I currently have the following three model 57's and would like your thoughts on whether I should sell or trade two of them, or just keep things as they are, and keep all three. I will post pictures tomorrow; it's just too late to mess with photos tonight. Well, here we go:

My 1st Model 57 is a no-dash, 4" Pinned & recessed, with TT, TH, TG with red ramp front sight. Date of Mar 20, 1986 is stamped in ink near the bottom on the inside of the right-side grip. Per the Standard Catalog of S&W, it was made in 1980 per SN N7870XX. It is a 3 Screw revolver. This is my "shooter", as it is in 99% condition, has a great action and is plenty accurate. It came to me with no box, tools or instructions, and I've not searched these out. It is immaculate with the faintest of turn lines. I like shooting it very much.

My 2nd Model 57, is also a no-dash, 4" barreled pinned & recessed revolver, with TT, TH, TG and red ramp front sight. Per the Standard Catalog, it was made 1979-80, per SN N6177XX. It is also a 3 screw revolver. It is a 100% "new revolver", comes in a perfect condition mahogany display box with excellent condition blue lining inside. It came with all original tools, instructions & other original paperwork. I have never fired it, or turned the cylinder, and there is a whisper of a turn line from factory testing only.

My 3rd Model 57, is also a no-dash, and this one has a 6" barrel, is pinned & recessed, and also has TT, TH & TG, with red ramp front sight. Once again, it is a 3 screw, and per the Standard Catalog, is was made in 1980, per SN N7283XX. This is also a 100% specimen, and comes with the "as new", in excellent condition, matching serial numbered to the gun, dark blue, two-piece Bangor Punta box. All tools are in their plastic bags, and perfect condition instructions and other paperwork and brown interior wrapping parer are included. This revolver is an unfired, unturned, perfect condition Model 57, .41 Magnum with a 6" barrel, original box and all accessories..

Whew; that's an eye full. So, on to my dilemma, and this is where I would really appreciate your thoughts and experience.

OK, no decision required on #1, my "shooter", as it does everything I could ask, and then some. At the end of the day, I want to have both a 4" & 6" Model 57. I could keep all three, but I really want a 90% or so condition "shooter", 3 1/2" blued Model 27. I've been considering one of these for a while, but the real credit, or blame; depending upon your point of view, goes to you guys who put together the current thread, where a lot of you are sharing great pictures of a boat-load of these really nice Model 27's with 3 1/2 barrels. So, credit or blame, depending upon whether you are talking to me, or my bride of 35 years, lays right at the feet of these generous forum members.

As I see it, I have at least several options. My first choice, and my wife's last, is to just wait out a nice Mod 27, and buy it out of "household" funds, thus keeping all three model 57's, while adding the Model 27; sounds good to me.
Next, I could sell or trade some other stuff, i.e. another one or more guns to fund the 27, but I still wake up at night, regretting some of my previous sales, i.e. a nice 2 1/2" blued Python went down the road, and now they're really spendy.
I could sell the 4" 57 in the mahogany case, buy the 3 1/2" Model 27, and have some $$$ left over for something else, based upon the rarity of one as nice as mine, or I could sell my "new" 6" model 57 and buy another, not quite as nice 6" 57, and probably without the box & tools, etc.
Another idea is to sell my "new" 4 incher in the mahogany case to fund the Mod 27 shooter and something else, and just keep the pristine 6 incher, shoot it, and give it the TLC I give all my guns. Then I'd have my original 4" 99 Percenter, a very nice 6" Mod 57 with all the stuff, a nice model 27 and cash or another gun to boot.
I am reluctant to shoot these NIB Model 57's, because there are a limited quantity of guns this nice, and they might be key pieces a member is looking for to complete a collection. Once they've been fired, they loose their "never been fired" allure, and you just can't recapture that for the guy or gal who wants a pristine sample of these models.

I'm sure many of you have faced the same or similar situations, and I will very much appreciate hearing the decisions you made and how things worked out for you, as well as your suggestions on how you would proceed, given the same set of circumstances I'm facing. Thank you for your time in reading this, thinking about it and sharing with me and other readers your experience and ideas.

