Lew Horton

tacreload · #1 03-26-2010, 03:50 PM

Hello to all.Been curious about one of my Smiths for a while.
Model 657 no dash sn#ANE4518.3"bbl.Gave 200.00 and a near
perfect Model 28 for it about 8 yrs ago.Bought the 28 in 1979
for 160.00 but always wanted a .41.Gun is goergeous but cyl.
won't open in all clock positions.Been told this is an easy fix.
But that's not the point.I have seen revolvers on several sites
gunbroker,gunsamerica ie that appear identical to mine with no mention of being Lew Horton editions and the asking price
is anywhere from 1500.00 to 2495.00.Were these Lew Horton
only?And with what they are wanting for them I guess I I got
a gem.Dealer was asking 435.00.Actually saw this gun at same gun show 2 years in a row with 2 different dealers.Could
not resist the second time,had to be fate.I'll try to post pics
when I can figure it out.Thanks for any opinions.

pinkymingeo · #2 03-26-2010, 05:30 PM

Seems like 3" 657's go for $600-900 around here, depending on condition. I sold a nice one about a year ago for $750. The fact that it went through Horton, or any of the other S&W distributors, doesn't affect the value. The cylinder clock position shouldn't matter when opening. If that's happening, I'd suspect a bent extractor rod.

tacreload · #3 03-26-2010, 08:47 PM

I think I figured it out.

tacreload · #4 03-26-2010, 08:50 PM

not quite here's the other one

jcelect · #5 03-26-2010, 10:28 PM

tacreload - The gun you have is one of 200 guns made for the distributor Lew Horton in 1998. As mentioned above, these are in the $900 price range when they are sold!

There's one in this case somewhere!
jcelect

Horace Smith · #6 03-26-2010, 10:30 PM

It looks to me like you have one of a special order. See the auction of same on G. Broker. There is a S&W letter also posted there that covers your serial#.

tacreload · #7 03-27-2010, 11:45 AM

Thanks guys,really appreciate the input.Just hope I can make my posts
look better.I'm gonna try to post pics of the rest of my addictions at
some point.

Doc Mark · #8 03-27-2010, 08:50 PM

Greetings, tacreload,

Congratulations on your fine 3" 657!! "Back in the day", I sought one of those for quite a few years, before finding mine. I visited a huge gunshow, taking along $500 in cash, and two other revolvers for trading, IF I found one of those very scarce (even then) Lew Horton pistols! Guess what? I found mine on one of the first tables at which I stopped, and the asking price was $300 NIB, with all the goodies! I was thrilled, and bought it that day. I've never been sorry, as that little gem is a real shooter. From 25 yards, off the bench, it will shoot Remington 210 Gr. JSP's into the same ragged hole, all day long! I figure that's pretty good shooting for a 3" barrel, and for the large caliber.

Personally, I did not find the finger-grooved wooden stocks to my liking, but then again, I have fairly small hands. I replaced them with some Pachmayer Compac grips for a round-butt N-frame, and those feel just great.

In any case, you got a fine weapon, and a great price. Hearty congratulations, and have fun with it. The .41 Magnum is my most favorite pistol caliber, and the 3" Lew Horton 657 is one of my most favorite revolvers for it. Take care, and God Bless!

Every Good Wish,
Doc

Messer · #9 03-27-2010, 11:14 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Horace Smith

It looks to me like you have one of a special order. See the auction of same on G. Broker. There is a S&W letter also posted there that covers your serial#.

This post about the S&W letter came at just the right time!

You see I just picked up a used 657 3" gun on Thursday, and Tacreload's gun and mine are very close in the SN range - mine is ANE-46xx.

I didn't realize they didn't make many of these when I decided to buy mine, I just have a week spot for 3" revolvers.

Thanks for the info, and take care,
Bob S.

tacreload · #10 03-28-2010, 10:38 AM

To Doc,mine seems to like Win Silvertips 175gr.I too have small hands and those wood grips really let you know you are touching off a powerhouse,but they really look great.I don't shoot it all that often so I can grin&bear it.Grin being the key word.Messer,I did see yours and they are really close.I have weakness for 3 inchers too but this is my only one as of yet,hope to change that.
Really appreciate the input fom all of you
Thanks Bruce

Messer · #11 03-28-2010, 01:13 PM

I agree, the stock combat grips do not fit my hand, but at the same time, I don't really like rubber grips either.

As soon as I can get to the next Richmond Gun Show, my 657 will have a set of Ahrend grips like the ones I have on my 625-3...

They fit my hand perfectly!

As to our 657's being Lew Horton guns, I don't think so, I think they had the full underlug like the 625 above does. (but I'm not 100% sure about that)

The S&W letter seems to agree since the one listed on the letter was not sent to Lew Horton.

