Shooting a S&W .44 Magnum

[WildBill]

I remember when Ruger started making the .44 magnums, you used to see a lot of almost new ones in the used gun rack, together with the remainder of the first box of ammunition they had bought.

After the Dirty Harry movies, it was almost impossible to find a S&W Model 29. A find of mine found three at the Monkey Wards and bought them. I think he paid about $600 each, which was retail. Most were going for around $900.

[glbedd53]

Dirty Harry was in 1971. By 78 when I bought mine they were in the low 400s.

[The Annoyed Man]

Dirty Harry was in 1971. By 78 when I bought mine they were in the low 400s.

I paid $452 for mine in 1995 or 1996. Also, I don't know if this factors into the price or not, but mine was blue steel instead of stainless, and the barrel was 5" instead of 4" or 6" or longer. Also, it had the full length underlug under the barrel and the rubber Hogue grips instead of the wood grips and barrel profile of the earlier guns. But that price of $452 seemed pretty reasonable to me at the time.

[WildBill]

Dirty Harry was in 1971. By 78 when I bought mine they were in the low 400s.

I paid $452 for mine in 1995 or 1996. Also, I don't know if this factors into the price or not, but mine was blue steel instead of stainless, and the barrel was 5" instead of 4" or 6" or longer. Also, it had the full length underlug under the barrel and the rubber Hogue grips instead of the wood grips and barrel profile of the earlier guns. But that price of $452 seemed pretty reasonable to me at the time.

The SS Model 629 came out in 1978. As I recall, the most popular barrel length was 6 inches. Some of the hunters and silhoutte shooters liked the 8 inch and longer.

[glbedd53]

Mine is a 6-1/2" . I think it might have been 1979 when I bought it because I had trouble finding a new 6-1/2 because S&W had already changed to 6''.

[talltex]

Dirty Harry was in 1971. By 78 when I bought mine they were in the low 400s.

I paid $452 for mine in 1995 or 1996. Also, I don't know if this factors into the price or not, but mine was blue steel instead of stainless, and the barrel was 5" instead of 4" or 6" or longer. Also, it had the full length underlug under the barrel and the rubber Hogue grips instead of the wood grips and barrel profile of the earlier guns. But that price of $452 seemed pretty reasonable to me at the time.

The SS Model 629 came out in 1978. As I recall, the most popular barrel length was 6 inches. Some of the hunters and silhoutte shooters liked the 8 inch and longer.

You were lucky to find one in the late 70's for retail price. For most of the 70's and into early 80's they were on constant backorder, and most dealers had a waiting list, so they were sold as soon as they arrived. The going price for a blued one with goncalo alves combat grips in presentation case was $600+ at the gun shows...at that time a NIB Colt .45 Mark IV 1911 was $250-275 and a Gold Cup National Match in presentation case was $375-425. I don't think anyone ever built a better looking revolver than the those bright mirror blue N frames except for the Colt Pythons in Royal Blue w/walnut grips....just superb fit and finish on both of them, with the Python having the smoothest double action trigger anyone ever produced right out of the box (hand honed at the factory). I recall the price on those first 629's going as high as $1000 for the first year.

[anygunanywhere]

I have an Interarms Virgina Dragoon in .44 Rem Mag. 8 3/8 inch bbl with Pachmyer grips. Shoots good but then I have not shot it in awhile. It is my go to pistol when hunting and has dropped many piggies.

Anygunanywhere

[WildBill]

You were lucky to find one in the late 70's for retail price. I don't think anyone ever built a better looking revolver than the those bright mirror blue N frames except for the Colt Pythons in Royal Blue w/walnut grips....just superb fit and finish on both of them, with the Python having the smoothest double action trigger anyone ever produced right out of the box (hand honed at the factory). I recall the price on those first 629's going as high as $1000 for the first year.

I bought my NIB Python for $300 in 1975.

[Heartland Patriot]

You were lucky to find one in the late 70's for retail price. I don't think anyone ever built a better looking revolver than the those bright mirror blue N frames except for the Colt Pythons in Royal Blue w/walnut grips....just superb fit and finish on both of them, with the Python having the smoothest double action trigger anyone ever produced right out of the box (hand honed at the factory). I recall the price on those first 629's going as high as $1000 for the first year.

