Smith & Wesson · Revolver
Smith & Wesson Model 57
Recoil operated · .41 Remington Magnum · introduced 1964
Also known as S&W Model 57, Model 57 Classics
About the Smith & Wesson Model 57
The Smith & Wesson Model 57 is a large N-frame double-action/single-action revolver introduced in April 1964 alongside the new .41 Remington Magnum cartridge. Built on the same frame as the .357 Model 27 and .44 Magnum Model 29, it features adjustable target sights, a red-ramp front sight, target trigger and hammer, and on early guns a pinned barrel and recessed chambers. Marketed as an ideal police revolver, it never achieved significant law-enforcement adoption and became a prized hunting and target arm. An all-stainless version, the Model 657, followed in 1986.
The Model 57 was built to answer a campaign by Elmer Keith, Bill Jordan and Skeeter Skelton, who lobbied Smith & Wesson and Remington for an ideal police cartridge between the .357 and .44 Magnums; Keith wanted it named the '.41 Police,' but Remington branded it the .41 Magnum, and despite the pedigree the revolver never caught on with law enforcement.
Smith & Wesson Model 57 specifications
General
- Type
- Revolver
- Action
- Recoil operated
- Firing mechanism
- Double action single action
- Trigger
- Double action
- Calibres
- .41 Remington Magnum
- Magazine capacity
- 6 rounds
- Magazine
- Rotary magazine
Dimensions
- Barrel length
- 152 mm (6.0 in)
- Overall length
- 292 mm (11.5 in)
- Height
- 155 mm (6.1 in)
- Weight (empty)
- 1.36 kg (3.00 lb)
Barrel
- Rifling
- Right hand
Materials
- Barrel
- Steel
- Receiver / frame
- Steel
- Stock
- Wood
- Finish
- blued
Performance
- Muzzle velocity (typical)
- 396 m/s (1299 fps)
- Muzzle energy (typical)
- 1069 J (788 ft·lb)
- Effective range
- 50 m
History
- Introduced
- 1964
- Discontinued
- 1991
- Production status
- Out of production
- Country of origin
- US
Features
- Adjustable rear sight
- Red ramp front sight
- Target trigger
- Target hammer
- Oversized target grips
- Pinned barrel
- Recessed chambers
- Swing out cylinder
- N frame
Safety
- Hammer block
- Rebound slide
Original production ran 1964-1991; reintroduced as part of the S&W Classics line in 2008 (6" blued). Offered in 4", 6", and 8.375" barrel lengths. The Model 657 is the stainless variant.
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