Smith & Wesson Model 29

The 5 in barreled variant had a full-length underlug. Finish options available included a highly polished blued or nickel-plated surface. At the time of its introduction, the Model 29 was the most powerful production handgun, although it was later overtaken by handguns chambered for the even larger.454 Casull,.460 S&W,.50 Action Express, and.500 S&W Magnum cartridges. It was made famous worldwide by association with the fictional character "Dirty Harry" Callahan.

• Name — Smith & Wesson Model 29 • Type — Revolver • Service — 1955–present • Length — * 9.3 in (Barrel 4 in) • 12 in (Barrel 6+1/2 in) • Action — Double-action • Origin — United States • Is Ranged — yes • Manufacturer — Smith & Wesson • Production Date — 1955–present • Weight — * (4 in bbl) • (6 in bbl) • Both of these weights are for the traditional S&W style without a barrel underlug. • Part Length — * 3 in • 4 in • 5 in • 6 in • 6+1/2 in • 8+3/8 in • 10+5/8 in • Cartridge — *.44 Magnum •.44 Special • Caliber —.429 in • Feed — Six round cylinder • Sights — Open, adjustable rear

The Model 29 will chamber and fire.44 Special and.44 Russian cartridges, as the.44 Magnum was developed from the.44 Special and the.44 Special was developed from the.44 Russian. The Magnum case is slightly longer to prevent magnum rounds from being chambered and fired in handguns chambered for the.44 Special.

Cartridge developer Elmer Keith's achievement in maximizing the power and performance of the.44 Special was the inspiration and driving force behind the introduction of the.44 Magnum by Smith & Wesson. He intended the new round to be used in sidearms of hunters of large, dangerous game, rather than for self-defense; it proved successful in both. S&W's production of a large N-frame revolver in.44 Magnum began in 1955; the Model 29 designation was applied in 1957. At the time of its introduction, the Model 29 was the most powerful production handgun. It remained primarily the province of some handgun enthusiasts, law enforcement personnel, and hunters until Clint Eastwood made it famous in the 1971 film Dirty Harry. After its release and several sequels, retailers had difficulty keeping the Model 29 in stock. In the late 1990s, Smith & Wesson discontinued series production of many models of revolvers, including the basic Model 29; since then, the model has been manufactured in as many as 10 limited or "custom" configurations.

The original Model 29 was superseded by the Model 29–1 in 1960, with modifications made to the ejector-rod screw. The Model 29-2 replaced it the following year, with one screw that had secured the cylinder-stop spring being deleted. The barrel length was shortened from 6+1/2 to in 1979. These two versions are known as "pinned and recessed". "Pinned" means that the barrels are screwed in and secured by a pin driven through the frame and a notch in the barrel. "Recessed" denotes the rear of the bored cylinder holes being countersunk, so that, when loaded, the cartridge rims are fully enclosed by the cylinder. In 1982, the cost-cutting Model 29-3 dropped recessed cylinders and pinned barrels for crush-fit barrels. The -4 and -5, produced from 1988 and 1990, respectively had changes to improve durability for heavy use. In 1994, the 29-6 began production, now fitted as standard with rubber Monogrips from Hogue to replace the previous wooden items, standard tapped holes also being provided for attaching scope mounts. The 29-7 started production in 1998 with changes to the locking mechanism, the firing pin's attachment, and a hammer and trigger produced with a metal injection molding process. • Model — Year — Modifications • 29 — 1957 — 1957 Stamping of the model number at approximate serial S179000 • 29-1 — 1960 — ejector rod screw • 29-2 — 1961 — one screw that had secured the cylinder stop spring dropped • 29-3 — 1982 — dropped recessed cylinders and pinned barrels for crush-fit barrels • 29-4 — 1988 — retention system on the yoke or cylinder crane strengthened, studs in frame were radiused; 8" version offered with integral scope mts. • 29-5 — 1990 — longer cylinder notches to prevent bolt jump, bolt and inner mechanism changed to reduce battering under recoil • 29-6 — 1994 — standard with rubber Monogrips from Hogue • 29-7 — 1998 — changes to the locking mechanism, the firing pin's attachment, and a hammer and trigger produced with a metal injection molding process. • 29-8 — 2001 — new frame design with internal lock • 29-9 — 2002 — Performance Center variations in blue and nickel with the four-screw side plate. • 29-10 — 2006 — 50th Anniversary Edition, First 50 are class A engraved • Starting Number — Years • N1 — 1969–1972 • N100000 — 1973 • N200000 — 1974–1977 • N300000 — 1975–1976 • N400000 — 1977–1978 • N500000 — 1978–1980 • N600000 — 1979–1980 • N700000 — 1980 • N800000 — 1980–1983 • N900000 — 1982–1986

