657 3" value?

[Messer]

Howdy all.

In a moment of weekness, I stopped by my local gun shop and noticed they had a used S&W on the shelf with a 3" barel (I like 3" guns!). It turned out to be a used 657 no dash, 41 Mag. round butt with ugly goodyear square butt grips.

It shows some use - needs a good cleaning, etc...

I can get this for $500.00 out the door.
(did I mention I like 3" guns?)

So - what's the going rate these days?

Thanks,
Bob S.

 

[Mack]

Way more than $500 for a 3" no dash 657! Get thee back to the store.

 

[semperfi71]

If it's a 3 inch with the standard type ejector underlug its a steal.

It it has a full length barrel underlug then its more than a steal. They only made 150 of the full length under-luggers.

 

[m657]

I want it.

 

[Allen-frame]

Um ,,Bob , were you having a serior moment?
I'd have done whatever it took to lay it away or buy it on the spot.

Do you need a loan?

Go git it ,and give it a good home.

Regards , Allen

 

[Messer]

Um ,,Bob , were you having a senior moment?

Maybe...

I'd have done whatever it took to lay it away or buy it on the spot.

Well - I DID have them take it off the shelf for me...

Do you need a loan?

It HAS been a rough month - Vet bills, car bills, ammo bills, etc...

Go git it ,and give it a good home.
Regards , Allen

I called them - I'll pick it up on the way home today.

Now I need to get another set of Ahrend grips.

I'll post pics once I get it home.

As to Semperfi's question, It's the std. heavy barrel with the old style (slim) ejector shroud.

Take care,
Bob S.

 

[kennyb]

good for you bob!was it per chance in colonial heights?

 

[semperfi71]

Congratulations! Yes we want to see it!

 

[Messer]

657 with pics!

OK - I dood it! My first 41 Magnum, my 657 we don't need no stinkin dash...

(sorry for the feet)

$500.00 out the door - now I need to get some better grips!

SN is ANE-46xx - can someone tell about when that was made?

Thanks to all,
Bob S.

 

[Messer]

good for you bob!was it per chance in colonial heights?

No - up near Charlottesville.

Take care,
Bob S.

(WOW - my 100th post! )

 

[m657]

You are indeed fortunate. Such models simply do not exist in my part of the universe.

Nice find.

 

[dirtygrunt95]

The best I can do is narrow it down a little. The 657 was intro in 1986 and the -1 came about in 1988.

 

[Sportsterguy]

Congrats on your first .41 mag which is my favorite caliber. You did REALLLY good on that deal. If it shoots as good as mine (sure it will) you're going to love shooting and packing that baby.

Here's mine wearing Ahrends which is a keeper. Terrible photo. Looks way better in person:

 

[Brian894x4]

The book seems to indicate produced sometime in 1986 based on the serial number prefix and some guessing.

That would make an awesome woods gun!

 

[jmark1651]

Now that's what I call a snubnose powerhouse! Congrats on your new addition.

 

[Messer]

You are indeed fortunate. Such models simply do not exist in my part of the universe.

Nice find.

Thanks.

Not that I've been looking for a 657, but I'm always drawn to 2.5"-3.5" barrelled revolvers, and this is the first 657 3" I've seen around here.

In the last year and a half, 3 N-frame 3" guns have found there way to me...

A 24-3 44 Special, a 625-3 45 ACP and this 657 41 Magnum. (just don't tell my wife!)
Add to that a LNIB 65-5 Lady Smith, and I've gone from almost no S&W's to small flock of them!

Sportsterguy - as to shooting it, I can't wait - but I might have to. Not a single dealer around here has a box of ammo for it. Starline says they expect brass to be available sometime next month, so even loading up some will have to be on hold. (sigh)

Thanks for all the help & support.

Have a good weekend,
Bob S.

 

[ACP230]

Georgia Ammo might have .41 Magnum loads.
My brother used to buy them when he lived in Atlanta. I shot some of them when he came to visit and they seemed like good loads.

 

[DCWilson]

That's a flat-out great score. Congratulations. I am mostly a mid-century and prewar guy when it comes to Smiths, but the more recent N-frames with 3" barrels really call to me. So far I have only the Lew Horton 24-3, but I have been longing for a snubby .41 ever since I learned they existed.

Good on you. Hope you find that ammo soon and have a chance to test it out!

 

[kennyb]

put me on the list for wanting a 41 snub...its a great caliber and very easy to reload for...all my 41's have long tubes

 

[ENGINE18]

That gun is the answer to all of the "what is your favorite/would you carry/woods gun questions!" Perfect!

 

[m657]

re: "Not a single dealer around here has a box of ammo for it. Starline says they expect brass to be available sometime next month, so even loading up some will have to be on hold. (sigh)"

No problem....ship it out here & I'll open my ammo archives just for the occasion LOL!!!

 

[Messer]

That gun is the answer to all of the "what is your favorite/would you carry/woods gun questions!" Perfect!

I was thinking the same thing last night as I played... er, uh... examined the action and feel of this fine revolver.

I don't know if the previous owner did anything to the action, but this baby is Sweet!

Have a good weekend,
Bob S.

 

[Messer]

re: "Not a single dealer around here has a box of ammo for it. Starline says they expect brass to be available sometime next month, so even loading up some will have to be on hold. (sigh)"

No problem....ship it out here & I'll open my ammo archives just for the occasion LOL!!!

You're way too willing!

Of course - if you ever get out Virginia way, let me know, we'll go play.

Take care,
Bob S.

 

[Sportsterguy]

That gun is the answer to all of the "what is your favorite/would you carry/woods gun questions!" Perfect!

Mines a do all revolver. It's my winter carry weapon, house gun and loves the woods, coyotes and groundhogs.

