Looking for S&W 29-2 / found a 29-3 whats the DIFFERENCE

[Lucky4jm]

Looking for a S&W 29-2 / found a 29-3 whats the DIFFERENCE!

Is one better than the other is one more valuable or more collectable

I have a 27-2 and thought a set would be cool, but hard to find 29-2
I own 27-2 over 25 years and shot her a couple of times, safe queen would do the same on the .44

[Californio]

Early 29-2's were available with 6.5" barrels as opposed to later model 29-2 and 29-3 with only 6" barrels available.

All 29-2 have pinned barrels and recessed chambers, 29-3 do not.

Early 29-2 can be found with an "S" prefix in the serial # instead of the "N" prefix, collectors covet the "S"

Early 29-3 can be found with the "N" prefix instead of the later "Three letter" prefix

29-2 are more highly prized by collectors because of the P&R (pinned and recessed features), some think the 29-6 shot the best.

Are you collecting or shooting? 29-3 shots just fine and should cost a few dollars less to boot.

There are more, sure someone else will chime in.

[QuarterBoreGunner]

The "-" numbers represent changes in manufacturing and design, usually it's just minor stuff that most people won't even notice.

That being said, I do know some S&W collectors that will quote you verse and chapter on the plusses and minuses of the various dash versions and yes some are more collectible than others, for example the S&W Model 25-2 versus the 25-5, which incorporates a whole caliber change.

off hand, I can't recall the engineering differences in the 29-2 versus the 29-3, but I'm sure someone will be along shortly to explain it in incredible detail.
Probably with diagrams as well.

Ah see the above post! What did I tell you, more details for better minds!

[QuarterBoreGunner]

I also merged your duplicate posts into one thread for less confusion.

[wilshire1412]

Well it used to be that if you had a -2 you had something collectable, and a -3 was considered just another .44 mag. In this state now a -3 is a collectable by default due to the "list". Smith & Wesson did some engineering changes on the 29/629 series during the '90s to improve durability when shooting heavy bullet magnum loads. The revolvers made prior to this are well made and better looking guns IMO but are prone to shoot loose if you run a lot of .44 magnum ammo through them. I think the first dash number for the 29 that incorporated these changes was the -4, and the notable difference is the ridge along the recoil shield on the left side of the revolver. This was in the pre lock days, I don't know what dash number is contemporary as of the current production. I have two 29-2 revolvers, one is an S number 4 in. and the other is an N number 6 1/2 in. gun, the S prefix gun has just a little bit nicer finish on it.