S&W M-29, my favorite, can someone date this one?

[gmac44]

My 29 is actually a 29-2, 6" barrel, serial#ADB 34**.
Can someone tell when this one was born, and what kind of grips it left the factory with?
 I have a few pistols/revolvers, but if pressed to name a favorite, this would be it, I've had a few S&W's, a couple were foolishly traded away, but this one isn't going anywhere.
   I don't think it is particularly valuable or rare, but it is a great gun in very good condition, not a collector or safe queen, I've drug it around a bit, but never abused it. It has what I would consider normal wear marks.
I just want to know, out of curiosity.
And the grips, I'm don't really think it did, but can someone confirm that the grips supplied with this gun  were not the rare and expensive coke bottle style?   

[gnwy]

The 29-2 came out in 1962, and the 29-3 in 1982. are you sure about the serial # ? it should start with an S (look on the bottom of the grip frame, not on the side where the cylinder yoke fits into it. Your 29 could very well have come from the factory with coke bottle grips, look at them from the rear, if you notice a subtle palm swell in them, making them resemble a coca-cola bottle then you will see how they got the name. If you can get a good serial # I should be able to tell you the year your 29 was born.
Regards, Greg

[Hammerdown]

My 29 is actually a 29-2, 6" barrel, serial#ADB 34**.
Can someone tell when this one was born, and what kind of grips it left the factory with?
 I have a few pistols/revolvers, but if pressed to name a favorite, this would be it, I've had a few S&W's, a couple were foolishly traded away, but this one isn't going anywhere.
   I don't think it is particularly valuable or rare, but it is a great gun in very good condition, not a collector or safe queen, I've drug it around a bit, but never abused it. It has what I would consider normal wear marks.
I just want to know, out of curiosity.
And the grips, I'm don't really think it did, but can someone confirm that the grips supplied with this gun  were not the rare and expensive coke bottle style?   

Hello
The Model 29 started life in 1956. They were called a Pre-29 as they did not stamp Model numbers in the crane area until 1957 and when they started stamping the cranes in 1957 it simply had MOD29 in the Crane. The Dash series came as design changes were placed in the engineering of the model and the Model 29-1's were Very Rare with a One Year's coverage being 1960.In 1961 they came out with the Model 29-2 & In 1969 they Ceased using the S-Prefix before the serial number and Placed the N-Prefix in it's Place starting with 1970. The Model 29-3's had their barrel Pin dropped and the recessed cylinders were ceased in 1982. In 1980-1983 time span they began the Alpha Number Process of which yours is from and Rather hard to track due to Higher Numbers of revolver's produced they switched the Latter alpha process often back then but it appears to be from around 1983 time span.The correct grips for your Gun should be the later style checkered Target variety with the half Moon cut out in the top of them. They should have been the ones without the washers on the rear as S&W stopped using them about that time span and started simply Placing the emblems and using a dab of silicone to hold the shaft of them in Place. The expensive Coke Profile grips were made from 1956-The Mid 1960's and would Not be correct for your gun. I hope this helps, Hammerdown

[gmac44]

Thanks for the replies,
I looked under the grip frame, the serial # there is the same as in the yoke.
It appears that Hammerdown has identified it, at least good enough for me.
  While I didn't think it did, I wanted to confirm that it indeed came with the "Target" grips and not the coke bottles.
   If I can get the photos to upload you will see why.
I never really knew there was that much of a difference until fairly recently , and that the coke bottles were so rare and valuable.
 The original Target style grips were way too big, so I tried a couple different after market grips, even tried the grips off my M28 Highway Patrolman.  Was not happy with any of that..
 I looked at the large amount of wood on that Target grip, checked internal dimensions to be sure I had room to work with, and just had at it.
    I've always been pretty good with my hands, artistic,  and I work in a finishing trade that requires a very fine sense of touch and the ability to create something, from nothing more than (basically) powder and water. Almost like sculpting in reverse.
  Not a master craftsman, mind you, but some people think I'm pretty good in my profession.
Most all of the work was done with a dremel tool, and various bits, with the last bits being more like polishing stones. I wish I had a pair of original Target grips to show the difference, as I took a pile of wood off those grips,
especially off the bottom, and the area just behind the trigger guard.
The half moon cutout used to dig into the side of my thumb, now there a nice little shelf there for my thumb to sit on.
   I was careful to check as I went, and I ended up with a one of a kind set of grips that fit my hand perfectly, and are comfortable to shoot.
I know their not like your custom grips, Hammerdown, but for my first (and only) effort, I'm very pleased with the results.
Thanks again, hope you enjoy the pics.