Beemerrider

"As I see it, I have at least several options. My first choice, and my wife's last, is to just wait out a nice Mod 27, and buy it out of "household" funds, thus keeping all three model 57's, while adding the Model 27; sounds good to me".

Sounds like you answered the Q right there. Plenty of shooter grade 27's out there and not many unfired 57's still in the case.

Keep em all! Great revolvers in a great caliber as you know. Have 57's, 58 and a 3" 657 and a 3.5" 27. I would never trade any of them off for the nickel 3.5" 27 I'm lusting for. Sound like you love them babies and guarantee you'll have sellers/traders remorse if you unload one of the 100% 57's which are scarce in the condition you describe.


JMO

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V/R
Roger / SG

I did not need to read a single detail.

Keep them.

Unless you are in desperate need of funds due to some catastrophic event, ALWAYS keep the S&Ws. There is nothing wrong in waiting a little longer to add that next revolver to the stable.

The only way to build a collection is to not sell things. It might be a bit more of a struggle to not sell, but 10-20-30 years down the road you will be amazed at the fine robust collection of firearms that you own.

You have picked two of my favorites, Model 57s (actually all 41 Magnums) and model 27s.

Here is an old group photo of my 41 Magnums for a bit of inspiration. It is old and missing about 1/3 of my current 41 Magnums but it is quite varied


This is a pair of 3 1/2" model 27s. Both are unfired since leaving the factory, though neither are wearing the grips they shipped with. One was built in 1975 and carries 6 rounds while the other in was made in 2006 as an eight shooter. The 3 1/2" is a favorite of many shooters here on the Forums.


My 6 shot shooter is well worn. I also have an 8 shot shooter but can't find a photo.

I could have an affair with nearly any .41mag. revolver. '' EVERY GUN GOT A STORY" Might as well add some your history to the ''Big STORY"

Keep em all .

Whenever I see a WTT , that involves a request for an item I have I consider it for a milli-second and then move on .
I can't really think about selling / trading any of the revolvers that I own . Even the scruffy ones .


Regards ,
George

Keep them all. Start taking your lunch to work. That will probably save enough money so you can buy the Model 27 within a year, maybe sooner. Just my humble opinion

Sounds to me that your dilemma is not owning all those .41s, it's selling one. I would have a really difficult time selling any of them, BUT if you had to sell one (it doesn't sound like you need to sell any) it would be the safe queen. You are going to fondle it, not shoot it, and it would probably bring the most money. Naw, fondle away and keep them all.

I have been in the same situation you are in now. I decided to keep all my guns and save for the new one I wanted. You have three nice 57's, I have the same number but they are all 4 inchers. I'd keep the 57's.

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SWCA #2421

I have always tended to keep the best specimen of various models when faced with similar decisions. In your case, you might just let the wife know that these are "investments" and part of your retirement portfolio. My bet is that they will out perform most mutual funds.....

Too bad the current President doesn't have such a worthy group of advisers.
Thus far, eight of you have taken your time, and offered your experience and thoughts on my situation. I very much appreciate it, and will continue to contribute where I can be of assistance.

.... " And the 'Winner' by unanimous vote is "Keep em all", which I will do. I'll get the pictures up later today, so all can see the revolvers in question. I think your advice is right, as at one time or another I have regretted selling each and every revolver, and even the pristine, in the box with all the stuff and a total of 5 magazines, humble "Escort" .22 pistol I sold along with that 2 1/2" Python a few years back. And the telling thing is; I have nothing to show for that money I received. Maybe we should include in our ethics and Rules, "Thou shalt never sell an S&W revolver without first consulting with forum Members."

Thank you all,

Beemerrider

Thanks Guys.
You are the reason I can't find a M57...

