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DOC and others,..S&W 29 classic

JustCJustC Member Posts: 16,056 ✭✭✭
edited January 2012 in General Discussion
Doc, or other S&W afficianados,...what is a real world value for a model 29 classic, 6.5" barrel, in Nickel finish at 90+% condition?? also, what would be a great price to get it for??

Thanks all

Comments

  • shilowarshilowar Member Posts: 38,811 ✭✭✭
    edited November -1
    Definitely less than a $100, but I'll send $110 right now through paypal for it. [;)] Its a bad economy and I want to be generous.
  • savage170savage170 Member Posts: 37,567 ✭✭✭✭
    edited November -1
    Pawn shop down the street from me has one about the same as your describing and he has 800.00 on it and it has been there for along time. Keep hoping he'll take my offer of 675.00 one of these days
  • DocDoc Member Posts: 13,898 ✭✭✭
    edited November -1
    By "Classic" do you mean the recently made retro revolvers that sort of emulate the guns from the 1960s and 1970s? They are like $800 new so a 90% example would likely be worth about $500-$550 IMO.

    Here's what a real 6.5" M29 looks like.

    standard.jpg
    ....................................................................................................
    Too old to live...too young to die...
  • 1911a1-fan1911a1-fan Member Posts: 51,193 ✭✭
    edited November -1
    the one on the top is a "magna classic", i paid 650 new, in 1989

    GUN2.jpg
  • Laredo LeftyLaredo Lefty Member Posts: 13,451 ✭✭✭
    edited November -1
    quote:Originally posted by 1911a1fan
    the one on the top is a "magna classic", i paid 650 new, in 1989

    GUN2.jpg


    He was asking about a 29 Classic, I think your gun in the pic is a stainless 629, at least thats what it looks like.
  • JustCJustC Member Posts: 16,056 ✭✭✭
    edited November -1
    quote:Originally posted by Doc
    By "Classic" do you mean the recently made retro revolvers that sort of emulate the guns from the 1960s and 1970s? They are like $800 new so a 90% example would likely be worth about $500-$550 IMO.

    Here's what a real 6.5" M29 looks like.

    standard.jpg


    Doc, all I know is that the person who told me about it said, that the person who owned it has a sick wife and sold everything (4 more guns plus this one). A woman he knows (her and husband have money) bought it from the guy (friends of theirs) to help him with expenses. She doesn't want them, just helped out their friend with medical expenses. He told me she wasn't interested in top dollar, she simply spent the money to help out a friend and wants to move them.

    He said, she said (I know, don't say it) that it was stainless. I have not been able to find a stainless model on the auctions, so I ASSUME it is a nickle model. The condition was said to be almost new, so I decided to say 90% to be safe. I have not seen the gun, but have wanted a smith revolver in 44 for some time. Sooooo, I am throwing out info that is far from complete, but knew YOU in particular were the go-to guy on S&W revolvers.

    Let's ASSUME a 6.5" classic (clearly stated "classic" from the source, who knows NOTHING about guns, so I figure that was what she was told by the seller) in Nickle finish.

    Have I provided enough info or do I need more for a better value? I plan on looking at it soon if you tell me I may be on to something.
  • JustCJustC Member Posts: 16,056 ✭✭✭
    edited November -1
    Sorry Doc, I just looked back at your post. WHAT differentiates the NEW (retro) model from the older model???? and which is worth more and/or why??? How do I tell the difference???

    Thanks Doc.
  • drobsdrobs Member Posts: 22,620 ✭✭✭✭
    edited November -1
    I just picked up a 90% 6" 29-2 blued for $600 at the local gunshop.
    Any of the newest guns will have the lock above the cylinder release.

    Looking at the auction side, looks like I paid about what they go for.
  • n/an/a Member Posts: 168,427
    edited November -1
    quote:Originally posted by JustC
    Sorry Doc, I just looked back at your post. WHAT differentiates the NEW (retro) model from the older model???? and which is worth more and/or why??? How do I tell the difference???

    Thanks Doc.


    the older 29's are usually pinned and recessed (pinned barrel, recessed cylinder). They are almost always square butt. And they will not have any internal lock on them. Also, they will have the firing pin on the hammer.
  • NOAHNOAH Member Posts: 9,690
    edited November -1
    just picked up a 29-2 with 6" bbl at a pawn shop for 5 bills[^]
    about 98% ondition but no box[:(]it's blue ,beautiful after market
    walnut grips. cheapest i've seen on Gb is 650.00
  • JustCJustC Member Posts: 16,056 ✭✭✭
    edited November -1
    OK
    "pinned and recessed"
    "square butt"

    Guys I have NO IDEA what that means[:(] I am a semi-auto guy. Can you tell me, or better yet post pics of just what I am looking for here[?] revolvers are something I am ignorant of.
  • JustCJustC Member Posts: 16,056 ✭✭✭
    edited November -1
    quote:Originally posted by drobs
    I just picked up a 90% 6" 29-2 blued for $600 at the local gunshop.
    Any of the newest guns will have the lock above the cylinder release.

