My local dealer has a model 57 no dash,pinned and recessed, it has red ramp, target hammer and trigger with original grips, lock up and timing seem OK, there's not much wear at all on the finish. They want around $750 for it. Is this alittle high or is it a good price?

What barrel length??

sorry about that, 6 inch barrel

That's a little on the high side - the no-dash guns ran from 1964 =>1980. Is it an S or N prefix serial number ? The S prefix serial numbers were the original production .......

What caliber? I have model 57 in 41 mag I was recently offered $900 and I turned it down

Mel

Sounds like it's in nice condition, and something I would buy.

What it comes down to is the value you place on your time. For me, I would rather pay a little more for something in front of me than spend a ton of time searching and searching for the deal of a lifetime. I'm very busy though. Gas costs money. Time is money. Parking fees and gun show entrance fees too. If I was retired and got a lot of enjoyment walking gun shows it would be a different story. Right now I don't have the time and prefer to work.

A little over a year ago I bought this S prefix 57 for $725, and that included the presentation case and never used correct tools. he gun was supposedly unfired, but when I received it, it had been fired a few times. No cylinder line on it when I bought it. It has the nicest case coloring on the hamer and trigger of any S&W I have ever owned. It is a darn accurate gun BTW-

Gun4fun..................drool.

I go into lust mode when I see that pic.

I don't see the point of fretting about paying $50-$100 too much for one of these guns. They only go up in price, so it's just a matter of time before it is worth more than is paid for it.

About 18 months ago I paid $750 for this 8-3/8" barrel no dash with an N-prefix number. Dates to 1975, I believe. The stocks are later, but I never used them. I have some original Cokes and some Kurac neo-cokes that the gun can wear when it goes to the range or sits still for a photo.

First rate shape, very accurate. Happens to have been MagnaPorted, but I don't care about that one way or the other.



If you can get the gun you are looking at for a little less than $750, that's all to the good. But if the seller won't come down and you want it, that price is not hugely out of line.

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David Wilson

Sounds in the ball park to me if the finish is in great shape, as in close to new in appearance. If it were a 4", it would be even better. You will not lose money in the long run.

DC, I think MN pricing is outrunning CA now. I just saw a Mod 57 6" in excellent shape with the wood presentation case and it was priced at $1000, the seller was firm on that. So $750 sounds good at that comparison.

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Birds like shiny new toys too.

I can't let Gun 4 Fun and DCWilson have all of the fun.

To make the set of examples in this thread more complete, here is my S numbered 4" Model 57 with new Kurac grips.

I paid 750.00 for my 6" model 57 no dash 99% condition with presentation case and tools and consider it a good buy.

I paid $575 for my 57-1 last August excellent condition no box no papers.If you like it and can afford it get it.

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Take it easy. Chris

I paid $180.00 for my 6" Model 57. That was in 1971 however. Since then I have bought a few more. The last one I paid $950.00 for a pristine 8 3/8" model 57 with case and tools. I paid $1,000 for a pristine S serial number 6" with cokes and velvet lined presentation case last year.

I paid $530 out the door for this pristine 57 no dash a few months ago.

THAT WILL NEVER HAPPEN AGAIN. I saw the gun in a shop, immediately drove to my bank 50 miles away (100 miles round trip), returned to the shop with cash and bought it.

Since I bought mine, I have kept a very close eye on Model 57s on Internet sites and gun shops/shows, and I have concluded the average price of a 57 is between $900-$975.

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NRA Lifetime Member

Some people in this thread have gotten some great deals.

I paid about $550 for the gun pictured above a few years ago.

My very first 57 cost me $475 new in 1979.

I'd like to thank everyone for their responses, I bought it yesterday, here are some pics, If any one could help with a manufacture date I'd appreciate it, it's serial # N7078xx

Here is a M57 Transition Nickel N877xxx . Picked it up last year for $500.00



Terry

George B-
your gun dates to 1980. It looks good too. Enjoy it!

Here's a $450 purchase...



rayb

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"cumplo pero no obedezco"

You did just fine. Very nice.

I pick this one up today, a 57-1 with 6'' bbl and I believe it to be unfired although it has a faint turn line on it. The following pictures don't do it justice because of my bad photography. I paid 750 for is.

Yes,750.00 without,and even more so with
Presentation box is great buy.I have sold N prefix 57 no dash
41 Mags for over a grand.Get it.They ain't making any more
Pinned & reccesed guns any more.Also if your in it for the long
Haul you cannot go wrong.

Good.....thanks for the info.

I would grab any N Frame that's under $1,000. The value will only go up.
I paid $699 for a brand new S&W M57 with a 6" barrel in nickel in 2012. She's the last m57 my dealer had.

I feel any m57 or N Frame is a steal between $650-$850 today.

It's hard for the older buyers to let go of the old prices. We're in 2014 and our stuff is becoming more valuable.

I purchased a new D.A.M. QUICK spinning reel in 1973 for $30. I seen one recently in an antique shop selling for $70. My reel that I still use is an antique now.

Gentlemen were not getting any younger. The years are flying by.
The good busy are still out there but the higher prices are happening.

Your welcome,anytime.

OK boys, this model 57-1 has a serial number of AUZ 5500. anyone know when it was made?

~1987.

