Belt Fed
Member
If I remember correctly, the L.H. 44 Special Snub Nose came with a S&W holster included in the price.
A Lew Horton 24-3....or is it? PICS
- Thread starter MAG-NUM
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firearmsunlimited
Member
A $50.00 letter will solve the mystery.
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I bought mine, AEM 7xxx, new in the box from a gun store in San Diego. It came with the holster, which I didn't want due to me being a lefty and it being a right handed version..... but took it anyway in that the store owner told me it came with it. I believe (believed) that the holster was included which is why I have it today. It is possible that the store owner, who I have known for years and did a ton of business with, added the $30 in the price I paid, but I don't believe so in that I didn't want it. And, he may have just throw it in, not really having a market for it without the gun. I will never know in that I don't recall what I paid for the package and he closed the shop nearly 10 years ago when he retired. Regardless, I did get the holster which still resides in the original packaging. It is a fine handling, great looking firearm, in the perfect caliber, in the perfect format (N frame) IMHO. A final note........as I have stated in other threads over the past several years, I still prefer my 696 as a 'carry' piece due to the slightly smaller frame and grip, and the stainless steel construction.
Marshall 357
Member
Its a great looking 44 !
kalei
Member
found mine at a local gun shop about 8 yrs ago. It is a LH 24-3 S/N AEM0xx, very nice no box, papers et. has been shot. kinda big for my hands.
Smithhound
US Veteran
As others have said already 5,000 were made initially for LH, but it appears they could not turn the entire lot and the remainders where then sold thru S&W as a special run.
Whatever the case that particualar model, as well as the 3" 624, is one of the 'classiest' looking revolvers ever made. Just the look says "business". I believe (but could be wrong) that Bill Jordan said 'I like big bore's, because they leave big holes'.
I've been lucky enough to put together a set of the 3", 4" and 6 1/2", all NIB that are really the pride of my collection. Also along the way the identical set in SS were accumulated. The SS 624's do get shot, but not the blued 24's. That's just a me thing.
When the 24-3 came out in 1983 my Wife was pregnant with our Son and money was tight as bark on a tree. I worked in a small shop at the time and wanted a set so bad it hurt. Could not be done, but I swore I would eventually have it.
It took almost 25 years to do but I did it. The 6 1/2" was the first, found at a gun show in Chatt. I found it on the second table I looked at, picked it up and noticed a fellow behind me just itching to look at it, I knew if I set it down it would be gone. I paid $400 for it OTD.
A few years later I got a call from a good friend that She had a 'funny' looking 3" .44 just in, looked new...I think I left the phone reciever swinging in air as I ran for the truck. That one set me back a whopping $450!
A few years later and I found one here on the Forum, the 4", the hardest to come by in NIB. I ended up with it and if memory serves paid over $900 for it, but would have paid more to have it.
So after over 2 decades I kept my promise.
Patience pays.
RD
Whatever the case that particualar model, as well as the 3" 624, is one of the 'classiest' looking revolvers ever made. Just the look says "business". I believe (but could be wrong) that Bill Jordan said 'I like big bore's, because they leave big holes'.
I've been lucky enough to put together a set of the 3", 4" and 6 1/2", all NIB that are really the pride of my collection. Also along the way the identical set in SS were accumulated. The SS 624's do get shot, but not the blued 24's. That's just a me thing.
When the 24-3 came out in 1983 my Wife was pregnant with our Son and money was tight as bark on a tree. I worked in a small shop at the time and wanted a set so bad it hurt. Could not be done, but I swore I would eventually have it.
It took almost 25 years to do but I did it. The 6 1/2" was the first, found at a gun show in Chatt. I found it on the second table I looked at, picked it up and noticed a fellow behind me just itching to look at it, I knew if I set it down it would be gone. I paid $400 for it OTD.
A few years later I got a call from a good friend that She had a 'funny' looking 3" .44 just in, looked new...I think I left the phone reciever swinging in air as I ran for the truck. That one set me back a whopping $450!
A few years later and I found one here on the Forum, the 4", the hardest to come by in NIB. I ended up with it and if memory serves paid over $900 for it, but would have paid more to have it.
So after over 2 decades I kept my promise.
Patience pays.
RD
Marshall 357
Member
WOW! Interesting.
goldenlight
Member
I remember reading the article about them in Guns and Ammo, and that highly respected gun rag
stated that the holsters could be 'purchased separately'.I didn't know about ordering from a distributor back then. I asked my local shop to order one for me, and they said they couldn't get one.
I had a terrible itch to get one, and I wound up buying one in about '86 or '87 used. No box, and it came with Pachmyr grips on it.
It took quite awhile to find to find a set of the correct grips for, as you might imagine.
Mine is in nice shape, but it came to me in 'has been shot some' condition, so mine was never in danger of being a shelf queen.
Mine hasn't had a trigger job, but it has the nicest trigger of my modest collection of S&W revolvers.
Mine has the AEL SN# prefix, and is a LOT of fun to shoot.
I'm sure glad that I reload for it: it is made of the same steel as a Model 29, and can handle MUCH more powerful ammunition than the few loads that are available from the factory.
I load a 250 cast lead Keith style bullet pretty mild for for target shooting. But, with 200 and 225 gr JHP bullets, it can be loaded as hot as recoil allows...and 44 cal snubbies are pretty famous for recoil.
Mag-num: your 24-3 sure is one very beautiful revolver!
Your photography skills really show off that revolver! The bluing on yours is MUCH nicer than mine.
S&W-SL
Member
Not a lot I can add here that DCWilson and others haven't already highlighted.
