657 Classic Hunter

R

RogerC

New member
Through some fortunate trading............

I became the owner of a real nice 657-3 Classic Hunter .41 magnum today. Ser # CBS93XX. 6 1/2 inch barrel.

It had some butt ugly Pachmayr wood/rubber hybrid grips on it, so I replaced them with Hogue Pau Ferros. Much better!

I hadn't intended on getting another .41 since I'll be getting my M57 in a couple weeks, but I couldn't resist. It begged me to take it home. :)

There's not a mark on it. It's like new.

I am going out to the boonies next week, so I'd better go pick up some ammo. This big fella is going to be fun!

How many of these did they make?
What year is this one?
I thought they had unfluted cylinders....?

Here's a few pics:

657a2.jpg


657e2.jpg


657j2.jpg


657k2.jpg


657f2.jpg


It's a definite break from my blued gun "run" that I've been on, but hey, N Frames is N Frames :)
 
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I have seen a couple of references, one in American Handgunner and on in the very end of a Shooting Times article on SW Classics which list the 657 Classic Hunter as a 1500 unit run of .41 Remington Magnums. I have seen and shot this gun with an unfluted cylinder and know that gun to be about 12 years old.

It would be nice to know if you can find any more precise data. This is a very nice firearm, accurate and moderate of recoil.

657-2 seem to have unfluted cylinders and are not necessarily marked Classic Hunter.
 
I've had a couple people tell me that is was made in 1994, but that there were no 41 Classic Hunters made in that year.

Couldn't prove it by me.....

Can any of you hardcore Smith guys help me out here?

Is this a special order gun or something?

A gun made with leftover parts maybe?

657h3.jpg


657h6.jpg
 
..........hmmmmmmmmmmm?

I guess this one will remain a mystery.

A mystery I will shoot the hell out of!!
 
Spend the thirty dollars and ask Smith & Wesson to authenticate the gun http://www.smith-wesson.com/helpdesk/history.html and your mystery will be solved. Or, thirty dollars will also get you a Standard Catalog and is a must have for anyone serious about collecting Smith & Wesson firearms.

I'll assume that you have no documentation for this gun and authentication is the only way to bring some of that value back since no credible source lists the gun as ever being made.
 
"Bring value back"? I don't get it...What have I lost?

I know of at least one other exactly like this one. It's serial number is only a few digits apart.

I may write for the letter, but I do not consider myself a "serious collector", just a guy who likes good guns to shoot.

I got this gun with no box, and it is as if it was new.
 
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If there were documentation, the gun is easily worth more than $400 and a box containing the product code would jack the price up even more. And you get to set the history books straight. Right now no one supports that your gun even exist. Sounds like a unique piece.

You've bumped this thread enough, thought you were interested in getting history about your gun and newer collector.
 
I'm not sure I care much for your tone, Villain.

Who are you to decide if it's "bumped enough" ?

I would like one of our more versed Smith nuts to chime in, that's all.

If you choose to attack me personally, feel free to e-mail me and we can have at it.
 
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A few months ago, I got a new 657 . 2002. unfluted cylinder 6 1/2 inch barrel, and it is a shooter.
I'm thinking of sending it to teddy (Actions by T), but I have some others that need attention first.
Hehe.
Keep on shooting.
 
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Date

I called Smith and Wesson today.

They told me the product code for this gun was:

103958

and that is was made in 1997.

I thought they had gone to the frame mounted firing pin by then......??
 
NICE GUN GREAT CALIBER

Suggest bullets from 170-220g.

AA9 is often very accurate, but doesn't give highest velocities.

A 210g LSWC at 1400-1600fps is very effective against most wildlife.
 
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