Smith & Wesson Model 29

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.

Elmer Keith's achievements 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. His intention for the new round was for it to be used in sidearms for hunters of large, dangerous game, rather than for self-defense, though with today's specialty cartridges, it can be a good defensive round.[1]

S&W's production of a large N-frame revolver in .44 Magnum began in 1955; the Model 29 designation was applied in 1957.[2]

At the time of its introduction, the Model 29 was the most powerful production handgun. There were a number of custom calibers that were more powerful, as in the old Howdah pistols of the 19th century.

It remained primarily the province of some handgun enthusiasts, law enforcement personnel, and hunters until 1971, when Clint Eastwood made it famous as "the most powerful handgun in the world" in the movie Dirty Harry. After the release of the movie and its sequels, retailers had difficulty keeping the Model 29 in stock.[3]

In the late 1990s, Smith & Wesson discontinued production of many models of revolvers, including the "basic" Model 29; since then, at various times, the model, in limited or "custom" configurations, has been manufactured in as many as 10 evolutions.[4]

The original Model 29 was superseded by the Model 29–1 in 1960, with modifications made to the ejector-rod screw.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 6 inches (170 to 150 mm) 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.[2]

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.[2]

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

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Wikimedia Commons has media related to Smith & Wesson Model 29.

• Smith & Wesson's .44 Magnum by John Taffin
• Manual