Tell me about the 657 Mountain Gun

[Malpasowildlifer]

A good friend told me about his today. It sounds pretty neat. I did some searches but just found photos and range reports. I'm not too familiar with S&W post '80, except for the 657-3 and 25-7

I need to find one without a lock, of course.

Are any pre-MIM? Confirm some pre-lock guns have hammer mounted firing pins and some have frame mounted or are they all frame mounted?

Are the 57 MG/blued ones pretty rare? I couldn't find any photos of one without a lock.

Thanks in advance.

 

[k22fan]

I try to follow the Mountain Guns. I believe there was only the 1998 production run of 657 Mountain Guns. As you would expect from 1998 they had MIM internals but no lock. I’m not sure but I think there was also only one run of 57 Mountain Guns that came after the 657s.

Unlike 629s standard 1980s profile 4” barrel 657s were discontinued a long time ago and are not plentiful. That leaves would be buyers of stainless 4” .41s scrambling after a relatively few revolvers.

 

[SAFireman]

I have one. I got it as a graduation present from my dad. It is the stainless version. It does have a frame mounted firing pin. The taper barrel helps lighten the load and gives it a fine balance. It is one of my favorite shooters, and it will not be sold.

If you can get your hands on the SS version, snatch it up. There are wonderful shooters and field companions. Plus, the 41 Mag round is amazingly versatile.

Good luck with your purchase Charles.

 

[SuperMan]

657 Mountain Gun...my favorite Smith!!!

From what The Book says, 657 MGs were made in 1998-1999 and were a "stocking dealer special". Doesn't list how many were made but my guess would be 500-1000 as while rare to find in a local gun shop they are often found on the auction sites. Current selling prices run from $900-1300.00 just depending on how many people want the gun that day.

The first one I saw used for whatever reason I just didn't want but a friend was looking for one so I contacted him and he bought it...he carries it quite often now...

The next two I found I bought and still have. When the 57 blue MG came out I bought one brand new, never fired it and ended up selling it to my friend's son-in-law who is a California Highway Patrol Officer....who also loves .41s.

The actions on the two that I have are the smoothest of any S&W I have ever owned. The only thing I have done is put in 13# trigger return springs in each gun. As to the MIM Parts and frame mounted firing pin..could care less. These guns beat pre-MIM guns in shootability, especially in Double Action, hands down.

The DA on gun #1 is 10.5#, the second 8.5#.









Gun #2 now has new Eagle Hammer grips...





One just sold over the weekend on AuctionArms for about $975 which is only the second one I have seen sell for under a grand in the last two years...so they are out there...it just depends how bad you want one.

As to the 57 Mountain Gun. They were made for about two years in the 2005 area so there seems to be more of them out there than 657s. They do have the IL which is the main reason I sold the one I had unfired. Going price is in the $650-850 area.

Bob

 

[Doug M.]

You can't buy any more guns until you have all the gear you need for this summer's class anyway, so why are you asking?

 

[Malpasowildlifer]

I know, you're right.

You can't buy any more guns until you have all the gear you need for this summer's class anyway, so why are you asking?

 

[at_liberty]

<snip> the 41 Mag round is amazingly versatile.

So much so that 6 rounds would fit in an L-frame, but maybe as 41 Special or milder magnums, if strength was a concern. It then becomes a bit more realistic as a CCW gun. The 357 is not the ultimate gun. Six (6) rounds of 41 Special would be effective and more fun to shoot, all on the same platform.

Note that I have a 4" 657 (N-frame), but find it a bit much except as an open carry in an Alaska shoulder rig. I never carry the 625 for the same reason. That big cylinder is just over the edge for me. Those with bigger hands might think the N-frame carry guns are swell.

My 41 Special conversion project gun is a 3" GP100 38 Special with adjustable sights. I thought about the 4" 686, but don't think the gunsmith has experience with or confidence in converting that gun, offering only GP100 conversion, his gun or yours, $600 plus the gun, $150 down, a year wait.

 

[41special]

I try to follow the Mountain Guns. I believe there was only the 1998 production run of 657 Mountain Guns. As you would expect from 1998 they had MIM internals but no lock. I’m not sure but I think there was also only one run of 57 Mountain Guns that came after the 657s.

Unlike 629s standard 1980s profile 4” barrel 657s were discontinued a long time ago and are not plentiful. That leaves would be buyers of stainless 4” .41s scrambling after a relatively few revolvers.

Thought I'd resurrect this old thread. Had a 657 mountain gun years ago & I've got an itch for a new one, or one in 45 Colt.

Let's see yours in either caliber!


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[jrc1]

Here are mine 629-2 629-3 625-6 45LC 686-5


Sent from my iPad using Tapatalk

 

[CH4]

The few 657 MGs I’ve seen have all had frame mounted firing pins.

 

[catcher79]

I know they are damn hard to find!! It took me years to locate one to complete my set of Mountian Guns. I had the .44 mag., .45 Colt, .45 ACP,, 357 mag., but no.41. Finally found one and completed the set. I also have the .44 special if you consider a 624 a Mountian Gun.

 

[41special]

Here are mine 629-2 629-3 625-6 45LC 686-5


Sent from my iPad using Tapatalk

Beautiful collection. Kinda jealous here

 

[SAFireman]

I have found two more 657-4 MG's since this thread was started in 2014.

My total MG accumulation is 625-6, 657-4 (3), 629-4. I sold the 686-5 only because someone offered a considerable amount more than my investment.

 

[Grannyman]

I bought a 657-3 Proformance Center Mountain Gun 6 inch barrel . I called Smith and Wesson looking for a front sight and they told me mine was made in 1993.

 

[hkcavalier]

Never heard of an MG with a 6" barrel. Pics?

 

[SuperMan]

...would be interesting to see that one....

 

[Crookedcreek]

The box label for my 657 Mountain Gun shows a 103949 product code a S.N. CCY1545 and a 'Spec. Ord.' of 8245 (which I believe translates to the 245th day of 1998). Yes, frame mounted firing pin. Currently 'sporting' a set of 'Patriot stocks' from my 625-8 JM.

 

[Jcon72]

The only one I've had the fortune to snag so far is this 1989/90 629-2 "Mountain Revolver", which was the predecessor to the models that were actually marketed as the Mountain Gun. As you can see, it came with a "vapor hone" finish and the barrel was not stamped (or etched) with the Mountain Gun name at that time.
The icing on the cake is the fact it was wearing these beautiful Craig Spegels when I found it a year ago.

 

[Pharmer94]

Thought I'd resurrect this old thread. Had a 657 mountain gun years ago & I've got an itch for a new one, or one in 45 Colt.

Let's see yours in either caliber!


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I saw you were in MT? I'm in Eastern Idaho/Utah (going back and forth with a new job and haven't sold the house in Idaho yet). I have this 657-4 mountain gun chambered in 41 mag I've been thinking of letting go so I can buy something different. Great shape. Comes with about 475 rounds, 300 are quality reloads from a local gun shop, 125 of them are new hollow points as well as a box of bullets to reload. I've saved every casing I've fired from it for that purpose. I have no idea what to price it at. I've seen the revolver itself for around 1k in the past decade, and we all know that 41 mag runs 1-2 dollars per round.

What prices have you been seeing in your search for a new one?

 

[TheChimp74]

Thought I'd resurrect this old thread. Had a 657 mountain gun years ago & I've got an itch for a new one, or one in 45 Colt.

Let's see yours in either caliber!


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