Author Topic: 5 screw model 29 question (Read 1976 times)

shotgunner · « **on:** March 12, 2010, 02:47:17 PM »

I bought a 5 screw model 29 today. It has a few issues and I was wondering what to do with it. Hammerdown, I am especially anxious to hear your opinion. The gun has been drilled and tapped for scope bases. There are 4 holes in the barrel. Other then that it is in about 92%-94% condition. I have the blue display case which is a little dirty and has a small tear in the lining. My question is this. As rare as these first year model 29s are, should I think about a restoration? If so is there someone, other then Turnbull that you would recommend? I have heard of holes being filled, and these are in the area of the rib that is striated, and might be made presentable. For now I am going to clean it up, put plug screws in the holes and think it over. Even as it is, and the price was right, it is quite a find. Shotgunner

Hammerdown · « **Reply #1 on:** March 15, 2010, 02:03:14 AM »

Quote from: shotgunner on March 12, 2010, 02:47:17 PM

I bought a 5 screw model 29 today. It has a few issues and I was wondering what to do with it. Hammerdown, I am especially anxious to hear your opinion. The gun has been drilled and tapped for scope bases. There are 4 holes in the barrel. Other then that it is in about 92%-94% condition. I have the blue display case which is a little dirty and has a small tear in the lining. My question is this. As rare as these first year model 29s are, should I think about a restoration? If so is there someone, other then Turnbull that you would recommend? I have heard of holes being filled, and these are in the area of the rib that is striated, and might be made presentable. For now I am going to clean it up, put plug screws in the holes and think it over. Even as it is, and the price was right, it is quite a find. Shotgunner

Hello Shotgunner
Congratulations on finding a Pre-29 Five screw revolver they are hard to locate as they did not come out until 1956 and in 1957 they went to 4 screw configuration. It alw3ays disturbes me, when someone Molest's one, But I do know One person that can make it whole again. His Name is Dave Chicoine and he lives in Gastonia, North Carolina, see his web site link below. he has one of my Gun's now he is wortking on and is a Little cheaper and better than Doug Turnbull..... I hope this helps, Hammerdown

http://www.oldwestgunsmith.com/gunparts/he.htm

Hank08 · « **Reply #2 on:** March 19, 2010, 07:44:10 AM »

Shotgunner, did you get the correct "coke bottle" grips on yours. I have a very nice 5 screw in the nice blue box with all accesories, just a line around the cylinder otherwise great shape,
Mine has nice S&W oversize grips but not the correct coke bottle shape. I haven't been able to find them anywhere.
If you have some and wanted to part with them I'd be interested. I'm only asking because it sounds like yours may never be totally stock so grips may not be as important on it.
Thanks,
H08

Hammerdown · « **Reply #3 on:** March 19, 2010, 08:05:44 AM »

Quote from: Hank08 on March 19, 2010, 07:44:10 AM

Shotgunner, did you get the correct "coke bottle" grips on yours. I have a very nice 5 screw in the nice blue box with all accesories, just a line around the cylinder otherwise great shape,
Mine has nice S&W oversize grips but not the correct coke bottle shape. I haven't been able to find them anywhere.
If you have some and wanted to part with them I'd be interested. I'm only asking because it sounds like yours may never be totally stock so grips may not be as important on it.
Thanks,
H08

Hello Hank
I have Two Pairs of the Coke Profile stocks and plan on Keeping them.

They are well over $450.00 Now if you are lucky enough to find a set of them, and for Book Grained matched ones I have seen them do almost $600.00 recently...... Hammerdown

shotgunner · « **Reply #4 on:** March 19, 2010, 01:56:03 PM »

Hammerdown

You hit the nail on the head with that one. I do have one set of "coke bottles" and they are on a very early 3 screw 29 with 8 3/8" barrel. I bought the gun, sight unseen from a widow, it was in a county police property lockup. It is not perfect, but a nice gun. I want to thank Hammerdown for the link. I already got a reply about the restoration, looking at 4 figures, at least to start. Have you had one done and did it cost more then $1,000? What do you think the first year 29 will be worth restored? I could quote a price on a Parker by Delgreco or Turnbull but have not seen very many S&W that were done over. Shotgunner

shotgunner · « **Reply #5 on:** March 19, 2010, 02:16:20 PM »

