Cannot find any Information about this Revolver...
- Thread starter Dyno
- Start date
I see absolutely no evidence of any Model 29 with a 2" or 1 7/8" barrel in the SCSW (mine is the second edition). Often when you see "custom" shortened barrels, you don't see all the lettering perfectly centered as yours does show.
Makes me think that they found another proper barrel (but not originally a .44 Magnum barrel) and put it on there. However, they would have swapped out the ejector rod as well, that's obviously a snub-length ejector rod.
I find the proof marks on the ejector shroud in the second picture interesting and not "typical", perhaps those are the key to the answer.
Value? That would be awfully difficult to determine, I would think, but "generally" speaking, if it was a one-off done by someone unknown or has no provenance as to who did it, it would be difficult to stamp it with any value unless you put it up for sale and completed a deal. Simply -- if it's not a "known" product with others that have hit the market before it, it's hard to put a solid "value" on it.
On one hand, it's pre-1982 with the pinned barrel. It does not have it's original factory stocks. But it appears very well done and in awfully good shape. If I were to "value" it for the purpose of insurance or some such matter, I would compare it to a very fine example of a commonly available Model 29-2 as it would be -FAR- from correct to assign it a "value" of a known, scarce example of a factory produced gun.
Scarce examples of known factory produced guns sit on an entirely different plane than do customs and such. Their provenance usually comes in the form of a factory letter, which is about as bulletproof as you can get in this game.
These are merely the opinions of a neophyte.
You have a neat revolver.
Makes me think that they found another proper barrel (but not originally a .44 Magnum barrel) and put it on there. However, they would have swapped out the ejector rod as well, that's obviously a snub-length ejector rod.
I find the proof marks on the ejector shroud in the second picture interesting and not "typical", perhaps those are the key to the answer.
Value? That would be awfully difficult to determine, I would think, but "generally" speaking, if it was a one-off done by someone unknown or has no provenance as to who did it, it would be difficult to stamp it with any value unless you put it up for sale and completed a deal. Simply -- if it's not a "known" product with others that have hit the market before it, it's hard to put a solid "value" on it.
On one hand, it's pre-1982 with the pinned barrel. It does not have it's original factory stocks. But it appears very well done and in awfully good shape. If I were to "value" it for the purpose of insurance or some such matter, I would compare it to a very fine example of a commonly available Model 29-2 as it would be -FAR- from correct to assign it a "value" of a known, scarce example of a factory produced gun.
Scarce examples of known factory produced guns sit on an entirely different plane than do customs and such. Their provenance usually comes in the form of a factory letter, which is about as bulletproof as you can get in this game.
These are merely the opinions of a neophyte.
You have a neat revolver.
Microgunner
New member
Front sight looks awefully high.
First thanks for your responses !
i dont know much of John Jovinos Customs,but there is no "Effector" marking on the Barrel.
My Place of Living is Switzerland, the Marks you can see under the Barrel are Proofhouse and Custom Stampings.
I have my hands on this Revolver,it is the gun showed in the Pictures No Photoshop.... it is in real good Condition,like New,but no box.
The Dealer called app.1000$ for it,i thik im gona buy it!
And sorry for my English, its not my first Languagge....
i dont know much of John Jovinos Customs,but there is no "Effector" marking on the Barrel.
My Place of Living is Switzerland, the Marks you can see under the Barrel are Proofhouse and Custom Stampings.
I have my hands on this Revolver,it is the gun showed in the Pictures No Photoshop.... it is in real good Condition,like New,but no box.
The Dealer called app.1000$ for it,i thik im gona buy it!
And sorry for my English, its not my first Languagge....
Seems that custom shop did quite a few N frames like that back in the '80s, because S&W didn't offer it factory. From my brief research he did a lot of 25-2s in .45acp due do the moon clips. Seems that was much more then just rebarreled, with trigger jobs, round butt conversions, etc. Also, one thread I found stated that the "Effector" tag is a plus, adding to the value.
As far as value goes, I found one sold for 899.99, was a 25-2, but couldn't tell how long ago. One owner stated he wouldn't hesitate to ask for $1k and let it go north from there in an auction style setting if he was to let his go. But he also has original box and paperwork, and it's a 57, not a 29, and was 4 years ago. Without digging further, I'd say that it'll go for a minimum of what a basic 29-2 will go for in like condition, and more if it has all the original box and paperwork with it. If one could snag it around that $800-$900 range, I think that would be the sweet spot.
