A number of years ago I had one of these. I think it was a 5" or 6", can't remember. It had the unfluted cylinder and full length lug, with rubber grips. Does anyone have production numbers on these and years of mfr? Also, are they still readily available? I would imagine they are in the $800 price range. Thx for your help.

Mine is a 657-2. It has a 6½ inch barrel. I got it last fall at a LGS for ~$700.00. It shoots well and is in good shape, but no box/papers.

There were 2000 of the 6 1/2", 657 Classic Hunter produced. The run started with square butt revovlers, however by the time it was
completed S&W had transitioned to round butt. So you will see both version with the same product code. I put wood grips on both of
mine.






Shortly after that a run of 500, 6 1/2", 657 Classic Hunter IIs was produced. This was basicly the same forearm with the addition of a
single expansion chamber compensator that S&W likes to call the Power Port.




Eventually S&W added a 7 1/2" model 657 Classic Hunter to the catalog. MANY of these were produced over the years.

Thx for the recap/update on this weapon. I want to add one back into my collection. I know, I know I should not have sold it in the first place, but I think all of us have a few that we would like back. Thx again.

Does anybody know when the 657-5 Classic Hunter was last produced? I heard of a 7-1/2" full lug bbl. nearby that's supposedly new. I've seen it listed in 2002-2005 & 2007 catalogs but don't know if it was made afterwards.

Well I still don't know when they stopped making these but I know they were still made in 2008. The one I just bought today (I'll give it a good home) has a DCM6xxx serial# & was made 07/2008. The gun shop unbelievably had once-fired 41Mag W-W brass on hand so I got 250. Nobody else locally had any (no suprise) & I don't see any online at the big retailers. Found some Lee dies at Bass Pro Shop & some JHPs at another LGS. Tumbling the brass tonite & will load up some "fun" tomorrow. Kinda funny, the newest Handloader (#285) mag has a write-up with load data for the 41Mag & when I read it I had no idea I'd come across this a week later. The 657 fits nicely between my 686+ & 29.