I, too, have an ALA gun, mine, ALA2432. Roy Jinks told me today that LH not only didn't take all 5000 but then insisted that they did not go to any other distributor. So these are somewhat more scarce than the LH specials.
Mine was issued in 1984. My S&W Authenticity request is on it's way to Springfield for the 'rest of the story'.
You guys here are a terrific resource - THANKS!
I, too, have an ALA gun, mine, ALA2432. Roy Jinks told me today that LH not only didn't take all 5000 but then insisted that they did not go to any other distributor. So these are somewhat more scarce than the LH specials.
Mine was issued in 1984. My S&W Authenticity request is on it's way to Springfield for the 'rest of the story'.
You guys here are a terrific resource - THANKS!
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Nice .44 Specials!
I have wondered at the production figure of 5000 Lew Horton 3" guns.
With the 1983 introduction of the 24-3 production of approximately 5000 6.5" guns and approximately 2500 4" guns, for a total production of approximately 7500 guns, it seems odd that there would have been a market for 5000 of the 3" guns.
In my opinion, the 3" would be less desirable than a 4" or a 6.5" gun.
The Lew Horton advertisement says "limited production". Were there really 5000 of the 3" guns produced?
I have wondered at the production figure of 5000 Lew Horton 3" guns.
With the 1983 introduction of the 24-3 production of approximately 5000 6.5" guns and approximately 2500 4" guns, for a total production of approximately 7500 guns, it seems odd that there would have been a market for 5000 of the 3" guns.
In my opinion, the 3" would be less desirable than a 4" or a 6.5" gun.
The Lew Horton advertisement says "limited production". Were there really 5000 of the 3" guns produced?
I have been wanting a 24-3 for a long time and will probably get one this year. Untill now I thought all 24-3's were Lew Hortons. My question is if it is not a LH can I expect the gun to be cheaper ? How do you know if it is a LH or not ? Is the serial number the only way to tell ? Is the non LH gun the same as the LH gun ?
.357magger
Member
You got screwed. But...don't fear...I'll be generous and take it off your hands for the price listed in the Lew Horton price sheet a couple of posts back. Okay, I'll make it an even $350.00 so you feel better.
Where do I send the cash?
NICE gun there Man, can't believe I'm the first with this old cliche' offer. Thanks for sharing the pics.
Where do I send the cash?
NICE gun there Man, can't believe I'm the first with this old cliche' offer. Thanks for sharing the pics.
northslope
Member
I agree, however, those 3" N-frame snubs are just dead sexy.
Mine is an AEJ serial; picked it; up at a gunshow in San Francisco last year with no box or papers.
--Neill
Dennis The B
US Veteran
As a result of this thread, I sent an email to Lew Horton, requesting information on my Model 24-3, which was produced in 1984. Mine has a pinned barrel, something I haven't seen on other "Lew Horton Specials". Here's the text from Lew Horton -
"Dear Dennis,
Your gun is in fact a Lew Horton's Special Edition made for us by Smith & Wesson in August of 1984. It is one of approximately 6300 we had done by Smith between 1984 and 1985. Hope this helps you out."
Mine is serial number AEM17xx.
"Dear Dennis,
Your gun is in fact a Lew Horton's Special Edition made for us by Smith & Wesson in August of 1984. It is one of approximately 6300 we had done by Smith between 1984 and 1985. Hope this helps you out."
Mine is serial number AEM17xx.
Nemo288
Member
More than likely. I bought a 3" 24-3 in early 1987 and sold it
soon after. KEEPING THE AWESOME HOLSTER IT CAME WITH.
It was AEL080x. I did this to acquire a LH 624 3"
It also came with a holster. The blue holster is a belt duty.
The stainless holster is a pancake.
Best built Smith I own.
CelticSire
US Veteran
Mine, with holster. Found the gun in a pawn shop, spent 7 years trying to find the holster, then found two within two weeks. Kept one, sold one to a fellow Forum member for what I paid for it.
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CelticSire
US Veteran
Bob is right, as usual. Here is a 29-5, square butt, full lug barrel non-fluted cylinder made as a special run of 300 for Hill Country distibutors.
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I am looking at a 24-3 and sent an e-mail listed on the Lew Horton website with the serial number of the gun. Their response was, it is a Lew Horton. It is 1 of approximately 6300 made in 1984 and 1985. You can call or e-mail and get a quick response.
Mine too is s/n AEJ13xx. Purchased 07/84 for $339.95. Came with 2 pc. box. Holster was an extra $30.00.
Sebago Son
Member
True enough Bob!
Here's a pair of the Camfour 2 1/2" 629's.
1,000 were ordered and were to be taken in three deliveries. These guns are from the 1998 shipment of 300 units that were still unsold in the Camfour inventory in early 2000.
Needless to say, the rest of the run was delayed. Later issues of this model surfaced in 2005-6 and had keylocks.
These guns shipped with ridiculously huge Hogue stocks and I was playing around with some wood for these photos... the big black stocks are in the boxes.....
Drew
So do you think S&W would make a non IL 629 snub nose fixed sight with an order of 300?
Buzzsaw
Member
WOW WHAT WAS I THINKIN????!!!
I just posted my 24-3 LH for sale in the classifieds, after reading this great thread, I had to pull it. I'm gonna keep it for now. It is a COOL gun!!
I just posted my 24-3 LH for sale in the classifieds, after reading this great thread, I had to pull it. I'm gonna keep it for now. It is a COOL gun!!
Horacesmiff
Member
+ what Duke426 said
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