My neighbor D favors the cowboy look. He wears denim and flannel, sheepskin vests, cowboy hats. And his weapons were all perfected in the nineteenth century.
I like to think I’ve been a bad influence on him. When we met he rarely carried a handgun. But it was entirely consistent of him that when he started to do it, it was a single-action .45 on a separate belt.
Recently he decided he rated a better gun. His carry gun has always been an Italian replica with a crummy action and a bent take-down pin. But he hoped that by trading it and a shotgun he could get within buying range of a Colt. Yesterday he asked me if I wanted to tag along on a trip to the fun store this morning. I didn’t have anything more important going on.
I’ve fallen victim to it before: When times are hard, everybody tries to trade or sell shotguns. Gun shops are practically paved with’em. He has a nice old Winchester Model 12 he never uses, and was hoping to get a decent price for it. The manager wouldn’t even make an offer. He did give D a more than fair price for the Italian revolver, though. So D activated Plan B, a tear-stained trip to the bank. I like a man who’s made up his mind.
While D was busy denying he’d ever been a drug-using felonious illegal alien, I succumbed to the temptation to fondle a 5″ S&W 629. Gad, that is the perfect machine, right there. I’ll never own one, but I’m happier knowing they’re there. And I’d forgotten how much I enjoy handling a good-quality single-action. All those precise little clicks, like it wants you to understand it is seriously about its very serious business. This one has an action smooth as butter, and a nice crisp trigger break. The heavy hammer fall would be something new to get used to, though.
Oh yes! 629. Make you fall in love all over again.
5″ and 3.5″ are the correct barrel lengths for N-frames.
Even though it is more practical, however, soulless steel is the incorrect material. Start getting all practical like that and next thing you know, you’re carrying a bottom-feeder. 😉
I have a 4″ 629 in soulless steel, and a blued 6″ 29-3. Am I a blasphemer?
Old S&W big bore double actions are fun to shoot, especially when you aren’t out trying to impress anyone (including yourself) with ‘high power badassery’. Big slow bullets (.45acp / .44 Spcl.) can be shot without a lot of fuss, the SASS shooters got that part right.
The Model 29 is awesome – Elmer Keith would be proud to hear its still kicking.
Jeff,
“I have a 4″ 629 in soulless steel, and a blued 6″ 29-3. Am I a blasphemer?”
I don’t know bout “blasphemy”; that’s probably more like “forgot to bring the potato salad to Wednesday night supper”. 😉
If Jeff wants to save himself the embarrassment of having them around, I’ll do the kind thing and put them somewhere obscure for him… 🙂
Soulless……the hell……… I prefer nickel enhanced, myself. I just make a really purty nickel enhanced steel Ruger Vaquero with a birds head grip and a shortish 4 inch barrel in .45 Colt a recent addition to the herd.
It was a choice between that and a Blackhawk in the same caliber BUT with an additional .45 ACP cylinder…. and if that is still sitting there in the case at the local range when I got for my weekly visit I’ll be adopting that one as well.
Yeah…I have a problem.
Fortunately I have a wife who overlooks my addiction since it never involves puking on, yelling at or hitting her.
Plus she likes to shoot.
Yup, great gun and @ 3 lbs. you can always bash the target when it clicks empty. I kinda like my 12oz. 38 spec. At least it’s around when I might need it.