Mod 24-3 1st One Hundred

[JeepRacer]

Looking for more info on this revolver.
I am told it is a Lew Horton Special, first 100 were engraved.
The serial numbers listed in the Standard Catalog of S&W does
not match my revolver.
Anyone own one of these?
Is your serial number the same as listed in the SCSW book?
Thanks for your help with this.

 

[JeepRacer]

If this is the wrong location, someone give me some insight as to
where I can turn for some information on the revolver in question.

I have done thread searches and there is next to nothing on the
24-3 1st One Hundred revolvers.

Thanks in advance for any help.

 

[GPJohn]

Go to the search button on the top of the banner, right side and type in 24-3 in the first box, then hit go. There are pages of threads on the 24-3. You will have to find the ones that reference the first 100. I hope this helps.

 

[JeepRacer]

Thanks for your help. I was using the second box in the search window. It came up with nothing.

 

[S&WIowegan]

You can also call Lew Horton. They are generally willing to help....maybe not this week .

 

[Kernel Crittenden]

What is your s/n, and what is the s/n range in the SCSW? Do you know your gun's product code?

 

[JeepRacer]

I am quoting from page 191 of SCS&W, 1st column under Model 24-3. "The first 100 were factory engraved with smooth walnut stocks and silver S&W medallions in the grips; of these 25 were nickel finished and engraved. Three-letter serial range of ABZ0000- ABZ9999 with 7,500 manufactured c. 1983 - 1984." My serial number is AEL18XX (not ABZ), it is factory engraved and has the original blue gun box as well as the original wooden gun case. My serial number shows to be a Nov 1984 build.
As this may be perfectly alright, I was trying to locate another owner of the 1st One Hundred Special Combat revolver and check to see what their serial number might be.
One thing that really puzzles me is the lack of information on these revolvers. That was another reason I was trying to reach another owner of one.
I have also reached out to Lew Horton for some information as well. I would hope to receive the information from them sometime next week after the holidays.

 

[Kernel Crittenden]

Is the blue box the one-piece style with the computer printed label? If so, what the Spec. Ord number and the Product Code?

 

[JeepRacer]

Special order: 4185
Product code: 100787

 

[Kernel Crittenden]

JR, your special order number dates you M24 to July 4, 1984. The product code is for a pretty much standard production 3-inch M24, which normally would suggest the engraving was done after it left S&W, probably by the distributor. Otherwise, it would of had a more unique pc. Lew Horton sold some, I don't know if all of the 100787's , and I have notes that 5,000 were made. Enough that I have nine in my s/n collection (not counting yours). None of these were engraved, though at least some had Combat Stocks. The following s/n's have that pc. It's interesting to note that some of these shipped in the old style two-piece box. But instead of a hand written label, which was the norm for those boxes, they had the new style computer printed end label. An uncommon practice. That's all I got.

AEJ82XX ……… June 26, 1984 (M24-3 3") RB RR WO CS LH 100787 2pc-nbc 4177
AEM10XX ……… July 7, 1984 (M24 3" 44S) RB RR WO 100787 2pc-nbc 4188
AEM11XX ……… June 26, 1984 (M24-3 3" 44S) RB CS RR 100787 2pc-nbc 4177
AEM77XX ……… July 7, 1984 (M24-3 3" 44S) RB CS WO 100787 2pc-nbc 4188
AEM80XX ……… June 1984 (M24-3 3" 44S) RB CS RR LH (5000) 100787
AEM81XX ……… June 27, 1984 (M24-3 3" 44S) RB CS RR WO LH 100787 2pc 4178
ALA22XX ……… Aug 30, 1985 (M24-3 3" 44S) RB CS RR 100787 1pc-n 5242
ALA25XX ……… Aug 30, 1985 (M24-3 3" 44S) RR WO RB CS 100787 1pc-n 5242
ALA48XX ……… July 24, 1984 (M24-3 3" 44S) RB 100787 2pc-nbc 4205

 

[JeepRacer]

One detail on my computer printed label is that there is a hand stamped number located to the right of the Product Code (25 1 8). The numbers are not all of the same font. Not sure if this has any bearing on this at all. If you would like to see a photo of the label, I can text or email it to you. I have not figured out how to add photos here. If you would like to pm me, I will send them to you. I also have a engraved wooden presentation case for this revolver.
Is it possible that the factory did not engrave any of these revolvers? or part were engraved by the factory and part by the distributor?

Other numbers on the label: RB RR WO, Pkr. hand written 6,
the very bottom line of the label has: SN, 10 digit number, X, 4185

 

[Kernel Crittenden]

On this site it's very easy to post pictures. You don't need to host them somewhere else, you can upload them direct from your phone or computer. Click on the "Go Advanced" button below, then scroll down and you'll see another button that says "Manage Attachments", click on that an go from there. It's pretty straight forward.

RB: round butt
WO: white outline (rear sight)
RR: red ramp insert (front sight)

Standard S&W two-digit codes. The 10-digit number was like an old style product code, before they went to the 6-digit pc they still use to this day. During a transition period boxes had both the 10-digit and the 6-digit code. Your 10-digit is probably something like: 0243023027. How I interpret them:

0243: M24-3
02: polished blue
30: 3-inch barrel
27: ??? mystery number. Probably a lot number. These last two numbers are almost always in the twenties or thirties. And I'm not sure what they mean. They are NOT unique to certain models.

The other numbers, stamps, scrawling.... who knows? Various acceptance and inventory control numbers that happened along the way. Probably don't mean much outside that moment in time.

I don't have any specific knowledge about your engraved M24, but I think if it had been engraved by S&W it would of had a pc that was different from the standard pc. The factory will usually issue a new unique pc when they do something special. Otherwise, how do they keep track of whats's-what once it goes in a box?

Distributors get product from S&W, the box label is already printed, they send it off to have it engraved, they have no way of changing the box label. It's printed at the factory. That why you see "Distributor Specials" that all have the same pc, even though the guns have different features... like engraving.

Could be wrong, though. For $50 you can get a "factory letter" and this will confirm whether it was factory engraved. Might be worth it in your case. First, I'd call Lew Horton and see what they say. If it's their's they'll explain what they did and send you a letter for free!

 

[Doug M.]

The one time I had to call LH for info, they were helpful and fast, so I would make that the first stop if I were you.

 

[b_san]

I'm kind of lost reading the Kernel's dissertation but "The 1st One Hundred" is a legitimate special release from the regular 3" Lew Horton 24-3 production run. Anyway here's the GB link to the closed auction for the OPs gun with plenty of pictures...

http://www.gunbroker.com/Auction/ViewItem.aspx?Item=453365847

 

[JeepRacer]

I want to thank you guys for all your help. I should have more information next week when I hear back from Lew Horton.
I still wish I could run up on some other owners of the 24-3 1st One Hundred.
Thanks again.

 

[JeepRacer]

Okay, I can clear up some things on my 24-3. I communicated with Lew Horton today, and they sent me a letter documenting my revolver.

It is a Lew Horton 24-3 Special Edition.

The engraving was done by Smith & Wesson.

They believe that it was likely the 1st One Hundred revolvers were presold.

Mine was delivered to Lew Horton in August 1984.

All the 1st One Hundred's were delivered with a wooden
presentation case and a blue S&W gun box.

I hope this will help someone else.

If anyone is a owner of one of these, I would appreciate a pm just to confirm where some more are located.

Thanks to all.