Smith and Wesson model 57

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Barry the Bear

Barry the Bear

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A friend has a smith and wesson model 57 no dash he wants to trade for my model 29-3. Now I know his model might be worth more if it was good condition but I dont know about this. His is mechanically perfect but cosmetics look rough . Just look.The nickel 29 is mine and the blue 57 is his. What do you think fair trade just cause its P&R?
 

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Barry,

First off you need to see the gun hands on.

Look for such as this:

1. Are any of the screws dinged up?
2. Does the cylinder shift fore and aft when you push/pull the cylinder forward and backward while locked up? (end shake.)
3. Does the crane move if you push on the cylinder left and right (crane shake.)
4. When you cock the gun one EACH chamber does the cylinder wiggle after it is cocked (cylinder shake.)
5. Is the hammer easy to cock (maybe they lightened the springs by cutting them.)
6. Take the grips off and see if any rust is under the grips.
7. Check to see if the back sight wiggles or is damaged.
9. Cock and then release the hammer down without letting the trigger go forward more than just a bit. Then let the trigger snap forward. Does it snap back fast or slow (if slow they may have cut or lightened the trigger return spring.)
10 Cock the gun and let them hammer drop down to rest without letting go of the trigger. Can you see the firing pin protrude into the chambers? Now release the trigger. Does the firing pin retract into the frame? (it is supposed to.)
11. Cock the hammer and push on it forward to see if it drop. If it does then the SA notch is damaged.
12. Cock the hammer on each chamber slowly while dragging your thumb on the cylinder (mimics a dirty gun.) Does the cylinder lock in the bolt before the gun goes to full cock? (It should.) If if fails to a few times then the cylinder hand is short or worn out.

And then shoot the gun and see if it hits where it looks. Is the back sight pushed way over to one side or another?

Anyway, do all that before you swap.

Deaf
 
Why are you thinking of trading a beautiful M29 for a beat-up M57? What will a .41 Magnum do that a .44 Magnum won't? If it were me, unless there was a very good reason for getting the .41 Magnum i would keep the .44 Magnum. Also, if I did do the deal it would not be a straight up trade since in that picture his revolver looks beat to crap. Usually if someone doesn't take good care of the outside of a handgun the insides are usually in the same poor condition.

Again, who initiated the trade and why? If it was him, why does he want to get rid of the revolver? Are you sure it's in good mechanical working order? (see above) I just got a bad feeling about this because of the condition of the M57.
 
Ive handled it and the gun locks up tight no shake. The rifling and cylinder look clean and crisp. My only reservation is the appearance,Ive always wanted a model 57 and around here Its easier to find a 57 than a 29
 
Personally I don't see the upside of trading a nice looking nickel plated .44 Magnum for a worn blued .41 Magnum. Ammo for the Model 57 is going to be harder to find and unless your reloading, less versatile than having a .44 Magnum which can also use .44 Special ammo.

Your call but I would walk away from such a trade.
 
Buy it from him if you want to try 41 Magnum. However, I saw no point in 41 Mag when I could just load up some lighter 44 Mag with 200 grain bullets.
 
From what I understand regarding collecting, the value is in the original finish.

It really comes down to whether or not you want to mess around with 41 Magnum. Ammunition is difficult to find in most gun stores; it's a special order item. There are many more sources of 41 Magnum if you're willing to use the Internet. However, the majority of shooters reload 41 Magnum.

In my mind, it's not really worth it unless you really like 41 Magnum. 44 Magnum has such a wider variety of loads that I don't really see a need to go with 41 Magnum. I came to this conclusion after owning both calibers simultaneously. I consolidated up to 44 Magnum and run it at hot 44 Special velocities most of the time. I think it is for this reason 41 Magnum never really took off in the US market.
 
Barry,

If the gun is beaten up skip it. If it is refinished, skip it.

A refinished gun is a shooter and NOT a collector item.

And a .41 magnum, say N frame, will weigh more than a .44 magnum. The .44 can be loaded down to a .41, but the 41 can't be loaded up to a .44.

It was a nice idea but Bill Jordan could have just used a '.44 +p' load and got the same performance and less weight from his police special .41 Magnum he envisioned.

Deaf
 
I wouldn't do it. There would have to be a cash adjustment in your favor as you are trading an excellent condition gun for a good to very good condition gun, also nickel is often worth a small premium over blued and the .41 will be harder to sell in the future.
 
So even if I get it refinished it wouldnt be of more value?
Click to expand...

NO, refinishing it ruins the value.
It might look prettier, but any collector will RUN.

bannockburn's point about ammo is valid.
I have never seen 41 Mag ammo on a store shelf.
You'd probably have to buy it online (and pay shipping charges), unless you reload your own.

Because I reload I might be tempted, but he'd have to kick in more than just a beat up gun.
 
Barry the Bear said:
Ive handled it and the gun locks up tight no shake. The rifling and cylinder look clean and crisp. My only reservation is the appearance, Ive always wanted a model 57 and around here Its easier to find a 57 than a 29
Click to expand...
Then why not hunt down a good condition M57 and buy it instead of making what I feel is a bad deal. If the M57 is so easy to find where you live go out and find a good one and buy it.

Of course the other guy wants to make the trade. He wants to trade a poor finish gun that's common in your area for an extremely good condition gun that's rare in your area. Time and revolver supply is on your side in this instance.
 
So even if I get it refinished it wouldnt be of more value?
Click to expand...

The collector value is much less negatively affected if the gun is re-finished by the factory and is so documented. Of course, everything else being equal in terms of condition, for a serious collector, there's nothing better than the original factory finish.
 
Two reasons to keep your Mdl. 29:

1. The .44 is more versatile especially if you don't reload. The ability to shoot 44 special is a big plus and a lot of fun. To do the same with the .41 you must be a reloader because there are no factory .41 specials.

2. Dirty Harry would not be happy if you disgraced the .44 by trading down for the .41. Keep the .44. You will never regret it.
 
It's an OK trade. Not having the factory grips is a con for me. Honest wear I can live with. Dings and knocks from carelessness are hard to live with.

For those who do not understand the allure of the .41 magnum, it will never be a good trade. I traded for my 57.
 
I'm a big .41 fan. 57's are few and far between where I live too, and I definately would Not trade either. Offer him some cash and keep your 29.
 
Is an outright buy possible? That would be the route I would take because your M29 is in such good condition. (and beautiful too)

Also, the M57 is again available for S&W in their Classic Line. It sports a 6.5" barrel and it's Blue with Walnut grips. It is on the expansive side though.
 
I'm a big 41 mag fan and have been for years, but I sure wouldn't make that trade.
 
I wouldn't trade a good known gun for an unknown gun unless I really did not want the known gun anymore.

I would find it very hard to not want that nickel 29.

If you send a S&W in for a factory refinish, it doesn't "destroy" the value of the gun. It may actually improve the value if the previous finish was really rotten. Although, it is true that, all things being equal, a gun with original finish is worth more.

What will "destroy" the value of a gun is a lousy, or oddball, refinish.
The market is pretty limited for a Model 57 with a cerakote skull-stencil "urban camo" finish, even if it was done by an "expert."
 
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