Hi Jeff
I remember when the .41 Magnum was first introduced. I was a teenager at the time. My older brother and I really wanted one and we often talked about it late into the night, looking at pictures and reading everything about it we could get our hands on. We already had a K-22 and a Highway Patrolman, but could not come up with the money to buy another S&W revolver, let alone a brand new one. So we settled for talking about it.
Now, here we are, many years later, and until recently neither of us had ever managed to add one to our stables. But a few weeks back, a friend of mine who owns a gun shop here in town called me on the phone and told me a Model 57 had walked in the door and wanted to know if I was interested. I said I would be right over. Needless to say, I took a handful of Franklins with me and, of course, came home with the gun. Later that day I called my brother to tell him I'd finally bought a .41 Magnum. He was thrilled and wants me to bring it down the next time I visit him (he lives in another state). I'm still recovering from recent surgery so I have not fired it yet, but I hope to be able to do so soon!
Here is a picture. The gun in question is in the upper right hand corner.
I know this post hasn't addressed your question - so here is my response. With the exception of postwar M&P revolvers, I'm much more inclined to accumulate target frame revolvers than their fixed sight brothers. By far most of my Smiths are so equipped. For me, therefore, the draw to a .41 Magnum has always been to the Model 57. Unless I stumble on a "can't pass it up" type deal, I will probably never own a Model 58. That is just the way I'm inclined.
