Model 657 , 41 mag price check
 

A local pawn shop has a model 657 / 41 mag / 3" barrel that is calling my name. It is stainless and has the wood grips with the finger grooves and the S&W medallions.

The grips and finish are excellent, and the only flaw I can see is a slight turn line on the cylinder.

Any idea what this one is worth? They have $699 on the tag.

Thanks for your help!

i have carried a 657 3" as a ccw for a good while...mine has been ported,night sights,and an action job and it is indeed a shooter...i love it
the turn line is not considered a flaw all revolvers have these....the price on yours is not bad...enjoy!

Thanks for the info.

I have been a .41 mag fan for many years. I have a Redhawk (5.5") and a Blackhawk (6.5"), and it looks like I may add a S&W to the collection tomorrow.

yup...it's a great caliber..you will love it !

does it look like this

http://i45.photobucket.com/albums/f9...e/DSC00901.jpg

full mag loads are uncomfortable to shoot

I paid about what your price is I did get the box, I think...

yes its got an aftermarket rear sight ;)

I know the one you're looking at. Almost bought it myself a few weeks back. It's in great shape, and the price isn't too bad. He was firm on it then, as I tried to offer a little less and he wouldn't take it.

I think that is a very good price,
I might have to buy it.
I only have one .41 and it is my favorite caliber.

I'd snatch it quickly at that price! Love mine and do use it as a carry weapon in the winter and for hiking loaded with 210 gr. Speer Gold Dots. Them S&W combats are pretty but are terrible (painful) when shooting with my small hands. Took mine off before the first shot as I have 4 S&W .41 mags and love the gun and caliber but it's not a .357 in the recoil department.

Go to GunBroker and see what they are going for. Your's is a steal IMO and they are great revolvers with outstanding accuracy for a 3" tube. Buy ya the gear for reloading as it makes em much less inexpensive to shoot.

http://i247.photobucket.com/albums/g...8/IMG_1519.jpg

I also would buy it right now for that price. At first glance, that seems like a lot of money, but for that particular 41 mag, the price is very good. You should see what some of those get on the auction sites. wyatte

For what I have seen those 3" magnums go for....BUY IT NOW! If I saw it, you would have just seen a blur as I disappeared with it out the door....I have one that I absolutely love, but it is best for someone who has plenty of disposable income or is a reloader....some of the factory ammo is sky high right now. You can make really good reloads for much less....post some photos when you get it home.

Good luck :)

i wonder if big head took the plunge? :D

Yes I did!

I put it on lay-a-way until a few weeks ago until I could sell a safe queen, and I finally found a buyer this weekend.

I'm leaving in a few minutes to go pick up the 657. :D

I have 1000 rounds of .41 mag (150 freshly loaded) ready and waiting. I imagine the full house loads (20 gr of H-110 / 210 gr XTP) will be a handfull in the 657, so a milder load (8.2 gr Unique / Berry 210 plated FN) should be just right. I'll save the full house loads for the Blackhawk and Redhawk.

I'll post a few picks soon.

Yipeeeee! :D:D:D

congrats bighead!you will love it...i usually run either 7.0 or 8.0 gr.of unique in mine for target shooting...

Ditto to what this fine gent said! 7 grains of Unique and a 210 gr. LSWC makes a fine plinking load thats very comfortable to shoot. Keep the round count down on them heavies and it'll last a long time.

Congrats on buying my favorite .41 magnum:)!

Thanks!

In my younger days I would shoot the high power loads all day long, but the older I get, I seem to enjoy the mild accuracy loads so much better.

Like I said earlier, the 657 makes my third .41 mag. I was bitten by the .41 mag bug many years ago. I'm a long time Ruger man, and have a 5.5" Redhawk and a 6.5" Blackhawk in the safe.

I'm thinking I may need to add a long barrel S&W .41 mag to the collection. Any recommendations on which model I should get? It must be at least 6" to be considered. It would be used primarily for target shooting, and maybe an occasional deer hunt.

Lead me in the right direction.

I'm with ya on the aging factor. Used to love shooting my 57 with hot loads, my Ruger .338 Win Mag and my 14" TC in .375 JDJ. I haven't shot the Ruger or Contender since two summers ago up in Ohio on groudhogs. Forgot how hard and sharp the Ruger and Contender recoiled. No fun to shoot and actually hurt my back and neck the next few days.

Why not a 6" 57? I shot a buddies 8" nickel 57 against my 6" and the 6" shot just as well and felt better balanced to me than the 8". My old no dash has 38 deer to its name over the years. Used the old Reington factory 210 gr. JSP's for most of them. The six inch barrel rides quite well in an ancient Bianchi shoulder holster and takes deer down with authority. Some really great prices on the longer barreled 57's compared to the shorties.

A 6" Model 57 may be next on my list.

As promised, here are a couple pics. I didn't have a chance to get to the range today, but I'll be there in the next day or so. I'll let you know how it shoots.

http://www.myhostedpics.com/images/bugheaddaddy/2.jpg

http://www.myhostedpics.com/images/bugheaddaddy/1.jpg

Very nice. I'm glad another forum member ended up with it. I know it's a nice one.

...there is now a warrant out for your arrest for THEFT.... A 657 3" in that condition with the original Combats on it is worth every bit of $900+. Congratulations on a great find.

As to your next S&W .41 purchase may I suggest since this will only be your "next" S&W purchase and not your last that you try an 8 3/8" 57 or 657... Reason being as you want at least a 6" gun and already have a 5.5 and 6.5 the fun factor of the 8 3/8" guns is really great. I've been shooting S&W .41s since 1974 and didn't "bother" getting an 8 3/8s till about 5 years ago...what was I thinking... Just a great shooter.