Hank

Were you making an offer on the grips? I mean what they might really be worth. I have been collecting S&Ws since 1980. I do not know everything there is to know about them but I am a gun dealer and not looking to give anything away. Let me know what you would be willing to pay. I like to know who I am dealing with. Shotgunner

shotgunner · « **Reply #6 on:** April 11, 2010, 03:57:42 PM »

I shot that 5 screw 29 a little yesterday. First off it has about the best trigger, single action, I have ever experienced. just perfect. Second, it really shoots. A 44 special load with 240 gn SWC went into 1 1/2" at 20 yards, several groups had 3 shots touching. I shot some Federal factory 240 JHP and they shot about the same. I have never really liked the red ramp front sight, I prefer plain black, but just the same this gun can flat out shoot. Shotgunner

Lloyd Smale · « **Reply #7 on:** April 13, 2010, 09:56:42 AM »

the holes can be welded up but it will require rebluing and thats going to take alot of the market value away. Same goes for leaving the holes. So if your restoring it as an investment its a no win situation. To me though there such nice guns id have it welded up and not worry about reselling it anyway.

shotgunner · « **Reply #8 on:** April 15, 2010, 12:51:21 AM »

The quote I got to restore the gun was a little more then $1,000. The comment on the holes was " we can usually" get them right. I admire the guys honesty, but am not sure I was to spend that much and risk the holes not being right. I did not end up spending very much on the gun at all, and have some room to work with it. I am going to take my time, shoot it some, and decide after a while what to do. I think I will end up with a restoration, which will be worth half of an original. Even at half that will be more then I have spent. Shotgunner

Ex 49'er · « **Reply #9 on:** May 04, 2010, 09:22:17 PM »

Could it be rebarreled?

Mikey · « **Reply #10 on:** May 05, 2010, 02:19:48 AM »

shotgunner: contact Smith and Wesson and see if they have any barrels in their surplus inventory that are correct for that revolver. I'm wondering if most any blue steel barrel for a M29 would fit and if so then you have a ton of options for that 5 screw. If she shoots and is smooth, you could probably ship it on off to S&W and have them rebarrel for under $300. I would not, under any circumstances, send the grips along with the gun. They might even be able to help repair the display case..... HTH and good luck.

thxmrgarand · « **Reply #11 on:** May 05, 2010, 08:45:30 AM »

Would someone be kind enough to show comparative photo's of coke bottle and non-coke bottle grips. I carry a 29-2 much of the time, and over the years I have purchased several sets of S&W N frame grips but I'll be darned if I understand how to spot the coke bottle. Thanks.

P.A. Myers · « **Reply #12 on:** May 05, 2010, 04:32:10 PM »

In my humble opinion, $1000 sounds a bit high even for first class work. If you like this gun, make it the way you want it. It is not a virgin and never will be. If this is for profit, I would sell it 'as is'. Early Smith grips in mint condition dont seem to have an upper price limit. I wish I had bought more grips in the '80s when the trend was for rubber and a lot of nice grips went into a drawer never to be seen again.

shotgunner · « **Reply #13 on:** May 06, 2010, 12:48:20 AM »

I thought of another option. I could buy the next decent 6 1/2" 29 that comes along. I could then switch barrels, scope the 3 screw gun and keep the other. It would make each presentable. I sold two different 6 1/2" 29s through the years, too bad. Buy the way, I bought all the N frame diamond center grips I could lay my hands on in the 80's and still have a bunch, mostly Magna's. I can supply a picture of the coke bottle style latter, they have a slight palm swell. Shotgunner

Hammerdown · « **Reply #14 on:** May 06, 2010, 01:30:09 AM »

Quote from: thxmrgarand on May 05, 2010, 08:45:30 AM

Would someone be kind enough to show comparative photo's of coke bottle and non-coke bottle grips. I carry a 29-2 much of the time, and over the years I have purchased several sets of S&W N frame grips but I'll be darned if I understand how to spot the coke bottle. Thanks.

