So much for New Year's Resolutions. I told myself that I wouldn't look in the revolver case when I went to liberate my recently purchased .38/44s from California's 10-day holding cell today, but I couldn't help myself. And what I saw made me lay down more money on the spot.
In 10 more days I will be able to take home a Model 57 no-dash with 8 3/8" barrel, serial N305xxx (which dates it to 1975). W-I-D-E hammer; W-I-D-E trigger. W-I-D-E square butt target grips. The action is smooth; cylinder lock-up is great; the finish is excellent, save for a pronounced turn ring and a couple of very minor blemishes. This thing was never regularly pushed into or pulled out of a holster as part of its existence. The only non-original element is the discreet magnaporting on either side of the front sight. If there had been two of these side by side, one magnaported and one not, I would have taken the one without the ports. But the magnaporting was not bothersome enough to be a deal killer.
The gun has definitely been fired, but maybe not too much. There is some grime and soot in the gulf between the breech end of the barrel and the top frame, but no flame cutting to speak of. Wear marks show that the cylinder has been opened and closed a lot, as well as rotated. It's not clear that every opening or every trigger pull has been associated with live rounds in the chambers.
The side plate has been off at some point, and there are some micro-crinkles and tiny scratches at the plate edge in the usual damage positions just below the cylinder and near the hammer. The cylinder release latch is a little sticky, which makes me think that the plate will coming off again for a thorough cleaning as soon as I have this piece in my hands. I also want to clean out under the ejector, since the pushback I felt could be something in there.
All in all, there are only minor imperfections in a very nice unit. Pictures to come. Because everyone is interested in price, I'll confess to paying $750, which is steep in most states but not too bad for California. Adding in sales tax and transfer fees, I was under $850.
I consider this gun a shooter. Given the price of .41 ammo, it will probably be the gun that finally pushes me into handloading.
A NOTE ON BARREL LENGTH
I know that the preference today among many shooters, and maybe most, is for shorter barrels -- 3", 4", 5" tops. But those of us who were teenagers in the 1950s remember the appeal of those magazine revolver ads with long, long barrels. The emphasis on a lot of revolver shooting at that time was hunting or target work, not combat. Anybody whose wish list first took shape in that era probably appreciates the long-tube look and weight-forward feel in a way that the next generation just doesn't respond to. (Not that I am immune to the appeal of snubbies. Two of my favorite revolvers are short barrel .44 specials -- a 696 no-dash and one of those Lew Horton 24-3 models with a three-inch barrel that are regularly mentioned on this forum.)
I have to get photos of that one up too, not to mention the mid-'30s Outdoorsman and post-war Heavy Duty I just picked up today. Sounds like an extended camera session is in the offing for me.
David W.
Edited to add pictures on 1/29/09.
In 10 more days I will be able to take home a Model 57 no-dash with 8 3/8" barrel, serial N305xxx (which dates it to 1975). W-I-D-E hammer; W-I-D-E trigger. W-I-D-E square butt target grips. The action is smooth; cylinder lock-up is great; the finish is excellent, save for a pronounced turn ring and a couple of very minor blemishes. This thing was never regularly pushed into or pulled out of a holster as part of its existence. The only non-original element is the discreet magnaporting on either side of the front sight. If there had been two of these side by side, one magnaported and one not, I would have taken the one without the ports. But the magnaporting was not bothersome enough to be a deal killer.
The gun has definitely been fired, but maybe not too much. There is some grime and soot in the gulf between the breech end of the barrel and the top frame, but no flame cutting to speak of. Wear marks show that the cylinder has been opened and closed a lot, as well as rotated. It's not clear that every opening or every trigger pull has been associated with live rounds in the chambers.
The side plate has been off at some point, and there are some micro-crinkles and tiny scratches at the plate edge in the usual damage positions just below the cylinder and near the hammer. The cylinder release latch is a little sticky, which makes me think that the plate will coming off again for a thorough cleaning as soon as I have this piece in my hands. I also want to clean out under the ejector, since the pushback I felt could be something in there.
All in all, there are only minor imperfections in a very nice unit. Pictures to come. Because everyone is interested in price, I'll confess to paying $750, which is steep in most states but not too bad for California. Adding in sales tax and transfer fees, I was under $850.
I consider this gun a shooter. Given the price of .41 ammo, it will probably be the gun that finally pushes me into handloading.
A NOTE ON BARREL LENGTH
I know that the preference today among many shooters, and maybe most, is for shorter barrels -- 3", 4", 5" tops. But those of us who were teenagers in the 1950s remember the appeal of those magazine revolver ads with long, long barrels. The emphasis on a lot of revolver shooting at that time was hunting or target work, not combat. Anybody whose wish list first took shape in that era probably appreciates the long-tube look and weight-forward feel in a way that the next generation just doesn't respond to. (Not that I am immune to the appeal of snubbies. Two of my favorite revolvers are short barrel .44 specials -- a 696 no-dash and one of those Lew Horton 24-3 models with a three-inch barrel that are regularly mentioned on this forum.)
I have to get photos of that one up too, not to mention the mid-'30s Outdoorsman and post-war Heavy Duty I just picked up today. Sounds like an extended camera session is in the offing for me.
David W.
Edited to add pictures on 1/29/09.
