My error on markings - - -
I wrote earlier that mine had "Three-Fifty-Seven" written out on barrel. Sorry--Looked at it this morning and find that it has numerals, as in my edited version, above.
Anyhow, while looking at it, I was taken with the wild hair and decided to carry it today. So it is stoked up with Remington 158 gr jacket HPs, and rides in a tan belt slide holster as I write this at the office. I guess I'm about due to re-qual with it.
Yours is in much nicer shape than mine, which has a lot of bluing wear on forward quarter of the barrel, and some minor nicks and scratches. Probably about 80% finish, but mechanically perfect.
My serial number is 90XX, indicating production in 1956.
I've always liked the Colt ".41" frame revolvers. The .357s are noticibly beefier than the S&W K-frames, and hold up much better to a steady diet of heavy loads, while not being so massive as the S&W N-frames. The Smith L-frame, of course, was their belated answer to the Colt Python and Trooper models, when it became popular for LE agencies to qualify with full-power loads, and the K-frame mags were shaking loose.
Best,
Johnny