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Make: Smith & Wesson
Model: Pre 29 “The 44 Magnum”
Serial Number: S154238 (Low Number)
Year of Manufacture: 1956 (Factory Letter signed by Assistant Historian Roy Jinks)
Caliber: .44 Magnum
Action Type: 6-Shot, Double Action / Single Action, Swing-Out, Fluted Cylinder Revolver
Markings: The right side of the barrel is marked “.44 MAGNUM”, the left is marked “SMITH & WESSON”. The side plate has the S&W Monogram logo. The right side of the frame has the four-line Marcas Registradas. The square butt is marked with the serial number. The yoke cut is marked with inspection numbers. The yoke and sides of the grip frame have inspection marks.
Barrel Length: 4 Inches
Sights / Optics: The front sight is a serrated ramp blade with a red insert pinned to a rise in the serrated rib. The rear sight is a flat top, square notched and white outlined leaf in a base that is micrometer click adjustable for windage and elevation.
Stock Configuration & Condition: The grips are two-piece smooth Goncalo Alves square butt target stocks with S&W medallions. The left grip has the “speed-loader/ football cut. There are no chips or cracks. Overall, the grips are in about excellent condition.
Type of Finish: Blued
Finish Originality: Original
Bore Condition: The bore is bright and the rifling is sharp. There is no erosion in the bore. 10/10 on the bore rating. This gun seems to have been stored most of its life.
Overall Condition: This handgun retains about 98% of its metal finish. The cylinder has a thin, faint turn line, not through the finish. There are small handling marks. There is thinning on the front edge of the cylinder. The front sight has some finish-loss. Some of the finish along the muzzle and cylinder has been lost through loose storing it in this case. The screwheads are sharp. The markings are clear. Overall, this handgun rates in about Excellent condition.
Mechanics: The action functions correctly. The double-action trigger is smooth and the single action is crisp. The cylinder has almost no play on each chamber. We did not fire this handgun. As with all used firearms, a thorough cleaning may be necessary to meet your maintenance standards.
Box, Paperwork & Accessories: This revolver comes with a black Smith & Wesson presentation Case, the factory letter. The case has light marks from loose storage and rates about Fine+ Condition. The interior is clean; most of the blue lining is still in very good condition, the exterior has a few dings and little scratches, in about Fine plus condition. Also included the, rod, sponge,and screwdriver all in new condition.
Our Assessment: Developed in a collaboration between Smith & Wesson and Remington with the input of big-bore handgun shooters including Elmer Keith, The .44 Magnum revolver and cartridge took the revolver world by storm in the 1950s, later to be known worldwide, even outside the firearms community, as “the most powerful handgun in the world” due to its portrayal in the Dirty Harry movies. This is Smith & Wesson’s famous “The .44 Magnum” built on a 5-screw square butt N-Frame paired with a 4″ barrel. This revolver has a nice blued finish, with a wide serrated case-colored trigger and wide checkered hammer. To make it even better, it comes installed with a beautiful pair of Coke bottle grips! It doesn’t stop there though, it even comes with a black presentation case complete with its cleaning kit. This one is from the first year of production, and based on its 4″ barrel and the accompanying case with a clasp style latch was made in late 1956. Supica & Nahas estimate that only 25% of the first year guns were made with 4″ barrels. No collection is complete without a Smith & Wesson .44 Magnum so you might as well make it this one, this ensemble is so hot you may as well be walking on the sun. Please see our pictures and good luck! Smith & Wesson’s famous Pre Model 29 was built on the N-Frame with a square butt. The revolver has a beautiful blue finish and is paired with a pair of two-piece smooth Goncalo Alves square butt target stocks with S&W medallions. This one has seen the inside of its black display case most of its life and there is little wear from use to speak of. This revolver comes with a two page Smith and Wesson Historical Letter, stating 1956 was when it left the factory. The Smith & Wesson Pre Model 29 is a timeless revolver that will likely never go out of style and makes for a great investment not just for shooters but collectors alike.