-
Forum Update: We've upgraded the software to improve security, performance, and the overall experience.
👉 Read why we made the change | Support the Forum
Lew Horton 657 3” questions
- Thread starter Adam Baker
- Start date
Register to hide this ad
IIRC, LH didn’t do that first run (1986ish), the LH run was much later. But I am certain they weren’t issued to the FHP. 
If you have the chance to grab that one with the box for under $2K, I’d do it. Getting very hard to find. I have two and won’t part with ‘em.
If you have the chance to grab that one with the box for under $2K, I’d do it. Getting very hard to find. I have two and won’t part with ‘em.
Attachments
Last edited:
If it is like some other short-barrel N frames, it was/could have been produced for LH but could have been distributed by other than LH if they didn't sell them all. You can email Susan Lorusso at [email protected] and she can confirm if it was distributed by LH. For $60 you can get a letter of authenticity detailing production numbers etc. if that is important. She got back to me in a day or two, not sure if that is normal or not.
Last edited:
Lew Horton, Schmoo Horton, no difference, buy the gun if the price is right.
OP
Adam Baker
Member
$2150 is that to high?
OP
Adam Baker
Member
Vtgw938
Thanks for the info
Thanks for the info
OP
Adam Baker
Member
How’s the end label look
I wouldn't know a fake from an original. Do people really do that?
Messer
Member
Maybe this will help... it's not a LH limited edition, but like any S&W distributor they could have sold it.
Can't help on the price, I bought mine a while ago...
Bob S.
Can't help on the price, I bought mine a while ago...
Bob S.
Last edited:
SuperMan
Member
I was a dealer in 1986 when these came out... They were a Stocking Dealer Special, not a Lew Horton Special....there were 5500 of them...
Everone thinks they were a LH Special because of the grips as the first LH Special was a 24 Combat Special that was the first to have this style of stocks.
As to the label, I would go over to GunBroker and compare it to one that is over there now...looks fake to me...printing is all wrong.
Price...most in nice condition bring $1500+..LNIB, I've seen go for over $2k...
Bob
Everone thinks they were a LH Special because of the grips as the first LH Special was a 24 Combat Special that was the first to have this style of stocks.
As to the label, I would go over to GunBroker and compare it to one that is over there now...looks fake to me...printing is all wrong.
Price...most in nice condition bring $1500+..LNIB, I've seen go for over $2k...
Bob
Last edited:
SuperMan
Member
..and it has a full underlug barrel...
The label is a definite reprint. Compare the condition of the label to the box. The wear, fraying of the box is not commensurate with the label. Besides that the font etc is all wrong.
My opinion, $2150 is too much for the package.
Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk
My opinion, $2150 is too much for the package.
Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk
OP
Adam Baker
Member
Gentlemen
I really appreciate your expertise here.
I was suspicious of the label it looks too new compared to the rest of the box. I also couldn’t find the production code on this label anywhere. I looked in the 1st and 4th editions too.
And the shop purchased it for 2k thinking it was a LH.
I learned allot tonight from you all and you saved my butt.
Thanks
I really appreciate your expertise here.
I was suspicious of the label it looks too new compared to the rest of the box. I also couldn’t find the production code on this label anywhere. I looked in the 1st and 4th editions too.
And the shop purchased it for 2k thinking it was a LH.
I learned allot tonight from you all and you saved my butt.
Thanks
Last edited:
SAFireman
SWCA Member
Some of the original run 3" guns were sold by Lew Horton (same as your picture).
The limited edition Lew Horton was a full lug style, as the posters above have stated. I have attached the flyer and a photo of the (very) limited run 657-4. IIRC, there were only 151 made. I know where 1 or 2 reside today.
Here is one that resides in my collection. The stocks are wrong; I got the correct set installed after this photo was taken.
The limited edition Lew Horton was a full lug style, as the posters above have stated. I have attached the flyer and a photo of the (very) limited run 657-4. IIRC, there were only 151 made. I know where 1 or 2 reside today.
Here is one that resides in my collection. The stocks are wrong; I got the correct set installed after this photo was taken.
Attachments
Last edited:
OP
Adam Baker
Member
This thread is a life saver.
Thanks so much as I would have over spent by some 5-6 hundred dollars for a mis-represented gun.
I do not feel the shop owner knew it was not an LH distributed 657 when he bought it. He told me he purchased it from a regular customer who collects S&W’s. He relied heavily upon his customer’s knowledge.
This was a college level learning experience for me
Again thanks to everyone who has been doing this longer than I for your vast knowledge.
Thanks so much as I would have over spent by some 5-6 hundred dollars for a mis-represented gun.
I do not feel the shop owner knew it was not an LH distributed 657 when he bought it. He told me he purchased it from a regular customer who collects S&W’s. He relied heavily upon his customer’s knowledge.
This was a college level learning experience for me
Again thanks to everyone who has been doing this longer than I for your vast knowledge.
Last edited:
The Mighty S&W
Member
It’s a shame that someone went to the trouble to represent that revolver as something other than what it is. Personally, I think that it looks like a nice gun in its own right and would make a fine revolver for the right buyer. Perhaps not for a collector of rare specimens, but to a guy like myself who carries and shoots every firearm I own… it’d be a dandy. Not for $2,150 though. I gave $1,100 for a like new model 57-2, and I’d say the one you’re looking at would be a good purchase at a couple hundred more than that.
SuperMan
Member
As said above, I was a dealer in 1980s when these came out...bought one brand new but don't recall why I later sold it...
Did luck into three more about 15 years ago all for under $500. Sold one to a friend who used to post here, sold one on GunBroker and kept the poorest condition one for myself. It had a perfect set of Combats on it and gave those away with the one I sold to my friend. The one i kept had some surface scuffs and had been Mag-Na-Ported...now wears a set of Ahrends compact grips...is a very good shooter...
A young man who I have been gun mentoring loves the .41... He picked one up exactly like mine last year at a large local shop for $750.... They decided to sell it cheap since at the time .41 ammo ammo wasn't available... Was Mag-Na-Ported and had aftermarket stocks...but was still worth double of what they "gave" it to him for...
Perfect SD round for these guns are any loaded with the Barnes solid copper HPs... Doesn't kick bad, really opens up fast and penetrates deep...
Also interesting is these were made in 1986, the same year that 657 4" Square Butt guns were available... There were 5500+ made...but I wonder how many 4" guns were made... The 4" guns are rare to find compared to the 3" and yet the 4" bring usually less money for a gun in comparable shape...
Bob
Did luck into three more about 15 years ago all for under $500. Sold one to a friend who used to post here, sold one on GunBroker and kept the poorest condition one for myself. It had a perfect set of Combats on it and gave those away with the one I sold to my friend. The one i kept had some surface scuffs and had been Mag-Na-Ported...now wears a set of Ahrends compact grips...is a very good shooter...
A young man who I have been gun mentoring loves the .41... He picked one up exactly like mine last year at a large local shop for $750.... They decided to sell it cheap since at the time .41 ammo ammo wasn't available... Was Mag-Na-Ported and had aftermarket stocks...but was still worth double of what they "gave" it to him for...
Perfect SD round for these guns are any loaded with the Barnes solid copper HPs... Doesn't kick bad, really opens up fast and penetrates deep...
Also interesting is these were made in 1986, the same year that 657 4" Square Butt guns were available... There were 5500+ made...but I wonder how many 4" guns were made... The 4" guns are rare to find compared to the 3" and yet the 4" bring usually less money for a gun in comparable shape...
Bob
Last edited:
S&W 657ND & 657-4 Lew Horton - 3" .41 Magnums
Here's the 657 ND vs the 657-4 (Lew Horton). The 657-4 is rare in regards to production (only 150 made), but I personally prefer the 657ND vs the mim 657-4. I bought my shooter 657ND off a forum member, back in the day, for $900, & later put an action job on it.
I bought a 2nd 657 ND (3") last year for 2K with box & papers. These guns don't come up that often, but I think the seller is high given the revelations on the label, etc.
Here's the 657 ND vs the 657-4 (Lew Horton). The 657-4 is rare in regards to production (only 150 made), but I personally prefer the 657ND vs the mim 657-4. I bought my shooter 657ND off a forum member, back in the day, for $900, & later put an action job on it.
I bought a 2nd 657 ND (3") last year for 2K with box & papers. These guns don't come up that often, but I think the seller is high given the revelations on the label, etc.
Last edited:
