657 Hunter???

[SuperMan]

Friend called while I was on vacation stating he had a 657 Hunter on hold but had decided not to get it and did I want it... As the price was right I said sure...

Not sure if it is a real "Hunter" but it shoots very well.



That was 50' and the one out was my fault...

Now the question... I looked in the Standard Catalog of S&W... The gun is a -2 made in 1991 but the only Hunter models I see listed have either a 6.5" or 7.5" barrel and an unfluted cylinder. It also said that the 1991 Hunter came with Hogue grips... This one has standard Targets and another I saw much like it sold on GunBroker last week also had standard Target grips but did have the unfluted cylinder...

Also it appears to be factory D&T for a scope mount..
Opinions and information welcome...Bob

 

[Cal44]

I just got a 657-3 classic hunter.

I does come with Hogues.

 

[SuperMan]

..I'm mainly wondering where the fluted cylinder came from....original or someone who didn't like the unfluted replacing the original...

Is that a 6.5 or 7.5" barrel??

Bob

 

[ko41]

The target stocks pre-date the revolver by 10 years or so.
I'm thinking the un-fluted cylinder might have been swapped out for the fluted.

Product code 103958 Classic Hunter with the fluted cylinder is a 657-3 it had a color case hardened hammer and trigger and had laser instead of roll marked barrel, Smith & Wesson on left side and .41 Magnum Classic Hunter on the right side.

So my WAG is it is a 103820 Classic Hunter with a stock and cylinder swap. Hogue grips and d&t were standard.

What is the serial prefix?

Nice revolver whatever it may be.

http://smith-wessonforum.com/s-w-re...dsons-dealer-specials-regular-production.html

KO

 

[Cal44]

There seems to be some ambiguity about cylinders. In the Standard Catalog, there is a paragraph about the classic hunter where it says the CH had unfluted cylinders. And then, right after that there is a picture of a classic hunter with a fluted cylinder.

As best as I can determine from reading about my gun, they shipped them both ways at different points in time.

There were several different runs of CHs over the years.

So that cylinder may be original.

 

[ko41]

There seems to be some ambiguity about cylinders. In the Standard Catalog, there is a paragraph about the classic hunter where it says the CH had unfluted cylinders. And then, right after that there is a picture of a classic hunter with a fluted cylinder.

As best as I can determine from reading about my gun, they shipped them both ways at different points in time.

There were several different runs of CHs over the years.

So that cylinder may be original.

The 657 in that photo appears to have the features of Product Code 103958 that I mentioned in my previous post.

This is the first issue Classic Hunter 657-2 which I believe yours is one of Bob, later 657-3 Classic Hunters came in square butt or round butt with rubber grips. One version (103948) came with Altamont round to square wood grips and another (103958) had the fluted cylinder.

Of course S&W could have run out of un-fluted cylinders the day they built that one and grabbed a fluted one for it instead.

KO

 

[SuperMan]

Thanks for all the information. When I get the grips off I'll post the number.

This gun has NO play in the cylinder. When it locks up it almost feels like a Freedom Arms.

Pretty sure I have a set of original S&W marked Hogue grips at home in the parts bin. They shoot pretty well for me so maybe I'll put the gun back to original. I have a set on a 6" 657-3 and they do well... Or since this is so special I'll buy a set of nice wood Hogues...

..and really glad I got an odd-ball as I like the fluted cylinder over the unfluted... Except for the 686-7 .38 Super don't think I own an unfluted Smith.

Bob

 

[ajaxinfinitum]

80's/90's Stollen collection, now shopping. BOTH Classic Hunter Models 657-1 AND -2, unfluted AND fluted .41 mag, HOGUE grips, tridium sights. Models 686; 617 also.