Georgia Arms does have LSWC's for sale. Great plinking round. I have Speer Gold Dots that are for serious use and some old hard cast 220 grain hard cast rounds I purchased off of JD Jones when I was staioned in Kodiak Ak. for last ditch bear protection and deer hunting. They will shoot from stem to stern on a deer.

Highly recommend you invest in a reloading kit and roll your own. Much cheaper and fun to do on them crappy days.

.41 are like Lays chips. You can't just have one.

 

[Brian894x4]

Looking through the S&W book, I almost missed it, because it's barely mentioned, but apparently in 1986, there was a run of 3" models. This must be the only 3" 657s that were made except for the rare Horton run of 1998 and the Performance Center run in 1999.

The product code for the 1986 3" run is 103951. These featured round butt frame, red ramp front sight and white outline rear sights. Apparently only made in 1986. I wonder how many actually made it out the door?

 

[Doc Mark]

Evening, Guys,

I posted a note about my own 3" Lew Horton 657, in another thread. But, since others are sharing theirs, I figure I'd share mine, too. I got this one, back in the '80's, NIB with all the goodies, for just $300! I've been stoked about it ever since. It's a fantastic shooter, and at 25 yards, from the bench, it will shoot Remington 210 grain JSP's into one ragged hole, all day long. I've carried it up in Alaska, and in many other places, as my backpacking piece. It doesn't shoot the super heavy weight LBT WFN hard cast slugs as well as the 210 grainers, but it most certainly will do the job, if I do. Kicks quite a bit more with those bit LBT's, though! The holster is a Kramer IWB horsehide model, and it makes carrying this guy a real pleasure. Take care, and God Bless!

Every Good Wish,
Doc

 

[semperfi71]

Messer, thanks for the pics. Great gun, here's mine one of the rarest of all S & W .41 Magnums.

I have replaced the wood grips with rubber pachmayers. You may find that you might like your pachmayers because they allow a firm grasp on the handgun and help absorb recoil.

And yes, you must reload or find a reliable friend to do it for you, or let you do it on his gear.

I had heard for years how the stainless Smiths were not as smooth as the steel versions. This sixgun, and several other stainless Smiths I have, are smoother than some of my steel ones.

Doc Mark, love yours as well. I have the same grips on mine.

I too thought the 3 inch M657s would be a perfect backwoods/horseback weapon. In theory a .41 magnum with a 210 grain bullet at about 1100 fps should have less recoil than a 3 inch .44 magnum with a 240 grain bullet at 1100 fps. And if one uses the faster burning powders that will also reduce recoil. The addition of more velocity, in my singular opinion is not necessary.

However, with the price and collectablilty of the 3 inch M657s, I am reluctant to take it into the woods. BUT, they were made to shoot and not look at, although they are sexy sixguns.

 

[Messer]

Messer, thanks for the pics. Great gun, here's mine one of the rarest of all S & W .41 Magnums.

Good looking Lew Horton you have there SemperFi.

And yes, you must reload or find a reliable friend to do it for you, or let you do it on his gear.

I reload for a bunch of calibers already - I just need to get the fixins...

However, with the price and collectablilty of the 3 inch M657s, I am reluctant to take it into the woods. BUT, they were made to shoot and not look at, although they are sexy sixguns.

I keep running into this too - I bought a 8" Colt Anaconda cheap, shortly after they came out. Now it's worth so much I rarely take it out of the safe. My Python is in the same situation. Heck, I bought a used Ruger 10/22 off a guy needing money a few years back, now I find out it's a collectable (fingergroove stock).

Oh well - it IS fun to look for the gems out there.

Take care,
Bob S.

 

[boatswainsmate]

To bad it didn't come with these grips!

 

[optimizer999]

To bad it didn't come with these grips!

Ahoy Mate,
My 657 did. Back in 1987-88 a co-worker had an FFL and he would order us whatever we wanted out of Shotgun News AT HIS COST. Nada mark up. So I got my Lou Horton 3" M657 including a free S&W leather belt holster for around $235 NIB. If I had known what I learned in this thread, I would have bought a dozen. I fired it a couple times at the range but never carried it since it didn't quite fit the "free" holster. The gun has a target hammer and the larger spur prevents the thumblock from snapping shut. Shucks.

My other SNW coup was my M57 6" Nickel finish in a wooden presentation case. I bought this gun at a grocery store. Well, a grocery that also sold clothing, patio furniture, and sporting goods. They decided to get out of the gun business and had all of them on big discount. My M57 goncalo alves grips had a couple of chips out of the butt end of one scale. So to sweeten the deal they had installed a set of Mustang rubber grips to enhance market appeal. The wooden grips were still in the presentation case. I prefer the Mustangs since they fill my hand better and they absorb a lot of recoil shock. Even my wife enjoys shooting this hog leg. It may look like a pimp's gun, albeit a very large pimp, but it shoots like the dickens. I think I gave them $215 for it, plus some tax. I ruined the morning for a javalina with it that same year.
I love both of my .41 mags and wouldn't part with them for anything. I also have both boxes, paper work, and I believe the original receipts for both of them.

OBTW: My neighbor across the road owns a M57 4" Blue that has never been fired or carried. He and his XYL both like to steam fish in Oregon, near their summer place. They have spotted black bear on a number of trips and he decided to find a "beater" M57 to carry along just in case. He had exactly zero success with that so he finally bought a used Taurus 4" in 45LC at a gun show. A compromise, to say the least. The gun has that ugly Taurus round butt grip that looks too small for the gun. Plus the DA trigger is so far forward that I can't reach it, and I have fairly large hands. SA is fine. His hands are smaller, and he wonders why the gun consistently shoots low and right. I told him to aim high and left and hope for the best. He should have saved the $350 and bought a nice holster for the M57 IMHO.