Of course, I could be so far out there as to not even be in the ballpark, lol. I do like it, and might add one his custom jobs to my want list. Specially a 57 or 58. Or a 25 with moons and .45acp. Hmmmmmmm:.................
As far as value goes, I found one sold for 899.99, was a 25-2, but couldn't tell how long ago. One owner stated he wouldn't hesitate to ask for $1k and let it go north from there in an auction style setting if he was to let his go. But he also has original box and paperwork, and it's a 57, not a 29, and was 4 years ago. Without digging further, I'd say that it'll go for a minimum of what a basic 29-2 will go for in like condition, and more if it has all the original box and paperwork with it. If one could snag it around that $800-$900 range, I think that would be the sweet spot.
Of course, I could be so far out there as to not even be in the ballpark, lol. I do like it, and might add one his custom jobs to my want list. Specially a 57 or 58. Or a 25 with moons and .45acp. Hmmmmmmm:.................
oldgunsmith
New member
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Deaf Smith
New member
The ejector rod in the photo look... odd.
Notice the proof marks on the ejector rod housing.
Pinned barrel, recessed chambers. Front sight rather high.
Something is wrong here.
Deaf
Notice the proof marks on the ejector rod housing.
Pinned barrel, recessed chambers. Front sight rather high.
Something is wrong here.
Deaf
oldgunsmith
New member
We never had proof laws in the U.S. like the rest of the world. If those are in fact proofs, it may not have been done here. Also could have been made specifically (by S&W) to be sold overseas where it was "proofed" before it could be sold. A friend has a Mod. 28 that has German proofs in 2 or 3 places because he bought it new when he was stationed in Germany.
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Back in the late 70s & early 80s if you had the cash, the S&W custom shop would do all kinds of special requests. If you had the cast to pay for a couple hundred guns up front, you could get nearly any variation you wanted.
I friend of mine had one of the Lew Horton specials, a 3" Model 29, round butt (I think it was a 29-2, but am no longer certain, it was mid 80s when he got it, second or third hand).
The name Jovino rings a bell, but I don't recall where...
your gun may have been an individual custom, or it may have been from a limited run of specials for some distributor. It is also remotely possible it was done by a custom gunsmith. Sorry, not much help.
one thing does make me curious. It might just be the angle of the picture, but it looks like the muzzle is very square cut. No S&W I ever saw had a flat crown muzzle factory barrel, which is what that picture makes me think it has.
If/When you go to look at the gun, look at the muzzle. If it is crowned flat (no radius to the edge of the barrel), then I'd say someone other than S&W did something to the barrel. While that doesn't harm the value as a working gun, it does affect what one ought to be willing to pay for it.
Place a call to S&W, for a fee(it used to be $35 but that was a long time ago) they will prepare a letter stating what the condition of the gun (ser#NXXXXXX) was when it left the factory (barrel length, what features it had, etc.).
That will tell you if it was a custom order gun or if it has been customized aftermarket.
With the price of standard 29-2s being what it currently is, $1000 for a "rare" one, in Europe, isn't hugely out of line, but no bargain. However, if the gun is a custom job from some unknown gunsmith shop (no matter how good the work), its not worth the same to a collector as one original from S&W. So the value would be comparable to any standard gun in similar condition, perhaps worth a small premium more to someone with a strong desire for that short barrel, or perhaps not worth quite as much to someone else, because of the short barrel.
Contact S&W, find out what it was when they sent it out the door, and then, go from there. Or just buy it, and if you later find out that you paid more than you had to, say, "oh well", and go on with life...and think about how much more the asking price is likely to be the next time you see one of those for sale. Odds are, it will be more than what they are asking today...
I friend of mine had one of the Lew Horton specials, a 3" Model 29, round butt (I think it was a 29-2, but am no longer certain, it was mid 80s when he got it, second or third hand).
The name Jovino rings a bell, but I don't recall where...
your gun may have been an individual custom, or it may have been from a limited run of specials for some distributor. It is also remotely possible it was done by a custom gunsmith. Sorry, not much help.
one thing does make me curious. It might just be the angle of the picture, but it looks like the muzzle is very square cut. No S&W I ever saw had a flat crown muzzle factory barrel, which is what that picture makes me think it has.
If/When you go to look at the gun, look at the muzzle. If it is crowned flat (no radius to the edge of the barrel), then I'd say someone other than S&W did something to the barrel. While that doesn't harm the value as a working gun, it does affect what one ought to be willing to pay for it.