Jim

Thanks Jim,....Joel

If you want a true evaluation of the price of a S&W Mod. 57 in any bbl. length, and or configuration, see if you can get one of the members of this forum to part with theirs, under $1000,00, regardless of what they paid for it, or how much more than $1000,00 it would cost to buy it from them. Pin them down, and see what their reply is. I'am waiting for the offers to sell.
Chubbo

Hey Guys,
I am new to forum and I have a question for you. I recently acquired a model 57 that is 44 magnum. I sent S&W a letter and they responded with mfg date 1976 in their factory but no other info. I have owned several mod 57 and still do but all were 41 mag. I cant find any reference
anywhere to a mod 57 44 mag, have you? Any info/help will be greatly appreciated. Some people that i have asked about it insinuates that I am handling the truth recklessly, but i am not, s/n n3668xx 6 inch barrel i have had 5 different dealers look at it and they all agreed that it has not been modified. All help will be great. Thanks

Semper Fi

I think you did good and a fair price for it. I bought mine at better prices but it's been years too.
I saw a 8 3/8 Model 57 in presentation box with tools and looked unfired for $1050. I passed but have kicked myself now as I don't have one in that length. Wonder if the dealer still has it, doubt so?

I consider myself very lucky to have purchased my 57's at good prices (as I stated in another thread). $650 for most and $750 for one. I know I could realize a profit by selling them but that is not the plan at this time. I have posted pictures of these guns in the past so I won't bore you with posting them again. I have all three barrel lengths with nickel finish (all no dash) that were $650x2 and the $750 one. Bottom line, I think $750 for a 6" blue could be a little high, but if the condition is right buy it. Good deals are out there but they are getting to be few and far between. You must try to get the price down any time, but if that is not in the cards get it and enjoy it. I know you will like it. I admit my prejudice for the .41 magnum. I really like mine!

OK, I will bore you with a repost of my 6" blue (gun only, $650). It was said to be unfired outside the factory but had a "trigger job". I replaced the trigger rebound spring that had been shortened. It has been shot now, quite a bit and what a gun!

Attached Images

M-57 6 inch 002.jpg (236.8 KB, 79 views)

Well, the fact that it had been "fired a few times" isn't a surprise. All of these revolvers were test-fired before they left the factory. When I bought my 6-inch Model 57 about 30 years ago, it came NIB but it had been fired. No big deal. At least you know it works. A soft tooth brush and some Hoppe's No. 9 will remove any power residue.
Indeed, any time I get a new gun, it ALWAYS gets a bath in No. 9 before it goes to the range. That removes any shipping oils that might gum up during an inaugural shooting session. It also seems to help keep the finish up to snuff.

I get the impression you snapped these images with some kind of fish-eye lens because the barrel looks bent from the frame.

Very nice! I have it's twin, paid the same price two years ago.

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Stay safe people!

I have a model 57-1, 6" barrel S/N N916848 nickel plated. Can any one give me any information about this gun, like when it was built, etc.

Also, what is the difference between a 57-1 and no dash gun? Is one better, more valued than another?

Thank you for any info.

I was scratching my head wondering where all these cheap 57's were coming from, then I noticed this is pretty much a 5 year old thread.

My, how times have changed in a short period of time...

I don't know. A few weeks ago, I bought a no dash N serial #, 6 inch blue with pres box (needs work inside). It has 2 scratches and other than that, it's nearly unfired. I paid 735 - and I would have paid more. I bought this one as a shooter. I love 6" blue 57's.

The bargains are out there but you can't find them when you're looking for them. The bargains I find are stuff I basically trip over when I'm not looking for anything in particular. As mentioned above, I'd rather pay a little more for something I really wanted than to waste time and money running around looking for it. Actually you can't pay too much for a good gun, but you might be buying it a little early. I've already got the gun you're looking at. If I didn't already have it I would pay $750.00 to get one.

Like Charlie, the best deals I've come across were by accident. I'm also at the point in life I have, by a small amount, more money than time, so I don't spend large amounts of time looking for a smoking hot deal.

So what if I paid a small premium for something I want to be able to enjoy right now.

I just picked up a 57, but only 5 3/4 bbl N number
is this considered 6 inch ? Only problem with this one
it has a scope mounted. I only see values here from
2009, what would be a guesstimate on this one 90%.

I paid 750 last Sat. (5/16/15) for my 57 no dash nickel, 4" and feel that I got a fair deal. Did not steal but did not get taken. The 57's don't pop up everyday in south GA. But to me the value meter is if I want it and can afford it, past that it does not matter, as long as I am happy.

Attached Images

57nodash.jpg (8.1 KB, 68 views)

Well,I've sold two 4" guns this year to forum members. One blue,one nickel. $950 each,no boxes,iirc. Really nice guns bring better prices. YMMV.
f.t.

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South Carolina-God's country

750 nowadays is more than a fair price for one in that kind of shape. Ihave a first year 4" that has some wear and pitting (spent some time on a sailboat in the Gulf of Alaska, was actually the owners survival gun after the boat sank!) with proper Cokes on it that I wouldn't sell for less than 850, and a nice later 57 no dash that I wouldn't sell for less than 8 bills. The value on EVERY S&W has jumped over the last two years, especially Nframes......

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Even older, even crankier....

I started a thread but figured id post it here also .... I guessing the answer will be in the $700-800 range but what is this gun worth? with 100 rounds in addition....ser # starts N774. I have the opportunity to trade my Kimber Pro CDP II .45 for it which was a 1300 gun when new but around 1000 now.

Saw your other post...your gun is a 1980 vintage and with PC $850-1100 would be the going price at auction. So a trade for the Kimber would be reasonable...the price for the 57 however will increase far more than the Kimber will.

riderman...you 57-1...does it have a pinned barrel and or recessed chambers in the cylinder. You have a 1981-2 vintage gun when Smith was dropping the P&R features.

Bob