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S&W Revolvers: 1980 to the Present All NON-PINNED Barrels, the L-Frames, and the New Era Revolvers


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Old 10-28-2012, 08:05 PM
redhawk redhawk is offline
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Default 696 mag-na-port Update in post 9

Hello,

I purchased this 696 (no dash) a few years ago here in California. Product code 103132, special order code 6347. My understanding is a few earily 696 were a Lew Horton release that were mag-na ported. Anyone know how many done?


Thanks

Last edited by redhawk; 08-15-2013 at 09:17 AM.
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Old 10-28-2012, 09:09 PM
qballwill qballwill is offline
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Cant answer your question, but i have one and love it. Great find.
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Old 11-01-2012, 10:09 AM
redhawk redhawk is offline
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Guess no one knows. I'll try contacting Lew Horton.

Thanks
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Old 11-01-2012, 12:11 PM
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I have one I bought new. Not sure how many were made. I like mine and shoot it often.
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Old 11-01-2012, 01:35 PM
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You can contact Lew Horton here: [email protected]

They've been very helpful providing information to me in the past. Product code 103132 is listed in the Standard Catalog of Smith & Wesson #3 as follows: 3" S RB SG CT RR WO DT, 1996-2000.

The Spec Ord code is a Julian style date code and 6347 represents the 347th day in 1996. The feature code translates as follows: Stainless, round butt, synthetic grips, combat trigger, red ramp (front sight), white outline (rear sight), drilled and tapped. There's no mention of Mag-na-porting. Lew Horton did have some stock guns sent from S&W directly to Mag-na-port for porting, but it's my experience that they add additional character to the product code to distinguish them from standard models. Below is a verified LH 686-4 "Limited Edition" (also done in 1996) that was ported and had the grips upgraded. Let us know what Lew Horton has to say.


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Old 11-01-2012, 02:29 PM
Jeff in Cincinnati Jeff in Cincinnati is offline
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Default Magnaported 696 & 629

I too have a Magnaported 696 such as yours. I don't remember right now whether I have the box, but I recall that when I got it some years ago, used, I was able to determine that it was a Lew Horton issue of some sort. There were no other features that were "special" about mine, apart from the Magnaporting.

I also have a Magnaported 629-4, that that one I know I have a box for. It has a Magnaport sticker on the box, and as I recall, the word "special" on the end label. It came in the old style two piece bright blue plastic box. The 629 is an early, unmarked (as such), four inch tapered barrel "Mountain gun" style, and has a satin finish and unfluted cylinder.

I was able to pick both of these up some years ago, and they were not recognized as anything out of the ordinary in the gunshops where I found them. Those were the days.
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Old 11-01-2012, 05:00 PM
redhawk redhawk is offline
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Thanks guys. I have the box and Mag-Na-Port papers included along with a sticker on the outside.
Thank you for the contact,I'l give them an email.
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Old 11-01-2012, 10:45 PM
redhawk redhawk is offline
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I do have one other guestion. Has anyone found any oil,grease, or Dr. Bob's snake oil to coat each side of the sight and base? When shooting lead bullets the resulting deposits a bit of a PITA to clean.

Thanks
Bob
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Old 11-02-2012, 12:00 PM
redhawk redhawk is offline
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Hello,
I just received the following reply from Lew Horton.
Dear Bob,

This gun is in fact a Lew Horton’s. it was made for us in December of 1996 by Smith & Wesson and is one of approximately 286 we distributed. Hope this helps you out.

Regards,

Tara Alano
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Old 11-02-2012, 06:42 PM
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1 of 286. Looks like you hit the jackpot. That fact gives you all the more reason to love it. Looks like that one will be a keeper.
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Old 11-02-2012, 07:07 PM
CWH44300 CWH44300 is offline
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Good snag, I'd park that in the safe, there's only 285 more of them!!!
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Old 01-03-2013, 04:45 PM
k22fan k22fan is offline
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Quote:
Originally Posted by Jeff in Cincinnati View Post
[...] I also have a Magnaported 629-4, that that one I know I have a box for. It has a Magnaport sticker on the box, and as I recall, the word "special" on the end label. It came in the old style two piece bright blue plastic box. The 629 is an early, unmarked (as such), four inch tapered barrel "Mountain gun" style, and has a satin finish and unfluted cylinder. [...]
Can you post a picture of your 629-4? I like Mountain Guns and try to keep up on their variations along with "almost Mountain Guns".
Thank-you
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Old 01-03-2013, 05:22 PM
alcanhg alcanhg is offline
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Does this look to be a magnaported 686?
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Old 01-03-2013, 06:36 PM
nipster nipster is offline
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Quote:
Originally Posted by alcanhg View Post
Does this look to be a magnaported 686?
It's definitely ported, but probably not a Lew Horton special though, I think they usually just do short barrel stuff.
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Old 01-03-2013, 10:09 PM
k22fan k22fan is offline
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Quote:
Originally Posted by alcanhg View Post
Does this look to be a magnaported 686?
Yes, it looks like Magna Port's work to me. However Magna Port gets most of its business from individuals sending in their own gun, so don’t jump to the conclusion that the 686 is a scarce factory variation. Assuming S&W did not contract with Magna Port to have that particular 686 ported, whether the porting adds to or detracts from value depends on the buyer. To collectors it would be an altered gun and hence worth less than an original 686. There are however shooters who like ports and might pay a premium because of their presence. Personally, I hate ports and pay less for a gun with them whether the ported gun is a NIB rare factory variation or a scruffy plinker.

Last edited by k22fan; 01-03-2013 at 10:11 PM.
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Old 01-04-2013, 12:41 AM
Nalapombu Nalapombu is offline
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I LOVE these 696's. I don't know much about the 44special, but I do know I want one.

What do these usually go for? The standard 696, not some special version like what the OP posted.

Nalajr
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Old 01-22-2013, 08:51 AM
FloridaFlier FloridaFlier is offline
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I also have a 696 no-dash, that I bought on Gunbroker. It came to me ported. MagnaPort, BTW, says on their website that there is no loss of velocity due to their ports.
I love this gun! The 696 just feels so balanced. I own and shoot other .44 Specials, but this is my favorite.
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Old 04-08-2013, 09:06 AM
cricket77 cricket77 is offline
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I traded for a 696 this weekend and just got the email back from lew horton. Mine was made Dec of 96. Can anybody tell me where I might can find a box got it.
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