About 25 years ago (maybe more) I purchased a beautiful 98% S&W 6.5" 5 screw pre-29. As I recall, i paid $700 or so at that time.
For those of you that know...you know what it is. For those that don't, it is THE gun that S&W introduced the 44 magnum to the world in 1956. They did not expect to sell all that many so they pretty much hand built these 5 screw guns. Well surprise surprise....they sold a LOT of them, and they made a change to the 4 screw model (got rid of the screw in the trigger guard) in 1957 and gave it the Model 29 designation.
S&W only made some 5000 of the 5 screw guns before upping the production and changing to the 4 screw and giving it the Model 29 designation.
The guns were sold with a beautiful felt lined walnut case and tools. These original cased guns are bringing stupid money these days and people simply don't shoot them. They live out their days as safe queens.
I have shot this one a lot, and it is just as perfect as the day I bought it. I don't holster my guns (I keep them in pistol rugs) so they stay in great shape. The biggest problem with this particular gun was that the grips were not original to the gun. OK...no case, no tools, non-original grips....not a collector's gun per se but still a beautifully made handgun. Definitely something that you can shoot and not worry about destroying the value as long as you take care of it.
The original grips had the big fat "coke bottle" style diamond walnut grips with a slight cutout for the thumb to rest against the grips.
Because it lacked the case and tools, plus had non-original grips, I bought it as a shooter, and shoot it I have. H&G #503 w/ 8 gr WW231 is my standard mid-range 44 load. Red ramp front sight, white outline rear sight, target hammer/trigger....a great gun.
I thought I would look out for a set of grips that were original to the 5 screw guns, and looked for some 20 years. Little did I know that these "coke bottle" grips were absolute unobtanium. I watched auctions everywhere for many years with no success.
Well, one FINALLY came up on Gunbroker, and I would not be denied.
I watched the auction for some some, and towards the end of the auction, I placed a bid with a maximum that i was willing to go.
I am almost embarrassed to say but I paid $630 shipped for these perfect grips. That is how much I wanted to bring the gun back to original. It really always bothered me that the gun did not have the original grips. I guess the collector in me kept me looking and the collector in me wanted it done right.
I am happy to have gotten them, although it hurt to pay that kind of money for grips when the gun shoots just as well with Pachmayr Grippers on it.
But kind of like buying quality H&G moulds: pay once, cry once, and enjoy it for the rest of your days.
I feel better now....lighter in the wallet but I feel better.Attachment 312871