I finally found a barrel for my Model 57 *Update* got it back! See pics in post #8

[tlawler]

I picked up this early S-serial Model 57 for a good price at a gun show about three years ago. Price was so good because the barrel was damaged somewhere along the line and bubba fixed it. I thought, hey no problem, I'll just pick up a clean takeoff barrel and swap it out. So I looked and looked, but to no avail. Model 58 takeoffs are plentiful but the 57's seemed non-existant. But my perseverance paid off! I happened across this one on gb and held my breath for ten days while the auction ran its course, thinking there's gonna be a bidding war at the end. But alas, I was the only bidder and got it at the starting bid of $150. It was in the mail when I got home today, so I grabbed it and beat feet over to my local gunsmith and dropped it off. It even has the lazy ampersand and I can change the front sight back to original later, but I might like the red ramp sight.

 

[rubiranch]

That's awesome!!!!

Glad you had the perseverance to keep looking and found what you were looking for.

 

[SS57]

Good for you to hang in there. She should be a beauty when you get her back. I have a soft spot for 57's. 3 soft spots to be exact.

 

[SuperMan]

Great for you...it will make things right again...

Which front sight configuration did you get:
Ramp pinned to the barrel
Ramp machined with the barrel and blade pinned to the ramp
Barrel, ramp and blade all machined as one unit

Bob

 

[Art Doc]

I thought the 57 came with a red ramp. Mine did.

 

[tlawler]

I thought the 57 came with a red ramp. Mine did.

You're right. I was thinking the early ones didn't have the red ramp until I checked SCSW.

 

[rbmac52]

From the original post:

"Price was so good because the barrel was damaged somewhere along the line and bubba fixed it."

Looks like Bubba cut a few inches off the original barrel, as well.

 

[tlawler]

My Model 57 wearing her new barrel

Got the call from the gunsmith on the way home. I had just enough time to get there before he closed. She's looking so much better, don't you think?

 

[muddocktor]

It looks great, tlawler!!

 

[SuperMan]

Beautiful...the 4" 57 is my favorite Smith....

 

[Geronimo Jim]

Winner, winner, chicken dinner. A beauty!

 

[wood714]

Got the call from the gunsmith on the way home. I had just enough time to get there before he closed. She's looking so much better, don't you think?

I think I'm more impressed that you dropped it off at your smith on June 3rd, and got it back on June 6th of the same year.

 

[tlawler]

I think I'm more impressed that you dropped it off at your smith on June 3rd, and got it back on June 6th of the same year.

Small town, and I guess he's not too busy right now. I admit I was a little surprised too. I expected a couple of weeks.

 

[usm1rifle]

I like the red ramp.

Great looking 57.

 

[WILDPIG]

I want that!

WILDPIG

 

[Bob L]

Very Very Sharp!! You done good!

 

[HamHands]

Got the call from the gunsmith on the way home. I had just enough time to get there before he closed. She's looking so much better, don't you think?

She's a 10 now! Excuse me if I missed exactly what was wrong with the original barrel... I know you said there was a "Bubba Fix" but I missed what the original problem was... please do tell though! And I like the "Lazy Ampersand" by the way... adds so much character to me! I love the way she turned out brother! Good looking Revo, good times and good shooting are wished upon you!

 

[shouldazagged]

It's beautiful.

 

[ameridaddy]

Got the call from the gunsmith on the way home. I had just enough time to get there before he closed. She's looking so much better, don't you think?

That's a purrty handful; love the dark grips. Well done!

 

[toddimusnimski]

She's a 10 now! Excuse me if I missed exactly what was wrong with the original barrel... I know you said there was a "Bubba Fix" but I missed what the original problem was... please do tell though! And I like the "Lazy Ampersand" by the way... adds so much character to me! I love the way she turned out brother! Good looking Revo, good times and good shooting are wished upon you!

Looks like the barrel had been cut down, and then not crowned. It sure looks great now! I love a happy ending.

