Model 57 With A 6-1/2" Barrel

[Bullseye 2620]

I am very confused. I probably should not have sold the beautiful 29-2 with a 6-1/2 tube I recently acquired from jcb1950 (see photo). But, my "thinking" was to get the same gun in a .41. I like this caliber and have an older N-series long tube and I love to shoot it. Truth be told, after about a bazillion .45 ACP hardball loads downrange, my right shoulder and wrist tolerate .41s much better than .44s.

Hah! Except now I learn that they never made a 6-1/2" Model 57. They made, and make, a 6 inch. But it isn't the same. In my opinion, it needs to 5" or 6-1/2". Six and 4 inch tubes look funny to me on N-frames. That's just me; no offense to aficionados of those barrel lengths intended. I thought maybe I could get another 8-3/8" Model 57, and have the barrel shortened to 6-1/2", and the roll marks removed and re-applied in the proper position. That seems like an expensive and maybe bone-headed idea.

I guess in my search for a non-existent 6-1/2" Model 57, I could take a 6-1/2" 29-2, have the barrel re-lined for .41 caliber, do the thing with the roll marks, and get a proper, recessed .41 cylinder installed, but that sounds like a second mortgage.

There may be other approaches. Any thoughts or suggestions on acquiring my grail gun, a P&R blue 6-1/2" Model 57, will be appreciated.

Thanks,


Bullseye

 

[Doc44]

If you really want a 6 1/2-inch Model 57, buy one with an 8 3/8-inch barrel and have it cut to 6 1/2-inches. It will certainly be less expensive than what you described above. You will have to find an older Model 57 that has the front sight blade/ramp pinned to the barrel with two pins so it can be remounted after the barrel is cut, but that should not prove terribly difficult.

Bill

 

[Bullseye 2620]

Thanks, Bill. I am pretty sure I know where to find the revolver. Would you be willing to make some recommendations as to who might do the work?


Vic

 

[pownal55]

i agree that the 6.5" barrel might be a bit more appealing than the 6" on a model 57, but trust me, once you shoot a 57 with a six inch barrel you will quickly forget the extra half inch. i have many n frames and love shooting that 57. save yourself some money and go with the six inch.

 

[Art Doc]

I agree about the extra 1/2" being discernible and preferable. But not enough IMO to justify spending hundreds of dollars to cut up a nice revolver to achieve it.

 

[Brian41]

I don't find much difference myself in 6 or 6 1/2 inch with my N frames and I have 3, 5, 6, 6 1/2 and 8 3/8 inch models.

I do have to agree about the .41 being much nicer to shoot than .44s. I loved my .44 mags handloaded to the max when I was younger but since I bought my first .41 for my 50th B'day present for myself I've come to appreciate them.

 

[Muley Gil]

I had David Clements cut down a 1950 .44 Special barrel from 6 1/2" to 5". Excellent workmanship.

 

[Bullseye 2620]

Muley,

Thanks for this information. What a beautiful revolver. Did Dave Clements thin and smooth the trigger? Are the panels ivory, or synthetic? This piece is my idea of what a large frame Smith revolver should look like. Really a very,very nice piece!


Bullseye

 

[viceunit]

That 6" vs. 6 1/2" barrel thing gets debated frequently. I've never fired a 41 mag and wondered about the weight of that compared to a model 29. With extra metal due to the smaller bore diameter would a 6 1/2" model 57 be more muzzle-heavy than an equal length model 29? Personally, I prefer my 6 1/2" 29-2 over my 6" 629 (one reason the 629 is for sale). It boils down to personal preference. Vic, I hope you can acquire what you are looking for, you won't be happy until you do.

 

[29aholic]

Bullseye
I am with you in that I much prefer a 6.5" to a 6" although it may just be a perception more than reality, I think they balance out better aesthetically. Hamilton Bowen does a fantastic job of cutting Smith barrels down and recrowning them to look factory. You need not concern yourself with the rollmarks as with few misstamp exceptions the marks are in the same place on all barrel lengths 4" and up.

