Correct presentation case for first year 57.

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Back in February 2023 I posted a thread on a new to me Model 57 and I wondered if it might be a first year .41 magnum. In the photo I provided, Doc44 noticed the presentation case lining was the satin type and probably not correct for a first year gun.

Shortly after I lettered the revolver and find it was shipped in April 1964. So I started my search for a velour lined case. Well good fortune has shined on me and a really nice one has come along.

So now I have two nice early Model 57 cases of which some folks tell me the satin lined one might be the most rare.

Here are two photos of the .41 in its old and new case. The mop in the velour case is brass even though it looks like aluminum in the photo.

Narragansett said he would not have bought the gun as shown in the first case because of the dirty mop, so I'm glad to have corrected that mistake😁.
 

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Assuming the satin lined case is mahogany, it would date to sometime in the summer/early fall of 1965 before the Model 57 was shipped in the clamshell style of case. It could be considered a "transition" case for this model I suppose. This style was only used for a few months.

A closer look suggests the case was made for a 6 1/2-inch Model 29 and probably dates to 1959. Still a transition case as few 44 Magnums were shipped in that year in mahogany cases with a satin lining before the clamshell case was introduced in the spring of 1960.

Regardless of which scenario is correct, the case is fairly rare.

Bill
 
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Oh, thank you so much for that information Doc. I'm glad to know what I really have.

Here are a couple of photos of the case in question. I don't think the wood looks like mahogany. When I study the revolver lying on the satin lining a little closer, that 6 inch barrel seems a bit short. Was this your thought as well? I think your analogy is spot on.

I'm doubly glad to have a correct case now. This 57 deserves it as it may not have been fired outside of the factory.
 

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The case is made of mahogany and I think it dates to 1959 (made for a Model 29 with a 6 1/2-inch barrel). S&W shipped a few Model 29s in this type of case as the company transitioned from the dark blue case to the clamshell case. I have a similar case for a 44 Magnum with an 8 3/8-inch barrel that dates to December 1958. The long barreled 44 Magnum was never shipped in a dark blue case and used a mahogany case with a satin lining for over a year until the clamshell case was introduced in 1960.

Bill
 
The case is made of mahogany and I think it dates to 1959 (made for a Model 29 with a 6 1/2-inch barrel). S&W shipped a few Model 29s in this type of case as the company transitioned from the dark blue case to the clamshell case. I have a similar case for a 44 Magnum with an 8 3/8-inch barrel that dates to December 1958. The long barreled 44 Magnum was never shipped in a dark blue case and used a mahogany case with a satin lining for over a year until the clamshell case was introduced in 1960.

Bill

Thank you again Doc. I hope you will comment on the clasp question that Rusty parrot poses.
 
Rusty Parrot has a good point. Is the material in the top of the case sponge rubber and is the material in the bottom Styrofoam? If yes, the case dates to 1969-1974 and the inserts have been recovered with satin cloth.

The questions being discussed were asked because the case seems to have been made for a Model 29 with a 6 1/2-inch barrel.

I have included photos of my case for a 44 Magnum shipped in December 1958. Note the cloth piece connecting the lid and bottom of the case. The latches are the old style seen on the blue cases.

Bill

doc44-albums-presentation-cases-44-magnum-picture326-mahogany-presentation-case-cloth-interior-old-style-accessories-44-magnum-late-1958-early-1960-most-often-found-guns-8-3-8-inch-barrel.jpg


doc44-albums-presentation-cases-44-magnum-picture14270-may-1960-a.jpg
 
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The bottom of the case insert is cardboard with cut outs. The top is soft but I'm not sure if it is sponge rubber.
 
The top of my case (shown) is cardboard. The cardboard bottom with cut outs is correct for a 1959 early 1960 case. I don't know when the latches changed, but it could have been in late 1959 to early 1960. I think you have one of the rare ones, and that is why we don't know much about them. These cases are rarely seen.

Bill
 
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Thank you once again Doc. I appreciate your time and input regarding this case. I would not want to misrepresent it in the future. I'll make notes on the details and and set it aside with other S&W collectables.

Best regards.
 
Back in February 2023 I posted a thread on a new to me Model 57 and I wondered if it might be a first year .41 magnum. In the photo I provided, Doc44 noticed the presentation case lining was the satin type and probably not correct for a first year gun.

Shortly after I lettered the revolver and find it was shipped in April 1964. So I started my search for a velour lined case. Well good fortune has shined on me and a really nice one has come along.

So now I have two nice early Model 57 cases of which some folks tell me the satin lined one might be the most rare.

Here are two photos of the .41 in its old and new case. The mop in the velour case is brass even though it looks like aluminum in the photo.

Narragansett said he would not have bought the gun as shown in the first case because of the dirty mop, so I'm glad to have corrected that mistake😁.

Congrats! That is a fine model 57. It always amazes me how people buy a rare gun and the seller is not aware. They are always aware and want double when I come along. LOL
 
Just for comparison, here's my 4" Model 57 in an original mahogany presentation case from 1978. It was relined by one of our resident case experts, jcelect. You've got a very nice Model 57 and a couple of nice mahogany presentation cases. Enjoy!
 

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Really nice Hawg Rider. An N-frame four inch nickeled revolver is very easy on the eyes. Thanks for sharing the photo.
 
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