Possible LOU HORTON 3" 44

[TheHobbyist]

Owned a number of them. What appealed to me as a collector was the foresight and where future demand was going; in addition to the holster, box and first 100 having gold engraving. Jovino and a few others were modding them at the time; these are the first factory variants.

Are they functionally different, no. In my opinion there is interest, history and appeal for first movers in a product category I enjoy...as they say only you and a potential seller can work out what that is.

If you want a semi-limited run in a 3" N frame or 2.5" k frame...well, I think it speaks for itself.

 

[97ViperGTS]

What's so special? Like any other gun, not so much to some and to others enough to spend some more dinero on them especially with the stuff that went with them. To collectors and fans of the 44 Special well it's the little things.

It was the first factory made 3" N frame 44 Special. The first 100 Combat Specials made (some with the ALU serial prefixes) came with a laser engraved "1985 Limited Edition Model 624 Combat 1st 100" with a little scroll work. They also came with a S&W black leather holster and a fitted cherry case with red velvet interior. The product code for these was 103583.

These were also the first round butt S&W 44 Specials made. All before this were Square butt, with longer barrels of course. The Horton's came with a Goncalo Alves wood round but combat grips that were similar to others S&W sold on their round butts.

Back in 1985 Horton's did a good job promoting these. Now S&W had a 44 Special that was built for concealed carry and a big bore, something a good many people wanted. Some excitement was created.

Do the Lew Horton's shoot or handle better than the others? No.

Do they have just a bit more story attached to them than those that came straight from the factory? Yes they do and some folks are willing to pay a few bucks more for that because they want to (verify the story though). It will be more if it's one of the first 100 with the gear. That doesn't bother me at all.

THAT needed to be said! Thank you for saying what I was thinking. If it wasn't for LHD, some of these vintage jewels may have never passed through S&W's doors!

 

[97ViperGTS]

I can't speak to the 629s but I'm pretty sure the 657s sold by Horton had full underlugs as compared to the factory guns having the standard ejector rod shroud.

For what it's worth, I have pics of 28 different 3" M657's from the 1985 period with prefixes ALN, ALU, ALV, and ALW, and none are full underlugs.

 

[Mike SC Hunter]

Lew Horton Distributors came up with some awesome ideas for guns. They sent those specs to Smith & Wesson and contracted with the factory to make those guns.

Not all of the guns made to those specifications were sold by Lew Horton, and Lew Horton was not always able to sell all of the guns that the factory shipped to them, returning some of those to the factory who then made them available to other distributors.

I think we can all agree that Lew Horton was brilliant in coming up with these unique designs that the factory made to their order. But, make no mistake, there is not one thing different about these guns, sold by Lew Horton or some other distributor.

SADLY Lew Horton and S&W parted ways year ago.

 

[rbmac52]

SADLY Lew Horton and S&W parted ways year ago.

And, sadly, Lew Horton is no more...

 

[ken158]

Remember Lew Horton was distibutor........NOT a manufacturer.......The Smiths distributed by Horton are NOT worth anymore than the same guns made by S&W and sold by S&W.........Some people have a hard time accepting that.

Yep - why do so many people get excited about a Horton, Ashland, whoever warehouse / distributor that just passed the guns on to the dealers? Just because they sometimes ordered enough to sometimes specify a special option just gives a buyer more options when they make a purchase. And why in the world would you pay $60 to $100 bucks for a letter telling you where it came from and which hardware store it went to? Maybe on a RM or something very special…

 

[TheHobbyist]

I wouldn't pay for a letter from a distributor. Used to be free... different opinions are all good. I will not entertain the notion of ceteris parabis or all things equal. It is not to me as a collector. I have very few horses in this race nowadays, but if you are purchasing with timeline and development in mind...i'll leave it at that.

 

[roninsan]

Here's a dumb question; I know manufacturers make stuff they think will sell, the 3" 44's we're talking about here sold what? 5000? Look at how many likes this thread got! How can there not be demand for these type revolvers when there's so many on here talking about them? What am I missing?

 

[TheHobbyist]

roninsan, you will find people hold strong opinions supporting whatever side of an issue they rely upon. I do my best to be objective and speak to facts. If I am wrong, who cares, I will be fine. This is my considered opinion after having worn one or two out and then repaired. Most cannot purchase or afford the shooting aspect; let alone, the interest by being an uncommon variant that initiated change.

 

[roninsan]

Yeah I get that part, especially at today's ammo prices, but there seems to be enough of us who are willing to pony up for works of art like the M24's. I just wish S&W had something like their own "Lew Horton's" that would do custom runs for stuff like that. Hell if PSA can sell out of every AK they can hammer together why can't S&W build a proper....PROPER M24??

 

[colt_saa]

There are guns that are distributed by many/all distributors. For these, who it came through is not relevant to value

Then there are Distributor Exclusives. These are configurations that are available from one and only one distributor or in the case of TALO Exclusives from a specific group of distributors.

Through the decades, Lew Horton has been the source of more Exclusive Offerings than any other Smith & Wesson distibutor

An exclusive offering is also usually a smaller run of firearms.

So a Distributor Exclusive will carry a higher price than something that is available from everyone, but that value is mostly due to quantity and not the particular Distributor than handled it

Lew Horton does deserve credit for forcing Smith & Wesson to introduce round butt N-frames and snubby N-frames.

Lew Horton also revived several models that had been designed but never produced. The 845 is the greatest example of that.