Seriously, What's the value of a 90%+ M27?
The reason I ask is I have the "non fancy" M28. It is one of the best revolvers I have ever fired. The action is butter. I was told before looking at this M28-2 is that it is in 95% condition. I score it as 90%. Born in early 68'.
I paid $325.00.
The reason I say this is it seems to me that this Gentleman has a 100% M57 in it's orginal case and he wants to trade/sell it for a M27.

Keep all three.

Yep.... The jury is in here and the opinion appears unanimous! Keep them all! Never trade or sell a hard to find S&W handgun, especially a NIB P&R era gun that was produced in smaller numbers during that era than its brothers, the Mod 27's and 29's.

Nothing brings on that well known gun owners "demon", sellers remorse, more than selling one gold nugget gun to purchase another gold nugget gun.

When an opportunity presents itself the only option, other than those offered by personal economic conditions or an angry spouse, is to own them both.

If you do sell a 4", and I hope it's to me, look back on this thread a few years from now and recall... We told you so!

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Terry

Well , since I'm looking for a 4in in just such condition , you should sell it to me. It'll be in good company with it's 6 and 8 3/8in brethern in my safe.

Aw, heck!! I confess... I already have all the no-dash 57's, NIB and I'm the original owner... It's my favorite caliber!

Sell it to mkk41 if you must... (pm me first though) The three barrel lengths look so good together...

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Terry

I would expect you might have an issue if your wife bought another purse for $700 or so out of "household money" if she had a few purses already. Just a thought...

[Quote] I respect your thoughts and appreciate you looking at her point of view, but as Paul Harvey was wont to say; "Now, the rest of the story".
Way different than purses, my wife has one horse and two horses boarded, down from a high of 3 that she owned, 3 pigmy goats, about 40 or so chickens and ducks, 3 dogs and 3 cats on our 14 acre "ranch" in West Linn, OR. I knew she had a special place in her heart for horses and other "pets" when we met in college, and as far as I'm concerned, she could pull up towing Noah's Ark, and I would build their quarters, help unload them and do my part feeding and caring for them. I will always love her, no matter what, and I'll do my best to support her interests; it's who this wonderful woman is.
So, what's a revolver or two in the grand scheme of things?
Thanks for your post. Beemerrider [Quote]

Hey Beemer,
You mean like this one ????


Sorry, just had to do it,-- you know.....
Keep your chin up. You'll find one.
Never owned a 57 but if you like them as much as i like
my 27's you better hang on to them.


chuck

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They hold no Quarter

Excellent decision! You made the right choice IMO and have 3 great revolvers in a kick butt caliber. Your 27 will come.

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V/R
Roger / SG

...I guess I am on the other side of this fence. I look at unfired in the box S&Ws as investment pieces and as such unless I am "collecting" them they are up for sale to the right bidder.

As to .41 Magnums, I am both a collector and a shooter. I have...I don't really know...how many .41s, not just S&Ws but just about everything made. If I can buy something low and shortly thereafter can sell high it will be gone. I found a NIB 4" 57-1 nickel locally and had it until a shooter grade showed up. Bought that one and sold the collector grade gun off for enough profit it just about paid for the shooter grade gun that was a P&R gun. That one was later sold off and a blue 1964 4" purchased.

Any NIB S&W I now buy stays that way. One day it will be sold and replaced by something else. Can not say I regret ever selling any gun I have ever owned....I can however say I passed up some guns which I later said "what was I thinking...".

Bob

I sell very few guns.
I don't sell any .41s.
Keep the ones you have and figure out how to
get your hands on a 27 to go with them.

Hear, hear on that issue. I've got a 6" 657 and a 4" Mountain gun (with lock), but do you think I can find a nice 4" 57 to keep company with my no dash 586? Nope.

I've never been a collector so I think it's a shame to have a gun that's not been shot, but I'd say keep your guns. You'll always remember the one that got away.

Vern

i have only one 57. pinned, recessed, chromey. love it and will only let it go for a 28-2 or earlier... .41 is an awesome all around round. it will feed you, defend you, and help you sleep at night. tough dilemma... keep 'em and wait to get another. just my2cent...