Short Barrelled 29-3

[winman]

Found a 29-3 with a 3" barrel and round butt wood grips at a gun show this weekend. The guy said they were rare. Anybody here know anything about them? Thanks.

[Broom Rider]

Unfluted cylinder?
Those go back to about when S&W was getting started with what many refer to as the gun of the week or gun of the month program. They made a lot of guns that differed from standard production usually in runs of about 2000 but sometimes in small numbers of 500 or so and up to 2500 or there abouts.
Considering how often some of the variations show up I don't know that I'd call them rare but if it's something you want and the price is right then go for it!

[winman]

Thank you Ms. Rider. No, it has a fluted cylinder and combat type wood grips.

[DCRthe3rd]

Didn't smith make one called the trail boss? I would love to have a smith 44 with a 3 incher

[sasu]

I would love to have a smith 44 with a 3 incher

Like this?

And it is accurate, too. This is a 100 meter group, 4"-5".

[DCRthe3rd]

ya but CAN it COOK?! 
I hear those cause cancer , global warming and are known to shoot their owners even when unloaded , for safety sakes I should hang on to it for you , for your own good

[DCRthe3rd]

It has come to my attention they made another one , 29-10  I believe , called the bounty hunter

[williek69]

I purchased a 3" Model 29-4 in 2006 from the dealer that sold it to the original owner. At that time I was told that it was a very limited edition made only in 1989. When I got it home, I started digging in my Smith & Wesson bible and here's what I found.  The 3" Model 29-4 was indeed made only in 1989 and was limited to just 2532.

My 6-1/2" Model 29-2 is a lot more pleasant to shoot with full-house magnum loads than the 3" version. It's very difficult to control the 3" in recoil. It just wants to jump right out of my hands. I haven't started reloading my own yet, but will before much longer. I will become friends with the 3" yet!

Willie

[dkhern]

i have a 629-6. round butt, 3in ported bbl.  says trail boss on rt side of bbl w/the dates 1852-2002 under the  words trail boss.  this is laser etched.  other Trail bosses i have seen have trail boss on the right side on the side plate.

[Hank08]

Speaking of .44 snubbies, thought you might like to see this one.  A S&W employee had this one at the Bianchi Cup shoot in 1981.  He worked in R&D and built it from a M58 frame, a M29 barrel and cylinder and a J frame grip. I was like a big chief special.
We shot it with R-P .44 mag ammo, shot good and wasn't nearly as bad as we thought it would be.

H08

[mcwoodduck]

The guy that has it may be talking about the Lou Horton guns.  He liked the 3" and rounded grips.  I forget if these were factory built or were modified at the Horton shop.  A few were counterfitted.  Check a blue book for serial number range and value.  I also forget if they had wide.500 or skinney hammers .375-40 and triggers and if the triggers were smooth or ribbed.  Again the Blue Book will tell you what to look for if you want it.
Would not be a bad carry gun with Warm to Hot specials in it.  With warm to standard Mag loads it would make a great trail gun.