So I received my new to me model 29-2 6 inch today. I don't think the gun has ever been fired, there literally is no cylinder ring or any noticeable powder burn rings on cylinder but I did notice the bluing on barrel/cylinder don't match the frame. The barrel/cylinder is deep shiny bluing and the frame is a flat finish to the point it even looks kinda greyish. In normal room lighting it's not to noticeable but under my halogen shop light or in bright sun there is no mistaking it. I have seen that in couple of other smith guns so just wondering why this is. This is 1979 production.
Why is bluing different on barrel/cylinder than the frame on S&W?
- Thread starter Squiggy
- Start date
There was a guy on here selling pistol like that a 29-2 he said it was because it was at the end of the run and the bluing they used changed. did not make much sense to me. I don't know if that is the one you got. any chance it was re -barreled. I have a 19-2 27-2 29-2 28-2 and none of them have that difference of finish.
No I don't think it was re barrelled because cylinder and barrel are close in colour, just the frame is different. If someone can private me their email, I can forward a few pics to them and they can post them cause I give up trying to post pics here. In the sunlight or desk lamp its like night and day. I also have a model 19, another model 29-2, model 28 and they all the same shade of bluing.
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Got Juice?
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Hm my Dirty Harry 29-2 is flawless in bluing. Perhaps a re-barrel on it?
We if you want to post pictures here you have to be member, simple. But looking at the pictures, should have taken a close up of the frame / barrel, looks a bit off to me, but when I blow it up, definition gets bit fuzzy.
I sent a couple pics to "gnmontey" up close under the light. Hopefully he will post them. Thanks, appreciate it. Best I could do at 1 am lol. But last pictures you can clearly see the difference in barrel and frame. Thanks again and guess I will have to become a member 
Got Juice?
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Egads! The top strap to barrel transition is the WORST I have seen on a 29-2. I think this gun has been re-barreled at some time in it's life. 1 or 2 thou difference sure, but almost 1/8"???
But if it shoots, and you don't have end shake, or an alignment issue, lead shaving, or lockup, I would keep it. If the barrel bothers you, I am sure Charlton can fix you up with something that lines up better.
But if it shoots, and you don't have end shake, or an alignment issue, lead shaving, or lockup, I would keep it. If the barrel bothers you, I am sure Charlton can fix you up with something that lines up better.
There is no gap on the barrel, that's just the way it looks with angle, it came in a presentation box fitted for 6 inch barrel and all the goodies. This gun has never been fired as you can see on the top pics there is no cylinder ring, if it has it's been just one round or two. There is no powder burn on cylinder or barrel feeding cone. It's a damn shame. I also pulled one of the grips off which seem to have never been off the gun because it was like they were glued on, just to see the bluing under the grip, maybe someone had used something that ruined the bluing but it was the exact same shade of grey.
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Things happen in the factory. Say a cylinder is damaged. The gun is then put right with a different cylinder (or barrel, or frame).
The bluing can vary slightly with metal composition and from tank to tank, so if a major part was changed at the factory, the bluing might not match.
The bluing can vary slightly with metal composition and from tank to tank, so if a major part was changed at the factory, the bluing might not match.
Yes could be these days, I would think at that time , would have matched up better , my 19 same age matches perfect. I you bought a shooter?
If you paid big money for a collector and this was not mentioned, I would be returning it. Damn hard to tell condition from pictures.
If you have the right light for it to show up, than ??????????? shoot it.
If you paid big money for a collector and this was not mentioned, I would be returning it. Damn hard to tell condition from pictures.
If you have the right light for it to show up, than ??????????? shoot it.
