First year Model 57-Shipped May 1964

[bravastar1]

I pulled this one out of the safe for the first time in several years. I had forgotten how nice the Cokes and velvet lining look on this beauty. I also found the sales receipt in the box. I paid $950.00 shipped in 2010. Does anyone know what month the first 57's were shipped in and how many were shipped in the velvet lined box?

 

[22hipower]

Very nice, can't help with how many or when, although not many shipped with the velour lined box.

Jeff
SWCA #1457

 

[mmande]

That question came up at the Tulsa symposium this year as I was displaying an April, 1964 shipped 57 just like yours. We looked up Bill Cross for an answer. The 57 was announced for sale to the public starting April, 1964. Bill said that a few guns were sent to writers for magazine articles in March.
Bill would also have an answer about the velvet lined boxes if he chimes in.
Mike

 

[rubiranch]

That's a beautiful M-57.

 

[AC Man]

I don't know the answer to any of your questions, I am just glad to have a 4" revolver velour box like yours. Now you got me curious.

 

[scout II]

Beautiful model 57. I love the imprint the gun left in the velvet liner, it looks perfect.

 

[SuperMan]

Beautiful gun...my favorite Smiths....

Bob

 

[usedkid]

Serial # S237631, 6 inch shipped March 10, 1964 to Freelance writer Col. Jeff Cooper...
One of 22 units of this model sent out to the top handgun writers in the United States to promote its introduction.

 

[AC Man]

Get yourself Smith and Wesson catalog book. It tells you everything period I have one of those too with a 4 inch, 1 of my favorites. Your price is at least half. What's I go for today?

 

[Doc44]

The first Model 57 was shipped to Remington Arms on February 18, 1964. It has an 8 3/8-inch barrel. It is unknown how many Model 57s were shipped in a velour-lined presentation case. By the summer of 1965, the velour lining was replaced with a dark blue lining of heavy cloth and followed shortly thereafter by the "clamshell" case. If this timing is correct, the velour-lined case was used for approximately fifteen months. I don't have production data for the Model 57, but could guess the number of guns shipped at 3000 plus during this time period as the Model 57 was not as popular as the Model 29 when introduced.

Bill

 

[captstan]

I have S237475, lettered, shipped April 14th, 1964. The letter states it was shipped in the first month of production. Unfortunately it does not have the cokes on it.