M57 surgery was successful

[SuperMan]

NICELY done...nothing like a 60s vintage 57...

Did late "S" prefix 57/29s have Cokes until the stocks were changed to non-diamond Target stocks in the 1968/9 area? I didn't think they ever had diamond Target stocks like the 25/27 did...

Bob

 

[JohnRippert]

I agree that a nice set of factory targets would finish the "surgery" so nicely. Good work on the removal.

 

[diecidecimi]

I have to admit: that rib weighs down the line of the gun, even more than a Llama y Gabilondo Comanche. Anyway.... despite this, I like it just to play with.

 

[Truckman]

I remember when Pachmayr sold glue-on vent ribs.
A dealer here beautified his personal Ruger SBH with one.

I recall seeing those advertised in gun mags of the day...I often thought of getting one for my own Ruger SBH, but never did......Ben

 

[rct269]

"----------how are vent ribs functional on a shotgun?"

My best recollection, from a looooooooong time ago: They dissipate heat, thereby preventing/mitigating "heat waves" that otherwise interfere with your vision.

Now we clearly are not talking about tromping around in the weeds after the occasional poor defenseless little rabbit, but rather standing on our hind legs whammity-bamming A BUNCH of poor defenseless clay birds in competition on a skeet/trap field, or sporting clays course.

That said, and while I had several shotguns with vent ribs, I never shot them in any sort of competition except against friends and neighbors out in the front field----where there was more flab-gabbing than shooting going on.

There are those who will tell you the nice, flat top of the rib makes for a helpful aid in aiming. I will tell you if you've made the effort to have your shotguns fit to you, and to mount your gun the exact, same way EVERY time, there's no aiming going on----just seeing. And what you see is what you hit---each and every shot! It almost gets monotonous----almost.

My first experience---WAY back when, with my first shotgun (Browning Auto 5) was an eye opener!! Now I clearly had a BIG advantage, because my gunsmith's day job was as "the wood guy" at Browning's faciiity in the St. Louis area. So here we are in his shop. I'm in one corner, he's in the diagonal opposite corner----a good ways off. "Shoot me in the eye!", says he. I do just that---several times. He then takes my BRAND NEW shotgun over to a belt sander, and GGGGGGGRRRRRRRRIIIIIIIIIIIINNNNNNDDDDDDDDDDSSSSSSS on top of the stock!!!! I was properly horrified, but I was over it after the fourth or fifth repetition, when he asked, "Do you want a recoil pad on it?" I did. "I'll call you when it's ready." He did.

I have NEVER missed with that gun----NEVER!! The bad news is your friends will come to hate you before your very next hunting trip is even half over. You'll get so you let them shoot first (and miss), before you take your shot.

Ralph Tremaine

 

[Doc44]

Your Model 57 would have stocks like those shown in the photo below. The last Model 29 or 57 with diamond targets made of Goncalo alves dates to January 1969 and has a serial number in the S300000 range. Note the area where the stocks meet the trigger guard as this area was modified in 1975 to shorten the wood and the overall profile of the stocks changed (see second photo).

Coke bottle stocks on the Model 29 and 57 were phased out beginning in early 1966 and replaced by diamond target stocks made of Goncalo alves.

Bill

 

[biblethumpincop]

I'm glad you are happy! I like the rib though and thought of getting one and putting it on my Taurus 761 in 32 mag! Let me know if you need to give it a free home!

 

[Hair Trigger]

Your Model 57 would have stocks like those shown in the photo below. The last Model 29 or 57 with diamond targets made of Goncalo alves dates to January 1969 and has a serial number in the S300000 range.

Bill

The SN on my M57 is S319531. SCSW puts that in 1968-69 with the grouping S305000-S329999 (almost in the middle). It was a bit confusing to me when I got my Letter that the gun's ship date is 6/23/1970. I am aware that the ship date could be days, weeks or months removed from when the gun rolled off the assembly line. I sort of figured mine was not an ordered gun but a standard production gun and was boxed and stuck on a shelf until someone wanted a 6" version. Since I didn't get the original stocks, I sort of felt they were supposed to be the diamond GA targets and were sold separately or kept for another gun. If not diamond GA's I don't think my M57 is that far from the transition to non diamond GA Targets, the Letter also states it was shipped with checkered GA Targets. I didn't expect them to be Cokes.
The Letter also mentioned it was shipped with a mahogany presentation case, which I also didn't get.
I would appreciate your thoughts, Bill. Thanks for your reply.

