Correcting An Unforgivable Oversight

O

OutAtTheEdge

New member
I'm embarrassed to admit that throughout the 29 years that I've been a devout S&W owner, I've never owned a model 29 in any configuration. I guess the shame finally became too unbearable, 'cause the other day I put money down on a 6-1/2" blue 29-2. I've mentioned before that I work the gun counter at Gander Mountain in Appleton, Wis. I had a few spare minutes the other day, and ran a used firearm search in our database, which turned up the pistol in question at our nearby Green Bay store. The gun dept. manager is a good friend, so I called him about it. I was told it's in 95-97% condition, and it's priced as a shooter. Since it just came in, it doesn't qualify for my employee discount, but I made an impulsive decision and put $100 on it, sight unseen. I'll pay it off with credit card by phone, so I won't actually see it till I go to do the paperwork, hopefully a day or two before Christmas. Lucky me!

I'm...

OutAtTheEdge
 
I also have an unforgiveable oversight. I have a S&W model 12, 15 ,19. I have lusted for a model 13 with a 3" barrel and round butt. One was for sale on the Smith&wesson forum for $400.00 "LNIB". I did not bid on it and it was sold the next day. Some day I might forgive myself, but not soon...
 
I'm glad you finally redeemed yourself from your utter pit of shame! :o :neener: Congratulations on a classic revolver! :D
 
Don't worry.

Your mistake, while heinous, is recoverable. :D

I have wanted a 29 ever since the first time my dad let me watch "Dirty Harry". After lots of anticipation, study, researching, and shopping I accqiured mine last month. Blued with the original service grips and the 8 3/8"
barrel. Just like the one Clint Eastwood carried. For me, it is a neat collectible peice with lots of memories attached. Seems like no matter what happened, there was always time for me and dad to sit and watch at least one Clint Eastwood movie every few days. It's a beautiful firearm, and I'll bet that you'll enjoy yours just as much.

Tends to outshoot all the GlockBlocks and 1911's at the range, too :cool:
 
Stainless

I prefer stainless revolvers any more, and I once had a 6 inch stainless 44 mag S&W. Never really tried to explore the max power limits with it, but I loaded alot of lead swc to about 44 spec. +P levels in mag. cases and that thing would make cloverleafs with that ammo all day long if I was doing my part correctly. Never saw the need to hammer paper targets and me, with super hot mag loads in it. Plus the brass lasts a long time that way.
 
Dirty Harry M29 Barrel Length Was....?

Thanks everyone for sharing my joy on this long-awaited acquisition.

To 38splfan: not my intent to be contentious on this point, but I'm fairly sure that Dirty Harry Callahan's M29 was a 6-1/2" model, not the 8-3/8". I've been involved in this discussion dozens of times over the years; it seems that shortly after the movie was released, the general impression of many (if not most) of those who coveted "the most powerful handgun in the world", was that the movie piece had the longer tube. Of course those were the pre-VHS days, so folks couldn't really study the film closely, and they likely remembered from the theater viewing that the pistol was just really, really big. I also originally believed Harry's 29 was an 8-3/8" model, but a few home video viewings and the concensus of gunzine writers over the years pretty much put the gun at 6-1/2". I certainly wouldn't bet the farm on it, but I'm sufficiently convinced. Anyway, I don't think the specifics of the movie gun should carry much weight as criteria for purchasing one of these wonderful classic revolvers. Personally, my first choice was for a 4" nickel specimen, but when I found the 6-1/2" blued gun at a very attractive price, I decided I was done waiting.

Now that I think about it, I'd still like to have one in 4" nickel. Hmmm, maybe after I get my tax refund....

Meanwhile, I'm...

OutAtTheEdge
 
Smith and Wesson, give us back the mod. 24 in .44special!!

S&W just came out with a Thunder Ranch model 21 commemorative in .44 special at almost $1000; my question is, why won't they give us back the model 24 in .44 special with a 4" barrel???? It would be a fantastic personal protection/defense gun!!

I called them today and let them know that there is a market for the 24; I rarely see one at a gun show and when I do, it is almost $1000, which is overpriced IMO.

