Smith & Wesson S&W Model 29-2 The .44 Magnum 6 ½” Revolver, 1973 C&R
SOLD FOR: $1,926.00
LSB#: LSB251007TE006
Make: Smith & Wesson
Model: 29-2, The .44 Magnum
Serial Number: N120961
Year of Manufacture: Ca. 1973
Caliber: .44 Magnum
Action Type: 6-Shot, Double Action / Single Action, Swing-Out, Fluted Cylinder Revolver
Markings: The left side of the barrel is marked “SMITH & WESSON”, the right is marked “44 MAGNUM”. The side plate has S&W’s monogram logo and the right side of the frame has the four-line Marcas Registradas address. The yoke cut is marked with the serial and model numbers. The butt is marked with the serial number. The yoke and the sides of the grip frame have inspector marks.
Barrel Length: 6 ½”, Pinned
Sights / Optics: The front sight is a serrated ramp blade with a red insert set on a ramped base integral to the barrel 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 checkered Goncolo Alves target stocks with S&W medallions and an extractor relief cut. There is light handling wear along with a couple spots of finish loss. There are no chips or cracks. Overall, the grips rate in Fine 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. In this writer’s opinion the bore rates 9/10.
Overall Condition: This handgun retains about 97% of its metal finish. The balance of the finish is strong and complete. There are a few scattered scratches. There is a thin turn line on the cylinder. The screwheads are sharp and lightly used. The markings are clear. Overall, this revolver is in Fine Plus condition.
Mechanics: The action functions correctly. The cylinder locks up with barely perceptible side-to-side play on each chamber when the trigger is depressed. The double-action trigger is smooth and the single-action is crisp. 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 presentation case. The blue liner inside is disintegrating to powder. This comes with a new liner that has yet to be cut to fit in the case. Please see photos.
Our Assessment: The Smith & Wesson Model 29-2 stands as one of the most iconic American revolvers of the 20th century, inseparably linked to the rise of the .44 Magnum as both a sporting and cultural phenomenon. Introduced as an evolution of the original Model 29, the -2 engineering change represents the classic pinned-barrel, recessed-cylinder era that collectors most often seek. By the early 1970s, these revolvers were already firmly established as premium N-frame magnums, combining strength, balance, and refined Smith & Wesson craftsmanship at the height of the company’s blued revolver production.
No discussion of the Smith & Wesson Model 29 would be complete without acknowledging its immortal role in Dirty Harry (1971). Clint Eastwood’s portrayal of Inspector Harry Callahan cemented the Model 29 as a cultural icon, introducing it to an audience far beyond firearms enthusiasts and famously branding it “the most powerful handgun in the world.” The film’s impact was immediate and lasting, driving unprecedented demand for the Model 29 and permanently intertwining this revolver with American cinema, law enforcement mythology, and popular culture. Even decades later, the association remains inseparable from the Model 29’s legacy.
This 1973 example with the desirable 6 ½ inch barrel retains the long, elegant profile that defined the model before later barrel-length standardization. The bore is bright with sharp rifling, the finish remains exceptionally strong at approximately 97 percent, and the revolver exhibits only light handling marks and a thin, honest cylinder turn line. The Goncalo Alves target stocks remain attractive and correct, and the action displays the smooth double-action and crisp single-action break expected of a well-kept N-frame from this period. As a fine-condition Model 29-2 from the classic era of Smith & Wesson magnum production, this revolver remains a cornerstone example of “The .44 Magnum.” Please see our photos and good luck on your bid! – L.S.
