Model 29-3, 3" Barrel, s/n 000xx

rhmc24 · Sep 29, 2010

I just traded for this piece which seems to have 2 digit serial nbr. I am told it is a model only made a couple years in the 1980s. Condition is near perfect with only tiniest wear at muzzle each side. Any info appreciated, folklore, opinion, rumor, value, questions, etc. Thanks ---

Doc44 · Sep 29, 2010

There was a special run of 200 Model 29-3s made for Lew Horton in 1985. It was called the "44 Combat Magnum" and featured a 3-inch barrel, blue finish, round butt, and contoured wooden stocks with finger grooves. The serial numbers were in the ABL2900 range.

S&W changed to an alpha numeric serial numbering system in 1983 and started with AAA0000 ( the last N-prefix serial number was approximately N960000).

It is hard to tell exactly what Model you have, but it could be a Lew Horton 44.

Bill

rhmc24 · Sep 29, 2010

Bill, thanks. Your description covers this one but the number is AL000xx. I saw one offered in an auction pretty much the same but with smooth cylinder. Mine has the usual grooves. Robert

Doc44 · Sep 30, 2010

Robert...Your serial number dates your revolver to around 85 and I believe you have one of the Lew Horton 44s. You will enjoy shooting it with light loads or 44 Speicals, but full house 44 Magnums are quite punishing. I owned one of Lew Horton guns in 85 and kept it for about a year before trading it.

Bill

rhmc24 · Sep 30, 2010

Bill, Thanks again.
I can imagine it with full house .44 Mag. I have a Nightguard .357 8-shooter - not a fun gun to shoot. I bought because I was afraid of it in .44 Mag.

Here is the one I posted the question about. I have about $900 in trade in it. Its a keeper in any case.

Comments ?

Doc44 · Sep 30, 2010

Looks like an all original Lew Horton Model 29-3 to me. Nice 44.

Bill

kennyb · Sep 30, 2010

beautiful gun...i picked one up earlier this year...they are a lot of fun!

zombie44 · Sep 30, 2010

Doc44 said:
You will enjoy shooting it with light loads or 44 Speicals, but full house 44 Magnums are quite punishing. I owned one of Lew Horton guns in 85 and kept it for about a year before trading it.

Bill

I can attest to that! I have a 29-3 3" as well and I thought I almost broke my thumb from the recoil shooting mildly loaded 44 mags after 2 rounds. I'm sure the wood grips played a large role with that. Things improved after switching over to some Hogue rubber grips but I'll probably reserve the heavy loads for the SRH Alaskan.

BADSBSNF811 · Oct 1, 2010

I fired a cylinder of factory 240's with the wood combat grips and immediately put a set of Pachmyer's on it afterwards. Made full house loads a little more manageable. Silvertips are downright pleasant with the Pachs.

Beemerguy53 · Oct 1, 2010

I have a 629 similar to yours...3" barrel and finger-grooved combat grips...that I think is also a Lew Horton gun. It is a little -- ahem! -- challenging to shoot with 240-grain loads but it's also very accurate, balances well, and has the best factory trigger I've ever felt on a S&W revolver.

Congratulations on your acquisition...I hope you enjoy it!

SIG229fan · Nov 8, 2011

My apology for revisiting a long dormant thread, but I want to confirm that the third edition of the SCSW presents information that is somewhat contradictory. On page 201 the info for product code 101224 indicates a Lew Horton run of appx. 5000 in 1984-85. Two pages later, under the 'Product Codes and Features by Year' section, product code 101224 suggests a run of 200 in 1985 for the 3" blued Combat Magnum.

Can anyone else offer additional info, perhaps as a result of lettering one of these rare revolvers?

I lean toward Doc44's interpretation [always a sound bet] for strictly personal reasons as the owner of one of these magnificent machines, but the editor in me wants to know for sure.

Perhaps enough of us can offer evidence to settle the matter...I'll drag mine out of the safe and post a partial serial number if you will.

How 'bout it?

jughed440 · Mar 9, 2012

SIG229fan said:
My apology for revisiting a long dormant thread, but I want to confirm that the third edition of the SCSW presents information that is somewhat contradictory. On page 201 the info for product code 101224 indicates a Lew Horton run of appx. 5000 in 1984-85. Two pages later, under the 'Product Codes and Features by Year' section, product code 101224 suggests a run of 200 in 1985 for the 3" blued Combat Magnum.

Can anyone else offer additional info, perhaps as a result of lettering one of these rare revolvers?

I lean toward Doc44's interpretation [always a sound bet] for strictly personal reasons as the owner of one of these magnificent machines, but the editor in me wants to know for sure.

