Fudd Friday: The Smith & Wesson Model 29-2 Revolver

Welcome back to another edition of Fudd Friday! Last time, we took a look at the .303 British cartridge. If you happened to miss that article, be sure to click the link here to check it out. My latest purchase that was worthy of a Fudd Friday article is an almost perfect Smith & Wesson Model 29-2 revolver. Let’s take a closer look.

Fudd Friday @ TFB:

• Fudd Friday: Winchester 1911 SL - Was the "Widowmaker" Really Deadly?
• Fudd Friday: Stevens 325 - When Bolt Actions Met .30-30
• Fudd Friday: Colt's 1911 Competition Government Review
• Fudd Friday: Bring Back Pump-Action Rifles

The finish was nearly perfect for being almost 60 years old. Finding a genuine Model 29-2 in the wild is hard, but finding a factory nickel gun is even tougher, so once it was in my hand, I knew I had to go home with it. The store owner then told me it comes with a presentation case as well as another set of wood stocks that originally came with the gun. At this point, he had me completely sold, and I ended up picking this factory nickel Model 29-2 for $1,499,99. Once it shipped to Michigan, I repaired the felt, and the presentation case is functional now. The large factory N on the frame indicates my Model 29 is a factory nickel gun, and the hard-case trigger and hammer also indicate it’s original.

Specs and Facts

When I received the 29-2, I started to realize just how special this revolver really is. With an 8 ⅜” barrel, along with a target hammer and trigger, this Model 29 really does allow the user to shoot full power .44 Magnum comfortably compared to other versions. If you decide to shoot .44 Special instead of the spicier magnum rounds, the gun has almost zero recoil because of the overall weight and size of the Model 29. The 29-2 was really one of the most iconic revolvers with the popularity of Dirty Harry in the mid-20th century.

The desire for a longer framed .44 Magnum pistol like the one Harry Caliahan used in Dirty Harry and these were truly transformed into a pop culture icon. Even people who didn’t know about firearms knew what the Model 29-2 was. Another big feature of the Model 29 was the fact that the barrel was pinned to the receiver and the cylinder was recessed, making it common for people to say these guns were pinned and recessed. These revolvers were incredibly well built, and the craftsmanship still is legendary even today. From my serial number, I know my 29-2 is a 1980 example, which was just a few years before they switched over to the 29-3 configuration.

Range Time 

So far, since owning this Smith & Wesson 29-2, I have roughly 125 rounds of .44 Special and roughly 40 rounds of .44 Magnum down the pipe. There’s no question the .44 Magnum rounds are significantly more aggressive than the less powerful .44 Special rounds. This is exactly like a .357 Magnum compared to a .38 Special but in a larger caliber. With the longer barrel and target wood stocks on the gun, the Model 29-2 is an incredibly soft shooter, even with the more aggressive .44 Magnum loads.

The thicker receiver and long barrel really do help soak up the recoil, which makes it much more manageable to shoot for a longer period. The Model 29 has a crisp double action that can be staged very easily with a very well done single action. Shooting this gun in single action really is how revolvers should feel when shooting at the range. These classic Smith & Wesson revolvers were built in a different time when standard models had incredible triggers, and you can feel the craftsmanship and attention to detail. When it comes to a firearm to take out to the range and just enjoy, it’s really hard to beat a large bore revolver that you can shoot just for the sake of enjoyment. Combine the fact that it’s original and in fantastic shape, and I am incredibly happy with my recent purchase.

Overall Thoughts

If you don’t have a large bore revolver, having something like a Smith & Wesson Model 29-2 or a Colt Anaconda is fantastic to just take them to the range and enjoy shooting for the thrill of it. Of course, it’s important to train and work on tactics, but sometimes, just having interesting older firearms to enjoy at the range really is the best part of starting a gun collection. What kind of firearms do you guys enjoy taking to the range? Let me know your thoughts down in the comments below. If you have questions about the Model 29-2 or firearms in general, feel free to shoot me a message on Instagram @fridgeoperator. Stay safe out there and we will see you in the next one.