Posted: 5/16/2006 9:19:17 AM EDT
| I saw one of the new mod 29's for sale at a local shop for $865 and was wondering how that is for price. The other shops in the area are asking 999 and up for them. |
| Geezus! That sounds high as a cat's ass to me, but I am an old fart and remember when they were selling for well under $500 NIB. For sure, I would never give anywhere near either figure for a new S&W with the lock. Do some searching and I bet you can find an older, classical model at not much morte than half that price with very little wear...with no MIM parts and no damned lock! |
Seems to sum it up perfectly, IMO. 
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Hah! I guess getting to be an old fart beats the heck out of the alternative...which is about all the good I see in getting older! 
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Hey!! I resemble that remark! |
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I picked up a LNIB 6" 29 at a gun show about 3 years ago for $425 out the door. It has been a while since I ran the serial number, but I think the gun was made in the mid 90's. No lock and old style cylinder latch. I really haven't watched M29 prices since then. I would think you could still get a gun like I bought for $500 or less. Roadstar |
To answer the original question, that is a pretty good price for that gun, in today's market. I have noticed in a few forums that whenever the 50th Anniversary Model 29 is mentioned, it tends to ignite the ongoing debates about old vs new S&W guns, the internal lock, etc., etc. Yes, if one pokes around, one can find an older used Model 29 in decent shape (so many of them were hardly ever fired after their owners found out what shooting .44 magnum was really like  ) for less money than the anniversary model. But, that is a different gun, and this IS ar15.com, so the appropriate answer is "buy both!" For myself, I like the 50th Anniversary model because 2006 also happens to be the 50th anniversary of my own appearance on the planet as well, so it kind of suits me. 
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I've heard this many times, but with good aftermarket grips, the .44mag isn't actually painful to shoot, IMO. Loud, yes; painful, no. This excludes the scandium frame versions, of course!
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Most expensive gun of the group was an absolutely new condition(still in original shipping box) M25 125th Anniversary 45LC, 615 out the door after all fees taxes. And this is in Ca. where the market is inflated for anything not on the approval list. My opinion, go search out used guns. If it's a magnum I go for the -2 models or older that are pinned&recessed. Requisite N-frame pron, None of these were made within the past 20 years and in my opinion they have more character, heritage, and are more desirable guns than the current S&W offerings. 
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How about labelling those from L to R so those of us with less S&W knowledge can know what they are? Yes, the older ones are fine examples of the gunmaker's craft, and have a place in anyone's collection. But, why approach it as an either/or? Why not have old ones and new ones?
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Not to speak for him, but many wheel gun lovers approach it from a purist standpoint, IMO. Some do it because of the trigger lock, some do it from the bad S&W days when they had English owners & cozied up to the Klinton gun grabbers. Generally speaking, most S&W guns of 25+ years ago had a bit more hand-fitting to them. While today's CNC machining allows closer tolerances that make such hand-fitting unnecessary, the older units may often feel "smoother", IMO. My .o2 |
Left bank, small bores, right bank large bores. 38/44 Outdoorsman on top left, 28-2 below it, 27-2 bottom. 45ACP 25-2 with incorrectly labeled 1950 barrel(instead of 1955) top right, 25-3 45LC below that, 29-3 44Mag bottom(to be replaced by a 29-2 when I can find one in decent condition and price). Got 3-4 more to round out the collection, 44Spl. M24, hopefully true pre-model number 1950 Target Models 44Spl. and 45ACP, and pre model number 357Mag to matcn the 38/44 Outdoorsman. Not sure I want a 41Mag M57 when I already have a 44Mag. |
I won't buy anything with laser engraving on it. Hate metal injection molded parts. And in many ways hand fitting is where it is at, my 27-2 and 25-3 lock up so tight before the hammer drops that there is hardly any cylinder slop/play. The bluing on the older guns beats out most anything I've seen S&W manage over the past couple years. I'd love to get a blued Mountain Gun but the laser engraving and the god awful gold enlayed bullshit has gotta stop before I will ever get new production S&W. |
