Did the Model 57 Have a Name ?

[Walter Rego]

I'm going to list it as a Smith & Wesson Model 57 .41 Magnum in my collection inventory records. I agree with Mr. Cross that we should use the descriptions from the All Model Circulars, catalogs and instruction sheets. It may seem a bit pedantic but I like to be correct.

 

[Rudi]

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

Or we could all just call them the "Really Cool" model?

 

[KyleeMarks]

The Model 57 .41 Magnum was mainly known just by its model number. Unlike some other Smith & Wesson revolvers, it didn't have a specific name like the Combat Magnum or Highway Patrolman. It seems like it was just referred to as the Model 57 across the board. Simple and straightforward, I guess.

 

[Llance]

My brother says it should be called the Model 57, .41 Magnum, Heavy. It seems he is of the belief that it requires two gun bearers and one small bearer in training to pack one on safari. My brother is older and meaner than me, so I go by his choice of name.

 

[6string]

Gun World June 1964: New .41 Magnum!

One of the first articles, if not the first, in print, on the model 57 appeared in the June 1964 issue of Gun World.
The term "model 57" only appears near the end of the article. Elsewhere, they just call it the ".41 Magnum".

It is, by the way, a really great article! It was a joint staff article that included Duke Roberts and Dan Cotterman, and a few others.
(Ahh, the good old days of the classic gun mags).
The gun arrived before ammo was readily available. They had six rounds to work with! So they had some reloading dies custom made, as well as a set of bullet swaging dies.
Of course, there was no load data available either. So, they just worked up loads with 2400 and clocked them with their Avtron T-333 chronograph, an expensive piece of gear back in the day!
They did the usual penetration tests, recoil comparisons, and all that good stuff. Ha!

When I first read that article as a kid, I really envied the opportunity they had to forge new territory, as well as their resourcefulness!

I've attached a few excerpts just for fun!

 

[carelesslove]

Naming the .41 Magnum ?

carelesslove, here !

With the exception of the number of replies in this thread - I would have called the .41 Magnum - "The Forgotten Magnum" !

I have a couple - including a 1980-ish M57, in 8 3/8" - that I obtained at a pawn shop many years ago. After trying to make it shoot consistently for a while, I gave up on it and pushed it to the back of the safe. Hence: Forgotten.

I pulled it out and gave it a try a couple of years ago and still had trouble getting it to group consistently. Then, I finally figured out that one cylinder hole was always a little "off".

As it turns out, there was a crack in the cylinder wall - well away from the bolt notches. It was very hard to see / detect, and I am sure I would never have seen it, if it hadn't started stretching / cracking cases in higher pressure loads.

Immediately ceasing all shooting activities and returning it to the "Mother Ship", I realized there was little, or no chance of finding a vintage cylinder.

So, still liking the old revolver (and its' 4" "sister"), I decided to invest in this one, by paying for a new, non-recessed cylinder, a total re-finish and maybe a "run" through the Performance Center.

A small fortune later, I have "mini" FrankenSmith, (with little, or no collector value) that looks good and really shoots fast (velocity-wise) and accurately !

The tight (dead-on 0.410") & consistent cylinder throats and whatever extra time spent on fitting, yielded a more modern, great shooting revolver that I will keep & shoot - just for spite ! Her "upfit" was totally acceptable.

So, maybe not a "Forgotten Magnum" anymore, it fits well into its' corner of the safe that I call "the Isle of Misfit Toys".

Tom "carelesslove" Love

 

[19leben]

If we follow Smith & Wesson's formula for naming the guns prior to Model numbers (S&W .357 Magnum, .S&W .44 Magnum) it would have simply been the "S&W .41 Magnum".

 

[AC Man]

I have a few model 57's from the first year 1964 to the last year around 1980. Later on they referred to them as 57 no dash. After that they were referred to as dash whatever. That's all I have heard them called. They are all 41 magnum.