Soiled Harry’s Smith & Wesson Mannequin 29, a Quick Historical past: It might be one of the well-known film quotes of all time: “Do you’re feeling fortunate punk?” It was stated by Clint Eastwood within the movie Soiled Harry, or not less than that’s what many individuals imagine he stated.
The precise line uttered by “Soiled” Harry Callahan was: “I do know what you’re considering: ‘Did he hearth six photographs or solely 5?’ Effectively, to let you know the reality, in all this pleasure, I’ve kinda misplaced observe myself. However being it is a .44 Magnum, essentially the most highly effective handgun on this planet, and would blow your head clear off, you’ve acquired to ask your self one query: ‘Do I really feel fortunate?’ Effectively, do you, punk?”
The monster hand cannon carried by Eastwood was the Smith & Wesson Mannequin 29, and it obtained that shout-out, which made it notorious. Within the movie Eastwood truly may very well be seen with two totally different variations; one with an 8 3/4-inch barrel and one other 6 1/2-inch barrel. The script had referred to as for a 4-inch barrel, however that mannequin was not in manufacturing when filming started.
The opposite misstatement is that it wasn’t technically the “strongest” handgun in 1970, because the .44 Remington Magnum was truly eclipsed in measurement and energy by the .454 Casull spherical. However whatever the minor nitpick the gun has grow to be iconic ever since. What can also be notable is Soiled Harry wasn’t even the primary film to characteristic the gun. It had already appeared within the 1967 movie Level Clean starring Lee Marvin, nevertheless it was Eastwood’s line that seemingly made the gun a star. It went on to be seen in a slew of different films together with Reside and Let Die, Taxi Driver, Beverly Hills Cop III and The Killer.
The fascinating factor concerning the six-shot, double-action revolver is that it had been launched within the Fifties, so whereas it’s remembered as kind of a Nineteen Seventies period firearm due to Soiled Harry, it had already been round for greater than a dozen years. Manufacturing started in 1955 and the Mannequin 29 designation launched two years later.
When it first hit the market, it was actually essentially the most highly effective “manufacturing handgun” on this planet, nevertheless it needs to be remembered that there have been numerous customized calibers that had been extra highly effective together with the outdated Howdah pistols from the nineteenth century. The Mannequin 29 hadn’t even been a preferred choice for many shooters as few truly desired such a hand cannon, however all that modified in 1971.
It was the selection for some in legislation enforcement and was usually a backup weapon for giant recreation hunters. All of that modified after the opening scene when Harry Callahan had his confrontation with that punk. After the film got here out retailers had a tough time holding the Mannequin 29 in inventory.
It was solely within the late Nineteen Nineties, as a brand new technology of enormous body handguns – together with the Desert Eagle – turned widespread that the luster light with the Mannequin 29. But, at the same time as different revolvers have been discontinued, the Mannequin 29 stays out there with 4-inch and 6.5-inch barrel choices. And whereas it doesn’t come low cost – MSRP is greater than $1,000 – you don’t must ask your self if you happen to really feel fortunate, however moderately you suppose you possibly can truly deal with it?
Peter Suciu is a Michigan-based author who has contributed to greater than 4 dozen magazines, newspapers and web sites. He recurrently writes about navy small arms, and is the writer of a number of books on navy headgear together with A Gallery of Army Headdress, which is out there on Amazon.com.
