Price check - S&W Model 29 & Browning Hi-Power

H Wally

CGN Ultra frequent flyer
Super GunNutz
Rating - 100%
193   0   0
Hi all,
I'm not much into the pistol scene so don't know what these're worth. Asked to provide a rough value on these two guns. Unfortunately I have to go by memory from when I last held them and can't get any actual pictures or information on them. I have however been asked to get a very rough price, or price range on both based on information at hand.

1) S&W Model 29 with 8 3/8" bbl.

Gun in question has been shot, but very infrequently and has had a single owner since at least the 80's. Mechanically is very smooth and tight with no play, gap or issues. Externally some superficial scuffing and some light wear on the grip panels with scratches, dings and smudges from locker storage.


Identical to this one:

Representative picture only
doc44-albums-unique-s-w-n-frame-revolvers-picture2291-prototype-model-629-n629100-left-side.jpg



2) Browning Hi-Power

Gun has been shot, has wear from handling and age. Bluing is worn to grey on raised and broad surfaces. Gun has pin-prick pitting on right side from holster storage, but nothing extensive. Internally in VG condition with all components in good working order, no visible wear or damage and functions perfectly. Thought to be manufactured between 1940 and 1959. May have served in WW2 though impossible to tell at the moment.

Gun looks closest to this one:

Representative picture only
40sBHP1_zpsc9bc7231.jpg
 
Last edited:
The were a lot of different Browning Hi-Powers built between 1940 and 1959 (Inglis guns built in Toronto, German occupation guns built in the FN plant in Belgium and post war commercial or military contract guns built by FN)
What are the markings on the gun? Is there a slot in the backstrap? What does the serial number start with?
 
I thought that photo was just a generic "looks like this one" photo?

Probably a post war FN.....very few (if any) of the pre-war guns had fixed sights and of course the Inglis guns were so marked and the Nazi ones had Waffenamps. I'd guess 1950's from the sounds of things. The actual serial number doesn't mean a whole lot for dating with FN the way it does with more modern Brownings. As I inderstand it FN reused serial number runs for different contracts. Various stamps and inspection marks can identify the gun and date it better (some of the guys on the Browning Hi-Power Owner's Forum are experts at this stuff but they'd need detailed hi-res photos).

Pretty hard to say anything definative without good photos and a detailed description of the rollmarks,inspection stamps etc etc
 
I have one of each of those, and they are my favourite revolver and favourite semi. My 629 is an early 90's with the same barrel length and my HP is '74 FN built. I'll never sell mine.
 
Thanks for the help so far guys - I've updated the post as well. Both guns are inaccessible so actual pictures and better info is unavailable and therefore any price estimates will necessarily have to be rough or ranged prices dependent on the info available.

The were a lot of different Browning Hi-Powers built between 1940 and 1959 (Inglis guns built in Toronto, German occupation guns built in the FN plant in Belgium and post war commercial or military contract guns built by FN)
What are the markings on the gun? Is there a slot in the backstrap? What does the serial number start with?

Afraid I can't get any of that info - I know it's important, just unavailable to me. Basically we're going with a baseline price for a plane jane nothing special hi-power with some pitting but VG internals. Since it might be more valuable I figure adding a couple hundred onto that value would be appropriate, unless their values are pretty tight from nothing special to very rare.



I thought that photo was just a generic "looks like this one" photo?

Probably a post war FN.....very few (if any) of the pre-war guns had fixed sights and of course the Inglis guns were so marked and the Nazi ones had Waffenamps. I'd guess 1950's from the sounds of things. The actual serial number doesn't mean a whole lot for dating with FN the way it does with more modern Brownings. As I inderstand it FN reused serial number runs for different contracts. Various stamps and inspection marks can identify the gun and date it better (some of the guys on the Browning Hi-Power Owner's Forum are experts at this stuff but they'd need detailed hi-res photos).

Pretty hard to say anything definative without good photos and a detailed description of the rollmarks,inspection stamps etc etc

Yep - it's a representative pic - I can't get any more info or any pictures from the source, so it's necessitating very rough price range guesstimates on both. The sights is something I don't explicitly remember - I was mainly going for finish condition and overall appearance.
 
Last edited:
For the 629, I'm thinking 900-1000 depending on condition. if it has a pinned barrel and recessed cylinders, as in the picture, some may pay more.
 
I would agree on the 900 for the 629 and 450 for the bhp unless it is found to have some redeeming quality to increase value despite its wear as described in lue of true pics
 
Excellent - that's the info I needed - CGN didn't have much in the way of either gun on the EE so it was hard to figure out the price, and not knowing much about either one made figuring out the pricing on the few there even more difficult.
 
Back
Top Bottom