8.0 grains of Unique is my standard "go to" load and runs 950+- fps depending on the bullet used and is extremely accurate...

Bob

Thanks fellows.

Yes, the 657 is in excellent condition and to me, it doesn't look like it's made many trips to the range. My wife actually thought it was a new one.

I would love to hold one of the 8 3/8" versions. I have a Ruger Bisley 357 with a 7.5" barrel, and I am partial to the longer barrels.

I have been a Ruger man from way back, but I am really impressed with the craftsmanship that went into making the 657. It really is a piece of art, but I promise you that it will spend a lot of time out of the safe.

My only other S&W's are 22's (2213 & the wife's 317 3"). Before falling in love with this 657, I was thinking my next 41 mag would be the 7.5" Ruger Bisley (through Davidson's), but now I am thinking that a longer barrel S&W might be the way to go.

I'll let you know how it shoots later in the week.

Nice score, I woulda jumped on that in a NY minute.

Do you still have the combat grips and would you consider selling them. I have a .44special I need some for.

Like this?
http://i1036.photobucket.com/albums/...ting/657-5.jpg

I do have them and they have to stay with the revolver sir. I personally don't care for them on N Franes as they chew my hands up. On K&L's they are ok but I usually buy ahrends and sand them down to fit my hand. I see them being sold on Flea Bay for 250.00 and people richer than I are buying them.

The performance center grips on my 657 have had a light sanding to them to smooth them up. Not as good a rubber for recoil but the best grips I've tried on them, even with hot loads. The full coverage backstarps provide the best recoil reduction but are too large for my hands when shooting DA. Work fine SA as the trigger is further back for a good grip and finger placement.

Completely understand but had to ask. Yes, there are a couple pair that have stayed on ebay for months at the $250 price. Been seeing some move at about the $150 mark but dang.....$150?

I can't even see $150.00 but $250.00 for a pair of grips that will draw blood and don't fit my hand is crazy! I know they are desirable but the new style on my 657 are much better grips for hot loads and my hand, plus only cost $55.00 IMS. I have shot both my 657 and a 3" 629 (that I sold to buy another .41 mag) with them combats and they are terrible at reducing the recoil. The .44 drew blood in the web of my hand within 1 cylinder. I much prefer a set of Ahrends over the S&W's as they do fit my hand and are way less expensive. For REALLY heavy loads a set of full coverage rubbers are the way to go, but the combats look pretty for pictures and are doable on .357's. JMHO

I paid $250 dollars for mine
 

In 1999 I walk into a gun store and I wanted to order .357 without the hammer. I order it and the it took too long for it to come in. The owner decided to sell me the S&W 657 with a 3" barrel. I reluctantly bought it and took it to the range and like it but really had to grow on the this weapon. I have it since then. now I am here years later and finding out that many people want to buy this weapon. Do anyone here can tell me what is the best price I can buy this weapon for? I do not wish to sell it for cheap. Should I hold on to this? is it a classic, or limited edition? Someone help me with this dilemma. I am not strapped for cash so I am not desperate to keep it, I spend most of the time in a case. Beautiful condition just like the first day I bought it. A friend of mine want to buy from me but I do not want to look like a fool giving it away for nothing. Help all. and Thanks in advance.

Greetings, All,

I bought my own 3" M657, I think, back in the 1980's, and paid all of $300 for it, NIB, with S&W Combat grips, and all the goodies, from a gun dealer in Ramona, CA. He had had it for several years, and nobody was interested in it, because of the .41 caliber. I had LOOKED for one for several years, and had gone to the old Great Western Gun Show, which used to be in Pomona, CA, with lots of coin, and a couple of guns to trade, when I stumbled upon the one I own now. When the Dealer told me the asking price was $300, I asked him what was wrong with it. He told me that he just hadn't been able to sell it, and if I wanted it, for $300, it was mine. I don't have to tell you, but my money "almost caught fire", I got it out of my wallet so quickly!!

With the Remington 210 gr. JSP, this little boomer will shoot all of them into a very tight cluster, right in the X-ring, from a rest, at 25 yards. Works well with other similar loads, too, and is still just as tight as the day I bought it. I, too, like the medium power loads for regular shooting, but still trust the 210 gr. JSP Remington load, along with 175 grain Winchester Silvertips, when I can find them, to do the jobs needed.

At last count, I now have 11 .41 Magnums, and I'm always open to more, as I find, and can afford them. The .41 is still a very under-appreciated caliber, despite the fact that it can do just about any job you need done with a handgun. Guess it's for that reason that our small but mighty group of hard-core .41 lovers and shooters remain as faithful to it as we do!!

Hearty congrats to the original poster, on scoring your own M657 3"!! You are going to LOVE this pistol, without question!! Like others, I leave my lovely S&W combat grips in the safe, and use Pachmayr "Compacs" on mine. I carry it in two rigs, one being a Bianchi cross-draw #111 Cyclone, and the other an ISP strong side Kramer horsehide holster, and both do a fine job of toting this small but powerful handgun. Have fun with yours, Sir, and well done, in all respects!! Take care, and God Bless!

Every Good Wish,
Doc

Zombie thread! :eek:

S&W Model 657
 

I just purchased a Model 657 this week for $450 cash and my savage 12. I figure my savage 12 was worth roughly $500. The 657 has a 6" barrel and appears to have very minimal usage. The only signs I could see of firing we some powder residue at the end of the cylinder. The gun did come with the wood box and manual but nothing else. There is a compartment in the box for I'd guess a cleaning kit possibly? Does anyone know what else came with the gun and what they are roughly valued at today? I contacted S&W and they said the gun was from 1986.

I wouldn't mind a 657 companion for my .41 Black hawk. Wish Icould find a pre-lock model

Zombie thread! :eek: