A Lew Horton 24-3....or is it? PICS

[Hondo44]

I was barely able to fit a 500 grip on my 1989 Mountain Revolver.
I could tell the dimensions have changed over the years.
A bit of crafting was involved.

...Nemo...

Aren't those the best grips!! Look great too.

I got an extra pair of those for my 329. Fortunately it has the K/L grip frame and they fit perfect. My 624 has the N frame RB. But no problem with 44 Spls in such a heavy gun.

 

[Sportsterguy]

Thanks for all the complements and information. Whatever the case may be, Lew Horton or not, I intend to shoot this sweet little gun soon and will be glad to report how she did. Bob

It is a beauty and meant to be shot! Horton/Smorton. Don't make a bit of difference. They are one and the same revolvers, just Hortons another distributor.

Congrats on that shiney, beautiful revolver!

 

[Dennis The B]

My LH was made in 1984, Ser. #AEM17xx. Although made in 1984, it does have a pinned barrel.

Wouldn't the product code be correct, even though it didn't go to LH? The product code provides the revolver features (barrel, trigger, hammer, stocks, etc.), and these wouldn't necessarily be unique to one disbtributor.

 

[41steve]

Pinned barrel

Do u have any pics of the pinned barrel ? thanks 41steve

 

[Dennis The B]

Here you go...

Do u have any pics of the pinned barrel ? thanks 41steve

 

[gendaw44]

Hi again Guys, I'm really new here on this forum so don't know my way around as yet, type slow and make lots of mistakes so may not get this posted 'till tomorrow but here goes. My 24-3 is for sure one of my favorites. I can't remeber what year it was or the magazine for sure---I think it was Shooting Times though---it may have even been Skeeter's article. Anyhow, the gun made the front cover with a feature article. There was good detail on how the K grip frame was morphed onto the rest of the N frame. That's why I've never found another pair of grips to fit it. I find the grips really do feel good in my hand but to me they do look a little goofy. Just a bit of info.

 

[rbmac52]

Whomever wrote in the magazine article that the 24-3 3" round butt and/or the 624 3" round butt had K-sized grip frames was mistaken. The grip frame on these guns is N-sized. Anyone who says differently is wrong, period, including Skelton, Metcalf, or whoever the author of the article was.

 

[rbmac52]

It is true that Lew Horton was not the exclusive distributor for 3" Model 24-3 guns. Lew Horton was unable to sell all they ordered themselves, so a number of them were made available to other distributors at the time.

There is no disputing, however, that all 3" 24-3s and 624 3" guns were made to the same original specifications as ordered by Lew Horton, whether LH actually sold them all or not.

Lew Horton "designed" the three inch N-frame round butt configuration and S&W made the guns to LH specifications. While Lew Horton did not sell all of these guns, they are all Lew Horton models.

 

[Nemo288]

That makes a bunch of sense. Were these the actual first round butt N-Frames?

I have to say the holsters Goodrich made for the 3" Specials are class acts.
I have both but only the 624 gun. I sold the 24. Don't remember why.
One of youse guys may have it now. It was AEL0808. Sold at a gun show in 1987.
The 624 will never leave me until they pry it....

Someone REALLY needs the duty holster made for the LH 3" 24 (BFW)
I probably won't be using it. Make me an offer I can't refuse.
Something around $200 +/- 3dB. Obviously I don't really want
to get rid of it. Butt.....

...Nemo...

 

[rbmac52]

nemo

The Lew Horton Models 24-3 and 624 with 3 inch barrels were the first N-frame round butts manufactured in quantity for sale to the general public, that I am aware of.

There are earlier examples of factory round butt N-frames out there, but they are very few in number and usually a special order of some sort.

 

[Sportsterguy]

I can't for the life of me see where it would add $1.00 to the value if it came from Lew Horton distr. or another distr.
BTW: I have both the 3" 24 and the 3" 624....... Ordered both of them as soon as they were announced. Very fine guns........No matter WHO sold them.

My thoughts exactly!