Everyone that would like a S&W model 24 4" .44 special CALL S&W and let them know! It's a free call: 800-331-0852. Let's bring back an outstanding revolver! :D :p :) ;)
 
Barrel Length

OutAtTheEdge.

I've been following the debate on barrel length for some time also. A while back I checked out the Dirty Harry movie fan page (www.the-dirtiest.com) and checked up the weapons section. According to that info, the carried revovler was 6 1/2", with the 8 3/8" being used for close up work. i.e. the "Feel Lucky" speeches and the showdown with the killer in the quarry. can't find any other info on that though. But, like you said, not a big deal. It really is a classic weapon in any barrel length. Thanks for your thoughts, I love talkin' about these old .44's. And the nickel 4" sounds AWFULLY good.... ;)
 
Out At The Edge, the next time you have time at work, find ME a M57 and send it to the Paducah, KY store! LOL I am looking at a 44 Magnum stainless in 6" myself. I would be happy with a 4" 44 Magnum too.
 
Sir William

"Out At The Edge, the next time you have time at work, find ME a M57 and
send it to the Paducah, KY store! LOL I am looking at a 44 Magnum stainless
in 6" myself. I would be happy with a 4" 44 Magnum too."

All of our (nearly 100) stores are connected to the same database, so just stop in at the Paducah store and ask the guys in the gun department to run a used firearm inquiry. Paducah is one of our newest stores, so there's a good chance not everybody there will know how to do it. If they tell you the inventory management utility can't search for specific used guns, tell 'em to call Steve at store #130 in Appleton, Wis., and I'll talk 'em through the (slightly complicated) process to get the best search results.

Last time I looked, a month or so ago, there were a couple M57s in the system. They're certainly not falling out of every nook and cranny, but with all those stores and an estimated used gun inventory probably totalling 20-30,000 units or more, there's a fair chance something might turn up. If not, check back every week or so. Also, due to silly-a*ss shipping regulations, handguns must be transferred by next day delivery, so there's an added $25 fee for handguns sent from other stores. Long guns have no additional transfer fees.

All of you fine folks here with a Gander Mountain store in your area can do likewise, for any used gun you're looking for, with the exception of politically incorrect sport-utility rifles (a policy which p*sses us off to no end, but which we have hope of getting changed.)

Hey, everybody, exercise your rights! Go shoot at something! I'm....

OutAtTheEdge
 
I didn't know all that! I have been pleased with my local Gander Mountain. When I went to shop for a 44 Magnum, they had Taurus 44, Tracker, S&Ws new and used in several forms, Rugers, Desert Eagles and EAAs. Sensory overload! I do want a M57 and a M29 in 4" and 6". I may even look at a 629 Classic in 6.5".
 
Congrats.
.44Mag is my favorite caliber. 29 is my favorite .44.
I have a 4" 29 and would like to get a 6 1/2 someday. IMHO, the 6 1/2 just looks more "right" on the N frame.

? - What if I go to GM and have them locate and get a gun for me, and it isn't up to snuff when it comes in? How much $$ am I going to lose?
 
Hal

Honestly, I don't have a solid answer for you on that. I imagine it will depend on the gun dept. manager of that store. I know of a couple long guns that we've transferred in that the customer subsequently declined, and we just put 'em out on the racks and sold 'em. Considering the weighty shipping costs on handguns, I imagine some managers might request the shipping fee as a non-refundable deposit, or perhaps some might refund it in the form of store credit, and others might waive it altogether (especially if the gun was grossly misrepresented), and consider it a good-will, customer service gesture. The obvious thing to do is inquire about it before the gun is transferred. Of course, I always try to get a very detailed description of the gun for the customer prior to requesting the transfer, but with a hundreds of gun associates around the country with varying levels of grading and appraisal skills, you still never know for sure until you see it, and that is also something I try to emphasize to my customers. Generally, it's not a bad idea to expect it to be a bit less than described, and hope for a pleasant surprise when it arrives.

Sir William, I'm really glad to hear that you've had good experiences shopping at your local Gander store. If you think it's fun shopping there, you oughta try working in the place! Sure, like any other job, sometimes things get kinda hectic and frustrating, but when I get feeling a bit stressed out, I just stop and look around at all the guns, ammo, accessories, and just plain fun stuff, and think, "Bottom line is, I'm getting paid to handle, talk about, and sell guns. Life don't much suck."

