75Vette
Member
It's not as easy as it used to be since Lew Horton closed the doors. A quick email would've answered your question then. You can try S&W customer service and see if they can tell from your serial number.
Model 29-3 Classic Hunter 6" with silhoutte front sight - 1987 Lew Horton PICS ADDED
- Thread starter THREEDFLYER
- Start date
It's not as easy as it used to be since Lew Horton closed the doors. A quick email would've answered your question then. You can try S&W customer service and see if they can tell from your serial number.
fleabus101
SWCA Member, Absent Comrade
I bought my 29-3 6 inch silhoutte when they came out. Loaded 240 hard cast. My hunting buddy was riding w me on my Honda 300 Atv That morning at the hunting land/cabin. We
jumped a deer on a fire breakdown in the hardwood head. He pounded my back saying gimme the 44. Said I'd flush him to you down
the trail. Told him to hold at 6 oclock at point of aim..So he headed walking into the hardwoods. I ran about 150yrds down slowly
on the 300. BAMM!! So got off and hollered to him. He came out exclaiming "I cant believe I
killed a deer w this pistol". In thru the front shoulder and out thru
the opposite rear quarter..3-4 inch exit spot.
Next year he had a 6 inch stainless 44..
jumped a deer on a fire breakdown in the hardwood head. He pounded my back saying gimme the 44. Said I'd flush him to you down
the trail. Told him to hold at 6 oclock at point of aim..So he headed walking into the hardwoods. I ran about 150yrds down slowly
on the 300. BAMM!! So got off and hollered to him. He came out exclaiming "I cant believe I
killed a deer w this pistol". In thru the front shoulder and out thru
the opposite rear quarter..3-4 inch exit spot.
Next year he had a 6 inch stainless 44..
Last edited:
OP
My 1991 657 Classic Hunter with unfluted cylinder is not ported and is wearing factory rubber stocks.....I have the box/papers as well and no mention of being a Lew Horton.
I have had one for many years, tunded by Andy Cannon and stocks by Hogue. I haven't shot it for a long time, but its a keeper!
tom turner
US Veteran
Lew Horton has not been the only distributor contracting with S&W and others to make special versions.
Another S&W distributor in the late 1989 period was in Germany, and a lot of US military folks bought firearms while there, and MY Model 29-5 6" full lugged barrel, w/the 4-position front silhouette sight and unfluted cylinder came back to America in 1991.
It didn't have a Hogue "rubber" grip on it, but a Hogue Rosewood Laminate grips with the same finger grips and shape as their rubbers . . . BUT the top of the grip on both sides had the same look as the LEFT side of the rubbers . . .
I strongly expect the German distributor selected Hogue Rosewood laminated grips and it really made the revolver look incredible.
What a stunning revolver it is! Identical to the 29-3s pictured here, mine was a 29-5 (with the larger "reliability" treatment that came with the 5th change model . . . larger notch length for better bolt lockup and all).
Basically identical than these 29-3s here. When it showed up at one of my favorite gun/pawn shops, one about 80 miles from home, the owner called me and said, I just got in a Smith revolver I KNOW you will love! I said, I'll take it and be to see you tomorrow!
ONE INTRIGUING DIFFERENCE THOUGH . . .
One the bottom of the lower lug, in very tiny engraved letters was something that looked more like some middle eastern writing, but was not at all. It took me a couple of years before I discovered it was the mark of the German distributor.
IT WAS BOUGHT FROM S&W GERMAN DISTRIBUTOR who liked to also get some exclusive runs of things, like Horton used to do here.
That distributor is: Albrecht.Kind.GmbH One facebook/messenger is this site too: AKAH - Home | Facebook and they have been in business more than 100 years!
After a couple of years I replaced the beautiful rosewood laminate grips with the Hogue "CamoLamo" grip. It looks incredible on my 29-5 that has been my GO-TO firearm deer and hog hunting firearm ever since.
BTW: My front 4-way sight is still dialed in for the correct distance in meters for silhouette matches, as is the rear sight. Simply removing the two pins and the front sight is now securely saved, and the tall, sharp front sight no longer makes noise when I remove the revolver from the holster. Oh yes, and the revolver is topped with the 1st gen. Bushnell Holosight of the early '90s. Sure, it looks goofy, but is so much better in the thick Georgia woods that either iron sights or pistol scope. Just "point and click!"
HOPE THIS HELPS YOU UNDERSTAND ABOUT DIFFERENT DISTRIBUTORS! Some of you may find the tiny distributor's engravings on the bottom of your lower barrel lug too!
Another S&W distributor in the late 1989 period was in Germany, and a lot of US military folks bought firearms while there, and MY Model 29-5 6" full lugged barrel, w/the 4-position front silhouette sight and unfluted cylinder came back to America in 1991.
It didn't have a Hogue "rubber" grip on it, but a Hogue Rosewood Laminate grips with the same finger grips and shape as their rubbers . . . BUT the top of the grip on both sides had the same look as the LEFT side of the rubbers . . .
I strongly expect the German distributor selected Hogue Rosewood laminated grips and it really made the revolver look incredible.
What a stunning revolver it is! Identical to the 29-3s pictured here, mine was a 29-5 (with the larger "reliability" treatment that came with the 5th change model . . . larger notch length for better bolt lockup and all).
Basically identical than these 29-3s here. When it showed up at one of my favorite gun/pawn shops, one about 80 miles from home, the owner called me and said, I just got in a Smith revolver I KNOW you will love! I said, I'll take it and be to see you tomorrow!
ONE INTRIGUING DIFFERENCE THOUGH . . .
One the bottom of the lower lug, in very tiny engraved letters was something that looked more like some middle eastern writing, but was not at all. It took me a couple of years before I discovered it was the mark of the German distributor.