Introduced in 1978, the Smith & Wesson Model 629 is a stainless steel version of the Model 29. The 629 model designation derives from Smith & Wesson's practice of denoting a stainless steel version of one of their already existing designs by placing a 6 in front of the model number of the original weapon. The 629 Classic variant features a full-length barrel underlug, other variants include the 629 Stealth Hunter. • Model — Start Year — Barrel Lengths — Modifications • 629 — 1979 • 629-1 — 1982 — dropped recessed cylinders and pinned barrels • 629-2 — 1988 — changed yoke retention, radius studs, floating hand • 629-3 — 1989 — hardened yoke and frame, longer stop notch, bolt block, fixed hand • 629-4 — 1993 — changed rear sight leaf and extractor • 629-5 — 1997 — Eliminate cylinder stop stud and serrated tang, MIM trigger and hammer, floating firing pin • 629-6 — 2001 — Internal lock added • 629-7 — 2005 — Two piece barrel • 629-8 — 2006 — Slab sided barrel

Some S&W model 29s were rebuilt by the AAI Corporation to make the Quiet Special Purpose Revolvers (QSPR). These had a new, short, smoothbore barrel length of 35 mm, with an overall length of 170 mm, and a 10 mm bore, in addition to having the cylinder chambers reamed to accept the special QSPR ammunition which externally resembled metal-cased.410-bore shotgun shells, but internally worked as a piston to trap the gases. This pistol was developed from 1967 to 1972 to be used by tunnel rats in the Vietnam War. The QSPR was tested on the battlefield in 1969, and an improvement and testing program ran from 1969 to 1972. It never officially entered service. The US withdrawal from Vietnam reduced interest in the QSPR weapon, and the program ended in 1972 although unsubstantiated rumors claim the QSPR may have been used by CIA assassins during the Cold War and continues to be used by so-called "Black Book teams". A Russian handgun introduced in 2002, the OTs-38 Stechkin silent revolver, is described as using a system virtually identical to the QSPR.

The Mountain Gun was introduced in 1989 as a lightweight version of the Model 29 designed to be "carried often and shot little". The barrel profile is a reprise of the original design. Early version 29-4 backpacker with 2.5" barrel (very rare). A Smith & Wesson Model 629 with a 3" barrel called the "Trail Boss" was produced for the distributor, RSR.

• In 1985, Smith and Wesson issued the Model 29-3 Elmer Keith Commemorative Edition in 2,500 units. In 1986, it issued 100 deluxe versions of the commemorative, with an acid-etched portrait of Keith and his signature in gold. • On January 26, 2006, Smith & Wesson announced the 50th Anniversary Model 29. Identical to the previous models except for the gold inlaid trademark on the side cover, the new internal lock mechanism, and a non-fluted cylinder. • On January 1, 2007, Smith & Wesson announced the reissue of the Model 29 as an engraved model in S&W's Classics line. • The Smith & Wesson Model 629 Stealth Hunter has a 7+1/2 in ported barrel with a full-length under lug for increased stability and recoil reduction. The barrel-cylinder gap is 0.006 in, with a ball-detent lockup between the frame and cylinder crane that provides increased strength. The entire revolver is made of a stainless steel, with a glare-reducing matte black finish. It comes with slip-resistant synthetic grips. • The 329NG is a scandium-framed revolver with PVD-coated cylinder and tritium sights. It is part of the NightGuard line.

• Illustration — Smith & Wesson Model 29 Classic with blued finish. • Illustration — Smith & Wesson Model 29 close-up. • Illustration — Smith & Wesson Model 29 cylinder open. • Illustration — A snub-nosed Smith & Wesson Model 629. • Illustration —.44 Magnum S&W Model 629-6 Deluxe Talo Edition. • Illustration — Mountain Gun engraved by John K. Pease and Wayne Di'Angelo through the Smith & Wesson Custom Engraving Shop. • Illustration — Smith & Wesson Model 629 Performance Center, a competition-oriented variant with a weighted barrel for reducing recoil. • Illustration — Smith & Wesson Model 629-6 Classic, with a 5" barrel.