 

[v8svo]

Vic, I understand you "affliction". Mine is similar but it is with 5" N frames. I ended up buying a couple of 629's with 8 3/8" barrels and sending them to Jim Stroh at Alpha Precision and he made them both 5" with new barrel markings ect. One was left as a 44 mag and the other was bored and re-rifled to 45 Colt. Love them both, one for jacketed rounds and one for lead rounds. I do have a 57 with a "S" serial number that is 1965 production and your comments about 6 vs. 6.5" barrel made me go measure mine and sure enough it is a 6". I never realized that there was that difference between the 41's and 44's. I guess you learn something every day.
Anyway the above gun smiths have an excellent reputation but I prefered working with Jim and his "one man shop", that way you always know that your revolver was done by the head guy.
Just my two cents and thanks again for the new knowledge.

 

[Sportsterguy]

+1. The big bucks spent on chopping down and installing that barrel after being chopped are not worth it IMO. Yuo're loking at 200.00-500.00 for the conversion when that extra 1/2 " 57 will shoot the same as the 6"'r. JOM from experience.

i agree that the 6.5" barrel might be a bit more appealing than the 6" on a model 57, but trust me, once you shoot a 57 with a six inch barrel you will quickly forget the extra half inch. i have many n frames and love shooting that 57. save yourself some money and go with the six inch.

 

[RGS]

barrel length

I've had a 5" M27 for over 30 years and think it is proportioned just about perfectly for a balanced all around carry and longer range target shooting revolver. There isn't a lot that would coax me into buying a new Safe-T-Hammer & Wesson revolver, but if they came out with a traditional 5" tapered barrel in a M57 or 657, I'd be hard pressed to resist.

So, the $200 to $500 or $800 it would cost to cut down my 8 3/8 657 would be comparable to buying another gun. That tapered barrel would add to the cost, and as long as we're dreaming, maybe some tasteful engraving... It's only money.

 

[Reloader Fred]

My duty weapon for about 20 years of my 26 years on the job was a 6" Model 57. I carried full load Winchester or Federal .41 Magnum Ammunition during that time, and shot full load .41 loads for qualifications. I never felt undergunned while carrying my Model 57. Our department had right at 600 sworn officers and I always qualified in the top 10% with my "friend". It's still with me today, but spends most of it's time in an honored place in one of my gun safes.

Hope this helps.

Fred

 

[Bullseye 2620]

Doc 44 and 29aholic suggested that I find an older Model 57 with an 8-3/8" barrel and the front sight pinned in order to effect my conversion to a 6-1/2" gun. How can I learn the appropriate range of serial numbers? There are a number of these long barrel 57s out there, but I can't tell from photos if the front sight is pinned. It looks to me, on the one I did see where it was clear, that the sight was pinned, the pins polished so as to melt into the surrounding metal, and the gun then blued. I think it is risky for an amateur like me to try to make the selection based on visual inspection alone, so your guidance on getting the right range of serial numbers will be appreciated. Thanks.

Bullseye

 

[Gun 4 Fun]

Personally, I don't understand the attraction for the 6.5" barrel. I have a '68 vintage model 57 with a 6" barrel, and wouldn't have bought it if it had a 6.5" barrel. I truly detest them for looks and balance. Yes, I can feel the difference between the two lengths in side by side comparison. I don't like that much barrel tube hanging out past the ejector rod housing. The 5" N-frames really hold an appeal for me. I own two, and they are my favorite length N frame, even though I own 6, and 6.5" guns.

That said, I believe that any "S" series 57 will have a pinned on front sight. You should contact Doc44. He would be the man to tell you that for sure, or at what point they stopped the practice of pinning them on. I know I asked him here before, but I don't remember what he told me exactly.

Here is a link to the page on Bowens site that deals with barrel cutting and crowning.

http://www.bowenclassicarms.com/NEW/SWoptions.htm

 

[Bullseye 2620]

Pinned Front Sight Model 57s

I contacted Doc44, who indicates that any Model 57 with a serial number up through S258000 will have the front sight pinned. So, now I know what to look for.

I want to thank everyone who has contributed to this thread, whether you think a 6-1/2" barreled Model 57 makes sense, or not. This diversity of opinion is one of the things that makes this forum worth supporting.

For me, it is not a matter of performance...it is a matter of aesthetics. To my eye, a 6-1/2" barrel on a big N-frame just looks right. And that's all it is...a matter of personal preference and taste.

If anyone has a line on such a Model 57 (serial number less than S258000) please let me know. Shooter grade is fine, just so long as the mechanics are good and the gun is not all shot out.

Again, I want to thank everyone for their help, comments, and ideas.



Bullseye