An abomination of a classic if you ask me.  They call THIS a model 29 ?

(from smith-wesson.com/)

While I can't say I'm a big fan of the looks, I am kinda surprised to see the reapperance of the 4th screw at the top of the side plate...  Then again this is a performance center gun, but still kinda interesting...

that thing looks like it was party to some really bad industrial accident or something.

As ugly as it is - do away with the stupid action lock and I will consider buying it

Delete the mounting rail (I think that's what it is?) on the barrel and it would be fine.  I'm glad to see Smith bringing back blued guns.  

I'm all for blued N-frames, especially when they don't have some ugly assed "MOUNTAIN GUN" in tacky assed gold enlaid laser engraving.

It was sad, the M29 mountain guns had some potential.    The medium contour 1950 type barrel profile was an awesome addition to the M29 but they went and ugly'd up a perfectly good revolver by putting that laser engraved crap on the gun.

Here's another example of too many things going on at once.

If they want to do something they've never done before, they need to make a blued N-frame chambered for 10mm Auto with the 1950s target barrel profile.    No laser engraving or crap like that, just an addition to the family that has NEVER been offered before and fills a hole in the N-frame lineage.    Think about all the S&W N-frames out there and the chamberings they have been offered in, the 610 has no carbon steel blued sibling.   The tapered barrel would be a throw back to the early Target Model of 1950 revolvers like the 44Spl and 45ACP.    Would fill a niche in there with people who love revolvers that use moon clips, want something with performance like that of a 41Mag or a little tamer than a 44Mag.

That's what would get me up off my ass to buy a new manufacture S&W, even with MIM parts and with the firing pin in the wrong spot....

Until then, I will continue buying slightly used no longer produced bargins that are above and beyond a better gun than what S&W is making today in terms of traditional guns.