Some weapons become legends immediately after their creation, while others never manage to do so. The Smith & Wesson Model 29 revolver was propelled into the spotlight by a Hollywood blockbuster, leading to its production in various versions for over six decades.
Published 03.02.2025 / Ranger-Ka
In the 1930s, a group of adventurers in the USA felt that .357 Magnum revolvers were not powerful enough. They desired a more potent six-shooter as a reliable backup weapon for wilderness expeditions. Rancher Elmer Keith took the lead in the development, experimenting with increasing the performance of the popular .44 Special ammunition.
Elmer destroyed one cylinder after another in his experiments until he succeeded in creating a functional cartridge loaded with a bullet weighing 15.6 grams and delivering a power of a thousand joules. However, gun manufacturers showed little interest due to concerns about confusion with the dimensionally similar .44 Special ammunition - if someone mistakenly fired the new ammunition from a less sturdy revolver, the cylinder could burst.
Keith simply extended the cartridge to prevent it from fitting into older firearms and persuaded Remington to cooperate on ammunition. The legendary .44 Magnum cartridge was born, and enthusiasts of large-caliber firearms rejoiced because the bullet had nearly double the performance at 45 meters compared to the .357 caliber. Now, all that remained was to construct a revolver capable of withstanding extreme pressures.
Smith & Wesson took on the task and used a large S-frame (today this size is designated by the letter N) with triple-locking cylinder latch as the basis. The prototype saw the light of day in December 1955, and the formidable weapon began to be offered to the public in January for $140.
The first two specimens were sent free of charge to Keith and Major General Julian Hatcher - the technical editor of the American Rifleman magazine. Thanks to his positive review, by the end of 1956, 3100 units had left the production hall, and two years later, the weapon finally received its definitive designation: Model 29. Technically, it did not bring any revolutionary innovation. The frame was made of carbon steel and utilized a proven double-action mechanism. It featured a nickel-plated or blued finish, walnut grips, and a hardened hammer and trigger. Adjustable sights and the option to choose from several barrel lengths from 7.6 to 21.3 cm were also available.
The novelty quickly gained popularity among part of the shooting community because it was the most powerful production handgun. It was only surpassed by revolvers chambered for .454 Casull cartridges. Fans eagerly absorbed Keith's stories of short gun hunts, and the stopping power also appealed to police forces. However, the recoil deterred most potential customers, which could not be fully compensated even by the considerable weight of the weapon (the most common version weighed 1.4 kg). It quickly became apparent that the "twenty-nine" was not suitable for beginners, and without training, several shooters even injured their elbows during shooting. The gun manufacturer responded by allowing the weapon to be fed with the original .44 Special cartridges.
Despite poor sales, the designers continued to develop, and in 1960, the original model was replaced by the 29-1 version with an improved ejector rod. The following year, the 29-2 model came, which no longer needed a spring for cylinder stop. However, the innovations did not help sales, and although the model remained in catalogs, its production ceased.
It seemed that Keith's dream had died, but in 1971, like a bolt from the blue, the Hollywood movie "Dirty Harry" struck. Clint Eastwood, as the uncompromising cop Harry Callahan, brandished a six-shooter, muttered one line after another through his teeth, and warned villains that he held the most powerful gun of all time. Harry's charisma enchanted Americans so much that demand for the Model 29 skyrocketed. Almost every shooter suddenly yearned for a giant revolver, and the "twenty-nine" was sold for triple the recommended price of $194. Eastwood remained faithful to the Model 29 in four more movies about Harry, and after the premiere of each, the gun manufacturer had to increase production.
Profits allowed engineers to continue working on the gun. The 1982 Model 29-3 simplified the construction of the cylinder and barrel, reducing the cost of the revolver. The 29-4 and 29-5 models increased overall durability for more intensive use. A smaller revolution came with the 1994 29-6 version, where wooden grips were replaced by rubber ones from Hogue, and a targeting optic could be mounted on the barrel.
The final model 29-7 offered in 1998 a hammer and trigger made by plastic injection molding of metals. Also, the range of barrels expanded, with the most extreme Silhouette version boasting a 27 cm barrel.
However, time cannot be stopped, and in 1978, Smith & Wesson introduced the subsequent model 629 with a stainless steel frame. The gun manufacturer gradually improved it, with the most significant progress coming from the 2000 629-5 version with a new cylinder lock in the front of the frame. Until then, the chamber was secured by a spring-loaded latch that was overly stressed when the trigger was pressed. At the moment of firing, the chamber did not have to precisely match the bore, reducing accuracy and stressing the frame. Now engineers moved the lock to a hinged console with a spring-loaded ball. Also, the firing pin from the 629-5 model is not located on the hammer but in the frame, where it is complemented by a rebound spring. The solution prevents primer penetration, which is particularly important for ammunition with high pressures.
Most of the novelties were devised by specialists from the Smith & Wesson Performance Center department, who, for an additional fee, test, tailor, and complement the revolvers with custom equipment. The Model 629 is available in many barrel lengths and with variously modified sights (it has adjustable sights and a front sight set in the cross rib carrier as standard).
In 1999, after two decades of parallel production, the gun manufacturer announced the end of Model 29 production in favor of its younger brother. However, in 2006, on the occasion of the 50th anniversary of the six-shooter's entry into the market, a limited edition with a gold emblem on the frame was produced. In addition to the mass-produced S&W 629, the Model 29 Classic is produced in smaller quantities with a nickel or blued finish and barrels of 10.2 or 16.5 cm in length. Gems include beautiful specimens decorated with laser engraving.
It should be noted that "Callahanesque" revolvers have also been available in Europe since the early 1970s, with the largest sales being recorded in Germany. In the Czech Republic, the Model 629 did not appear until the second half of the 1990s, and today, practically any variant can be obtained through various dealers. Compact versions with shorter barrels are particularly popular, with owners appreciating the quality craftsmanship with minimal tolerances without irregularities or marks from tools. However, versions with the shortest barrels are heavy and expensive for everyday carry. Also, significant recoil is not suitable for everyone, although it is partially compensated by a pleasantly smooth trigger pull.
The Smith & Wesson Model 29 or 629 is recommended primarily for lovers of classic large-caliber revolvers who are not afraid of a few kicks and prefer robustness and reliability. If you can handle the powerful caliber, Harry's revolver will be a source of great entertainment for you, which will also command respect in defending your home.
