“Lew Horton” Combats

[4T5GUY]

I’ve been seeing Combats for sale that are advertised as Lew Horton. They are being offered at very premium prices and some are actually selling.

Is there really any difference from regular Combats? I’ve seen them for sale wrapped on card and they look the same as what is being offered as LH’s.

The ones I have came off of a ‘92 617 I got directly from LH then and have the original receipt. I sold the 617 but kept the Combats. Does that mean I can advertise them as Lew Horton Combats too? Really hard to get a good image due to the finish. The reflections look like blemishes.

Jim

 

[Kingspoke]

Lew Horton Combats

I’ve been seeing Combats for sale that are advertised as Lew Horton. They are being offered at very premium prices and some are actually selling.

Is there really any difference from regular Combats? I’ve seen them for sale wrapped on card and they look the same as what is being offered as LH’s.

Jim

Lew Horton being a distributor of Smith & Wessons, did not manufacture/design those grips, though the grips may have come on revolvers, special ordered by Lew Horton. There are for example, 5000 24-3s in 3" barrel with round butt combat grips, and there are over runs of the same configuration that were not ordered by "Lew Horton". There would be no differences between the guns & grips, other than Lew Horton Distributors placed the order, in that configuration.

In general a Lew Horton gun will bring more money if limited edition, & configuration. At least this is my opinion, others may differ. The Letter of Authenticity from Lew Horton distributors will slightly influence the sale value, to a collector, but essentially there is no difference in the aforementioned.

 

[4T5GUY]

Exactly what I thought. Although Combats were not as regular as Targets I can’t imagine them being LH specific.

I would have called Earl but he’s still not answering.

Jim

 

[CH4]

Besides having the first 3” barrel, wasn’t the 24-3 the first to wear combats?
Actually busted a few caps in mine today.

 

[ruggyh]

...

I would have called Earl but he’s still not answering.

Jim

Unfortunately Earl passed in April of 2021.

 

[SuperMan]

Besides having the first 3” barrel, wasn’t the 24-3 the first to wear combats?
Actually busted a few caps in mine today.

...yes.

And since then everyone thinks any 3" N-frame with Combats on it was a LH Special most of which were actually a "Stocking Dealer Special".

I had one and carried it as my last duty gun with Dallas PD before leaving in December of 1987..

Bob

 

[Bald1]

Speaking of Lew Hortons. Among the 3” 629 44 mags what is the consensus on most valuable/desirable? All things being equal with condition etc…. Full lug non fluted cyl or regular barrel fluted cyl ? Ported? Grips?

 

[CH4]

Speaking of Lew Hortons. Among the 3” 629 44 mags what is the consensus on most valuable/desirable? All things being equal with condition etc…. Full lug non fluted cyl or regular barrel fluted cyl ? Ported? Grips?

I can’t speak for everyone else, but for me the original -1 is the coolest looking, because it looks like a 2.5” 66 on steroids.

 

[4T5GUY]

Unfortunately Earl passed in April of 2021.

Yes he did, very unfortunate. That was my dark sense of humor. Maybe some day I’ll delete his contact info from my phone. He was as interested as we are and was always willing to talk and help with their special run questions.

With Earl it was more than a job. I’m glad Susan Lorusso ended up with the archives but it’s just a business now.

Jim

 

[Grayfox]

Those are regular S&W Combat stocks. Many of the Lew Horton special runs used them, but they're not exclusive to LH guns. The seller is just trying to get more money.

I dearly love my 3.5" Model 24-3. But mine was not a LH. It was one of the over runs.

 

[RogerA]

Speaking of Lew Hortons. Among the 3” 629 44 mags what is the consensus on most valuable/desirable? All things being equal with condition etc…. Full lug non fluted cyl or regular barrel fluted cyl ? Ported? Grips?

I like this one.

 

[AC Man]

I’ve been seeing Combats for sale that are advertised as Lew Horton. They are being offered at very premium prices and some are actually selling.

Is there really any difference from regular Combats? I’ve seen them for sale wrapped on card and they look the same as what is being offered as LH’s.

The ones I have came off of a ‘92 617 I got directly from LH then and have the original receipt. I sold the 617 but kept the Combats. Does that mean I can advertise them as Lew Horton Combats too? Really hard to get a good image due to the finish. The reflections look like blemishes.

Jim

Why did you keep the combat stocks? Didn't that kill the value of the gun. I have a LH combat stocks S&W 617 and that is the main reason I bought it?

 

[4T5GUY]

Because I had, (still have,) a 66 no dash that my wife decided was hers. We got the 617 as a trainer for the kids. She instantly loved the Combats and wanted them on “her” 66. The original Targets from the 66 went on the 617.

Unfortunately the 617 did not work out for us. It always shot high with all different ammo. There wasn’t any more down left in the rear sight and I didn’t want to mess with it. I shouldn’t have had to. I had a FFL, got it directly from LH and sold it for what I had into it.

Thanks to the great help here I found out what the original 66 Targets were, (football relief,) cause I didn’t recall. I found a perfectly matched and new condition set for a great price. Now the 66 is back to original and I still have the Combats. She has decided my Model 60, (R prefix,) is hers now and doesn’t care about the 66.

Jim

 

[swage]

Speaking of Lew Hortons. Among the 3” 629 44 mags what is the consensus on most valuable/desirable? All things being equal with condition etc…. Full lug non fluted cyl or regular barrel fluted cyl ? Ported? Grips?

Probably the Mag Comp or Carry Comp I, II. I have a Carry Comp II and the production run was 100
.
The most valuable Lew Horton in general is probably the model 66 Super K. They consistently sell for over $5K, with one selling for over $7K this past year. That's Registered Magnum money.

 

[sophie]

Those are regular S&W Combat stocks. Many of the Lew Horton special runs used them, but they're not exclusive to LH guns. The seller is just trying to get more money. )

I agree with what Grayfox said above and I have seen quite a few listings on auction sites that list S&W Combat grips as Lew Horton Combat grips when there is no difference. It kind of irritates me to see the false advertisement. I need to say that I have sold several sets of S&W Combat grips myself but advertised the grips correctly.