Guns International #: 102411114
Seller's Inventory #: M22-836

Category - Smith & Wesson Revolvers - Model 29 - .44 Magnum Revolvers

Category
Smith & Wesson Revolvers - Model 29
.44 Magnum Revolvers

SOLD 1957 Factory Engraved Smith & Wesson .44 Magnum, Pre-Model 29 with 6 1/2 Inch Barrel, Factory Letter SOLD

Description:
This is a spectacular all-original factory-engraved Smith & Wesson Pre-29 .44 Magnum revolver that was manufactured in 1957 in superb condition both inside and out.  This truly spectacular and extremely RARE class "A" engraved .44 Magnum DA/SA Smith & Wesson revolver is finished in the original high-gloss factory blue finish and is fitted with a pinned 6.5" inch barrel, factory target sights consisting of pinned red ramp front sight and a windage and elevation adjustable white outline rear sight, a factory color case-hardened target hammer, a factory color case-hardened target trigger, a six-shot fluted cylinder with recessed chambers, and an absolutely beautiful set of factory-original diamond checkered "Coke Bottle" target grips with S&W medallions.  What really sets this S&W apart from all the others is the Class "A" factory engraving which was very expensive at that time, more expensive than the gun itself actually.  The engraving is very well done with near 90% coverage and while not signed, is absolutely the work of Master Engraver Russ Smith, who worked for S&W from the 1950's into the 1980's.  Russel Smith was a tank commander in WW2 who went into silversmithing and engraving after the war.  Russ Smith did engraved guns for many famous people of the times including Ronald Reagan and Elvis Presley among others.  This special gun is in excellent all-original condition overall and has not been "improved" or modified in any way since leaving S&W.  This big N-frame revolver retains 98% of the original blue finish and shows no evidence of having been fired.  If not for the tiny little spots of finish loss/flake on the lower right front edge of the frame and a couple of tiny spots on the front of the trigger bow the gun would rate 99% plus like-new.  These tiny defects can be seen in picture #6 of this listing.  As you can see from the remainder of the pictures of this classy and handsome gun, those tiny deductions do not detract any appreciable amount from the extremely handsome and pristine overall look of this gun.  The bore is minty and mirror-bright and the original grips are in like-new, mint condition.  Both sides of the grips are a perfect match to each other in every respect, and both grip panels fit the revolver perfectly.  The factory hand-fit and hand-tuned action in this pre-29 is both extremely smooth and very slick.  The action is perfectly "in time" no matter how fast or slow you work it, single or double-action.  The actions are so good on these guns they really have to be felt to truly be appreciated.  Describing them as "extremely smooth" doesnt really do them justice!  This rare and special Smith comes with a factory Smith & Wesson letter attesting to the factory engraving and stating the gun was shipped from the factory on December 3, 1957 to Rex Firearms in New York.  Calling this revolver rare is a bit of an understatement; we have handled tens of thousands of Smith & Wesson revolvers since opening in 1974 but this is the first one of these we have ever had.   


                             

SOLD

Curio/Relic: Yes
Handgun Caliber: .44 Special, .44 Remington Magnum
Manufacturer: Smith & Wesson
Model: .44 Magnum (Pre- Model 29)
Barrel Length: 6.5
Condition: Excellent
Metal Condition: Excellent
Wood Condition: Minty
Bore Condition: Mint
Action: Double-Action / Single-Action Revolver
Finish: Gloss Blue / Color Case-Hardened
Sights: Target-Style Adjustable Iron Sights
Manufacture Date: 1957
Extras: Factory S&W Letter