Locally, a seller has the following:

S&W 657-3, 6 1/2" Bbl., factory Hogue rubber grips, stainless N target frame, 3 screws, square butt, .500" target hammer,.400" smooth target trigger. 1/8" serrated red ramp front sight with a micrometer click adjustable rear sight with white outline sight blade, unfluted cylinder. There is a very small ding at the top of the front sight on the left side. The front sight is not a factory red ramp. Looks as though the previous owner painted part of the original black ramp red.

We've agreed on $950. I've been wanting a .41 for a while now. I felt it was a decent price. A friend says I'm getting royally screwed. I'm not backing down on the deal either way, a deal made is a deal made, but I'm wondering the opinion of the S&W hive mind.

The wood presentation case isn't original to the gun but I have not seen one of these full underlug 657s sell for under a grand...and usually a lot more... The case is worth another $100 easily.

Does the serial number start with HTR by any chance?

Welcome to The Cult...

1964-2014...The .41 Magnum

.41 Magnum / 41 Special Load Data Center

Bob

Completed auction...

http://www.gunbroker.com/item/614606548

I have one just like yours and I believe yours is older than the above auction and from the first run of guns before they were marked Classic Hunter...

I didn't even know there was a 657, very impressive looking. I am partial to blue and picked up just the other day, a 57-1. Since you are buying it no matter what, it doesn't matter what we think. To some it would be too pricey and others it would be what any big N frame might go for these days. It never can hurt to negotiate. Here is mine......kind of looks wimpy compared to your full under lug and un-fluted cylinder.


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I think you made a decent deal - in no way were you "royally screwed" - IMO. I've wanted a Model 657 for a while now - especially since I've returned to hunting after an almost 40 year lay-off. Model 57s are pretty rare, and always pricey, and a Model 657 - even more so. Ask the seller if s/he has the original box, documents, grips, etc. Also ask if s/he will throw in any fired brass, extra ammo, holsters, etc. You might be surprised what the seller will be happy to include in the deal just by your asking. Many times, in a deal like this, the seller is trying to "get out of" a particular firearm and/or caliber, and no longer needs the accoutrements associated with same.

Good luck to you, and please follow-up and let us know what happens.

Regards,

Dave

Duh! So I can throw it in my friend's face and yell, "No, YOU suck!"

Because we're 12 years old going on 60.

I think you should offer to buy all your friend's pre-lock S&W revolvers at a price that he believes isn't screwing you, because he's out of the loop.

And, congrats on a good deal on a sweet revolver.

First of all, that's a good price.

Secondly, you shouldn't feel bad about spending a little more on a gun you've been searching for. I just bought a 3" model 65 and paid a little more than I would have liked, but I've been looking for several years. I've probably spent $200 in gas and gun show entrance fees in the last several years trying to find the right one, not to mention the time I've spent (it's extra hard here in the People Republic of Mass).

While it's nice to get a good deal, what really matters is finding a gun that puts a smile on your face.

That is a fair deal to you and the seller. You and your grandchildren will be shooting that handgun for years and years to come. With the current rate of appreciation on these classic S&W handguns, a year from now you will have no second doubts and will be very glad that you made this deal.

After shooting it and working up your favorite target load and then favorite hunting load, you might look into replacing the rear sight with one of the many reflex optic sights that are available. There is a no-gunsmithing-required base mount that is available thru a member on this forum that works like a charm and is very clean and good looking addition. ...........

The one you are considering looks very nice.

I have a 657-3 that looks much the same.

It says Classic Hunter on the side where yours says 41 Magnum, however.

I paid $900 for it 3 years ago (in California dollars).

It's a great shooter. Good trigger and accurate.

Attached Images

657-3.jpg (147.6 KB, 1226 views)

I think the 657-3 is the first model that comes drilled and tapped from the factory for a scope mount. Mine is, anyway.

The reflex mount I have in mind does not use the tapped holes for scope mounts. It uses the single screw that holds the existing rear sight in place. The rear of the mount slides into the milled recess at the rear of the existing sight slot that was used for the elevation screw.