I bought my NIB Python for $300 in 1975.

At first, one might be tempted to do the WOW thing...however, just calculating the inflation figures with an online calculator, I saw that it equals about $1300 today. Kind of puts it in perspective...that was some real money back then. Now, here's the real important question: do you still have that Python?

[10Shooter]

You were lucky to find one in the late 70's for retail price. I don't think anyone ever built a better looking revolver than the those bright mirror blue N frames except for the Colt Pythons in Royal Blue w/walnut grips....just superb fit and finish on both of them, with the Python having the smoothest double action trigger anyone ever produced right out of the box (hand honed at the factory). I recall the price on those first 629's going as high as $1000 for the first year.

I bought my NIB Python for $300 in 1975.

I bought my NIB Redhawk in 1985 for $300 in a general store in NM (probably doesn't exist now, it was a really old store then), 10 years later than you...

[WildBill]

You were lucky to find one in the late 70's for retail price. I don't think anyone ever built a better looking revolver than the those bright mirror blue N frames except for the Colt Pythons in Royal Blue w/walnut grips....just superb fit and finish on both of them, with the Python having the smoothest double action trigger anyone ever produced right out of the box (hand honed at the factory). I recall the price on those first 629's going as high as $1000 for the first year.

I bought my NIB Python for $300 in 1975.

At first, one might be tempted to do the WOW thing...however, just calculating the inflation figures with an online calculator, I saw that it equals about $1300 today. Kind of puts it in perspective...that was some real money back then. Now, here's the real important question: do you still have that Python?

It's still in 95%+ condition. BTW, Collector's Firearms sells them for around $1300. At least that's what they are asking.

I never did get a Model 29 or 629.

[The Annoyed Man]

You were lucky to find one in the late 70's for retail price. I don't think anyone ever built a better looking revolver than the those bright mirror blue N frames except for the Colt Pythons in Royal Blue w/walnut grips....just superb fit and finish on both of them, with the Python having the smoothest double action trigger anyone ever produced right out of the box (hand honed at the factory). I recall the price on those first 629's going as high as $1000 for the first year.

I bought my NIB Python for $300 in 1975.

For the record, that was talltex who wrote that quote, not me. All the same, I'll give you $400 for that Python today.

[Heartland Patriot]

You were lucky to find one in the late 70's for retail price. I don't think anyone ever built a better looking revolver than the those bright mirror blue N frames except for the Colt Pythons in Royal Blue w/walnut grips....just superb fit and finish on both of them, with the Python having the smoothest double action trigger anyone ever produced right out of the box (hand honed at the factory). I recall the price on those first 629's going as high as $1000 for the first year.

I bought my NIB Python for $300 in 1975.

At first, one might be tempted to do the WOW thing...however, just calculating the inflation figures with an online calculator, I saw that it equals about $1300 today. Kind of puts it in perspective...that was some real money back then. Now, here's the real important question: do you still have that Python?

It's still in 95%+ condition. BTW, Collector's Firearms sells them for around $1300. At least that's what they are asking.

I never did get a Model 29 or 629.

Well, I'm glad to hear you still have it. And like I said, with the inflation calculated, that $1300 is about what you paid back then...all these years, it may not be worth a mint, but it ain't lost any value, either. That's good, real good.

[WildBill]

You were lucky to find one in the late 70's for retail price. I don't think anyone ever built a better looking revolver than the those bright mirror blue N frames except for the Colt Pythons in Royal Blue w/walnut grips....just superb fit and finish on both of them, with the Python having the smoothest double action trigger anyone ever produced right out of the box (hand honed at the factory). I recall the price on those first 629's going as high as $1000 for the first year.

I bought my NIB Python for $300 in 1975.

For the record, that was talltex who wrote that quote, not me. All the same, I'll give you $400 for that Python today.

Sorry, I should have noticed that talltex was the one with good taste in revolvers.