25-14 Lew Horton

revho · #1 02-17-2010, 11:50 PM

Well, this one came off gunbroker (thanks to Graafschap Hardware, Holland, MI). Just picked it up this evening. Got it for less than the other ones have been going for. This is a S&W 25-14 blued Lew Horton. It is a 3" barrel, N frame, in .45acp that uses moon clips. It locks up tight and is very crisp in DA and SA. There seem to be more nickle finish than blue that I have seen out there for sale right now. This gun was advertised as being a one owner safe queen that was fired when new and then cleaned and put away. There is only one scratch that I can find on the top of it. The shell casing was fired 1/2007. This does have the IL. This is my first gun with IL so we will see what happens with it. From what I have read there are alot of people that dont like the IL...but hopefully I wont have any problems with it. I dont plan on running too hot of rounds through it. I am going to try and carry this after getting used to it. Been looking at the Simply Rugged sourdough pancake as a holster to start with. It seems to be quite cumbersome for pocket carry but does fit into some of my pockets so far and the printing isnt horribly obvious. Drawing it from the pocket Im sure would not be easy though.

Here are some pictures that came out too dark with no flash and too birght because of the room lighting and flash.

Any comments welcome, especially about experiences with MIM and IL.

vsorrentino · #2 02-17-2010, 11:58 PM

Nice carry piecs. Won't mind owning one myself.

NavyFrank · #3 02-18-2010, 06:51 AM

I have three two blue/nickle have the same serial numbers #0023. Liked how well it shot I got another in blue with #0032. Carried the one when my Brazilian M1937 was being rebuilt and "parked". The blue steel guns sold out first. They were being sold as a "set" with a .44 Mag and a .44 Special being offered in blue or nickle. I have all three. It would have been nice if these were also offered in .357 Magnum.

Brazilian before rebuild-

Allen-frame · #4 02-18-2010, 08:39 AM

revho ,welcome to the forum. Given the limited choices in 45 cal. N frames these days ,I'd say you made a great purchase.
I own a few stainless Smiths with m.i.m. components and have no complaints thus far.
As to the i.l. ,I personally would remove the flag ,the part that
locks the hammer when the lock is activated.
I would take no chance on the gun not working when I needed it to.

Some 200 gr. l.s.w.c.s from Georgia arms or some such other commercial reloader would be good alternative to commercial ball ,if you don't reload yourself.

I have your guns cousin coming from a g.b. purchase last week. It's a
3" model 625 in 45 Colt. One of my had-to have pieces I finally found and won.

Let us know how it shoots for you. You already have points with me,
carrying a short N frame in a major caliber. Not too many 'normal'
folks would do that.

Regards ,, Allen Frame

My 625 ,auction picture.

revho · #5 02-18-2010, 09:37 AM

Allen-frame,

Thanks for the welcome. This is my second N-frame in the last couple months. My wife got a me a NIB/never fired 625-3 5" model of 1989 for christmas. We are actually coming down to Florida where it looks like you reside at the end of this month for a week. My wifes family lives in Plant City.

Being this is my first IL gun, do you have any directions or links on removing this "flag"? I take it this does nothing to the perfomance of the gun? Does it leave a open spot where something should be filled in for it to fire?

Thanks in advance

Navy Frank,

So would the 25-14 that I purchased would have come with 2 other brothers and the "set" is now split up?

Thanks in advance

revho · #6 02-18-2010, 04:17 PM

I just talked with Simply Rugged holsters and ordred one. They had one exactly as I needed on the gear to go page (things already made, left overs, prototypes, cancelations) but it was sold and not taken off the listing. I am going on vacation and told her I was bummed becuase I wanted it before next saturday. She went and talked to her husband and said he will have it to me by Friday the 26th. Now that is customer service.

Leather gun holster, concealed carry holster - Simply Rugged Holsters? - Proudly made in the USA

lzhome · #7 02-18-2010, 09:58 PM

Very nice! You just gotta love those model 25s..I only have one but could use a few more.

kennyb · #8 02-18-2010, 10:55 PM

fine choice....the lock isn't going to gibe you a problem...congrats!

NavyFrank · #9 02-19-2010, 06:44 AM

No but when they were first released you could pick up matching numbers if available. Frank Jr.

SWCA# 2187

GKC · #10 02-19-2010, 09:42 AM

Hello.

Yesterday, I bought a NIB Model 24 (.44 Special) in stainless with a 3" barrel...it looks just like these models. The test fire date on the envelope is December, 2006. I assume it is a Lew Horton special edition.

Thanks.

Edited to add: I called the Lew Horton company, and mine is indeed one of their specials, #167 of 250.

NE450No2 · #11 02-20-2010, 12:21 AM

A S&W revolver in 45 ACP is a great gun IMHO. I carried first a 6.5" and later a 6" as a work gun for several years.

I always wanted a 4", but must admit the 6 inchers shot great.

Several months ago I got a 325 Night Guard from a friend.

It has been 100% reliable for several hundred rounds. It is light and handy to carry.

All the lock parts were removed.

I always carry a 4" S&W 44 Mag in the field as I spend a lot of time in bear areas, but I still would like to have a steel framed 3.5 or 4" in 45 ACP.