Did the Model 57 Have a Name ?

[Walter Rego]

Did the Model 57 .41 Magnum ever have a model name like for example, the Combat Magnum, Highway Patrolman and others or was it always simply known as just the Model 57 ?

 

[hkcavalier]

I believe the original booklet just called it ".41 Magnum Revolver Model No. 57". Nothing too sexy!

 

[Truckman]

Since it came into being after the switch to model numbers, I believe Model 57 is the only moniker it ever had......Ben

 

[murphydog]

It probably started out as the ".41 Magnum", but then "Target" had to be added to distinguish it from the ".41 Magnum Military & Police" or model 58.

Nothing unusual about the short name. Recall the .357 and .44 Magnums.

 

[JP@AK]

Since it came into being after the switch to model numbers, I believe Model 57 is the only moniker it ever had.

Ben

No, model numbers did not replace names, they were added to names. And yes, the Model 57 wasn't made before there were model numbers, but it got a name anyway. It was the .41 Magnum Target, while the Model 58 was the .41 Magnum Military & Police.

Added: Alan snuck in ahead of me.

 

[Truckman]

I learn something every time I clock in here......Ben

 

[Walter Rego]

I saw that .41 Magnum Target moniker but it seemd a bit odd to me, I understand that the Model 57 was conceived as a police duty and hunting weapon. But then again, did any Model 57's ever ship that weren't the full "3T's" Target optioned ?

 

[snw19_357]

But then again, did any Model 57's ever ship that weren't the full "3T's" Target optioned ?

With S&W, never say never but, no.
3Ts+ (TT/TH/TS/RR/WO) was "standard" for the .41 Magnum Target.

 

[shawn mccarver]

I thought the Model 58 was called .41 Military and Police Revolver, and the Model 57 was called the .41 Magnum Revolver.

 

[Truckman]

I thought the Model 58 was called .41 Military and Police Revolver, and the Model 57 was called the .41 Magnum Revolver.

Well, shut my mouth wide open!......Ben

 

[gunbarrel]

1977 Ads...

 

[Walter Rego]

The instructions that came with my Model 57 are identical to the one that Shawn McCarver shows above. It is simply the .41 Magnum Revolver. I wonder when & how the "Target" appellation got added to the name ?

I am reminded of how often the K-38 Masterpiece is referred to as the K-38 Target Masterpiece but the official name and the way the boxes were labeled was just the K-38 Masterpiece. It may be because when the later K-38 Combat Masterpiece was introduced, people felt the need to add the Target description to differentiate them by barrel length.

Dr. Jinks refers to it as simply the Model 57 .41 Magnum in his History of Smith & Wesson book, does anyone have a factory letter on a Model 57 that calls it a .41 Magnum Target ?

 

[Hair Trigger]

I think the "Target" appellation is applied to all (K and N frames, at least) revolvers that have adjustable sights, but not as part of their official name.
Here's the letters from SWHF for my M57 and M58, no mention of "Target" in the M57's name although it tells of having the 3T's. No mention of "Magnum" in the M58's name, I suppose maybe because there is no .41 Special to distinguish from.

 

[CH4]

I thought the Model 58 was called .41 Military and Police Revolver, and the Model 57 was called the .41 Magnum Revolver.

I am surprised they didn't call it the super duper distinguished combat magnum, or some such. 41 magnum seems a little mundane by Smith's standards.

 

[Jim Watson]

They were saving Distinguished Combat Magnum for the L frame guns.

 

[Doc44]

Don't forget the ultimate Combat Magnum, the Model 69.

Bill

 

[Hawg Rider]

Although S&W released these two revolver models as the ".41 Magnum Revolver Model No. 57" and ".41 Military & Police Revolver Model No. 58", the SCSW 4th Ed. refers to them as the "Model 57: .41 Magnum Target" and "Model 58: .41 Magnum Military and Police". This is to differentiate between the Model 57's square butt N target frame and the Model 58's square butt N service frame. I guess that technically we should refer to them as S&W did when they released them in February and July 1964, resp., but just plain old Model 57 and Model 58 works for me!

 

[Doc44]

The name of the Model 57 has always been 41 Magnum; the Model 58 is the .41 Military & Police. Magnum is a registered trademark of S&W.

The internal factory designation for the Model 57 is NT-410 (N-frame, Target, .410 caliber) and for the Model 58 is N-410 (N-frame, .410 caliber).

I strongly believe names and specifications for S&W handguns and other products should be based on S&W literature (i.e. catalogs, All Model Circulars, etc.). When collectors start making up names based on descriptions, confusion usually results (this includes publications such as the SCS&W).

Bill

 

[Photog]

Fred...mine was named Fred.....

 

[JP@AK]

I strongly believe names and specifications for S&W handguns and other products should be based on S&W literature (i.e. catalogs, All Model Circulars, etc.). When collectors start making up names based on descriptions, confusion usually results (this includes publications such as the SCS&W).

Bill
I completely agree. A good example is the 4" K target revolvers. The 6" K-38 is a K-38 Masterpiece; the 4" version is the .38 Combat Masterpiece, not a K-38 Combat Masterpiece. Same with the .22.

My mistake earlier in this thread was looking at the SCSW for the Model 58, etc. And I should have looked at the box for my Model 57.