Place a call to S&W, for a fee(it used to be $35 but that was a long time ago) they will prepare a letter stating what the condition of the gun (ser#NXXXXXX) was when it left the factory (barrel length, what features it had, etc.).
That will tell you if it was a custom order gun or if it has been customized aftermarket.
With the price of standard 29-2s being what it currently is, $1000 for a "rare" one, in Europe, isn't hugely out of line, but no bargain. However, if the gun is a custom job from some unknown gunsmith shop (no matter how good the work), its not worth the same to a collector as one original from S&W. So the value would be comparable to any standard gun in similar condition, perhaps worth a small premium more to someone with a strong desire for that short barrel, or perhaps not worth quite as much to someone else, because of the short barrel.
Contact S&W, find out what it was when they sent it out the door, and then, go from there. Or just buy it, and if you later find out that you paid more than you had to, say, "oh well", and go on with life...and think about how much more the asking price is likely to be the next time you see one of those for sale. Odds are, it will be more than what they are asking today...
The ejector rod is not knurled, but that means little since a regular rod would have been cut down by either the factory or a custom shop, and I doubt either would bother to knurl the short rod. My feeling that it is factory is based on the markings and the barrel itself.
Jim
Jim
It is really great to see how you share your knowledge...i appreciate that.
I have made my dicision. Tommorrow i will go to the Shop and buy it.
The Paperwork has to be done, means i cant take it Home immedeatly, but i will made a few Photos by myself and looking for the serial Number.
Provide You whith more Information ASAP.
Thank You all, again!
I have made my dicision. Tommorrow i will go to the Shop and buy it.
The Paperwork has to be done, means i cant take it Home immedeatly, but i will made a few Photos by myself and looking for the serial Number.
Provide You whith more Information ASAP.
Thank You all, again!
Snub-nosed model 29?
I know next to nothing about firearms history but I read a lot. The August 2013 issue of American Rifleman has an in depth article on the Model 29 with regards to our hero Dirty Harry. The article mentions an 'exclusive' 3" barrel model made for distributor Lew Horton.
I have a 3" model 65 and so my guess based on this is that the barrel depicted is less than 3" but maybe it's a matter of scale (N frame vs K frame).
Also, the article stated the early .44 magnums (circa 1956) preceded the use of numerical model designation and were "simply called the .'44 magnum' which was roll marked along the edge of the barrel". Does this gun have any markings inside the cylinder crane? What is the serial number?
Maybe this helps, maybe not. Dunno. But there ya go.
I know next to nothing about firearms history but I read a lot. The August 2013 issue of American Rifleman has an in depth article on the Model 29 with regards to our hero Dirty Harry. The article mentions an 'exclusive' 3" barrel model made for distributor Lew Horton.
I have a 3" model 65 and so my guess based on this is that the barrel depicted is less than 3" but maybe it's a matter of scale (N frame vs K frame).
Also, the article stated the early .44 magnums (circa 1956) preceded the use of numerical model designation and were "simply called the .'44 magnum' which was roll marked along the edge of the barrel". Does this gun have any markings inside the cylinder crane? What is the serial number?
Maybe this helps, maybe not. Dunno. But there ya go.
ITS MINE!
Today i went into the gunshop and have bought the Revolver.Made some "Photos" (crap.really...
)and was able to take a close look:
Bluing is verry nice 99%, only a faint turning line,no wear at all.
Timing is as it should be, minimal and equal on all 6 positions
Screws are virgins( ah dont know how to say.. )
Over all the Weapon looks very very clean ,really like new.
Ejector Rod is plain, not knurled.
Muzzle is rounded, looks original
Target Hammer,serrated target Trigger.
Barrel lenght is 21/2"
i think its a Square butt
Serial No.: N 619xxx
Payed app. 900$ Cash.
Im really Happy with this Gun and it will be an absolute Keeper.
Looking ahead for a Factory Letter...
Today i went into the gunshop and have bought the Revolver.Made some "Photos" (crap.really...
)and was able to take a close look:Bluing is verry nice 99%, only a faint turning line,no wear at all.
Timing is as it should be, minimal and equal on all 6 positions
Screws are virgins( ah dont know how to say..
)Over all the Weapon looks very very clean ,really like new.
Ejector Rod is plain, not knurled.
Muzzle is rounded, looks original
Target Hammer,serrated target Trigger.
Barrel lenght is 21/2"
i think its a Square butt
Serial No.: N 619xxx
Payed app. 900$ Cash.
Im really Happy with this Gun and it will be an absolute Keeper.
Looking ahead for a Factory Letter...
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