Good Afternoon All,
In or around 1980 I was in a gun shop here in Maine and the owner was upset because he had ordered a 41 Magnum from S&W and when it arrived there was a 44 Magnum in the box. This revolver is stamped 44 Magnum on the barrel and has a 44 Magnum cyl. The frame is stamped AJD56XX, MOD 57-1. The box reads Model No. 57, Caliber .41, Barrel 6, Fin. B, Stock TS, Features TT TH RR WO, Serial No. AJD56XX, Product Code 102204, Spec. Ord. 5350. Everything is correct except for the caliber. I know it came from the factory this way because I was there when he opened the order. Any information would be helpful. I have owned the revolver with box, and tools ever since.
Thank You
John

Good Afternoon All,
In or around 1980 I was in a gun shop here in Maine and the owner was upset because he had ordered a 41 Magnum from S&W and when it arrived there was a 44 Magnum in the box. This revolver is stamped 44 Magnum on the barrel and has a 44 Magnum cyl. The frame is stamped AJD56XX, MOD 57-1. The box reads Model No. 57, Caliber .41, Barrel 6, Fin. B, Stock TS, Features TT TH RR WO, Serial No. AJD56XX, Product Code 102204, Spec. Ord. 5350. Everything is correct except for the caliber. I know it came from the factory this way because I was there when he opened the order. Any information would be helpful. I have owned the revolver with box, and tools ever since.
Thank You
John

Often? No.

Occasionally? Yes.

There are some guys who collect mis marked guns as a collection specialty, so there must be enough around to support a few collectors of them.

Off the top of my head, that looks like a 1984 or '85 serial number.

Welcome to the forum.

+1
The Spec Ord Code is a Julian type date indicating the 350th day of 1985.

Mismarked guns are not unheard of, here's two pages of them.
http://smith-wessonforum.com/eve/forums?a=search&reqWor...orum_scope=530103904

Oops... [img]http://www****nemasterstudios.com/graemlins/images/doh2.gif[/img]

__________________
"I also cook."

Thank You All,
Upon reflection I realised that my son was 10 years old when I bought this gun, and he was born in 1975. Thanks again for your responses.
John

Back in the mid to late 80 there were numerous S&W errors such as you describe. I don't remember just what year it was but I received 3 S&Ws in a row that were screwed up. First one was excatly as you describe. Second was a model 27 with a 41mag cylinder in it. And third was a model 27 with a 44mag barrel on it. And this was during a period of time when S&W sales was making a big thing of the fact they test fired all their revolvers before shipping. Bunch of **** advertising.