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 4506 Smith & Wesson Model 4516: Compact version with a 3 " barrel on a smaller frame accepting 7 round single column magazines. Smith & Wesson Model 4546: Double-action-only version of the 4506 with a rounded, stubby hammer. Only produced in 1992. Smith & Wesson Model 4563: Midsize version with a 4" barrel on a full-size alloy frame. Smith & Wesson Model 4566: Midsize version with a 4" barrel on a full-size steel frame, the 4566 was formerly the issued sidearm of the New Hampshire State Police. Current issue (June 2015) with West Virginia State Police, in DAO (Double-Action-Only; TSW version),