I am a novice here, so I would like to ask what is difference on the Lew Horton models (29-3)What kind of work is done to one? The one I am considering my friend told me when he bought it in the 1990's the seller told him it was some special something or another, he just does not remember what it was. I will call Lew Horton on monday and have them verify the serial # for me.Any info here would be nice. Thanks !

Its my understanding after doing some research here, online and reading the S&W standard catalog that Lew Horton is a distributor who does special orders from S&W. The collectibility factor is basically up to you, the collector.
ETA:
The only Lew Horton 29-3 I saw in the standard catalog says:
"Lew Horton Special M29-3 combat magnum 3" barrel, contoured wood grips, redramp front sights, white outline rear sight, smooth combat tirgger and semi target hammer, product code 101224 approx 5000 made, 1984-1985"

I don't think that Lew Hortons are generally more collectible, but LH does have a knack for picking custom features that make a nice revolver! I have a 657 LH and it's one of my favorite revolvers.

Oh yeah they are! As in the Super K! Special Barrel config, porting, grips, etc...

Because LH sometimes ask manufacturers to build limited numbers of "special" stuf....Like 314 of these...

The Lew Horton specials are probably not that much more valuable than standard run guns, but like as been said they do have some unique models. It is good to check serial numbers because offen if a Lew Horton model does well, S&W will have other runs of the same or simular guns which dilutes the market. The 29/629 is a good example, not all 3" guns are Lew Hortons.

Lew Horton has distributed some unique Smith's like the 3" 624.
However it is probably the limited runs that make a gun more
valuable in the future and LH is not the only distributor doing this.
Once I find a gun I like, I don't usually consider selling it
anyway so the distributor means little to me. My estate may
feel differently who knows?

...Nemo...

LH took the basic S&W and made it more desirable by custom designing the features shooters wanted.

3" 44's, round butts, custom hunter packages.

S&W picked up on this and often produced more of these for sale through their regular dealer network once the trial balloon of the LH version showed their success.

LH is only one of many distributors that did, and still do, this.

I was under the impression that guns supplied by LH and other distributors were exclusive and not offered by anyone else or produced outside of the limited run that distributor sold.

Has anyone bought the "exact" same gun that was sold by LH (or any other distributor) from any dealer that was not part of that limited run for a particular distributor?

The 1911 Lew Horton Subcompact to which I added to CT laser grips.

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JR

Yes, I bought this "Lew Horton" 66-3 at a gunshop in lancaster california, and seen another at another gunshop just down the road a few weeks later. I suppose they were overuns?

MY 629-1 with the 3" barrel and combat gips is a S&W model, not a LH.

Attached Images

629-1.jpg (147.7 KB, 124 views)

I have two Lou Horton 3 inch SS 624, 44 spaecials that I bought at one dealer. I have never seen any more since. I wonder how many were made.

i have the 3"657 and 3"629 both are combat magnums,both have the finger groove combat grips and shoot like a charm...the 657 is normally my carry gun...neither one of these guns were distributed by lew horton...

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SWCA#2208
KK4EMO

How are the Lou Horton guns marked? Do they have special paperwork and box? I have never seen one. Thanks, Skip48

There are people who will pay a premium for the Lew Horton Guns, but it may take a while to find them.

I don't mean to offend anyone here, but the Super-K and the F-comp model 66's never did anything for me. I'll take a 3 inch model 66 with a standard profile barrel over one of those any day. And I always thought the 3 inch barrel N-frames looked out of proportion. A 3 1/2 inch barrel would have looked much better, ala model 27. Just my opinions, yours may vary.

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Expect no quarter.

I mostly agree,but I do like the Super K. Wish I had one.

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Blessed be the Lord,my Rock

I own a Model 24-3, and I love it. When you consider that the stocks alone are worth $250, and up, the fact that they didn't make many of them, and that they lack the internal lock, makes the prices a bit crazy. And, yes, even though mine was shipped in 1984, it has a pinned barrel, in an "unpinned era".

Now that's just damn good looking! Why I LOVE mine!!

very nice!!! IMHO, that's one of the most beautiful revolvers of all time

i bought a 3" 24-3 w. Combats at an auction on Sunday. Ser # AEM08XX. Can't wait to take it to the range.

