657: Need some help from the experts

[Monstermuley24]

Any help with year of manufacture and any other info would be awesome. Thank you

Serial number BBA9020

657 no dash 4 inch w/unfluted cylinder

 

[Hawg Rider]

According to the "SCSW 4th Ed.", your Model 657 (s/n BBA9020) was manufactured in 1988. The Model 657 was introduced in 1986, but in 1988 the 4" bbl. was discontinued, and the Model 657-1 was released. If yours is definitely not stamped 657-1, you probably have an early 1988 657 (no dash) revolver since it is a 4". The fluted cylinder was standard, but you probably have Product Code 103950 which is a 4" bbl. and unfluted cylinder. Perhaps some Forum members with more knowledge will be along soon to help out. Regardless, you have a very nice .41 Magnum revolver...we'd appreciate seeing a few pictures!

 

[Monstermuley24]

Thank you very much for the info, greatly appreciated. I will get some photos up soon.

 

[ko41]

Your 657 might be one like in owned by member 41collector in Post #22 in this thread 657-41 Magnum-Lew Horton-RSR-Davidson's-Dealer Specials and Regular Production

41collector states that his gun shipped in March of 1999, but the serial number indicates a 1988 build. I have never seen one in person, but a friend of mine had one, but had sold it before I met him. The gun had a satin finish with an unfluted cylinder and smooth magna stocks. It shipped in a cardboard box with an "American Eagle" sleeve.

KO

 

[BigMuddy]

Here’s mine. Product code 103950



And guess what? It’s serial number is consecutive to the OP’s!!!!

Mine came (used) in the cardboard box but no sleeve and was wearing Hogue grips. I tried a set of smooth magnas but it isn’t much fun to shoot with them

Dan

 

[Monstermuley24]

Thanks for reaching out guys! When I first considered buying the gun, 41collectors photo of his 657 was the only thing I could see that resembled the gun I purchased. I’m pretty confident it is the same configuration. Only difference being the one I purchased did not come with factory correct stocks and had been magna ported. The porting wouldn’t be my first choice but isn’t a deal breaker for me. These guns are hard to find and it’s nice to snag them when you can.

Big muddy, pretty cool they share consecutive SN. Don’t run into that very often.

I’ll get some photos up soon.

Thanks again guys

 

[BigMuddy]

I just shot mine yesterday. Like all 41’s it seems, it shoots great. I bet yours will too. I don’t know much about this version but I am guessing they were some clean up parts guns. The un-fluted cylinder has the longer bolt stop notches like the endurance package guns, but the cylinder stop is smaller like the earlier versions. Whatever they are, they’re cool. If you ever decide to get rid of that gun consecutive to mine remember me. . Don’t think I have any plans to let mine go.

Dan

 

[Monstermuley24]

Dan,

If it leaves my ownership you will be the first to know. Looking forward to doing some shooting with it

 

[Monstermuley24]

Finally had a chance to get some photos up

 

[BigMuddy]

Finally had a chance to get some photos up

Looks like a red ramp sight was added.Great guns aren’t they?
Have you fired it yet? Mine likes anything I have fed it so far.

Dan

 

[moralem]

Mine has a red ramp as well, picked it up a year or two ago for around 700.

 

[BigMuddy]

Getting that 3” for $700 would have been a good price…. 20 years ago. Getting it for that price a couple years ago was a steal. Yes your gun came with an integral red ramp front sight. I have not seen a 657 with the pinned blade with a factory red ramp.

I had one of the 3” guns but sold it many years ago. I think they look great but found I prefer a 4” (or longer) barrel.

Dan

 

[Monstermuley24]

Bigmuddy,

I haven’t got around to shooting it yet but looking forward to it

 

[Tri Tip]

As you can see, the thumbpiece is MIM. The hammer has a firing pin and
the hammer and trigger ar NOT "flash chromed". It looks to be manufactured in 1997. In the later years leading up to the internal lock and hard times for Smith & Wesson, to cut cost they stopped the flash chrome process on some guns as you can see in the pictures. The Standard Catolog of Smith & Wesson has all this information. I suggest a ll members and S&W collectors/buyers own this book.

 

[BigMuddy]

My 657-3 hammer/trigger are not flash chromed either, and I prefer that. My other 657 ND has the chrome parts and don’t look as good in my opinion. I like the contrast of the case hardened parts. One thing they all have in common…. GREAT shooters.

These non-fluted guns have the longer cylinder stop notches of the endurance package but the cylinder stop is not the longer version.

Dan

 

[biku324]

I just haven't had any success finding a 4" 657, any dash, at a rational price.

 

[Brody3404]

i picked up a 657-4 this week the condition is ok, it has a ccr serial number 6.5 barrel has hunter classic on one side of the barrel and smith & wesson on the other side. can someone help me with the date and some history please? i saw it at a pawn shop and had to have it!