I have come into possession of a 3" S&W 44 Mag. The seller bought this gun in 1985 locally and states its a LOU HORTON, serial ALC9912. I cant seem to confirm and the serial number when checked on the S&W site was not available. In all respects this gun is excellent and definitely could be a HORTON. Can anyone help me with the serial number and when it was made.
Possible LOU HORTON 3" 44
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You may get some help from S&W customer service.
Maybe someone is still answering at Horton (someone is doing letters for a fee from what I understand) and can just say yes or no without hitting you up for a letter.
Maybe someone is still answering at Horton (someone is doing letters for a fee from what I understand) and can just say yes or no without hitting you up for a letter.
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Welcome to the Forum
You apparently already own the firearm. Hopefully you like it.
I am not sure whose SITE you actually checked the serial number on. The Smith & Wesson Factory website offers no such service
Most likely an ALC prefixed revolver would have been manufactured in 1987
However, if it matters to you what Distributor it was shipped through, request a Historical letter and you will know for sure
Benton Quest
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We're not all 3" 24s and 624s Lew Hortons?
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97ViperGTS
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Lew Horton COO
If you would like to confirm a Lew Horton lineage, contact the former Lew Horton COO, Susan Lorusso, at [email protected].
I inquired on several of my guns and did obtain a LOA from her on one of them for $60. She's very helpful and a pleasure to work with.
Good Luck.
If you would like to confirm a Lew Horton lineage, contact the former Lew Horton COO, Susan Lorusso, at [email protected].
I inquired on several of my guns and did obtain a LOA from her on one of them for $60. She's very helpful and a pleasure to work with.
Good Luck.
No. Smith sold over runs of both. Smith announced the number 24's to be manufactured. When these sold out Smith announced the 624 series and wisely kept mum on the numbers that they would produce.
I emailed her in February on two different guns with no reply...
...Ben
97ViperGTS
Member
I emailed her in February on two different guns with no reply...
Sorry to hear that, Ben. I recently had numerous email exchanges that were prompt and informational on several of my Smiths. Unfortunately, only one was a Lew Horton piece (M696), but I got a wealth of important information in my $60 LOA... far more than what I got from Jinks for my hundred bucks (Very BIG disappointment)!
I would try her again (maybe your email went into her spam/junk folder?)
Good Luck.
Lou_the_welder
Member
My email went unanswered also.I emailed her in February on two different guns with no reply...
I'm almost positive my snub isn't a lew Horton, but wanted to be sure.
75Vette
Member
My 3" 629-1 with a serial number prefix of ANC, shipped in 85 isn't a Lew Horton. I bought it when Earl was still with us so the info was only a quick email away. No biggie though, still the same exact gun.
Remember Lew Horton was distibutor........NOT a manufacturer.......The Smiths distributed by Horton are NOT worth anymore than the same guns made by S&W and sold by S&W.........Some people have a hard time accepting that.
Finally! This needed to be said.
Benton Quest
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The same could be said for Yenko Camaros....
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Lew Horton Distributors came up with some awesome ideas for guns. They sent those specs to Smith & Wesson and contracted with the factory to make those guns.
Not all of the guns made to those specifications were sold by Lew Horton, and Lew Horton was not always able to sell all of the guns that the factory shipped to them, returning some of those to the factory who then made them available to other distributors.
I think we can all agree that Lew Horton was brilliant in coming up with these unique designs that the factory made to their order. But, make no mistake, there is not one thing different about these guns, sold by Lew Horton or some other distributor.
Not all of the guns made to those specifications were sold by Lew Horton, and Lew Horton was not always able to sell all of the guns that the factory shipped to them, returning some of those to the factory who then made them available to other distributors.
I think we can all agree that Lew Horton was brilliant in coming up with these unique designs that the factory made to their order. But, make no mistake, there is not one thing different about these guns, sold by Lew Horton or some other distributor.
tipoc
Member
According to the 3rd Edition of the Standard Catalog of Smith & Wesson 5,000 units of the Lew Horton Combat Special with a 3" barrel and around butt were made in 1985-1987. The first 100, many engraved, are reported to have an ALU serial prefix. The remainder had AHT and ALW prefixes.
Lew Horton ordered the run of the 3" guns from S&W who made them. After the run of 5,000 for LW S&W continued producing the gun on it's own.
Use the search function here to see older threads on the 624.
tipoc
Lew Horton ordered the run of the 3" guns from S&W who made them. After the run of 5,000 for LW S&W continued producing the gun on it's own.
Use the search function here to see older threads on the 624.
tipoc
I totally agree...
I totally agree with you Mike...what is the big deal about whether it is a Lew Horton or not? What difference does it really make? As far as I am concerned NONE...Roger
I totally agree with you Mike...what is the big deal about whether it is a Lew Horton or not? What difference does it really make? As far as I am concerned NONE...Roger
I totally agree...
I totally agree with you Warren...What is the big deal about Lew Horton? Roger
I totally agree with you Warren...What is the big deal about Lew Horton? Roger
I can't speak to the 629s but I'm pretty sure the 657s sold by Horton had full underlugs as compared to the factory guns having the standard ejector rod shroud.
tipoc
Member
What's so special?
What's so special? Like any other gun, not so much to some and to others enough to spend some more dinero on them especially with the stuff that went with them. To collectors and fans of the 44 Special well it's the little things.
It was the first factory made 3" N frame 44 Special. The first 100 Combat Specials made (some with the ALU serial prefixes) came with a laser engraved "1985 Limited Edition Model 624 Combat 1st 100" with a little scroll work. They also came with a S&W black leather holster and a fitted cherry case with red velvet interior. The product code for these was 103583.
These were also the first round butt S&W 44 Specials made. All before this were Square butt, with longer barrels of course. The Horton's came with a Goncalo Alves wood round but combat grips that were similar to others S&W sold on their round butts.
Back in 1985 Horton's did a good job promoting these. Now S&W had a 44 Special that was built for concealed carry and a big bore, something a good many people wanted. Some excitement was created.
Do the Lew Horton's shoot or handle better than the others? No.
Do they have just a bit more story attached to them than those that came straight from the factory? Yes they do and some folks are willing to pay a few bucks more for that because they want to (verify the story though). It will be more if it's one of the first 100 with the gear. That doesn't bother me at all.
What's so special? Like any other gun, not so much to some and to others enough to spend some more dinero on them especially with the stuff that went with them. To collectors and fans of the 44 Special well it's the little things.
It was the first factory made 3" N frame 44 Special. The first 100 Combat Specials made (some with the ALU serial prefixes) came with a laser engraved "1985 Limited Edition Model 624 Combat 1st 100" with a little scroll work. They also came with a S&W black leather holster and a fitted cherry case with red velvet interior. The product code for these was 103583.
These were also the first round butt S&W 44 Specials made. All before this were Square butt, with longer barrels of course. The Horton's came with a Goncalo Alves wood round but combat grips that were similar to others S&W sold on their round butts.
Back in 1985 Horton's did a good job promoting these. Now S&W had a 44 Special that was built for concealed carry and a big bore, something a good many people wanted. Some excitement was created.
Do the Lew Horton's shoot or handle better than the others? No.
Do they have just a bit more story attached to them than those that came straight from the factory? Yes they do and some folks are willing to pay a few bucks more for that because they want to (verify the story though). It will be more if it's one of the first 100 with the gear. That doesn't bother me at all.
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