IT WAS BOUGHT FROM S&W GERMAN DISTRIBUTOR who liked to also get some exclusive runs of things, like Horton used to do here.
That distributor is: Albrecht.Kind.GmbH One facebook/messenger is this site too: AKAH - Home | Facebook and they have been in business more than 100 years!
After a couple of years I replaced the beautiful rosewood laminate grips with the Hogue "CamoLamo" grip. It looks incredible on my 29-5 that has been my GO-TO firearm deer and hog hunting firearm ever since.
BTW: My front 4-way sight is still dialed in for the correct distance in meters for silhouette matches, as is the rear sight. Simply removing the two pins and the front sight is now securely saved, and the tall, sharp front sight no longer makes noise when I remove the revolver from the holster. Oh yes, and the revolver is topped with the 1st gen. Bushnell Holosight of the early '90s. Sure, it looks goofy, but is so much better in the thick Georgia woods that either iron sights or pistol scope. Just "point and click!"
HOPE THIS HELPS YOU UNDERSTAND ABOUT DIFFERENT DISTRIBUTORS! Some of you may find the tiny distributor's engravings on the bottom of your lower barrel lug too!
Last edited:
Silhouette
Love that adjustable front sight, but mine is on the 10 5/8" Silhouette! This is two guys, in two days, and two Silhouettes! The longest was 142yds.(via range finder) The red dot is for low light and close shots, 50yds or less!
jcelect
Love that adjustable front sight, but mine is on the 10 5/8" Silhouette! This is two guys, in two days, and two Silhouettes! The longest was 142yds.(via range finder) The red dot is for low light and close shots, 50yds or less!
jcelect
tom turner
US Veteran
That is impressive Silhouette!
Twice since I've had the holosight (since '91) I have dropped three whitetails in rapid succession . . . once on a fresh clearcut, and the other time in a hardwood bottom. The second one I dropped in the clearcut bolted when I dropped the first one. I hit the second one broadside, and when the barrel came down, it had dropped on the spot and never moved. Then I slowly replaced the two spent cartridges and looked up and # 3 was sniffing around the first one. It fell touching nose-to-nose with #1.
Lots of deer taken with my 29-5 6" through the last 29 years hunting with my super-accurate revolver! My round of choice is the Federal Cast-core 300gn hard-cast lead flat point. I've never recovered a bullet of course, and harvested all but one in the 29 years I've used the combination. The Cast-core round has been discontinued, but I had a good supply at the time but next year I'll probably have to go with another heavy similar type hard cast bullet. Probably the Garrett 310-gr SuperHardCast "Hammerhead." I hope my Model 29-5 "likes" it like it has the Federal version.
What do you use in yours? All the best, Tom
Twice since I've had the holosight (since '91) I have dropped three whitetails in rapid succession . . . once on a fresh clearcut, and the other time in a hardwood bottom. The second one I dropped in the clearcut bolted when I dropped the first one. I hit the second one broadside, and when the barrel came down, it had dropped on the spot and never moved. Then I slowly replaced the two spent cartridges and looked up and # 3 was sniffing around the first one. It fell touching nose-to-nose with #1.
Lots of deer taken with my 29-5 6" through the last 29 years hunting with my super-accurate revolver! My round of choice is the Federal Cast-core 300gn hard-cast lead flat point. I've never recovered a bullet of course, and harvested all but one in the 29 years I've used the combination. The Cast-core round has been discontinued, but I had a good supply at the time but next year I'll probably have to go with another heavy similar type hard cast bullet. Probably the Garrett 310-gr SuperHardCast "Hammerhead." I hope my Model 29-5 "likes" it like it has the Federal version.
What do you use in yours? All the best, Tom
Last edited:
- Joined
- Jul 22, 2014
- Messages
- 2
- Reaction score
- 0
That's cool! I haven't seen that front sight though. I have the same one but standard front sight and fluted cylinder. I bought it used 15+ years ago, it was my first gun. I love it!
I do however have a problem with it. When I fire it, I'm getting some powder blowback in 2-3 chambers of the cylinder. Always the same ones. Makes it very difficult to eject spent casings. Especially the more rounds that are put through it. Any thoughts? Should I buy a replacement cylinder or send it in to S&W?
I do however have a problem with it. When I fire it, I'm getting some powder blowback in 2-3 chambers of the cylinder. Always the same ones. Makes it very difficult to eject spent casings. Especially the more rounds that are put through it. Any thoughts? Should I buy a replacement cylinder or send it in to S&W?
- Joined
- Jul 22, 2014
- Messages
- 2
- Reaction score
- 0
Hi there,
i picked up one like these in April last year, there is also a thread about it. The importer of mine was "Wischo".
So, also two german importers were distributing the gun in these days.
I would be curious how many made it over here.
Now i have roundabout 1000 rounds down the pipe,
and so far it is an amazing sweet shooter.
I am currently burning through some shotgun powders from Spain.
The bigger target was shot during a competition, where 5 shots have to be delivered in 20 seconds.
This target was shot with powdercoated bullets, the rest was standard lube, all cast bullets from lead harvested nearby.
I am curious what this revolver will be up to in 2024.
Happy belated new year everyone!
i picked up one like these in April last year, there is also a thread about it. The importer of mine was "Wischo".
So, also two german importers were distributing the gun in these days.
I would be curious how many made it over here.
Now i have roundabout 1000 rounds down the pipe,
and so far it is an amazing sweet shooter.
I am currently burning through some shotgun powders from Spain.
The bigger target was shot during a competition, where 5 shots have to be delivered in 20 seconds.
This target was shot with powdercoated bullets, the rest was standard lube, all cast bullets from lead harvested nearby.
I am curious what this revolver will be up to in 2024.
Happy belated new year everyone!
Attachments
Similar threads
- Locked
