New production Model 29?

Dave AA · December 8, 2002, 04:35 PM

I was down at a local gun store yesterday wiating for my van to be done at the shop.

I saw not one, but two S&W model 29s. They were 6", round butt, with the lock.
They had smooth wood grips without fingergrooves, appeared to be factory. The blueing didn't seem as nice as the old ones, but it may have been the grease. I didn't have a chance to check for a dash #, or play with one. They were listed at $639, but this store is ALWAYS high. It was just close to the tranny place.
The clerk was no help, he claimed they were from a batch produced 5 years ago. "Rare! buy it now! pay a fortune!" IIRC Saf-t-Hammer did not own S&W then.

Anyone else seen one of these? I found no mention of it on the usual boards or S&W.

mdlowry · December 8, 2002, 04:41 PM

Sounds like a Performance Center gun. *&* no longer offers bluing as a standard option. They are all stainless (or alloy). I wonder if this was one of the heritage series that they were offering?

Dave AA · December 8, 2002, 04:49 PM

They were not marked in any special way, do the PC guns have any non-standard markings? I could find nothing on the S&W website about it, even in the PC and heritage sections.

VictorLouis · December 8, 2002, 05:03 PM

of either 200 or 300(?) in 6.5" for Lew Horton Distribution. My dealer has his in the high $500s, like $589(?). FYI, the grips are by Kim Ahrends, and they would cost you around $70 by themselves.

Dave AA · December 8, 2002, 05:14 PM

How can I tell if it's a Lew Horton special? I've been looking for a 29, but I've been looking for a -2 or earlier. If it's a limited run, I may want it!
Oh, also, how do the Lew Horton guns compare o regular production in quality?

uglygun · December 8, 2002, 05:28 PM

Somebody at the local shop mentioned S&W re-introducing some 29s and not from the performance center. Don't see any mention of it on the S&W page though.

Anyone know if there is some new buzz about S&W making an attempt to offer some blued guns again. Price is still too rediculously high though if you ask me, I'd rather own a 29-2 that is in 95% or better condition that I bought for 400 than buy one of the new guns that is 100% condition and 650 dollars or higher.

VictorLouis · December 8, 2002, 05:32 PM

to do something special for a distributor(though there may be some flexibility). In this case, they produced a blued gun where none is being produced right now. There's likely a special product code on the box referencing Lew Horton, but trust me, that's what it is. Now, that's not to say that Bangor's or Camfour's might not call them up and order a batch for themselves.

In any case, it's a standard gun, just blued rather than stainless. The fact it has a 6.5" barrel is the only thing unique that would stand out to me. That just means it will be a pain to find a holster for it, since 6" has been the standard for quite awhile before moving up to the 8&3/8s" length.

Being that's it's new, it will have the 'endurance package' that all of the big N-frames got with the '-4' series. Translation, it will weather the heavier loads easier than an earlier '-2' if that's a concern for you.

Dave AA · December 11, 2002, 02:41 AM

Well, I found one at my regular store for $575, so I bought that sucker. The blueing is fantastic, the fit and finish even better than my other S&Ws.
The SA is crisp, the DA is S-M-O-O-T-H, but heavy. I think someone got happy with the tension screw. I'll take care of that at the range. It is marked 29-8.

"It'll blow yer head clean off"

C.R.Sam · December 11, 2002, 08:26 AM

Tension screw wrong point of attack.

Sam

December 8, 2002, 04:35 PM	#1
Dave AA Senior Member Join Date: August 18, 1999 Posts: 407	New production Model 29? I was down at a local gun store yesterday wiating for my van to be done at the shop. I saw not one, but two S&W model 29s. They were 6", round butt, with the lock. They had smooth wood grips without fingergrooves, appeared to be factory. The blueing didn't seem as nice as the old ones, but it may have been the grease. I didn't have a chance to check for a dash #, or play with one. They were listed at $639, but this store is ALWAYS high. It was just close to the tranny place. The clerk was no help, he claimed they were from a batch produced 5 years ago. "Rare! buy it now! pay a fortune!" IIRC Saf-t-Hammer did not own S&W then. Anyone else seen one of these? I found no mention of it on the usual boards or S&W. __________________ Take with food or milk

December 8, 2002, 04:41 PM	#2
mdlowry Senior Member Join Date: December 15, 2001 Location: New Hampshire Posts: 417	Sounds like a Performance Center gun. & no longer offers bluing as a standard option. They are all stainless (or alloy). I wonder if this was one of the heritage series that they were offering? __________________ My PGP key

December 8, 2002, 04:49 PM	#3
Dave AA Senior Member Join Date: August 18, 1999 Posts: 407	They were not marked in any special way, do the PC guns have any non-standard markings? I could find nothing on the S&W website about it, even in the PC and heritage sections. __________________ Take with food or milk

December 8, 2002, 05:03 PM	#4
VictorLouis Senior Member Join Date: January 12, 2000 Location: Arizona Posts: 2,302	They are a limited production run of either 200 or 300(?) in 6.5" for Lew Horton Distribution. My dealer has his in the high $500s, like $589(?). FYI, the grips are by Kim Ahrends, and they would cost you around $70 by themselves.

December 8, 2002, 05:14 PM	#5
Dave AA Senior Member Join Date: August 18, 1999 Posts: 407	How can I tell if it's a Lew Horton special? I've been looking for a 29, but I've been looking for a -2 or earlier. If it's a limited run, I may want it! Oh, also, how do the Lew Horton guns compare o regular production in quality? __________________ Take with food or milk

December 8, 2002, 05:28 PM	#6
uglygun Senior Member Join Date: March 27, 2001 Location: Cowpie Ca Posts: 552	Somebody at the local shop mentioned S&W re-introducing some 29s and not from the performance center. Don't see any mention of it on the S&W page though. Anyone know if there is some new buzz about S&W making an attempt to offer some blued guns again. Price is still too rediculously high though if you ask me, I'd rather own a 29-2 that is in 95% or better condition that I bought for 400 than buy one of the new guns that is 100% condition and 650 dollars or higher.

December 8, 2002, 05:32 PM	#7
VictorLouis Senior Member Join Date: January 12, 2000 Location: Arizona Posts: 2,302	S&W needs 'at least' a 200 unit order to do something special for a distributor(though there may be some flexibility). In this case, they produced a blued gun where none is being produced right now. There's likely a special product code on the box referencing Lew Horton, but trust me, that's what it is. Now, that's not to say that Bangor's or Camfour's might not call them up and order a batch for themselves. In any case, it's a standard gun, just blued rather than stainless. The fact it has a 6.5" barrel is the only thing unique that would stand out to me. That just means it will be a pain to find a holster for it, since 6" has been the standard for quite awhile before moving up to the 8&3/8s" length. Being that's it's new, it will have the 'endurance package' that all of the big N-frames got with the '-4' series. Translation, it will weather the heavier loads easier than an earlier '-2' if that's a concern for you.

December 11, 2002, 02:41 AM	#8
Dave AA Senior Member Join Date: August 18, 1999 Posts: 407	Well, I found one at my regular store for $575, so I bought that sucker. The blueing is fantastic, the fit and finish even better than my other S&Ws. The SA is crisp, the DA is S-M-O-O-T-H, but heavy. I think someone got happy with the tension screw. I'll take care of that at the range. It is marked 29-8. "It'll blow yer head clean off" __________________ Take with food or milk

December 11, 2002, 08:26 AM	#9
C.R.Sam Senior Member Join Date: October 29, 1999 Location: Dewey, AZ Posts: 12,858	Tension screw wrong point of attack. Sam