Pistol scopes have much more 'mass' than reflex sights therefore should be securely mounted using all the drilled and tapped screw holes a handgun has available. Reflex sights are lower and lighter and the mount referred to above takes care of them quite readily, IMHO. .......

I nearly spit out my eggs and toast when I read that one.....too funny. I sir, amd 16 years old gong on 60 but I get your point. I compete with my best friend when it comes to guns.....he started way earlier than I but I have come on strong the past decade or so with way more disposable income........haha......he is now retired and I still have a few more years of disposable income......I am slowly catching up but I may never be able to catch up to him based on his collection of Python's........so in your friend's face......you are not getting royally screwed on the deal and you can tell him we all said so........

Lol! He's a Glocktard with the occasional affair with an M&P or Sig. It was funny the other day, he was trying to find his Glock 17 in a stack of identical black Glockboxes. This it? Nope. This one? Nope... Couple of days later I gave him a gift to assist with the organizing of his collection, a silver Sharpie marker. He called me an *******, but next time I was over, I saw he had used it to mark the boxes. He's never thanked me, so there's no pleasing some people!

I own an Anaconda, and I have shot whatever snake is the 357, but frankly, give me an S&W or a Ruger any day of the week. For all their legendary reputation, I just have never liked them in my hand.

Nice 657 Hedrin...Give a straight on shot of the muzzle..The front sight

may be one of the spring loaded replaceable types.. If so, they are

available from the factory or secondary market..41 Magnum is my favorite

caliber..l own a couple 657 PC guns...657-4 & 657-5..

Smith&Wesson seems to have completely abandoned the caliber...They

didn't even bother honoring the 41Magnum's Fiftieth Birthday in 2014.

That's sad too.. A great cartridge by ALL aspects..Seems to be a renewed

interest in the cartridge lately..Hornady just came out with FTX ammo and

bullets in 41.. Couple other gun makers have come out with new models in

41 Magnum in the past couple years..


Enjoy Hedron..Shoot it.. Just don't look at it...Your 657 is like a pretty

woman and a fast car...They are to be U S E D!!

I think your friend is jealous and doesn't know squat about the gun to be throwing shrapnel. You can bet if he was buying it he would be bragging how great it was.
He can have his blocks. Some guy said he bought Glocks because his wife couldn't tell one from another so she had no idea he had more than one.
I am sure many people would tell me I was nuts for what I paid for my Python and Trooper MKV. Money is for spending so might as well get what trips your trigger.

I have never seem a S&W serial number look like that. Meaning it appears to have been done with small drill or grinder instead of punches. IS this common and I have just not purchased enough S&W's to come across it?

Hedrin..Unfortunate for you on the sight..lts not one of the spring loaded swappable types. l think you need to knock the roll pin w/punch to remove old sight.. Seems the existing one took a pretty good lick. Likely they are still available... Should be a great shooter by the looks of the crown on the barrel and powder marks

You know, I'm ok with it. Kinda gives it a note of character and I don't think it should interfere with my aim. It's also part of why it was down to $950 instead of the original asking price of $1050.

Hedrin, that is a really nice 657 you are getting and I also agree you didn't overpay.

Also, since you are a more "mature" person like myself, you might want to get yourself a gold bead patridge sight as a replacement for the dinged up red ramp sight. SDM makes some in .250 and .300 height that will fit your gun. You will have to drill the hole for the roll pin to slide though and mount the sight blade (your gunsmith can do this if you don't feel like doing it yourself). I find that those type sights are much easier to get a good sight picture with than the red ramp sights and have installed them on a couple of N frames I have that use the quick change sight system.

You stole it. Great deal!
Jim

My 629-3 Classic has the same punched serial #. My buddies identical 629-3 has the more traditional appearing serial #.
Jim

I know of someone trying to sell a 657 PC snub (with IL) for a ton of cash...his thought is S&W is simply not going to make these anymore (even though they seem to pump out a few more every so many years since 1998 or so).

Thanks for the serial number Hadrin..

As to the front sight... With a stone and fine file you should be able to dress it up and recut the serrations. Then a little cold blue on a q-tip. You can then play with different colored paints to see what works best for your eyes... I like yellow and green...

Bob

This is mine...serial #5...50 yards...




20 yards DA...

Superman could you message me please!