For the last 30 years, I have shot and cared for my S&W Model 57 with a 4 inch barrel. The bluing is perfect and I want it to stay that way! I just bought my ultimate dream revolver. A S&W model 657-3 with a 6 inch barrel in pristine condition. The price was fair and the deal was made as fast as I could do it. Now comes the question- When was it made? Serial number BUB44XX The gunsmith at the shop was not sure, but thought sometime in the 1990's! Anyone that would be so kind to look it up I would really appreciate it. Thanks for your help!

I couldn't find a serial number with BUB and no listing for a 657-8. The last one listed is a 657-6 in 2005.

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Same as above post - re-check your dash number and serial prefix

Sorry guys! Try same serial number and 657-3 Its on my record of sale. Thanks! Ken

Still nothing on the serial number but a 657-3 ran from 1994 until the -4 in 1997.

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If it is a B prefix it was probably 1994.

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June/July 1995

Thanks for the help. It really is not that important that I know the exact year. 1994 sounds about right! I took off the rubber grip and BUB or BU8 or 8UB or 808 are the first three digets of the serial number. Anyway they are the same on the butt of the revolver as on the crane. The 657-3 information was a great help! Thanks to everybody! Happy shooting!

congratulations on a fine revolver

If you got the box, the date of manufacture is coded on the end label

Here is a picture of my new revolver. It has NO signs of use on the cylinder or around the firing pin area! Gunsmith said less then one box of shells were ever fired out of this beauty! Its a keeper! MVC-066S.JPG

colt_saa ! Thanks for your tip. Unfortunately, no box with the revolver. Replacement boxes are impossible to find unless you ebay them and are prepared to shell out a small fortune. .41 mag ammo is non-existent at many gunshops in my area. Lucky for me I reload and have everything I need. Thanks again! Ken

GOOD LUCK WIH YOUR NEW REVOLVER, KEN. A RANGE COMPARISON OF YOUR BLUE ONE VS, THE NEW ONE MIGHT BE INTERESTING, ONCE YOU GET SOME TRIGGER TIME WITH IT……….

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'Nam 1968-69.DAV,VFW,NRA Inst.

Now you need one of these as a companion piece:

No Dash 657 3" barrel

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No good deed goes unpunished.

DR505 Wow! Thats a wicked surprise for any idiot that tries something stupid. I have carried my Model 57 with a 4 inch barrel for many years and it has a way of making one feel like you have a good friend ready to help in time of need. One time, I had to pull it out to stop two hopped up druggies from using crowbars to carjack me or worse! When they saw the revolver and heard the hammer snap back, they had a "change of mind"!

one eye joe; Thank you and all veterans for your service! We owe all veterans a debt that can never be repaid. You are the reason the USA is the best country in the world...
I am going to see what this new addition to my .41's will do if it ever stops raining! Maybe in a few days. The longer sight picture should help. I just love shooting these .41 revolvers. They are so smooth. The triggers are crisp and have very little travel. Ken

KBP,
Without the code off the box, 1994 is a pretty close guesstimate as to the DOB

You will find many 41 Magnum Enthusiasts here on the Forum.

Here is an old partial family photo of my 41s. I do love the 41 snubbies and the log barrels as well as the ones in between.

KBP, if you do ever decide to get a box for you 657 the correct one for your time period is the old style blue plastic box with the flat (beveled) corners. They made a small, medium, and large box. Your's, because it's a 6", probably shipped in the large box, but I think it would fit in the far more common medium size box.

It's the old 2-piece cardboard boxes, from the '70's and before, that are so expensive. Sometimes hundreds of dollars. The various styles of plastic boxes used from the mid-'90's to present typically sell for $25 or less.