Smith & Wesson Model 57 Smith & Wesson Model 57 The Smith & Wesson Model 57 is a large frame, double-action revolver with a six round cylinder, chambered for the .41 Magnum cartridge, and designed and manufactured by the Smith & Wesson firearms company. The gun was designed as a weapon for law enforcement agencies. However, due to size and recoil it found more favor with civilian target shooters and hunters. In the early 1960s, Elmer Keith, Bill Jordan, and Skeeter Skelton, all noted firearms authorities and authors, lobbied Remington Arms and Smith & Wesson to introduce a new .41 caliber police cartridge with the
Smith & Wesson Model 73 more than 20 of these left in private ownership. Smith & Wesson Model 73 The S&W Model 73 was a .38 Special caliber revolver manufactured by Smith & Wesson. The Model 73 was made in only 5000 units in 1973. It was made in C-frame, the only model that featured this frame. It was a J-frame modified to take a 6-shot K-frame cylinder. It was S&W answer to the Colt Detective Special. The revolver was made with an off-set cylinder stop which made them difficult to manufacture and test. As a result, most of these revolvers were destroyed for safety