 

[Inland7-45]

M57

After seeing the resurrected thread on M57's elsewhere today, I decided I was going to see if I could remove the accessory vented rib that was on the M57 I bought a couple of years ago. I found it at a gun show, had Altamont stocks that didn't really look good on it, plus a vented rib, a la Dan Wesson or Colt Python. I didn't want to pass on the gun, it was an "S" prefix and the finish was 90%. The stocks got replaced with nicer Altamonts and I figured I could live with the rib.

Unique as it looked, I've never been able to get my head around the rib, it was not original and made the gun look too different. However, it was nicely installed, not screwed on but bonded somehow. I finally decided today, it was coming off, one way or the other. I had examined it through a strong 15X magnifier, and determined the bonding agent was some sort of silicone gasket cement. My fear was damaging the gun's rib trying to get the vented rib off, mainly scratching it or removing the bluing somehow. Using a metal tool to dig the adhesive or pry the rib was not an option, so what I came up with was a plastic tool used to remove door panels from cars. You know the kind, they have a thin end and you pry between the panel and metal door with them. Well I wedged the thin end next to the front sight and the accessory rib, lifting it ever so slightly. I took a surgical scalpel and cut the adhesive, keeping the blade against the accessory rib. Then I moved the plastic tool further up and wedged it again, repeated with the scalpel, and once I got to where the barrel joined the frame, the accessory rib popped off.

I hadn't scratched the revolver, the rib was off, but the grooves in the barrel rib were full of the adhesive. Using the plastic tool, I started rubbing the adhesive and then using a stiff toothbrush to remove the loosened adhesive. A final cleaning with a fine brass brush, then some solvent and a plastic bristle brush, and the rib was clean.

I love having a nice, stock appearing M57 now. I have a letter request out to SWHF, I want to see what the ship date is so I can find a set of period correct target stocks. The SN dates it to 1968, possibly 1969; I want to see if diamonds are correct (hope so).

I'm a long-winded old fart, but here are a few pics, before and after:

Very nice 57. That bright blue is spectacular. That black oxide finish on their new stuff just doesn't compare.

I don't have a .41 Mag but I do have a model 29-2 with coke bottle stocks and a Ruger Super Blackhawk.

If a nice 57 or 58 every comes my way I won't pass it up. I already reload for a total of 16 calibers so what's one more.

Congratulations, this is a really nice find.

 

[Inland7-45]

My model 29-2 was shipped in 1965. Stocks are Coke Bottle made from a very nice piece of Goncalo Alves. It also has a pinned on front sight base. I believe that S&W made the switch to the integral front sight in 1969 or 70.

 

[Doc44]

I currently have two Model 29-2s in my collection that were shipped in 1969, namely, S316488, shipped on August 19, and S317873, shipped on September 26. Both have non-diamond target stocks made of Goncalo alves. The correct style of presentation case for your Model 57 is shown in the photo below. However, if you find one, it will need to be restored as the covering for the inserts deteriorated rapidly in this style of case.

Given the serial number of your Model 57, it was probably manufactured in late 1969, but due to the lack of interest in this caliber at the time, was not shipped until 1970. Not that unusual for a S&W revolver. It is also possible the frame with this serial number was "discovered" in 1970 and used to complete a Model 57. I have seen this happen and know of a Model 28-2 with an S prefix serial number that was not shipped until July 1972 (the serial number would have normally been shipped in 1968).

Based on my experience, your Model 57 would have shipped with non-diamond target stocks made of Goncalo alves (top photo in my earlier post).

Bill

 

[Hair Trigger]

I currently have two Model 29-2s in my collection that were shipped in 1969, namely, S316488, shipped on August 19, and S317873, shipped on September 26. Both have non-diamond target stocks made of Goncalo alves. The correct style of presentation case for your Model 57 is shown in the photo below. However, if you find one, it will need to be restored as the covering for the inserts deteriorated rapidly in this style of case.

Given the serial number of your Model 57, it was probably manufactured in late 1969, but due to the lack of interest in this caliber at the time, was not shipped until 1970. Not that unusual for a S&W revolver. It is also possible the frame with this serial number was "discovered" in 1970 and used to complete a Model 57. I have seen this happen and know of a Model 28-2 with an S prefix serial number that was not shipped until July 1972 (the serial number would have normally been shipped in 1968).

Based on my experience, your Model 57 would have shipped with non-diamond target stocks made of Goncalo alves (top photo in my earlier post).

Bill

Thanks for the reply. This is what I have been thinking, and while I wish it did have the Diamond Targets, I'm happy to know for sure what the proper ones are so I can search a set. As for the presentation case, I probably won't look for one, they take up room I don't have.