I was poking around in the safe and realized this ugly duckling hasn't been posted here. You might want to shield your eyes.



Not so bad at first glance, right? Well then, lets look a little closer:



Yipes!

The other side isn't any better:



And once again closer is worser - the pits, to be exact:





At least the stocks look nice.

I don't really know why I have it. I saw it in a pawnshop about three years ago at a decent price, looking exactly as it does here. It was one of those rare times when I had a little cash in my pocket. I don't reload, and I can't afford ammo when I can find some, which isn't often. I do break it out during Dirty Harry marathons since I don't own a Model 29.

I suppose some day I'll either trade it, refinish it, convert it to something else, or start reloading. But for now I'll just post it here in all its horrible glory to balance out the beauties usually showcased here.

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“What you got, ain’t new.”

She's a true beauty, I'm sure she shoots like a charm.

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Take it easy. Chris

No one should own an ugly gun...except me. Send it my way and I will make you happy...as well as beautyfying your safe.
Regards C

Start reloading. .41 Magnum is a fun caliber to shoot.

Nothing wrong with that 57. My favorite 19 is all worn and pitted so I can shoot it all I want without worrying about doing anything to the finish.

It looks better than my M24. I would get rid of the ugly grips but the rest of the gun looks like an honest, hard working partner. I will give you a hint, I use my guns hard and this ND climate and country is hard on them. Keep your 57 as is.

Two words: hard chrome

No N-frame Smith is ugly, its beauty simply needs to be brought out. My Model 57 no dash would still be my favorite even it was rusty:

I have NEVER shot factory ammo though this revolver. I could never afford .41 mag ammo. However, even if I could afford it, I'd still hand load my own.

Magnum revolver ammo is the easiest of all rounds to hand load. Seriously, you'll kick yourself when you see how easy and fun it is to load your own ammo. It adds a whole new spectrum to the shooting experience. Shooting would not be nearly as enjoyable for my wife and I if we had to shoot factory ammo!

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NRA Lifetime Member

The nice thing about buying into it cheaply is that the cost to reblue still keeps your total investment affordable.

In the meantime, you can shoot it and not worry and whatever you do, START RELOADING!

Oh, and those are knockout stocks!! (and that you can't refinish!)

IC

That's more beautiful than any new in box safe queen to me! Nothing wrong with showing age and experience. I'd be proud to give it a nice home. If I lived in a more rural area , that ol' girl would be on my side as long as I had trousers on.

Your M-57 looks like a well-used working cops handgun, and there is nothing wrong with that. I had hoped you were going to explain how you had carried it daily for 25 years.

If you decide you want to part with it please let me know

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Always Stay Strong!

There *is* an upside to this gun. You don't have anxiety about putting a scratch on it. I've been carrying my 58 a lot lately, and it's in pretty ncie condition. I'm always fretting about where I lay it down etc.

I wouldn't mind grabbing a gun like this sometime in the future. Even though the blueing is half gone it's still not a bad looking gun.

I would love to have a 41 like that.

I have old well worn Model 28 and 57 S serial guns that get lots of field carry. I can't hurt them much and both are great shooters.
I keep their near perfect twins in the safe mostly.

These two would be the last I'd part with. Nothing wrong with well used guns and I'd be lost in the woods without one.

That's one you carry and shoot with no concerns.

But you do need to start reloading. Factory 41 ammo is way too pricey.

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No life story has happy end.

If you get it refinished you will not want to shoot it. Don't ask me how I know.

..you only think that is "ugly'...a few years ago I found a 1964 first year of production 6" blue 57 that the last 3/4" of barrel was badly rusted an a lot of the blue was missing...

It is now at a custom shop having the barrel shortened to 5". I told the smith to polish everything out and from there would decide what finish to put on it...







I once found a 1959 vintage Ruger .44 Blackhawk that looked like it had never been fired...but had over 50% of the bluing gone... Like it had been in a holster continuously for 45 years... 100% lockup and no trace of being fired...

Bob

The best thing about a gun like yours , is you can do what ever you want to with it. You can carry and shoot it under the worst conditions without worry, you can spend many enjoyable hours deciding whether or not to shorten the barrel, round the butt, change the caliber, or what type of finish should you do, and last but not least you can talk about it on the forum with all your many gunner friends and provide the same enjoyment for us. Also when you are done with the many options stated you can sell it and probably make a buck or two. All my best to another old customer of Frank's in Decatur, Joe Kent.

Name your price!

I find pistols that have honest wear on them to be absolutely beautiful. Pistols that have just been grossly neglected/mistreated however make me sad when I see them in such a state of disrepair.

This Model 57 is beautiful. I would keep it and keep it how it is.

Well, ugly is as ugly does, I think it looks fine

That gun is not that bad. Believe me, I have seen WAAAY worse. something just thinned the bluing on the middle of your barrel. Just keep it wiped off with an oily rag, shoot it and enjoy it! Oh, and start reloading. The .41 Mag is a great cartridge. I have 2 Ruger Blackhawks and a 6" model 657 no dash in that caliber.

Have to agree, keep that 57. But you REALLY need to get rid of that 3 1/2" pre 27 you used to carry. I'll be more than happy to relieve you of that worn out boat anchor.

If the cosmetics are the only problem and the price was right You're sitting pretty good. 41 mag. is a great caliber, in fact it's good enough for you to get a basic reloading set-up and feed that revolver. I'd get some RIG or other preservative to make sure it didn't degrade any further on my watch and I would shoot that gun! I would enjoy it for what it was made to do.

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