My entire Model 24-3 collection!

[Wyatt Burp]

All two of them. Looks like I'm out of luck as far as the Lew Horton goes but these'll do. I bought the four incher new in 1983 as soon as they came out and added the smooth sambar stags soon after. Culina cocobolas on the other one.

 

[Birdgun]

Wyatt, I too have a big collection of S&W "25" revolvers in 45 Colt. All two of them....

S&W Model 625-9 "Mountain Gun" in 45 Colt

S&W Model 25-5 in 45 Colt

Thanks for looking at my entire Smith & Wesson 45 Colt collection....all two of them!

God bless,
Birdgun

 

[H Richard]

The 24-3 Lou Horton's are still out there, and are great shooters. Grips are my modification of some finger groove off brand but these fit my hand.

 

[153]

This 24-3 started out with a 6.5" barrel. I had the factory change it out to 4" using a NOS tube I purchased later. The handles are "Skeeter Skelton" style from Blumagnum. Sure like the OP's plain stag.

 

[Wyatt Burp]

This 24-3 started out with a 6.5" barrel. I had the factory change it out to 4" using a NOS tube I purchased later. The handles are "Skeeter Skelton" style from Blumagnum. Sure like the OP's plain stag.

Those are classic grips on your gun. They look thinner but still with a palm swell like my Culina's. Those stags of mine are heavy and extremely dense. There is no hint of a porous area. The Indian owner of Art Jewell/Eagle sold them to me and said they are stag. I just never saw stag this hard.

 

[ontargetagain]

LOL you have twice as many of them as I do!
Just acquired my first one, 624 6 1/2 three T's. Having fun tinkering with target loads now.
I'm not sure but I think I'll need another soon
I like that partridge sight on your long gun.
Karl

 

[Jtown]

Bird gun
I am a big fan of the 25-5. Real nice.
Walt

 

[S&WIowegan]

Why do you feel out of luck on 24-3s? Lew Horton supposedly had 5000 made. I haven't priced them lately but they shouldn't be too crazy.

Keep hunting!

 

[Wyatt Burp]

Why do you feel out of luck on 24-3s? Lew Horton supposedly had 5000 made. I haven't priced them lately but they shouldn't be too crazy.

Keep hunting!

Because they cannot be shipped here into Cubaforniastan so we all have to fight over what's already in the state. So prices are higher. But I'm really pretty satisfied with these two.

 

[RSBH44]

Because they cannot be shipped here into Cubaforniastan so we all have to fight over what's already in the state. So prices are higher. But I'm really pretty satisfied with these two.

Dang, and I thought living here in Newyorkistan was bad!
Congrats on the two that you were able to acquire. IMO The 4" guns are better anyways.

 

[H Richard]

Gee, Illinoistan isn't really that bad after all. (Just carve out Cook County).

 

[LT7d103]

The only 24-3 I have is the Lew Horton I snagged quite cheap off GB early on a Sunday morning 10 years ago. It is a great shooter, but I don't take it out of the safe much. Carried once in a while.

 

[LPD256]

I feel sorry for all of you in the communist and democratic socialist states. No "Stan" allowed in Kansas. I need to get a 24 to go with my 23, 25, 27,28, and 29. No limit on what you can buy here. I just bought a 28 no dash from 1958. Love it.

 

[BaldEagle1313]

I guess I'm in the "I have two" category as well. Sadly, they can't compete with 4" and 6" versions as they were born with little short noses...

One came with (shudder) rubber grips, so thanks to S&W's sale on N-Frame RB combats, it at least has proper, if not original, wood stocks.

 

[Titan Tom]

This is a VERY Interesting Thread

I am learning a lot from this thread about my 24-3. But I'm also kind of mystified.

First, I had no idea that ALL 3" 24-3's where Lew Horton Specials. The guy that I bought mine from even said that the 24-3 that he sold me was emphatically NOT a LH Special, and would probably had charged me a bit more if he realized that it was. So is the statement really true? Are ALL 3" 24-3's LH's? Is my 24-3 below a Lew Horton Special?

I am also intrigued by the notion that Lew Horton ordered these with the K-frame grip configuration. Last fall, my wife bought me a set of Grashorn Stags, and the ordered size was 'N-Frame, Round Butt'. As you can see, these now reside on my 24.

On another thread, I learned that ZERO 24-3's left the factory in a nickel finish, brush or otherwise. My gun has a brushed nickel finish, but under the left grip can be found an 'N' inside a diamond, probably denoting that it had been returned to S&W for the new finish.

So what it looks like what I actually have is a 24-3 with a factory (albeit not original) brush nickel finish, with N-Frame grip profile, and which may or may not be a Lew Horton Special.

What say y'all?

 

[Wyatt Burp]

I am learning a lot from this thread about my 24-3. But I'm also kind of mystified.

First, I had no idea that ALL 3" 24-3's where Lew Horton Specials. The guy that I bought mine from even said that the 24-3 that he sold me was emphatically NOT a LH Special, and would probably had charged me a bit more if he realized that it was. So is the statement really true? Are ALL 3" 24-3's LH's? Is my 24-3 below a Lew Horton Special?

I am also intrigued by the notion that Lew Horton ordered these with the K-frame grip configuration. Last fall, my wife bought me a set of Grashorn Stags, and the ordered size was 'N-Frame, Round Butt'. As you can see, these now reside on my 24.

On another thread, I learned that ZERO 24-3's left the factory in a nickel finish, brush or otherwise. My gun has a brushed nickel finish, but under the left grip can be found an 'N' inside a diamond, probably denoting that it had been returned to S&W for the new finish.

So what it looks like what I actually have is a 24-3 with a factory (albeit not original) brush nickel finish, with N-Frame grip profile, and which may or may not be a Lew Horton Special.

What say y'all?

That one looks great. I'm not too hot on stainless guns having non case colored hammer and triggers. But your brushed nickel is perfect with those features. And the grips are excellent on it.

 

[petewoodland]

I am new to 44 Special

I've been shooting S&W revolvers for a little over 50 years and I can't tell you how many I own but I've never had a 44 spl until a year ago. Lots of 44 mag, 45 Colt, and 45 acp but not a single 44 spl.

About a year ago I found a Triple Lock that I could afford at my LGS. Pretty good shape with a nickel refinish which is not my first choice but affordable trumps want. Got a factory letter and built it a box but I am wary of shooting a 105 year old gun. It will stay a safe queen.

Two months ago I found a 24-6 at the same LGS and figured it could be my "shooter". 6 1/2 inch barrel, target hammer and trigger. I am now sold on 44 specials and will certainly look for more. I have been playing around with light target loads and found some 185 Gr lead wadcutters at Matt's Bullets. 3.5 grains of Clays is similar to the old NRA 38 spl target load and is forgiving to old arthritic joints

 

[jtcarm]

With 7500 made, you own .027% of total production.

If we were talking Model 10s, that would be in the thousands.

 

[dot6]

24-3

There are still Lew Horton models on GunBroker quite regularly. I had nine of them at one time, in addition to the 4" and 6 1/2" ones.

 

[jw mathews]

Some nice-looking guns in this thread. If you have any interest in early model 24s or 1950 model 44s ("Pre-24") you might want to peruse the Forum Section for Hand Ejectors 1896-1960, as there are many threads therein concerning .44 Special N-frames.