Help with identification of this gun?

[EarlFH]

I just bought this model 640-1 from the Gun Digest. It is NIB, unfired.
The product code is "103690, with another number written in red ink, of "2" at the end of the product code.

There is a special order number "5307".

The serial number is "CAH70XX"

If anyone can give me any information on what this gun was special ordered for, or any other information on it's background, I sure would appreciate it. (it is a 357Mag.)
Thanks in advance,
EarlFH

 

[murphydog]

The SCSW book has the product code as a standard 640-1. The special order number may indicate the high polished finish; the SN prefix puts the ship date in late 1995 or early 1996, so perhaps this was an early production special from the factory. Nice gun!

 

[StingrayG4]

The polished finish and those grips make this a very sharp gun indeed! I'm not a big fan of the modern hammerless guns, but yours is a real beauty.

-S

 

[s&wchad]

Congratulations, I'd bet the farm that it’s a Lew Horton special! Lew Horton was/is a major distributor of both standard production and custom shop models. Over the years, they had exclusive distribution rights to many limited edition Performance Center variations and non-PC special orders and the name generally adds a premium (at least to a lot of sellers). They handled some really cool stuff! I suspect you won’t find much documented about your specific gun, it’s the first “special” I’ve noticed on the Forum in three years (other than mine)!

The Spec. Ord. number is a Julian style date code that translates to the 307th day in 1995(early November). It was originally built as a standard production gun (103690), probably for the initial release in 1996. S&W factory information may not reflect the present configuration and I doubt they recognize the new product code (1033902). It’s possible S&W did the polishing, but maybe not. Lew Horton would take a small quantity of guns, contract to have various modifications performed, change the grips and market it as a Special. If you phone Lew Horton and tell the product code and serial number, they’ll be able to tell you about it. It’s obviously polished with upgraded stocks… very nice!

Mine started as a standard production 686-4 Plus. It was shipped directly from S&W to to Mag-na-port for porting, then off to Lew Horton where the Eagle Secret Service grips were fitted. S&W could only tell me mine was a standard production gun, but Mag-na-port and Lew Horton both had information they shared with me confirming the configuration. They told me fewer than 50 were produced. Notice the label font and the similar product code. Thanks for posting those great photos, I enjoyed seeing your gun!

 

[P&R Fan]

I have a 640-1 I bought right after they came out and I read everything I could find in gun mags about them. I've never seen one with that cylinder release. They've all had the newer style. It looks great, You'll enjoy it.