 

[S&WsRsweet]

Sure is a beautiful gun very buisness looking also

 

[HamHands]

Looks like the barrel had been cut down, and then not crowned. It sure looks great now! I love a happy ending.

I thought the end of the barrel looked a bit flat... Why anyone "even BuBa" would take the time to disassemble and cut down a barrel and then not crown it properly is beyond me! Sure looks good now and was worth the wait!

 

[Balloon Meister]

Congratulations on the great find. The model 57 is by far my favorite pistol. I love shooting it, and take great pride in having it in my collection.
Enjoy your "New" pistol as soon as you get it back from your smithy.

 

[tlawler]

She's a 10 now! Excuse me if I missed exactly what was wrong with the original barrel... I know you said there was a "Bubba Fix" but I missed what the original problem was... please do tell though! And I like the "Lazy Ampersand" by the way... adds so much character to me! I love the way she turned out brother! Good looking Revo, good times and good shooting are wished upon you!

I suspect that a previous owner had a squib round and then bulged the barrel with the subsequent shot, though I have no way of knowing what actually happened. Then the barrel was cut down, not recrowned, and the front sight reattached in a very bubba fashion. Under recoil, the sight worked loose and proceeded to destroy the top rib. Cutting the barrel down made the rollmarks way off center also.
When I first encountered it at the gun show and saw the condition of the barrel, I was about to set it back down and move on. Just for the heck of it, I opened the cylinder to check the s/n and saw it was an "S" prefix, and pretty low number also...only about 16,000 higher than what SCSW gave as the first s/n. He was asking $600 and we finally settled on $500 due to the barrel condition. I saw the potential right away, but had no idea how hard it would be finding a replacement barrel. I had just about given up and was considering sending it off to Ford's to see what they could salvage from what was left of the barrel and after seeing the results of SAFireman's recent Model 58 project done by them.

 

[steelslaver]

Looks like the ramp was also either way messed up or not an original ramp. Way shallower angle on ramp. blade pin way high, blade to ramp fit real poor. etc etc.

You did good with the new barrel.

You added pictures while I was typing. That ramp is a terrible mess. That was a Bubba job for sure.

 

[rubiranch]

Small town, and I guess he's not too busy right now. I admit I was a little surprised too. I expected a couple of weeks.

He might just have really liked your gun and couldn't wait to work on it and moved you up on waiting list.

 

[HamHands]

I suspect that a previous owner had a squib round and then bulged the barrel with the subsequent shot, though I have no way of knowing what actually happened. Then the barrel was cut down, not recrowned, and the front sight reattached in a very bubba fashion. Under recoil, the sight worked loose and proceeded to destroy the top rib. Cutting the barrel down made the rollmarks way off center also.
When I first encountered it at the gun show and saw the condition of the barrel, I was about to set it back down and move on. Just for the heck of it, I opened the cylinder to check the s/n and saw it was an "S" prefix, and pretty low number also...only about 16,000 higher than what SCSW gave as the first s/n. He was asking $600 and we finally settled on $500 due to the barrel condition. I saw the potential right away, but had no idea how hard it would be finding a replacement barrel. I had just about given up and was considering sending it off to Ford's to see what they could salvage from what was left of the barrel and after seeing the results of SAFireman's recent Model 58 project done by them.

Fantastic explanation and pics!

 

[Texas Star]

I see that you're in FL. All set now if an alligator invades your home...

Or a Burmese python or a Nile water monitor lizard.

That 's a nice looking M-57.

 

[SuperMan]

..that was a mess...and probably the worst "gunsmithing" job I've ever seen... Hope someone didn't pay to have that dome...

From the position of the S&W logo on the barrel it looks like that may have been a 6 or 8 3/8" gun originally...both lengths had the printing in about the same place...

 

[SuperMan]

The replacement barrel looks like the sight base is pinned to the barrel rib with two pins...if that is correct you really lucked out because that would be the style of barrel the 1964-1968/9 57s came with....