Hello
The Coke Profile Grips have checkering that covers almost all the way to Both channel Borders of the Outer grip. Their profile will have a Coke bottle shape Profile from their slight swelled Palm Look from the rear. They also will be Oval in shape if viewed from the bottom with both half's Placed together. Other diamond center grips of Non Coke profile will Not have the wide broad checering Pattern all the way to the channel borders, and will be a flat sided Panel, but will have the Oval shape if viewed from the bottom as the Coke Profile grips have. The early Non Coke profile grips will be Non-Relieved meaning "no football shape relief" in them as shown. The later ones that are Not of Coke profile, will have the football shaped relief but will be more of a "flat sided looking panel". Sometimes this can be very confusing if you are not aware of what was available or just what to look for. The Coke Profile grips came into Play on the Pre-29's about 1956 time span. They also made a smaller K-Frame grip with "a Palm swell" but it lacked the wide checkering pattern taken al the way to the channel Borders like the Larger-N-profile grips. See The Pictures below to make these changes a Little easier to understand... Hammerdown

Early Non relieved grips...these came along before the Coke profile, and were Produced around 1952-1955 time span

Coke Profile grips came first on the Pre-29's around 1956 and were Phased out in the Mid 1960's time span, Reverting back to a flat Looking Panel just like the Earlier non relieved panels but these had the football shaped relief in them. By 1968 They dropped the center diamond on all Target and smaller Magna style grips. In 1976 They came out with the Half Moon relief on all Target grips and this design change was prompted by Law enforcement to allow the use of Speed Loaders in revolvers. Roy Jinks who is now the Factory Historian was the designer of these scalloped shaped style relief grips back in 1976 as he was running the service department back then for S&W.

A set of Coke Profile grips that came shipped on my Pre-27.

A Set Of K-Square Coke Profile grips. Notice the checkering is not as Broad on the Panel as the Larger-N-Frame grips but the Palm swell is Indeed there and showing...

thxmrgarand · « **Reply #15 on:** May 06, 2010, 06:18:23 AM »

Thank you for the explanation and photographs. This is very helpful. I can see that some of my garage sale purchases are coke bottle grips, and I can also see why that profile is preferred. The best garage sale season is now beginning and I will sure continue to look for S&W grips. Thanks again.

Drilling Man · « **Reply #16 on:** May 06, 2010, 02:26:59 PM »

Man i hated to have to "use" those grips. The minute i switched them out, my scores went up! They do look good though.

DM

Hank08 · « **Reply #17 on:** May 12, 2010, 06:18:46 AM »

HD, Cokes were phased out in the mid 60s.
Jenks designed the 1/2 moon in 1976 but pictured were a N frame coke and a K frame coke that both had the 1/2 moon. Were they scalloped at a later date? Just wondering.
H08

Hammerdown · « **Reply #18 on:** May 12, 2010, 07:19:04 AM »

Quote from: Hank08 on May 12, 2010, 06:18:46 AM

HD, Cokes were phased out in the mid 60s.
Jenks designed the 1/2 moon in 1976 but pictured were a N frame coke and a K frame coke that both had the 1/2 moon. Were they scalloped at a later date? Just wondering.
H08

Hank
All The grips shown in my response above were Pre-1968 design and are commonly called the Foot ball shaped relief grips. The half Moon cut out design came in around 1976 and is shown below. In 1968 S&W dropped The Diamond centers on all Their Grips being the smaller Magna style shown as well below and the Larger style Target Grips Non-Diamond style shown below too. The checkering got Less Lines per inch in the Late 1960's early 1970's time span and appeared to be a Coarser style of checkering. In or around the Mid 1980's They dropped the use of emblem washers on the rear of their target & magna grips as they placed the emblem shaft into the grips and put a dab of silicone on the shaft to hold it in place. Pre-1975 or so Target Grips and Magna grips had the Blued style washers holding the emblems in place then later they changed to ones that Look to be silver in color or sometimes as they are called in The White Non Blued style. I hope this helps, Hammerdown

Hank08 · « **Reply #19 on:** May 12, 2010, 05:53:02 PM »

Thanks Hammerdown, I see now the 2 different relief cuts.
H08