Perhaps enough of us can offer evidence to settle the matter...I'll drag mine out of the safe and post a partial serial number if you will.

How 'bout it?

Good question. Got a good deal on a 29-3 (ALA94XX) and would like to know how many were made. The price made me lean towards the 5000 production number.

minermax · Dec 22, 2013

I know this is an old thread, but did anyone figure it out ? My serial is ALB97xx if that helps, confirmed Lew Horton, 5000 or 200 ? Thanks

Laketime · Dec 23, 2013

If memory serves me right, there were a total of 5000 n frames made for lew Horton. This consisted of model 29...629...24...57.I believe Doc has provided you with the right count of 200 being in the 29"s.

minermax · Dec 23, 2013

Laketime said:
If memory serves me right, there were a total of 5000 n frames made for lew Horton. This consisted of model 29...629...24...57.I believe Doc has provided you with the right count of 200 being in the 29"s.

Thank you very much. This sounds good to me. I have been trying to figure where the #200 came from for about 2 weeks now for my new to me L.H. 29-3 3". I do not have the books to check and verify, but would this mean the balance of 4800 N frames to L.H. would be divided up by the remaining models of 629,24 & 57 ? Would be nice to know how many of each of these other models of that production were made. Seems the less of the model the higher collectability ? I recovered the box today from the original owner. Now my quest will be for the correct set of combat grips since he custom fitted this set to his hand.

Kframerbluvr · Dec 23, 2013

minermax said:
Thank you very much. This sounds good to me. I have been trying to figure where the #200 came from for about 2 weeks now for my new to me L.H. 29-3 3". I do not have the books to check and verify, but would this mean the balance of 4800 N frames to L.H. would be divided up by the remaining models of 629,24 & 57 ? Would be nice to know how many of each of these other models of that production were made. Seems the less of the model the higher collectability ? I recovered the box today from the original owner. Now my quest will be for the correct set of combat grips since he custom fitted this set to his hand.

I have the exact same gun with the original RB combats. The finish is "challenged". Somehow the gun got pitted on the exterior and someone "painted" a black finish on it. It almost looks like stove blacking. I found a set of Sile rubber grips that fit my small hands much better than the combats. Shooting 240 grain full power loads is rough with the combats. About two cylinderfuls is my limit pain wise and pocketbook wise.
If I can ever take the time to figure out how to take and post good pictures, I will do so. This gun came from the estate of a retired officer from my agency and I have $300 in it. The SA pull is fantastic and the DA is good, but a little heavy for my taste. I will most likely sell the RB combat grips and maybe attempt to strip whatever the black stuff is off of it. I would rather have bare steel that that. BTW, the SN is ALB 52XX. Is this one of 200 or one of 5000? Probably doesn't matter in its current finish condition.

minermax · Dec 23, 2013

Kframerbluvr said:
I have the exact same gun with the original RB combats. The finish is "challenged". Somehow the gun got pitted on the exterior and someone "painted" a black finish on it. It almost looks like stove blacking. I found a set of Sile rubber grips that fit my small hands much better than the combats. Shooting 240 grain full power loads is rough with the combats. About two cylinderfuls is my limit pain wise and pocketbook wise.
If I can ever take the time to figure out how to take and post good pictures, I will do so. This gun came from the estate of a retired officer from my agency and I have $300 in it. The SA pull is fantastic and the DA is good, but a little heavy for my taste. I will most likely sell the RB combat grips and maybe attempt to strip whatever the black stuff is off of it. I would rather have bare steel that that. BTW, the SN is ALB 52XX. Is this one of 200 or one of 5000? Probably doesn't matter in its current finish condition.

Wow ! It would sure be nice to be able to buy your combat grips. Will you sell them to me and if so how much do you want. just let me know here or on the private message. Those grips would put mine complete back to stock Thanks !

Kframerbluvr · Dec 23, 2013

Let me figure out how to send you pictures of them. They are in perfect shape except a very slight marring at the very bottom of the grip half. It is felt more than seen. I will have to decide on a price as well. I think they look a heck of a lot better then the gun in its current state. They don't fit me at all and it is better for someone to have them that has a nice looking N-frame to show them off on. I'm glad that the stocks didn't suffer the same fate...

jjbrewst1 · Dec 23, 2013

To clarify. Lew Horton distributed 200 of the 29-3. And had 5000-8000 or so runs on the 624,657,629 3 inch guns.

minermax · Dec 23, 2013

jjbrewst1 said:
To clarify. Lew Horton distributed 200 of the 29-3. And had 5000-8000 or so runs on the 624,657,629 3 inch guns.

Thank for this info and your time to research this matter, I like this way better.

Model 29-3, 3" Barrel, s/n 000xx

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