Smith & Wesson S&W Stainless Model 629 .44 Magnum 8 3/8″ DA/SA Revolver
SOLD FOR: $1,081.29
LSB#: LSB260621JF048
Make: Smith & Wesson
Model: 629
Serial Number: N850627
Year of Manufacture: Circa 1981 / Modern (Standard Catalog of Smith & Wesson)
Caliber: .44 Magnum
Action Type: DA/SA, 6 Shot, Swing Out, Fluted Cylinder with Ejector.
Markings: The right side plate has a S&W monogram. The right side of the frame has a Marcas Registradas. The right side of the barrel is marked “44 Magnum”. The left side of the barrel is marked “Smith & Wesson”. The crane cut is marked with the serial number and “MOD-629”. The bottom of the grip strap is marked with the serial number. The crane arm and the interior grip frame are marked with assembly numbers.
Barrel Length: 8 3/8″, Pinned, Ribbed
Sights / Optics: The front sight is a serrated blade with a red insert atop a serrated ramp fixed to the barrel rib. The rear sight is an adjustable square notch leaf in a micrometer click base that is screwed to the top strap of the frame. The topstrap and the barrel rib are serrated and have a matte finish for glare reduction.
Stock Configuration & Condition: The stocks are two-piece checkered Goncalo Alves target grips with S&W medallions and an extractor relief cut. There are minor spots of finish wear. There are minor compressions. The checkering remains mostly sharp. The right panel has some flattened peaks. There are no chips or cracks. Overall, this set of grips are in Fine condition.
Type of Finish: Stainless Steel
Finish Originality: Original
Bore Condition: The bore is bright. The rifling is sharp. There is no erosion. In this writer’s opinion this bore rates 9.5/10.
Overall Condition: This revolver’s stainless steel shows scattered handling scratches, scuffs, and minor polishing marks. The action shows operational wear. There is a turn line on the cylinder. The screw heads are lightly tooled with serviceable slots. The markings are clear. Overall, this revolver is in Excellent condition.
Mechanics: This action functions correctly. The lockup is tight with minimal play at each chamber. The double action 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 requirements.
Box, Paperwork & Accessories: Display case w/cleaning kit.
Our Assessment: The Smith & Wesson Model 629 represents the stainless-steel evolution of the legendary Model 29 .44 Magnum, whose lineage began with Smith & Wesson’s original .44 Magnum revolver in the mid-1950s. Developed around the powerful cartridge championed by Elmer Keith, the Model 29 became an American handgun icon and gained enormous popular recognition following its association with “Dirty Harry” in the 1970s. Smith & Wesson introduced the stainless Model 629 in 1979, applying the company’s “6” prefix convention to create a corrosion-resistant counterpart to the blued Model 29. Early no-dash Model 629 revolvers retained the traditional pinned barrel and counterbored, or “recessed,” Magnum chambers; the first engineering change, the 629-1, arrived in 1982 and eliminated both features. The 8 3/8″ configuration offered an extended sight radius and additional muzzle weight especially suited to hunting, silhouette competition, and deliberate long-range shooting, making these early pinned-and-recessed stainless revolvers particularly representative of Smith & Wesson’s classic N-frame magnum era.
This early Model 629 remains a particularly attractive example, with its original stainless surfaces showing only scattered handling scratches, scuffs, minor polishing marks, operational wear, and a cylinder turn line. The checkered Goncalo Alves target stocks remain in Fine condition with strong checkering, minor handling wear, and no chips or cracks, while the bright 9.5/10 bore with sharp rifling and no erosion is an excellent feature. Its long 8 3/8″ pinned barrel, red-insert front sight, adjustable rear sight, and traditional target stocks provide the classic premium N-frame configuration, while mechanically the revolver remains strong with a smooth double-action pull, crisp single-action release, and tight lockup showing only minimal play. The included display case and cleaning kit complete an attractive presentation for this desirable early stainless .44 Magnum. Please see our photos for a better understanding of the condition and good luck with your bids! -MY