Model 629-3 Carry Comp: Fixed Sights Questions

I had told myself that I was not going to buy any more revolvers for a while as I have more than I need. Well, that did not work out too well. Around 11:00 am a friend (good friend) from the LGS called and said they had taken in a S&W on consignment that I might be interested in. He described it as a 629-3 with a top port and said it was a Lew Horton gun. I asked if it was a fixed sight and he said yes. I asked him to hold it so I could look at it.

I have literally been looking for one of these for years but thought that I would never be able to find one that I could afford.

Long story short it was what I was looking for. No box and has an aftermarket set of laminated finger groove grips (not the S&W round butt combats that I assume should have been on it). Its been shot, but from the looks of it not much. No holster wear, no scratches, basically a high 90's% gun.

I have found some information about this gun, but most of it is old. So I have few questions. First I would like to know approximately how many were made. Second a "ball park" value. Third what style of grips came on it (if not standard round butt combats)? And any other information someone may have.

My light box and camera are packed up so it will be a few days before I can get any decent photos done.

Thanks in advance,

Bill

The gun you discribe sounds like the 3-inch product code 170012 which was made for Lew Horton in 1992. I've seen them with s/n prefixes "HMC" and "PCJ". Don't know how many, but would guess less than 1,000. (I've only ever seen three in the box).

Performance Center marked, single chamber Carry Comp (variation of S&W's proprietary PowerPort), round butt, "raised" latch (which was used only briefly), fixed sights, old style frame, Combat Stocks, trigger stop (on the trigger), dovetailed front sight. The HMC gun was in a second-gen cardboard one-piece box. The PCJ guns were in the PC 1st-gen blue plastic case (the one the labels always fell off of).

That's a lot of neat stuff rolled into one gun. Without the box I'd say easily a $900 to $1,200 gun. If you do buy it, you can get a free letter from LH to help establish provenance and add value.

Use the product code for a search term and you might get more hits.

Kernel Crittenden said:

The gun you discribe sounds like the 3-inch product code 170012 which was made for Lew Horton in 1992. I've seen them with s/n prefixes "HMC" and "PCJ". Don't know how many, but would guess less than 1,000. (I've only ever seen three in the box).

Performance Center marked, single chamber Carry Comp (variation of S&W's proprietary PowerPort), round butt, "raised" latch (which was used only briefly), fixed sights, old style frame, Combat Stocks, trigger stop (on the trigger), dovetailed front sight. The HMC gun was in a second-gen cardboard one-piece box. The PCJ guns were in the PC 1st-gen blue plastic case (the one the labels always fell off of).

That's a lot of neat stuff rolled into one gun. Without the box I'd say easily a $900 to $1,200 gun. If you do buy it, you can get a free letter from LH to help establish provenance and add value.

Use the product code for a search term and you might get more hits.

Click to expand...

I did a bit of investigating since posting and found it was one of the second run of 629-3's done in 1995. Which is interesting in that at that time S&W was building 629-4's. It was a run of 67 guns. I would speculate they found that many "-3" frames and built them. There were 495 produced in total per a Lew Horton Letter.

I called Lew Horton and was told to call back tomorrow as the person who handled the records was off today.

I did find one that recently sold on a major on line gun site by, I believe, the owner of this forum. It was one of the first runs, that had the S&W combat, finger groove grips, with the box and all papers and tools. There are many detailed photos, a photo of the Lew Horton Letter (which answers most of my questions) and I have to say that mine is in better condition. I was quite surprised to see that the gun brought $3,975.00. Which is about $3000 more than I paid today.

I also found one of the Camfour guns on the same on line auction and it sold for $3025.00. I believe these were from a smaller total production.

I believe it is permitted to post a link to a completed auction so I have done so below. My question now is: are these sales outliers or is this the actual value of these guns. I have no plans to sell it as I will probably qualify with it and carry it as a reserve officer and under LEOSA. It will make a great farm/hunting back up gun.

Lew Horton 629-3 closed auction.

