Dirty Harry .44
[?] A friend of mine, who is not into computers, has asked me to post the following questions about a handgun he just purchased, so here they are:
An early-model S&W Model 29 .44 magnum revolver, pinned-and-recessed
vintage ( I checked it myself ), 8-3/8 inch barrel, target-style hammer and trigger, original wooden (walnut?) grips, looks like it was made late last week and has one of the smoothest actions I've ever tried on a revolver of this type. It also has an original presentation-type case with all the appropriate tools, and on top of the case is a small brass plate that says "Harry."
Question 1. Vintage ( approximate, I did not get the serial
number ), your best guesstimate as to year ?
Question 2. Value?
Thanks as always.
Fight Crime- Shoot Back!
Trashballs Prefer Defenseless Victims!!!!
An early-model S&W Model 29 .44 magnum revolver, pinned-and-recessed
vintage ( I checked it myself ), 8-3/8 inch barrel, target-style hammer and trigger, original wooden (walnut?) grips, looks like it was made late last week and has one of the smoothest actions I've ever tried on a revolver of this type. It also has an original presentation-type case with all the appropriate tools, and on top of the case is a small brass plate that says "Harry."
Question 1. Vintage ( approximate, I did not get the serial
number ), your best guesstimate as to year ?
Question 2. Value?
Thanks as always.
Fight Crime- Shoot Back!
Trashballs Prefer Defenseless Victims!!!!
0
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Dirty Harry used a 6 1/2 inch Model 29, .44 mag., not an 8 3/8 inch. 
"The Greatest Battle Implement Ever Devised!"
-- Gen. George S. Patton
referring to the M1 Garand0 -
Hi bigbossman,
Hey - your question really depends on a number of things including the exact condition of the gun.
First off from what you are describing it sounds like the 3-screw model. This was not the first series of Model 29s that were made. The 3-screw was preceeded by the 4-screw which was discontinued in 1961. You need to get the serial number before anybody can tell what you really have.
Anyway if what you have is the 3-screw, the 100% value from the Blue Book is listed as $450.00. A 95% gun is worth $350.00. If you really have the 8-3/4 inch barrel there is a $12.00 premium for that. In addition, there is a 10% to 15% premium for the pinned barrel and recessed cylinder. The presentation case does not add to the value, but would detract from the value if you didn't have it.
Regards,
Heavyiron[8D]0 -
The original "Dirty Harry" .44 Magnum model 29 S&W was in fact a model 57 .41 Magnum S&W revolver. they could not find a 29, 0 -
Jody, how could they not find a Model 29? It was made long before the .41 mag.
"The Greatest Battle Implement Ever Devised!"
-- Gen. George S. Patton
referring to the M1 Garand0 -
Dirty Harry threads
On the Auto mag:
http://forums.gunbroker.com/topic.asp?TOPIC_ID=114673
Barrel length and the blooper in the first scene:
http://forums.gunbroker.com/topic.asp?TOPIC_ID=71609
Ammo and movie bloopers in general:
http://forums.gunbroker.com/topic.asp?TOPIC_ID=28836
The good Captain may now have to move this to the General Discussion, but what the heck.
Semper Fi
Remember Ruby Ridge.
Experience is the best teacher and usually charges accordingly.
Not a member at the auction? Join Gunbroker at this link!0 -
The gun in the movie was so important that on a number of the distance shots of Harry, a 8 3/8 inch gun was use for a better visual. Before the movie the model 29 was a hard sell. The "Dirty Harry" series was the best possible advertising S & W could get and the 29 couldn't be made fast enough to satisfy demand.
Just as an aside, have you ever wondered why there are so many used 29's being sold with a half box of original ammo. I have a wrist condition that still bothers me after 20 years from trying to fire double action like Harry.
Hlouie0 -
HLOUIE2, that could be because for the movie, they used a prop gun with barrel and chamber made for the .45 ACP (I forget the model now) - even when he was firing blanks, they were not .44 Maggies. Oh, yeah, that film was the best piece of advertising S&W ever had. It is interesting that the sequel with the .44 Automag didn't do the same thing for that combo . . . likely too many potential purchasers were still in their wrist casts from the M29 . . . sorry to hear you were one of the victims.
"There is nothing lower than the human race - except the french." (Mark Twain) ". . . And liberals / demoMAGGOTS" (me)0 -
[8D]I thought it was a WALKER COLT![xx(][xx(][xx(][xx(]
On your mark-get set- go away!!0 -
I remember reading that Stembridge rentals could not supply a M.29 for the early stills and some of the actual footage, but they did have a 6.5 inch M.57 and this was used until a M.29 was found. 0 -
Sorry Iconoclast and Hlouie2,
I've qualified with both a 6" and a 3" 629 (50 rounds apiece) every year for over 20 years [not to mention the 100 rounds of .45 and 50 of .38+p in light weight handguns] and have never see (felt) the problem. Granted, now after qualification my hand is a little numb, but it does that when I ride my motorcycle too, so I think it's the continual gripping, not the recoil. If I can qualify expert with all of those, anyone else ought to be able to atleast shoot them.
I guess if you knew nothing about handguns and wanted to start off with a hand cannon, then you'd be in for a rude suprise, but then I wouldn't recommend a Ferreri to a newly license 15 year old, or a 747 for a new pilot. Who would?0
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