POTD: A Purchaser’s Lucky Day – The Smith and Wesson Model 29-2
Sam.S 01.04.24
Welcome to today’s Photo of the Day! Introduced in 1957, the Smith & Wesson Model 29-2 is a six-shot double-action revolver firing the powerful .44 Magnum cartridge. Originally made famous by Clint Eastwood in 1971’s Dirty Harry as “the most powerful handgun in the world,” the large-framed Model 29 was built to handle hot loaded rounds Elmer Keith developed for hunting big game. Later variants reduced barrel lengths from 8+3⁄8 inches down to as short as 2.5 inches for lightweight “Mountain Gun” models, while retaining the original’s stainless steel Model 629 durability. Targeted at enthusiasts, the Model 29’s limited production in standard or custom configurations has seen over 10 generations since the 1990s, including commemorative series and engraved classics. Though surpassed by revolvers shooting .454 Casull and .50 AE rounds, the iconic Model 29 ensured Smith & Wesson’s association with maximum .44 firepower while securing its place in cinema history.
Lot 4856: Smith & Wesson Model 29-2 Double Action Revolver. (n.d.). Rock Island Auction Company. photograph. Retrieved January 3, 2024, from https://www.rockislandauction.com/detail/1044/4856/smith-wesson-model-292-double-action-revolver.