Smith & Wesson Mod 629-3 Lew Horton Carry Comp : Revolvers at GunBroker.com

Camfour 629-5 closed auction.

S&W 629 FIXED SIGHTS 1 of 200 made NIB : Revolvers at GunBroker.com

WCCPHD said:

I did a bit of investigating since posting and found it was one of the second run of 629-3's done in 1995. Which is interesting in that at that time S&W was building 629-4's. It was a run of 67 guns. I would speculate they found that many "-3" frames and built them.

Click to expand...

Yes, they were making -4 frames at that time, but they were not making fixed sight frames, so they truly did "find" the earlier frames for the second run.

During a tour of the Performance Center in 1995, I asked about the fixed sight Mag Comp 44 mag (they had a display unit on hand) and the gentleman guiding us did, in fact, indicate that they had "found" the additional frames and would be running the second run within weeks. I was on the tour with my dealer and his Lew Horton rep and asked them to secure my serial number when they were available. Turns out I did not have to wait long....

A couple years later the first run gun with "my" serial number was unearthed and I was fortunate to get that one as well.

SmithNut said:

Yes, they were making -4 frames at that time, but they were not making fixed sight frames, so they truly did "find" the earlier frames for the second run.

During a tour of the Performance Center in 1995, I asked about the fixed sight Mag Comp 44 mag (they had a display unit on hand) and the gentleman guiding us did, in fact, indicate that they had "found" the additional frames and would be running the second run within weeks. I was on the tour with my dealer and his Lew Horton rep and asked them to secure my serial number when they were available. Turns out I did not have to wait long....

A couple years later the first run gun with "my" serial number was unearthed and I was fortunate to get that one as well.

Click to expand...

Smith Nut,

What grips came on your "second run" gun? I have seen photos of another second run with grips like mine, generic laminated finger groove and want to know if the are correct or replacements.

Thanks,
Bill

WCCPHD said:

Smith Nut,

What grips came on your "second run" gun? I have seen photos of another second run with grips like mine, generic laminated finger groove and want to know if the are correct or replacements.

Thanks,
Bill

Click to expand...

Mine came with S&W Combats (wood finger groove grips)

Regards,

SmithNut said:

Mine came with S&W Combats (wood finger groove grips)

Regards,

Click to expand...

Thanks. Is yours early or late in the run? I have seen photos of another one that had grips like those on mine and wonder if they used two types.

Regardless, I'll change the grips to shoot it because the finger groove grips do not fit my hand.

Both my first and second run guns share the same s/n (different prefix), that was a number between 12 and 14 fairly early.

The gun in the gunbroker listing above was mine.

SmithNut said:

Both my first and second run guns share the same s/n (different prefix), that was a number between 12 and 14 fairly early.

The gun in the gunbroker listing above was mine.

Click to expand...

Thanks,

Based on the sales price of your gun I think I got a good deal. BUT it just makes up for those I have bought too soon in the past. Mine would be 62 of 67 in the second, 1995, run.

I believe the grips that came on mine are Badger grips. I have seen them on other Performance Center guns in the past but do not know if S&W actually put them on their guns or those I have seen were added later.

Just talked to Lew Horton and the are sending a letter.

Bill

WCCPHD said:

Thanks,

Based on the sales price of your gun I think I got a good deal. BUT it just makes up for those I have bought too soon in the past. Mine would be 62 of 67 in the second, 1995, run.

I believe the grips that came on mine are Badger grips. I have seen them on other Performance Center guns in the past but do not know if S&W actually put them on their guns or those I have seen were added later.

Just talked to Lew Horton and the are sending a letter.

Bill

Click to expand...

Interesting..... I've seen Badger grips used on F-Comps and some J-Frames, but can't recall any on N frames....

OOps, just found this... So they did use them on some N frames....

Perhaps the type of grips will be noted in the letter from Lew Horton.

WCCPHD said:

Perhaps the type of grips will be noted in the letter from Lew Horton.

Click to expand...

Per the letter the grips should be the S&W finger groove combat grips.

Letter and an advertisement they used at the time were sent and posted below.