I can't wait to get some ammo and try it out - maybe soon.

Take care,
Bob S.

Doc Mark · #12 03-28-2010, 03:01 PM

Hi, Bruce,

Happy Sunday to you! Thanks for the shout back on the 3" 657. Mine also likes the 175 grain Silvertips, and in fact, that's what I carry for self defense, when I use my little .41. But, when in the woods, I use the Remington load, or my handload of the heavy LBT slugs, and plenty of H110 powder. Good for anything from bears, to moose, to big cats, or come what may, but harder to shoot well, for sure. I know that some folks sneer at the Pachmayers and other rubber grips. But, they DO help tame the heavy recoil in these 3" guns, especially when shooting heavy loads. When I want mine be "pretty", I reinstall the original wooden grips. But, for work, the Pachmayers get the nod everytime.

I posted the following photos of my own 3" 657 yesterday, in another thread. But, I'm including them again, just in case you missed them. Have fun with that wonderful revolver of yours, and God Bless!

Every Good Wish,
Doc

Doc Mark · #13 03-28-2010, 03:05 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Messer

(snip)

As to our 657's being Lew Horton guns, I don't think so, I think they had the full underlug like the 625 above does. (but I'm not 100% sure about that)

The S&W letter seems to agree since the one listed on the letter was not sent to Lew Horton.

Take care,
Bob S.

Hi, Bob, and All,

You bring up an interesting point. I think I have a review of the original Lew Horton 3" M657, which I think was written by Dick Metcalf, back when this gun was first offered. If memory serves, and at my age, I'm down to a single brain cell

, Mr. Metcalf was shooting and showing a gun exactly like ours, without the full underlug. For what it's worth..... If needs be, I can spend a few hours digging through old boxes of magzines, and find that review. Take care, and God Bless!

Every Good Wish,
Doc

tacreload · #14 03-28-2010, 07:22 PM

Doc & Messer
Great pics.Those ahrends sure are nice.I like the pachmyers and if I shot the gun a lot more than I do I would probably invest in a set.My carry piece these days is an M&P40c.When I bought the 657 we were doing a lot of boat access camping at the Kinzua Res. in Northwestern Pa.There had been a few bear incidents there in previous years and I thought this would be an ideal choice over my .357s or my 6.5"629.I carried the 629 before on those trips and it was just way too big.The 657 worked out perfectly.Now the boat is for sale but the gun will stay.As I stated in the original post the cyl.doesn't open in all clock positions.The dealer And previous dealer both had the gun marked Lew Horton.When the problem with the cylinder arose I called S&W gave them the SN and the gentleman I spoke to confirmed that it was a Lew Horton,said they would fix it under warranty and even sent me a will call Fedex label for free shippping.But if you talked to my wife she will tell you I am a procrastinator and thats what I did.Never sent it in.But I still shoot it a few times a year but maybe it is time I get it fixed.Sending one of my guns away is not comfortable but my wife will also tell you that I'm somewhat paranoid,maybe so.Hope to poste pics of the rest of my modest collection at some point.
Thank you been really good to hear from all
Bruce

Brian894x4 · #15 03-29-2010, 01:35 AM

tacreload, if yours is 657 with no dash, the S&W standard catalog indicates that in 1986, the first production year of the 657, S&W did offer a 3" version from the factory, product code 103951, but apparently only for 1986. Serial number for you gun appears to coincided with being made sometime in 1986 as well.

The book mentions a Lee Horton run in 1998 and a Performance Center run in 1999 (possibly also for Lee Horton), so I think that's the source of the confusion. If yours is a no dash it couldn't have been made in 1998 or 1999, since those would be -4 models, so it would appear to be a 1986 model, but whether its a factory special run or a Lee Horton run, the book doesn't specify.

I would assume an early model 657 3", especially a special run model, would be worth more than the Lee Horton 657, 3" models built in 1998 and 1999, since those models would likely have had MIM parts and other undesirable engineering changes. Unless S&W equipped them differently as special run models and since they probably had older parts still lying around back then.

jmark1651 · #16 03-29-2010, 07:45 AM

Brian, you are exactly right. I have one in that range that was shipped in 1986. Have no idea how many were produced,but they are not on every street corner.

Messer · #17 03-29-2010, 09:47 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by jmark1651

Brian, you are exactly right. I have one in that range that was shipped in 1986. Have no idea how many were produced,but they are not on every street corner.

According the S&W factory letter mentioned above, 5490 of the model 657 (no dash) were shipped in the 3" barrel/round butt configuration.

While not ultra rare, you don't see many around.

Take care,
Bob S.