S&W M29-2 change bbl or sell it?

[Wildbillz]

Hi All
I have this old M29-2 with an 8 3/4" barrel. I would realy like a 4" barrel. I called Smith and they will do if for around $200. The gun might or might not need refinished after to make it all match up. Do you think it would be worth the effort or should I just sell it and find a decent 4" 29 and buy it?

Thanks for your advice on the matter
WB

 

[ArchAngelCD]

Well, a 29-2 S&W revolver has value. It's probably worth the price of the work BUT, is there any way you can keep the one you have as is and buy a used 4" M29??? I know sometimes it's not possible to buy one without selling the other but those old S&W revolvers are becoming harder to find, I would try to keep it.

If there's no way to keep it and buy another and your revolver is in good working condition I personally would consider doing the work.

PICTURES???

 

[22-rimfire]

I'd keep it (and sell it if necessary) and buy another with the 4" barrel.

 

[sw282]

You will need to change the rear site if you want it to shoot accurately. 4'' and 8'' are different heights

 

[CajunBass]

Sell it. Buy what you want.

 

[Wildbillz]

Sorry I don't have a picture of it with me here in Kuwait. Its back home in TX. Money is not the issue, I just don't like the long tube on it. I do like that its pinned and recessed though. I guess I will add it to the list to sell when I get back and see if I can find a 4" gun.

WB

 

[ArchAngelCD]

Sorry I don't have a picture of it with me here in Kuwait. Its back home in TX.

WB

Thank you for your service and come home safely!

 

[joed]

Thank you for your service. Tough choice. I would try to sell it if I could but not sure how popular the long barrel is. That is something that might not sell because the long barrel is just not popular. OTOH it would be nice to have a 29-2 with a new barrel, so that's something to think about too.

If it were me I'd try to sell it at a fair price. If it didn't sell quickly I'd send it in. You'd have a 29-2 that is as good as new with a brand new barrel after it comes back.

 

[amd6547]

If you could buy a four inch P&R Model 29 for $200, would you?
Barrel switch would be my plan.

 

[CraigC]

IMHO, $200 is a bargain. However, all you'll get is a factory barrel with that God-awful orange insert front sight. Were it me, and I'm notorious for not caring what collectors think, I would have it shortened and fitted with a Weigand or custom front sight base with a post style blade. Jim Stroh of Alpha Precision, who has done fantastic work for me in the past, charges $84 to shorten and crown a barrel and either $140 for his custom base or $94 for a Weigand interchangeable front sight base. Another option, one that I would strongly consider, is fitting a 4" model 24 barrel to it. I very much prefer its sleek tapered profile over the 29's bull barrel.

http://www.alphaprecisioninc.com

 

[OldCavSoldier]

My two cents: Keep the old gun but have S&W change barrel to a 4-incher. If possible, ask them to return the old 8 3/8 inch barrel. 50 years from now, your great-grandson or great-granddaughter may get the notion to put it back to the way you had it originally.

 

[CraigC]

As long as he doesn't object, I found these pics of Boxhead's S&W worked over by Jim Stroh rather coincidentally this morning. It features his custom front sight.

 

[Old Fuff]

Before you jump, ask Smith & Wesson if they plan to replace the current one with and original "pinned" 4" one. I am under the impression that they may not have any left. They might plan to used one of the "crush fit" kind, in which case you might not be able to put the old one back on if you chose to.

The only real negative to cutting the old barrel is cosmetic - the stamping on the side of the barrel won't be centered.

 

[CraigC]

The lettering can be removed and redone. The S&W I pictured above started life as a model 29 and the barrel was 8 3/8", it was cut to 5" and the cylinder was rechambered to .45Colt.

 

[BSA1]

Wildbillz,

How satisfied are you with the gun otherwise; action, parts fit, overall quality? If you are happy with it I would have a shorter barrel installed. CraigC presented a novel solution by cutting the barrel down to 5". This would give you a unique custom gun. $200.00 to have S&W do a barrel swap sounds reasonable.

P.S. The 4" barrel length with magnum loads has a bite to it.

 

[Oro]

I doubt $200 is the price all in. Does that include shipping both ways?

If it does, I'd be tempted to let them do it; but I doubt that. I'm a real fan of the 4" 29. But to quote (or at least paraphrase) a famed member here (SaxonPig), "It's almost always cheaper to sell the gun you have and buy the gun you want, than to turn the gun you have into the gun you want."

When you get back, sell the target gun and then watch and buy the 4" you want. I have even seen some mint 4" nickel ones go as cheaply as $800 recently (nickel being my pick).

 

[natman]

Sell it. Buy what you want.

+1

Somebody would love a long barreled 29 and somebody wants to sell a 4". Keep both guns original.

P.S. 4" is pretty short for a 44 Mag and be sure to include the cost of $hipping the gun to S&W in your calculations. UPS next day is not cheap.

 

[camar]

I bought a 6"bbl. for my Mdl.29 from Numericks and put it on myself.

 

[just for fun]

one day I'll find the "quote" button on this website. Till then, please rethink changing out that barrel. -2's are in a class all by themselves. 8 3/8 barrels even more so. Had one stolen from my home in the late 80's- still miss it. All B.S.ing aside it was a one handed rifle. In the event you blow all this off, have it cut to 5 inchs as that would make it even more rare!

 

[DM~]

I do believe there have been factory 5" 29's made in the past, there also use to be a smith that made 29's into "switch bbl." guns.

He would drill/tap the hole the "bbl. pin" is in, and set each bbl. up so you could screw one bbl. out and another one in, turning the screw into the pin hole to hold the bbls into place..

DM

 

[Marlin 45 carbine]

thanks for your service bill. IMO keep the one you have in case an interested buyer turns up - and one likely will.
try to locate a good deal on the ideal bbl length you want and count yourself lucky if you do - I'd say likely will but folks are getting tight-fisted with handguns of any model just lately (election year you know)
you'll be surprised at what the long tube can bring from the right buyer