    Looking at the auction side, looks like I paid about what they go for.


    what is a "lock"[?] Sorry I have no idea about revolvers[V] I am a Sig/HK/Kimber shooter.
  • 1911a1-fan1911a1-fan Member Posts: 51,193 ✭✭
    edited November -1
    go back, open the cylinder, read what it says 29-?

    who ever answers will need that information, or its a crap shoot
  • savage170savage170 Member Posts: 37,567 ✭✭✭✭
    edited November -1
    [img][/img]round_vs_square.jpg
    Pinned Barrel
    [img][/img]28-2_pinned.jpg

    The stupid lock
    [img][/img]DSC07672.jpg
  • JustCJustC Member Posts: 16,056 ✭✭✭
    edited November -1
    thanks so far guys. I guess I need to lay eyes on this thing first.
  • savage170savage170 Member Posts: 37,567 ✭✭✭✭
    edited November -1
    Here is a better picture of pinned and recess
    [img][/img]pinnedrecessed.jpg
  • DocDoc Member Posts: 13,898 ✭✭✭
    edited November -1
    Older generally means better fit and finish. Get the exact model number from under the cylinder crane. Anything 29-3 and higher I stick with the $500 estimate. A 29-2 can bring $750 without much trouble.
    ....................................................................................................
    Too old to live...too young to die...
  • JustCJustC Member Posts: 16,056 ✭✭✭
    edited November -1
    thanks so far guys, I will try and get eyes on this pistol this weekend.
  • gearheaddadgearheaddad Member Posts: 15,091 ✭✭✭
    edited November -1
    If it's stainless it's a 629. Right?
  • BoomerangBoomerang Member Posts: 4,513
    edited November -1
    What I am about to share is my opinion, and we all know what opinions are worth.

    In my honest opinion (IMHO), S&W revolvers are better referred to as either pre-lock or post lock guns, or even better yet pre Metal Injection Molding (MIM) parts guns or post MIM. MIM guns can be both Pre or post lock. However, all post lock guns are MIM parts guns.

    IMHO, I think that when S&W started using MIM parts was the beginning of the overall cheapening of their revolvers. It is not that MIM parts are bad parts, it just coincided with when S&W began to look for ways to cut costs, and they started going down hill.

    The quality of blueing and finish is not that good on the post-lock guns. Granted you are talking about a nickle gun, but the same thing applies. Pinned frame and recessed cylinders are only on the early S&W revolvers and probably represent the best of the best of this series. I think through about -2 or -3 engineering changes.

    Having said that, I prefer the 29-6 as it is the last of the engineering changes before MIM parts guns were introduced some where in the early / mid 1990's. An easy way to a tell if a gun is pre-MIM is to look at the hammer, if it is pinned then it is Pre-MIM and is generally a well fitted and finished gun.

    As for price, according to the 29th Edition Blue Book below are the values copied from a CD.

    FYI - I did note this gun does not come in a nickle finish. I also coes with a full under lug that I am not a fan of. Are you sure it is a M29 Classic?
    quote: MODEL 29 CLASSIC
    - .44 Mag. cal., 5, 6 1/2, or 8 3/8 in. full lug barrel, blue only, round butt with Hogue conversion square butt grips, interchangeable front sights with white outline rear sight, frame is drilled and tapped to accept scope mounts, blue finish only. Mfg. 1990-94.
    Grading 100% 98% 95% 90% 80% 70% 60%
    $600 $500 $400 $380 $340 $325 $300
    Last MSR was $591.
    Add $8 for 8 3/8 in. barrel. It sounds more like this one. quote:MODEL 29 (CURRENT MFG.)
    - .44 Mag. cal., N-frame, 6 shot, 3 (Lew Horton), 4 (Talo, blue finish only), or 6 1/2 in. barrel, Altamont walnut ( 61/2 in. only), square butt wood (3 in. only), or custom Hogue monogrip (4 in. only), adj. white outline rear sight, black or red ramp front sight, blue or nickel finish, part of S&W's Classic Firearms series, 39.3 - 48 1/2 oz.
    Grading 100% 98% 95% 90% 80% 70% 60%
    MSR $980 $730 $575 $495 $450 $400 $365 $325

    Add $55 for nickel finish.
    Add $166 for 6 1/2 in. barrel.
    Well there you have my two cents.
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