[Wiregrassguy]

I believe you are correct about it being a Lew Horton special. However, I don't think it commands a premium over non-Horton guns. I suspect the 3" barrel has more sway than the distributor.

 

[gearchecker]

Is there any chance those are original stocks on it? I couldn't find any stamps or marks on them when I took them off.

 

[Wiregrassguy]

I don't think so. They look like they've been worked over. The medallions seem to be sanded down. This auction shows some combat-style finger groove stocks on a similar gun. I've seen other models with similar stocks on Lew Horton offerings. My guess is these are what came on it originally.

LEW HORTON S&W 24-3 .44 Special Revolver. New in Box. 3" Barrel. Shiny Bore, | Guns & Military Artifacts Handguns & Pistols Revolvers | Online Auctions | Proxibid

LEW HORTON S&W 24-3 .44 Special Revolver. New in Box. 3" Barrel. Shiny Bore, Tight Action. An Exquisite Model 24-3. This Large Frame Revolver Balances in the Hand Extremely Well and Could be Carried and Controlled Due to Caliber. This is a full Underlug Barrel with Red Ramp Front and White...

www.proxibid.com

 

[gearchecker]

Thanks!
So now I need to find another rear sight assembly (for my K-22 Masterpiece, model 17), and a new set of stocks for this one.

 

[CajunBass]

Congratulations on the -3. That's a beauty. I had not one, but two of them over the years. Both with 4" barrels, one had the box and papers. (Insert head-bang emogie here). I just traded off a 3" -6 on the 624 the other day. I tried but never could warm up the ultra high front sight a previous owned had installed.

 

[handgunner454]

This is my last gun purchase for 2020, and as far as adding to my collection, it's been a very good year.
I picked up this 24-3 last night at the store where I work. A gentleman comes in every couple of weeks selling little pieces of his late fathers estate and gun collection. My shop owner goes thru each gun with him, and advises on which ones the customer should keep. This week he brought in 26 handguns, and 4 rifles. Out of this lot I get a model 24-3, and one of the other guys gets a rare Colt SA Army revolver in 45 Colt. It's absolutely beautiful, nearly mint condition. I have no idea what he'll be paying for it, but that's not my concern.
There are a few S&W 32 hand ejectors and one other Smith I couldn't pin down. Lots of 25 cal pocket pistols. I looked over each gun, and most were in very good to excellent condition, but just the one is what I wanted.
The guys in the store all knew I wanted it, so jokingly they got one of our customers to play a joke on me. He came in early yesterday afternoon, and mentioned that he heard I wanted this one. He then told me Steven (the owner) made a deal with him, and he was going to pick it up for $900 as soon as it was added to our inventory. All of the guys in the store played along with him, pretty much convincing me that he really did pull off the buy on this pistol. I was okay with it, because $900 was more than
I wanted to pay for it. Around 4:30 Steven told me that he needed my 4473 filled out. I asked him why, and he told me about the joke. I got a good laugh over it, and then filled out the form, wrote the check, and walked out with it at the end of my day.
So, I got the S&W model 24-3 after all. It's my first 3" barreled N-frame, and my first 44 Spl. pistol. I'm pretty geeked about getting it. I got it for $700, so I know I've done well picking it up. Here are the photos for you to enjoy with me.

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Very nice. I like older Smiths as well.