I just saw one of these sell on GB and it was advertised as a Lew Horton. It stated only 5000 were made.
I am not sure either of these statements is correct.
I believe the number 5,000 is referring to all the round butt n frames with 3 in barrel ordered. These would include the 624, 629,and 657. Without a factory letter I don't believe its possible to tell if its a Lew Horton.

Is there a question in your post somewhere? You seem to have it all figured out.

__________________
Bob.
SWCA 1821

Why would it matter if it went through Lew Horton?

I don't have it figured out. This source material seems in conflict, regarding how many were actually made.
In the Standard Catalog, for the same product code it lists approximately 5,000 made on page 236, and on page 238 it lists 200 made.
I bought one of these listed incorrectly and unlettered on GB earlier this year, and I am hoping to determine if I have 1 of 200, or 1 of 5000, and if it actually went through Lew Horton or another distributor.
I searched the threads on the topic and it seems to be unresolved, and does not answer the question of 1 of 200 or 1 of 5,000.
I am leaning towards 1 of 200 for the following reasons. The approx 5,000 manufactured description appears on page 302 for the Lew Horton 624, and again on page 307 for the Lew Horton 629, and a 1986 657 3" RB RR/WO is listed on page 320.
The logical answer to all of this seems like Lew Horton ordered 5,000 3" RB RR/WO Models between 1984-1986. This would not conflict with the 200 manufactured number for the 29-3 on page 238.
Additionally all the 29-3 Lew Horton were made in 1985, which is consistent with the 200 made.
If only 200 were made this would leave 4,800 combined 624, 629, and 657.
Among this 200 then, as LH was not able to sell them all, some went as overun through other distributors.
My question is: Does it seem possible the only 200 LH 29-3 were made in 1985. It seems like that are not that rare on GB? Conversely if the 5000 number is correct for the 624,or the 629, does it seem like 5,000 of each were made? Or does it seem more plausible that 5,000 includes all the 3"RB RR/WO models Lew Horton ordered and actual amounts of each model made are unknown, except for the 29 at 200?

Insofar as the 3" M 629 is concerned, with respect to Lew Horton, I thought the issue was resolved years ago, to wit, that Lew Horton ordered 5,000 M629 3" revolvers. Maybe after a lot of years the issue has become foggy but that's my best recollection on that particular model.

__________________
Come and take it!!

I remember there being a total of 5000 made with 1250 for each of the five models .These Lew Hortons were the first and originals. They had a display at their store in Framingham Ma.Also for what it’s worth , I remember the counter guy at Lew Hortons stating the the model 24 was by far the best seller and could of made 5000 of this model alone.

Thank you for that information.

This M24-3 came thru Lew Horton Dist... It's my favorite handgun...

This M29-3 (top) was originally destined for Lew Horton Distributing but became a contract over-run designated piece that was sold thru another distributor out of Florida... Both are considered highly desirable and usually command well over $1700 on GB in today's sellers market. I highly recommend either one but with a slight affinity for the M24-3 LHS in .44Special... The bottom M629-5 can and will handle the hot .44Maggies up to the 305 grain heavies from Privi-Partizan, Buffalo Bore and Underwood's boutique offering that will fill your ill of heavy handed punishment needs. All (3) are fantastic "Woods-Companions" in these semi-new to me Carolina Hills. I find myself carrying the M24-3 most though with heavy 255gr "Keith's" from Underwood though. Hope this helps OP and good luck with your .44Special or Magnum addiction that is soon to follow.

My brain woke up this morning and made me check my inventory list. I own 2 624 3" snubbies. One(SN ALW5635) letters as a Lew Horton; the other(ALW 5864) does not letter as a Horton. I suspect there were small over-runs for each series that were sold through a different distributor.

__________________
Bob.
SWCA 1821

I own a supposed 1985 29-3 3" that I have confirmed through Lew Horton is an overrun that never went through Lew Horton. S&W however told me it DID go through Lew Horton. LH refuted that claim.

Like you, I have been unable to verify the 1 of 200 claim but from my understanding the 1 of 200 may be in reference to the overruns of this model.

Mine is:
Serial # ALB51xx
Product Code #101224
Spec. Ord. #5277

To directly quote Earl from LH in our email correspondence:

"That’s an odd one. ALB51xx did not come though Lew Horton’s. S&W 101224 was our special edition, but S&W did sell some to other distributors at the end of the run. Your gun is apparently one of those. Lew Horton’s had approximately 5000 units of that model."

Hope this helps.

__________________
SWCA 3563
10mm aficionado