Offered here is one of the 139 prototype stainless .44 Magnum revolvers S&W manufactured for testing the new Model 629. This "first pilot lot" of 139 prototypes is found in the serial number range N629062-N629200 and are nearly identical to the early production Model 629s with a few differences such as the serial number beginning with "N629", wider trigger and yoke stamping of "MOD. 629" instead of "MOD-629". Full production of the Model 629 began in the fall of 1979, and distribution began in March 1980. In the accompanying factory letter S&W historian Roy Jinks identifies the "first pilot lot" which includes this revolver and notes, "This handgun is listed as 'open' in our records (this means that there is no disposition entry in the ledger as to where the handgun was sent)." With the revolver is a period factory tag with the handwritten notation, "Photo gun N629175 Property of Roy G. Jinks." Mr. Jinks noted in the factory letter that this type of tag was used by the factory "when trying to select guns for photographing." In the accompanying May 1993 dated handwritten letter to Edward Tom Carson, the previous owner of this revolver, Smith & Wesson Collectors Association member Sylvio "Sam" Tovar II recounts his May 9, 1978 tour of the S&W factory where he encountered Mr. Jinks and this revolver. Mr. Tovar writes, "[Mr. Jinks] proudly showed us the new Model 629 which Smith & Wesson had just made which was featured in the March 1979 issue of Shooting Times Magazine...I remember the serial number well to this day because the gun is a 629 (serial # starts 629) and ends with 175, which was my [police] badge #-175...Had the gun been any other number I probably would have forgot it, but not 175. Mr. Jinks told us not to dry fire or cock the gun, as it was to be used for more promotional pictures." Also included is a copy of a photograph taken on May 9, 1978 in Mr. Jinks' office showing Mr. Tovar and "a fellow policer" with this revolver as well with the March 1979 issue of Shooting Times, and on the back of this image Mr. Tovar wrote, "Smith and Wesson Model 629-serial #N629175 along with the cover photo of the March 1979 Shooting Times magazine with the photo of the same Model 629 serial #N629175. The above fact was told to me (us) by Mr. Jinks." The March 1979 issue of Shooting Times featured an article announcing the introduction of the Model 629. This issue of Shooting Times is included and the aforementioned article is personally signed by its writer, Dick Metcalf, with salutations addressed to Mr. Carson. Mr. Carson is the collector Mr. Tovar wrote to in his included May 1993 letter and is a previous owner of this revolver. Additional information pertaining to this .44 Magnum is provided by the consignor: "Not long after the article's publication the revolver was returned to the factory, and later was shipped back to Dick Metcalf who subsequently sold the revolver to close friend and noted .44 Magnum collector and long time S&WCA member Wayne Hazelrigg. In 1991 Mr. Hazelrigg sold the revolver to another fellow S&WCA member Dick Carson who kept this very unit in his personal collection for over 20 years." Moreover, this revolver was "1 of 5 first Model 629 revolvers built. These first group S&W 629s were all hand assembled on the same day by Francis 'Franny' Longton, a long-time Smith & Wesson Service Manager." The S&W wood case contains a bore cleaning rod with mop and wire brush attachments and knurled screwdriver.

Excellent overall, showing minimal handling marks, a cylinder drag line and crisp grip checkering. The case is very good as relined. Mechanically excellent.