Tell the folks at Paducah that Steve from Appleton said, "hi!" I'm...

OutAtTheEdge
 
Out -
Thanks.
I'll be sure to add GM to my list of regular haunts.

If you think it's fun shopping there, you oughta try working in the place!
Click to expand...
Hmmm..... ya know I'm getting to the point of where I'm looking to retire again..never thought about GM....
 
Where can I find one?

:D
Hey Out,

Where are the Gander Mountain stores? Are there any in Washington State? How about Oregon or Idaho? sounds like a great place and would really love to find one. Wife says I've exceeded my gun budget for the year. Thankfully the new fiscal quarter is coming around ;)

Shoot safe, shoot a lot, hit what you aim at.
 
Store Locations

Where are the Gander Mountain stores? Are there any in Washington State? How about Oregon or Idaho? sounds like a great place and would really love to find one. Wife says I've exceeded my gun budget for the year. Thankfully the new fiscal quarter is coming around
Click to expand...

Sorry 38, but we haven't gotten into your neck of the woods yet, though we seem to be heading that way. Beginning with it's first retail stores in Wisconsin, GM has added stores regularly, though primarily in the upper Midwest. In the past few years, expansion has progressed east to New York state and south into Kentucky, and then this year, we've added stores in 3 new states; Virginia, Texas, and Colorado. The Aurora, CO store is unfortunately the closest one to you at this time. Because we're a publicly traded company, I am not privy to any information about corporate plans that is not yet available to the public, so I am speculating when I say that, based on recent expansion, I would guess that you could see additional stores built in strategic population centers throughout the Mountain states and the Pacific Northwest, as well as other states in the South, in the not-too-distant future. For a full list of current locations, check out Gander Mountain online.

BTW, my previous estimate of "nearly 100" stores was a little high. The current count is actually 82.

Thanks for asking, 38splfan. I hope you get a chance to visit one of our stores soon. I'm...

OutAtTheEdge
 
Well, I feel lucky.

I am originally from NW Tennessee, and my family is still there. Will be going down over the holidays and Paducah is only about 3 1/2 hours away. Guess that would not be a bad way to spend an afternoon with dad. Thanks for the info.
 
I will be heading back to Gander Moutain next week. I hope to find a few things. I will get them to search for a few M29s and M57s. I have been surprised at what wanders through a Gander Mountain. I have seen S&W 32 breaktops, a 1902 and several M&Ps. They have had a great selection of 1911s. They even buy. Good folks.
 
Sir William & 38splfan

Sir W., thanks for your comments; I always appreciate getting positive feedback from our customers.
I have been surprised at what wanders through a Gander Mountain. I have seen S&W 32 breaktops, a 1902 and several M&Ps...
Click to expand...
Believe me, that's one of the real pleasures of my job. Every day we have customers approach the gun counter with rifle, shotgun, or pistol cases, asking if we buy or trade in guns. There's always that moment of pure anticipatory excitement as the case opens, most often to reveal some mundane model of mass-produced firearm. But sometimes (and often enough to prevent indifference from setting in) there's something a little special inside. And every once in a while, those cases cough up a real treasure; the sort of find that, if it is successfully obtained, draws everyone in the department into the gun vault for a serious inspection.

38splfan, I hope you manage to make that trip to the Paducah store, I'm sure you'll enjoy it. BTW, that's the same store that Sir William was asking about. Maybe I should call the store and suggest they try to lay hands on a few extra used S&W N-frames LOL!

Guys, I'm not sure if I'll be able to get back here for a while. I generally manage to set aside a few days a month to get caught up on all my computer stuff - email, virus updating, reading all my forums and blogs, etc. - so if you don't see anything new from me here for a couple weeks at a time, that's just my normal routine. Okay, now I gotta start getting ready for work. Day after Thanksgiving, and we open the doors at 6:00 for the mob-shopping day of the year...in a way, the first wave of shoppers is kinda reminiscent of Pamplona's annual Running-of-the-Bulls, but with more goring LOL!

Take care everyone. I'm....

OutAtTheEdge
 
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