Yes they start out as Exclusives. Occasionally they become cataloged items. This does not happen that often and always has occurred after the exclusive inventory is sold out.

This group photo has two such examples in it. It happens that they are two of my favorite 357 Magnum S&Ws



When product code 170089 was shown at SHOT in 1997 Lew Horton's intent was that only 300 of the newfangled 8 shot model 627s would be produced. I remember this vividly because I tried to get serial number 357. I was told they were not going that high and I would have to settle for some other number. So I took possession of number 27 in June, it is in the upper left corner of the picture.

In July I got a phone call asking if I still wanted number 357. The 300 pieces had sold so fast that Lew Horton decided to run 300 more, but that was going to be all they would produce. Number 357 is in the upper right of the picture. it showed up in September.

As we all know 170089 eventually became a cataloged revolver spawning off many variations over the years including the 2 5/8" 170133 UDR of 1999. That revolver has also become a cataloged firearm.


The two other variations of the UDR are also now cataloged firearms

The only long term, ongoing exclusive I can think of is the L-Comp from Camfour. That was introduced in 2000 and is still available today as an exclusive.

As far as the LH 3" 624 product 103580, there were supposedly
5000 made. I do know know how many of those were offered with the
624 holster. The Book does not say.

...Nemo...

One Lew Horton special not shown yet was the 29-3 6" Classic Hunter with a 4 position front sight and un-fluted cylinder and full lug barrel. I have seen seen several also mag-na-ported, as mine is, but cannot confirm if that was part of the package. Roy tells me no S&W revolvers were ever mag-na-ported from the factory, if Lew Horton did it later is unknown.

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H Richard
SWCA1967 SWHF244

The following are all from lew Horton
610 3"

627pc

627pc

624

As far as I know, yes and well no

The model was a concept by LH, they order a run of them. S&W builds the order and a few extra just in case some dont make it to the end of production / quality. These extras are sold off as "overruns". Some folks here have called LH and been told that they didnt sell that SN.

To me it makes no difference if it was sold through LH or not. Its still the same model, same product code just sold through a different distributor.

S&W seems to have many different types of overruns from time to time. Recently theres some Japanese contract guns around. Its a J frame with logos on both side or something like that.

Thanks for the reply guys and showing examples.

So these "exclusive" guns are really just a "feel for the market" gun since they can and have been reproduced after the initial run. And the only way to know is by the serial number. Kinda takes away the exclusiveness doesn't it? To me then, the only way to gain any additional value is if they were produced in a very limited run and not reproduced. Distributor aside, it wouldn't make any difference.

Now it makes me wonder just who is behind offering these "exclusive" models. Is S&W making these and providing them to a distributor to offer or is the distributor actually asking for a particular model, hmmmmm.

Either way it appears to be a good marketing strategy and perception is everything.

I was told by the local S&W sales man that LH started the modern semi custom built guns. It started with the 24 3" RB with combats, this wasnt a standard catalog item. LH brought the idea to S&W, S&W wasnt to keen on the idea and thought it was doomed. Not wanting to turn down a large customer S&W said sure we will make them for you but we need a minimum order of one million dollars, so it was an order of 5000 guns. This set the stage for the next run of 624s and so on.

Now from reading here and other places it seems the original run of 24s werent selling all so fast. S&W had quite an over run of them and LH didnt want them. So S&W just let them sell through regular sales channels. The exact number is not know, 5000 LH guns seems to be the accepted number but some folks say it was more, some less. The number of overruns is unknown also, some have said close to one thousand others a few hundred.

I was also told that LH got the original idea from the Jovino customs that were quite the rage.

To me ( and I am no one ) if it was a LH model, its a LH, regardless of the distributor, its a LH concept and exactly the same.


LH and Talo seem to know what buyers like and want. They did the same custom built with other manufacturers also.

They are all desirable because of the features they have.

As far as making more, if they can sell them, they will make them.

Collecting current production guns is difficult at best.

Older ones like the 24 and 624 (others also) cannot be made exactly the same way again. They cannot be remade and be exactly the same.