In a reply to an earlier thread a respected member indicated that it was a model 57. This week on an episode of TV's " Gun Stories" it was described at length as a model 29. I do not have answer only the question.
Was Dirty Harry's gun a Model 29 44 mag or a Model 57 41 Mag ?
Monticellomarshal
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HAha you do indeed have "you-know whats" of steel!!!
You must have had very large pants.
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Model 29. Do you agree? Well, do ya punk?
My father is his biggest fan and bought the gun soon after watching a Dirty Harry movie. He likes his westerns more.
He had a stroke a few years back and can not communicate or walk. He is paralyzed on his right side. He does not show any emotion unless Clint is on tv or a Louis L’Amour tape is being played.
As a young child I remember watching one of his movies with my dad and he died in it. I cannot remember the name of the movie but I think I remember a lady poisoned him.
Please stay healthy and safe.
My father is his biggest fan and bought the gun soon after watching a Dirty Harry movie. He likes his westerns more.
He had a stroke a few years back and can not communicate or walk. He is paralyzed on his right side. He does not show any emotion unless Clint is on tv or a Louis L’Amour tape is being played.
As a young child I remember watching one of his movies with my dad and he died in it. I cannot remember the name of the movie but I think I remember a lady poisoned him.
Please stay healthy and safe.
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The Beguiled
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Finally, the voice of reason. Saying a model 57 was used in Dirty Harry is like saying the motorcycle cops in Magnum Force used Diamondbacks... sacrilege! Not for nothing but a Model 57 has a SIX INCH BARREL not 6.5". Any S&W guy can spot that 1/2 inch from across the room.
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You missed the 8 3/8" barrel in the pocket holster in the right front pants pocket.Grip safety and thumb safety on a 29? Not to mention it ricocheted? April 1st was yesterday.
He's pulling your leg.
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That much was obvious...my comment was because he missed April 1 by a day.You missed the 8 3/8" barrel in the pocket holster in the right front pants pocket.
He's pulling your leg.
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No dog in this fight but sure can't find a photo of the right side of Harry's gun that would actually say 44 magnum. Anyone got a shot of the right side of the gun from the original movie? Can't find one that says S&W on the left side where it should be either Curious as to why a gun person would think Hollywood ever got it "right". But by all means carry one. (huge roll of eyes here)
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One thing is for sure...old Harry did well one handed. But his two handed grip missed the "modern technique" of 1971 or his "light special" loads anything new. Likely Magnum Force (1973) did introduce a whole new group of movie watchers to "combat pistol".
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Curious as to why a gun person would think Hollywood ever got it "right". But by all means carry one. (huge roll of eyes here) 
One thing is for sure...old Harry did well one handed. But his two handed grip missed the "modern technique" of 1971 or his "light special" loads anything new. Likely Magnum Force (1973) did introduce a whole new group of movie watchers to "combat pistol".
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As is common with Hollywood movies, a rubber or plastic replica was used in some scenes.
When a movie maker orders a gun from one of the companies that supply guns to the trade, they send two, one metal/real gun, and one replica made of rubber or plastic.
As example, in the original "Dirty Harry" the .44 goes skidding across the concrete floor of the huge cross on the hill.
They did not use a real S&W .44 for that.
In this case, they got real guns from S&W, but a fake was used for some shots. You don't want a real gun floating around a move set, especially on a public street unless you have to.
When a movie maker orders a gun from one of the companies that supply guns to the trade, they send two, one metal/real gun, and one replica made of rubber or plastic.
As example, in the original "Dirty Harry" the .44 goes skidding across the concrete floor of the huge cross on the hill.
They did not use a real S&W .44 for that.
In this case, they got real guns from S&W, but a fake was used for some shots. You don't want a real gun floating around a move set, especially on a public street unless you have to.
In Magnum Force, I always thought he was discussing his "competition" load of choice because the officers were going to compete in a police match. That's where the light .44 special vs .357 wadcutter load discussion originated, practicing at the indoor range in advance of the match. Otherwise, what Harry was capping off toward the bad guys sure as hell wasn't any mid-range .44 spcl load! KAAAAAABOOOOM!!!
I am not a native English speaker, but I don’t think he says it’s a .44 special.
Q: what kind of a load are you using in that 44?
A : it’s a light special. (In) this size gun it gives me better control and less recoil than 357 with wadcutters
It could mean a lighter powder load in a .44 Mag, or a lighter bullet.
In any case it’s still Hollywood, so accuracy on gun trivia is not expected.
Here’s the clip of that scene
https://youtu.be/Gs8AqzN9Ga4
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I hadn't watched that clip in may be 40+ years. Kinda fun remembering my own level of handgun skills in the same time period and how influenced I was by Harry Callahan
Good catch on the discussion and comparison. Heavy gun and a lwt load for a 44 mag...best done in a 44 Special case if one really wanted a 44 Mag "target load" that would compare to every 38 and 357 mag a cop would be using @ a match in that time frame. The .38/357s would all be shooting lwt loaded 158gr wad cutters 38 Special loads. The movie was just fantasy that John Milius rewrote the screen play in exchange (by Milius' admission) for a Model 29. I suspect the screen play was done with some knowledge of the 44 magnum but just poorly written as to the details.
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Milius admits in the NRA film clip that his gun was given to him after Magnum force...and the difficulty of getting a Model 29 for Dirty Harry. Then in the 2nd film bit from the NRA, the gun Milius claims was given to him after Magnum Force is claimed as "the original Dirty Harry 44 Magnum". Make of it as you will.
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"Point Blank" 1967 with Lee Marvin is another good movie that features the Mod 29 S&W. A dark film noir, well worth watching if you have not seen it imo. Marvin's underworld character 'Walker" (67) beat Dirty Harry (71) to the draw with the Mod. 29 on screen.
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Point Blank (1967) - Internet Movie Firearms Database - Guns in Movies, TV and Video Games
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https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Point_Blank_(1967_film)
Marvin is great to watch handling any weapon in film- a real life gunman, a combat marine.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=N2sKgsKTeEM
They sure as hell don't make them like that anymore in tinsel town.
Not even close.
Point Blank (1967) - Internet Movie Firearms Database - Guns in Movies, TV and Video Games
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Point_Blank_(1967_film)
Marvin is great to watch handling any weapon in film- a real life gunman, a combat marine.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=N2sKgsKTeEM
They sure as hell don't make them like that anymore in tinsel town.
Not even close.
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Some where on the Internet is the story of this Model 29 and how it came to the current owner from Lee Marin. Wonderful story.Ugly said:
Lee Marvin?s 44 Magnum ? John S. Wilson
Clean story and not all the balderdash surrounding the Dirty Harry guns or the later guns used in the Inspector Callahan series of movies.
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"money I wasted on cigs and women" lol
I asked my old pard Joe years back- "Joe what would you rather have? A hot Chica Girl Friend, or a new Colt SAA??
"Gimme the Colt" quoth Joe.
A wise man- was old rebel Joe.
I asked my old pard Joe years back- "Joe what would you rather have? A hot Chica Girl Friend, or a new Colt SAA??
"Gimme the Colt" quoth Joe.
A wise man- was old rebel Joe.
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