Lew Horton 657 Opinion?

[TexasRaider]

OK, so I fly wildly back and forth over what my next revolver/pistol is going to be...sometimes it's a 1980's era Delta Elite, sometimes it's the new Sig P220 Elite in 10mm. But I keep drifting back to the Lew Horton custom 657's of the 80's, the .41 Mag snubbie.

So I have a few questions, which are:

1. How badly do they really kick with say, Winchester 175 gr Silvertips? It looks to be a pretty heavy piece, so maybe it's not the mare's leg I think it might be.

2. If anyone bought one recently (within last 12 months lets say) and you feel ok saying it, may I ask what the fetching price tag was?

3. Did they all come with the round butt, finger groove type wooden grips? Or did some come with the factory target grips?

4. What kind of internal work did LH do to these, or was the action factory?

5. Were these a 2.5" or 3" barrel, and was the length the same on all pieces done?

Thanks all, and please feel free to pin up all the pictures of them you want, they're bust-a-gut gorgeous, like Veronica Lake with wooden grips....

 

[colt_saa]

The 5000+ 657s done in the early 80s were 3" standard barrels. These came from many distributors not just Lew Horton. This was not an exclusive offering

Later there were 200? 3" Full lug 657s. These are the ones that are a Lew Horton Exclusive.

There is also the 657 2 5/8" Performance Center offering, but these were 1999.

My opinion on recoil is meaningless since I got used to firing 30-30 in Silhouette handguns in the olden days.

If you want a 41 snubby that has noticeable felt recoil, it would be the 5 shot, 2 1/2", 20.9 ounce, Total Titanium model 415T from Taurus

However I do not consider it to be objectionable either since if I am using it my life or the life of another is probably in jeopardy and the comfort of my hand is the last thing on my mind.

 

[TexasRaider]

Good info, I appreciate it!

 

[greenmachine]

Not sure whether this answers any of your questions but here's mine. A no-dash from 1986. It may or may not be a LH, but I really don't care.

 

[TexasRaider]

Not sure whether this answers any of your questions but here's mine. A no-dash from 1986. It may or may not be a LH, but I really don't care.

I should clarify. I was under the assumption (yeah, yeah, I know what that makes me) that all 3" 657's with those grips were LH versions. Having learned today they weren't, I should restate that what I'm interested in is exactly what you have above. I didn't need it to be a Lew Horton for me to want it, I thought it had to be.

Since it doesn't, I guess I should say that it's just what you have, a 3" stainless 657 with roundbutts on it, that I find myself lusting over.

How does it shoot for you, or do you put a lot of rounds through it?

 

[TexasRaider]

Beautiful piece, by the way.

 

[pacecars]

Since you like 10mm do what I did. I sent a Ruger GP-100 to David Clements to be converted to 10mm. I am also waiting on Sig to announce their 1911 10mm at the NRA show. Hoping for a commander length!

 

[TexasRaider]

Since you like 10mm do what I did. I sent a Ruger GP-100 to David Clements to be converted to 10mm. I am also waiting on Sig to announce their 1911 10mm at the NRA show. Hoping for a commander length!

Yep, I'm a big 10mm fan. I plan on learning to reload later this year, just for that round. I have a no-dash 5" model 610 from about 1990, and it is a very sweet running item, but I'm not warm on the idea of carrying it in the field much. Those are kind of rare and I don't want it roughed up, so I had considered what you mentioned. I've seen the pictures of Clement's conversions, and they are pretty, and GP100's aren't exactly rare or collectible.

I might do that, but before I drop the $1200-$1400 I bet it costs for the gun and conversion, I'll hit some other handguns on my priority list. And a 3" stainless 657 with roundbutts is right near, if not right at, the top of that list.

 

[wildfowl]

My 657 Mountain Gun is not uncomfortable to shoot and I would guess the weight is about the same. I like th 4" better than the 3". Just me.

 

[pacecars]

I have a 5 inch 610 no dash that is a sweet shooter. I plan on using it for deer next season. I have been taking it Turkey hunting but they aren't cooperating. I had my dealer order a 3 inch adjustable sight GP-100 .38 Spcl and sent it off to Clements as soon as it arrived. It will be around January or February before it is done. I am having him slab-side the barrel which looks cool and will remove the warning too. The whole conversion and other work is $765 and the gun was $625 so around $1400 when I add in extra moon clips.

 

[pacecars]

If you can find a Model 357 they are nice and light although the recoil gets stiff with heavy cast bullet loads. That is another one I should have kept!

 

[SAFireman]

If you are ever down this way we can make a range trip and you can find out for yourself

I might also be persuaded to let you try a real live Model 58

 

[colt_saa]

If you can find a Model 357 they are nice and light although the recoil gets stiff with heavy cast bullet loads. That is another one I should have kept!

Did you have the 357PD?

Or the 357NG?

Strange as it may seem, the 2 1/2" revolver is 4 ounces heavier than the 4" revolver.

This is due to the weight differences in the Titanium and stainless cylinders.

 

[pacecars]

And here is what my 10mm GP-100 will look like

 

[TexasRaider]

If you are ever down this way we can make a range trip and you can find out for yourself

I might also be persuaded to let you try a real live Model 58

LOL! I may call you out on that! I've got a nice 6" m57, had a chance at a well used San Antonio PD m58, wish I'd have gotten that one. To my knowledge, San Francisco, San Antonio, Amarillo and Detroit were among the few police depts. that issued the m58 years back, I'm sure some others did I don't know about. I'd love to have a Amarillo PD or SAPD retired m58, that would be a very Texas thing to own....

 

[scott1970]

What most refer to as the Lew Horton 657 ain't the Lew Horton 657-4.

This is the actual Lew Horton exclusive 657-4 which totaled around 150 guns. It has the full lug, a matte stainless finish, three inch barrel, and it didn't come with combat grips.

This one is the common 657 no dash which should feature a stainless finish, partial lug, three inch barrel, and factory combats. There were over 5,400 of these made, and they were distributed by a variety of companies including Lew Horton. The one pictured below is a bit of an anomaly. It actually has a square butt rather than a round butt. Who knows, maybe it escaped the factory this way.