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Post by rjm52 on Dec 9, 2023 7:41:06 GMT -5
In blowing up the picture of the front of the cylinder, I believe I was incorrect in saying it hasn't been fired outside the factory. There appear to be rings around the mouth of each chamber... The recoil shield also has wear indcating it has been fired but the forcing cone area looks like new...
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Post by rjm52 on Dec 14, 2023 8:24:46 GMT -5
Made some inquiries and found out that the gun left the factory with a 4" barrel. Too bad for the seller that it isn't still a 4" as they bring more money.
The case also is not original to the gun as it is from the 1979 to 85 period...
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Post by bradshaw on Dec 14, 2023 12:17:30 GMT -5
Bob.... this M-57 looks correct to my eye for a very early .41 Mag. Interior of wood box does not look correct.
The S-prefix serial (pre-N prefix) serial number series covers covers .44’s and .41’s and probably, .357’s in the N frame. Barrels offered were 4", 6-1/2”, and 8-3/8”. There were no 6-inch .44 or .41 barrels. Front sight base integral to barrel forging. Sight blade fits in a key-cut on top of base. Sight blade held by a single cross pin with interference fit. S&W method for removing blade: sharp smack to the front of the sight shears pin. As noted, a new sight is secured with a new pin, its domed ends are not flushed to the base.
It was routine for S&W to change a barrel, or sight, hammer and/or tigger. In the early 1970’s, the factory installed a .44 Mag 6-1/2” barrel and .44 cylinder on the M-57 of my shooting partner, Ed Verge. Factory handed Ed his .41 cylinder and 8-3/8” barrel, which Ed then installed on a Model 28 Highway Patrolman. S&W did not rest amp or mark Ed’s revolver, making it a Model 57 .44 Magnum.
Gallery section, DB Vol. VII, shows my 6-1/2” M-29 of same period, along with original box. Paid $118 for the revolver, new. That’s $5 over dealer cost, which was $113. I reshaped the factory scales for proper shooting with fast holster work. Wrap-around checkering via inferior mail order tool and zero skill.
As mentioned, S&W would later forge barrels sans integral sight base, for which a separate base was forged milled, and secured to barrel by two pins.
With S&W polished pins flush prior to bluing or nickel plating, the pins are difficult to detect.
David Bradshaw
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Post by pacecars on Dec 14, 2023 12:40:31 GMT -5
Up to $1250 with 3 days left. 11 bids so far
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Post by rjm52 on Dec 14, 2023 13:16:06 GMT -5
I'm afraid you are incorrect sir...
Model 57s were never offered with 6.5" barrels. 4", 6" and 8 3/8". Models 29s were 4", 6.5" and 8 3/8". 5" was a special order. In 1978/9 the 29-2 barrel was reduced from 6.5" to 6" as was the 25-2.
As to the front sight...again incorrect. Up to 1968/9 the front sight base was a totally separate piece with the blade machined to the base and the base pinned to the barrel rib by two pins. 1970-1980.5 the base was then machined with the barrel and sight pinned into the base. 1980.5 to 1990+- the whole front sight and barrel were machined as one piece...
And yes, the factory would change the barrels for a customer...they did for one of my best friends twice...however this 57 left the factory with a 1964 sight base attached to the 4" barrel and was changed probably sometime in the 1970s to the incorrect era barrel and base as one...ruining the collector value.
Bob
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Post by bradshaw on Dec 14, 2023 16:06:37 GMT -5
I'm afraid you are incorrect sir... Model 57s were never offered with 6.5" barrels. 4", 6" and 8 3/8". Models 29s were 4", 6.5" and 8 3/8". 5" was a special order. In 1978/9 the 29-2 barrel was reduced from 6.5" to 6" as was the 25-2. As to the front sight...again incorrect. Up to 1968/9 the front sight base was a totally separate piece with the blade machined to the base and the base pinned to the barrel rib by two pins. 1970-1980.5 the base was then machined with the barrel and sight pinned into the base. 1980.5 to 1990+- the whole front sight and barrel were machined as one piece... And yes, the factory would change the barrels for a customer...they did for one of my best friends twice...however this 57 left the factory with a 1964 sight base attached to the 4" barrel and was changed probably sometime in the 1970s to the incorrect era barrel and base as one...ruining the collector value. Bob ***** Bob.... that’s a lot of correction. Thank you. I think all the 57’s I saw in action were 8-3/8 (mostly) and 4-inch. Don’t think I saw a 6-inch in action until S&W presented me an M-629 at the first International Revolver Championship, 1980. Came with the new serrated Combat Trigger (width between Standard and Target). It was Roy Jinks or John Contro told me the first 100 or 200 came serrated, after that the Combat Trigger came smooth. David Bradshaw |
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Post by rjm52 on Dec 14, 2023 21:34:10 GMT -5
Very nice sir...have never seen or heard of that I can remember a CH or FC Combat Wide serrated trigger.
A lot of people thought the 57 had the same barrel lengths as the 29...and one unanswered question was "why didn't they". The 23, 24, 25-2, 27 and 29s were all available with 6.5" barrels. 27 had both the 6 and 6.5 but the 28 only had a 6. Maybe because the 57 was to be a LE duty gun like the 28 they made it 6"...
Lost to history...
Bob
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Post by x101airborne on Dec 16, 2023 8:14:13 GMT -5
Thats why I love listening to you guys! Being born in 1977 and having never shot revolver competition I missed a lot of this history. Thank you all for not being like some other sites and turning this discussion into a "rooster" measuring contest. Wonderful information that makes me want to hear more!
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Post by bradshaw on Dec 16, 2023 13:56:49 GMT -5
Trey.... thanks for the kind words.
Bob.... as I recall, S&W offered the M-27 .357 Mag with 3-1/2, 4. 6, 6-1/2, and 8-3/8” barrels., with 3-1/2” and 8-3/8” most notable among my acquaintances.
As for the Combat Trigger, as you know, all revolvers----including stainless revolvers----with forged lockwork parts, hammer and trigger were carbon steel, case hardened (not “color” case hardened). The stainless S&W used during development of its stainless revolvers, the hammers and triggers did not hold up. (Unlike the tougher-than-nails 416 stainless from which Ruger made its hammers & triggers, and which was through-hardened.) Thus, S&W assembled stainless revolvers with standard carbon steel hammer & trigger, case hardened, then flash chromed to give the appearance of stainless.
There may be an original serrated Combat Trigger floating around, which escaped the flash chrome treatment, to reveal its case hardening. S&W Maestro Al Plaas swapped triggers on my M-29 8-3/8” tournament gun, to where I could swap between Standard or Target (serrated), or Combat (smooth), each one case carburized.
Personal preference
* I get along with each of the S&W triggers on a 6-1/2” and 8-3/8” M-29, in both double and single action fire. Serrated or smooth works.
* Prefer my own, pre-Combat, slimming, rounding, smoothing of the Target Trigger on a 4-inch M-29.
* Like neither Target Trigger nor Target Hammer on a K frame, and wouldn’t care for either on an L frame.
David Bradshaw
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