also included his Bowie he carried with it and a Mod. 29-3 in 6".

Click on the pic. to enlarge.

 

[SaxonPig]

Well worn and the original "Cokes" are gone but a neat gun with lots of history and personal value. This may be one of the rare instances where I would support refinishing as an heirloom.

 

[Tailroller]

Thanks for the reply, I'm better with guns than computers. It's probably not suppose to be that hard but you know idea what I went through to post those pics.:banghead:.

I do have the orig. grips, should have put em on the picture.

 

[Larry Burchfield]

Dad

What unit did your dad serve with? Sure are some nice pictures. I was there in parts of 1967/68/69. If you decide to get it refinished Smith will do you a stand up job.
Larry Burchfield
SEABEES/RVN/67/68/69
DAV

 

[Erik]

Thanks for sharing. Nice revolver and bowie pics.

 

[peyton]

Who made the Bowie knife? Both have seen some use. Is that electrical tape on the knive handle? I would leave both as they are.

 

[earplug]

Don't refiinsh

Visit a local museum that has firearms from the past.
The worn ones tell a story. the new and refinished ones don't.

 

[Jim Watson]

Agreed.
It looks used but not abused. I'd call the wear "character" and keep the memories and the cost of refinishing.

 

[Oro]

This may be one of the rare instances where I would support refinishing as an heirloom.

I am glad to hear you say that SaxonPig. That is what I told him yesterday in the DOB thread, and I suggested he post pics here and get some more feedback as well as share it.

Tailroller, there are also folks who can refinish/restore the grips on it, though as SP mentioned they are not "original." Eagle makes reproductions of the old "Coke Bottle" style if you wanted to do that. Real coke bottle grips run around $500/600 bucks, plus the are serially numbered to guns (usually, though not always) so it still wouldn't be totally "authentic" if you got a vintage pair.

Here is the Eagle reproduction of what probably was originally on it:

http://www.eaglegrips.com/guns/Rosewood-Heritage-Grips-1.html

 

[CSA 357]

Nice old gun , i had a 4 screw pre 29 but its long gone i do still have a very nice set of coke bottle grips in my safe, csa

 

[Tailroller]

Larry B.
My Dad was in the 101st, he did'nt talk to much about it even when I was young and asked about the 3 bullet shaped scares. He was there from 63 to early 67,I came along in 68.
Peyton
The Bowie is a Western and yes that is electricle tape thats how he gave it to me. The blade was almost completely black. I pollished it and and the hand guard a few years ago.

Thanks for the input guys, I've got some thinking to do about the whole situation. You know I thaught to myself today, what would Pop do. He'd probably leave it like it is.

 

[Radagast]

Tailroller: My take on it is to keep it as it is for your own use, but if it is going to be put away and kept as a keepsake for your kids or grandkids then I would send it to Fords for a full restoration with the best polished blue they can do. It's kind of the difference between a beat up old classic that you drive on a daily basis and a fully restored show car - to you the beat up old bomb has value as it is, to others the show car is more pleasing to the eye and more likely to be valued.

Either way, it's your gun now and still a working tool. It's up to you what you want to do with it.

 

[TxState101]

looks like it's in perfect shape to me

glad you're keeping it as is.

 

[Tailroller]

Well I think I'm going to leave it as is for now as far as finish goes. It does'nt shoot as good as it used to, probably a timing issue. That 44 has had whole lotta rounds through it. I might have it tuned up.

 

[Eightball]

looks like it's in perfect shape to me

Agreed. Refinishing a couple more decades or a few hundred thousand rounds down the road? Maybe. Now? Not so much.

 

[messerist]

I agree with a tune up but I would hold off on refinishing it. Age and use create unmatchable character that you might not want to erase.

 

[bluetopper]

Pre 29's are going for crazy high prices of late.

Go on the S&W forum and ask the opinions of the guys there.

I would at least have it mechanically worked over.

 

[Guillermo]

One more for leaving the finish alone.

Good honest wear shows that they were used for the job for which they were intended

 

[ArchAngelCD]

Give it a good cleaning and polish it up some yourself. Other than that, keep it as is and enjoy shooting it and telling it's stories.

Thanks for sharing the pictures and telling us about your dad! I'm also grateful for your dad's service to us all.

 

[Clarence]

Leave it "as is" ..........it has a lot more character that way.

 

[Tailroller]

Allright guys thanks for all the input, I'm going to leave it as is. I am going to have it tuned up so it will shoot a little better.

Thanks very much!

 

[Guillermo]

no need to spend a lot of money. Taking off the sideplate and giving the old girl a clean and lube is all she needs.

10 bucks worth of Hoppes and lube...maybe a can of computer cleaning "air" and she will be running better than any new gun.

With your Dad's honorable service these are wonderful heirlooms.