Lew Horton also pushed for the very first 8 shot 357 Magnum, something that is now a cataloged item offered in many configurations.

Lew Horton got Smith & Wesson to produce L-frames in barrel lengths shorter than 4" with the very first 2 1/2" Model 686s

So Lew Horton Distibutors gets lots of credit from me

What a specific revolver is worth to a specific buyer is a personal determination, not a group activity

Previous internet sales only show us what another person was willing to pay for something and not necessarily an items value

 

[Kinman]

The poster mentioned .44 Magnum, Horton Combat Magnum 29-3 product code 101224 5000 made 84-85

 

[Mike SC Hunter]

According to the 3rd Edition of the Standard Catalog of Smith & Wesson 5,000 units of the Lew Horton Combat Special with a 3" barrel and around butt were made in 1985-1987. The first 100, many engraved, are reported to have an ALU serial prefix. The remainder had AHT and ALW prefixes.

Lew Horton ordered the run of the 3" guns from S&W who made them. After the run of 5,000 for LW S&W continued producing the gun on it's own.

Use the search function here to see older threads on the 624.

tipoc

My 3" 624 #ALU00XX is plain. No embelishments.

 

[Mike SC Hunter]

What's so special? Like any other gun, not so much to some and to others enough to spend some more dinero on them especially with the stuff that went with them. To collectors and fans of the 44 Special well it's the little things.

It was the first factory made 3" N frame 44 Special. The first 100 Combat Specials made (some with the ALU serial prefixes) came with a laser engraved "1985 Limited Edition Model 624 Combat 1st 100" with a little scroll work. They also came with a S&W black leather holster and a fitted cherry case with red velvet interior. The product code for these was 103583.

These were also the first round butt S&W 44 Specials made. All before this were Square butt, with longer barrels of course. The Horton's came with a Goncalo Alves wood round but combat grips that were similar to others S&W sold on their round butts.

Back in 1985 Horton's did a good job promoting these. Now S&W had a 44 Special that was built for concealed carry and a big bore, something a good many people wanted. Some excitement was created.

Do the Lew Horton's shoot or handle better than the others? No.

Do they have just a bit more story attached to them than those that came straight from the factory? Yes they do and some folks are willing to pay a few bucks more for that because they want to (verify the story though). It will be more if it's one of the first 100 with the gear. That doesn't bother me at all.

My early 3" 24 didn't come with any "gear". I had to buy both the 24 & 624 holsters separately. The 24 holster is sort of a pancake style and the 624 holster is of conventional style.

 

[97ViperGTS]

Yep - why do so many people get excited about a Horton, Ashland, whoever warehouse / distributor that just passed the guns on to the dealers? Just because they sometimes ordered enough to sometimes specify a special option just gives a buyer more options when they make a purchase. And why in the world would you pay $60 to $100 bucks for a letter telling you where it came from and which hardware store it went to? Maybe on a RM or something very special…

Well I can tell you why I spent the money.

A while back I picked up a NOS/in the box Lew Horton M696 with the lowest SN in my personal registry. I was very confident it could have been the first one out of LHD's doors. A hundred bucks and an explanation of my suspicions to Jinks got me nothing but the usual canned letter and a bunch of useless/INCORRECT production serial number ranges. A follow up letter (with excerpts of my registry) to Jinks went unanswered.

When I learned of Susan Lorusso on this forum, I pursued the matter with her. As I suspected, based on my SN, she confirmed my M696 was the first of LHD's run (based on lowest SN). I was happy to pony up the sixty bucks she requested for a no BS letter from a LHD COO stating such on Lew Horton letterhead.

 

[tipoc]

Note that I wrote; "It was the first factory made 3" N frame 44 Special. The first 100 Combat Specials made (some with the ALU serial prefixes) came with..."

Some in the batch of 100 came with the ALU prefix. Others in that batch had other prefixes. The Standard Catalog 4th edition, as well as other studies, may have more on this but I was referring to the 3rd edition. It's also the case that some of the non Lew Horton guns may have had the ALU prefix. Most of the 5,000 made for Horton had the AHT and ALW prefixes.

To know for sure a letter from Roy Jinks could help or the suggestion in the post above.

 

[Joejoesmurr]

Distributor exclusives can be a huge deal if the option was of limited production. Most Lew Horton specials were of 50-500 guns produced of that variation. Collectors pay big premiums because of the rarity. Example 3" Lew Horton Colt Pythons bring $10k-$15K. If you have a S&W with unusual features, try to prove its source and production number, it could double or triple its value.

 

[THE PILGRIM]

My 624 is a AHT.
The box is rough as a cob. It appears that a previous owner whose return address is still on sent the gun to Smith in the box.
The box has tape all over and the big red C in a circle on the label.
Yes, my gun looks way better than the box!

 

[SAFireman]

For what it's worth, I have pics of 28 different 3" M657's from the 1985 period with prefixes ALN, ALU, ALV, and ALW, and none are full underlugs.

Ok Viper,

Here is your FULL underlug 657 and the ad that Lew Horton put out to sell them. There were only 150 made.

 

[s&wchad]

My 624 is a AHT.
The box is rough as a cob. It appears that a previous owner whose return address is still on sent the gun to Smith in the box.
The box has tape all over and the big red C in a circle on the label.
Yes, my gun looks way better than the box!

The gun went back to S&W because of a recall. The red "C" in a circle indicates that the cylinder was magnaflux tested and passed.

You can read about it here: The Gun FAQ's - 624/629 Cylinder Recall