Hey guys. My names Mark and I'm new to the forum. I picked up this 6" 57 no dash from my local gun shop. Serial # is N300670.
My question is on the barrel marking, it has the old school "&" symbol in Smith & Wesson. I'm not super knowledgeable about this but I'm pretty sure that symbol style was used on the older dated guns. Not a big deal. Just curious if anyone might have an idea. Gun is in wonderful condition. Maybe someone can give me the manufacturing date. First time posting photos Thanks for letting me share this.

Most likely it was built in around the beginning of 1975.

Nice looking revolver. I am not a stamp expert by any means.

Congratulations on the new revovler

I am a big 41 Magnum enthusiast.

One thing about about Smith and Wesson. They are a for profit company that is in the business of building tools, not collectibles.

They waste nothing.

If 5-10-20 or more years down the road they come a cross a box of barrels or cylinders or frames that were never assembled, they will build them into firearms and sell them.

They will not care that they stopped using a 1 line or 4 line address or that the barrel markings are different or the sight is integral or pinned.

They will turn those leftover parts into cash

So there are ALWAYS going to be examples that do not meet the commonly perceived rules of when things occurred available in the marketplace

inthegap18

First, welcome to the Forum.

Second, colt_saa's reply is a good one. However, I just pulled two Model 28-2 HP revolvers from the safe and looked carefully at the barrel markings. Both of these guns left the factory in 1975 and have serial numbers within a couple hundred from each other. The 4" example has the much smaller, upright ampersand that you were expecting. The 6" example, on the other hand, has exactly the same markings as your Model 57. Moreover, I checked a 6" Model 57 from 1974. It also has the same ampersand as yours.

I rather think this is no big deal and may be far more common than you might think.

__________________
Jack
SWCA #2475, SWHF #318

colt_saa, I have to believe you are correct. Probably from an earlier batch of barrels that had the older roll markings on them.
Thanks fellas.

I have seen a couple of other Model 57s from the mid-70s with the same roll markings on the barrel.

Bill

Welcome to the s&w forum. Lots of info and advise here, these guys are awesome.

Congrats on your purchase. The N frame handles the 41 magnum round very well. The balance, to the power ratio is spot on. It's a sweet shooter.