[gmac44]

more pics

[Graybeard]

I've never found a more comfortable set of grips for an S&W N frame than the Pachmyr Presentation in small size. They make both large and small for N and K/L frame guns. For my hands that small size for N frame and for that matter same for K/L is great and none better for the N frame.

Due to a bone spur or calcium deposit call it what you will on my right hand thumb at the base I cannot deal with much recoil without rubber grips.

[Boxhead]

I have put these Herrett grips from CDNN on all of my N-grames. They fit my hand really well, are high quality and are fairly priced too. I think I have 6 or 7 pairs now. Here's some on my early M629.

http://www.cdnninvestments.com/smwenfrsqbuc.html

[Hammerdown]

Hello
Here is a set of the original Coke Profile grips you inquired about. These are from Very late 1955 time span just before they released the Pre-29's and are on my 1955 Pre-27 in .357 Caliber... Hammerdown

[Autorim]

gmac,

That's a nice 29. Looks like you did a good job on the grips. Here is mine with a rare Springfield Arsenal hospital corpsman's knife.

Ken

http://img.villagephotos.com/p/2008-4/1306597/m29-and-hospital-corpsman-k.jpg

[S.B.]

The 29-2 came out in 1962, and the 29-3 in 1982. are you sure about the serial # ? it should start with an S (look on the bottom of the grip frame, not on the side where the cylinder yoke fits into it. Your 29 could very well have come from the factory with coke bottle grips, look at them from the rear, if you notice a subtle palm swell in them, making them resemble a coca-cola bottle then you will see how they got the name. If you can get a good serial # I should be able to tell you the year your 29 was born. Definately would not have had cokes if later gun.
Regards, Greg

Greg, didn't the 29-2s originally come out with 6&1/2" barrels and later with 6" barrels? The serial number sounds correct to me also, for a later 29-2? Someone with a book or more knowledge will have to chime in with correct dates, thou. Coke's were from much ealier guns and if this gun had cokes, they are long gone(from posters pics) doubt any value would be placed on them now?
Steve

[Hank08]

Hammerdown, I notice your cokes have the speedloader cutout, did they all have that?  I have a pr of walnut diamond target grips without any cutout and I remember seeing some rosewood uncheckered N frame grips that I don't think had the cutout.  When would they have been?
Thanks,
H08

[Hank08]

I just took a look at your pre model K frames and see one of them has this same grip so hoping you know when that one was made. Did only the Ks not have the cutout.
Thanks,
H08

[Hammerdown]

Hammerdown, I notice your cokes have the speedloader cutout, did they all have that?  I have a pr of walnut diamond target grips without any cutout and I remember seeing some rosewood uncheckered N frame grips that I don't think had the cutout.  When would they have been?
Thanks,
H08

Hank
The Oval football shaped relief was not the speed loader cut out design. The actual speed loader design came in 1976 and is a Half Moon scalloped shape cut out of the top of the grip. The grips you are showing are NOT cokes. They are Pre-Coke grips made from 1950-1955 time span and are simply  called Non-Relieved Diamond Target grips and the K-Frames ran the same back then without any relief. If you look close at your grips, the Palm swell is not there and the checkering does not run as far toward the out side Border of the grip. The Coke Profile was first seen in very late 1955 time span and they were placed on Pre-29's and later the Model 57's which is the .41 Magnums. You could have ordered them on any -N-frame that left the factory Post-1956 but they were only standard on the Pre-29's and Model 57's.

[S.B.]

Seems to be a lot of difficulty identifying cokes from pictures but, I agree wholeheartedly with Hammerdown description.
Steve

[Hank08]

hammerdown, thanks, I knew my grips weren't cokes, I was wondering what yrs. the target grips were made without any cutouts.  I remember when S&W started making the foorball cutout and while I don't recall if S&W said they were for speedloaders seems everyone at the time thought they were for speedloaders but weren't big enough for some speedloaders so were later made larger.  That may be wrong but that's what we thought at the time.
H08