Sunday Showcase Recap

Recap on The 7/21 Sunday Showcase

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 its size and recoil, it found more favor with civilian target shooters and hunters.

First introduced in April 1964, the Model 57 was produced with 4", 6", 6-1/2", and 8-3/8" barrels in both highly polished blued and nickel–plated finishes. Using the large S&W "N" frame, the Model 57 was one of the companies’ premier products, offering superb fit and finish, basically the same pistol as the famous S&W Model 29, except in .41 instead of .44 caliber. Like the Model 29, the 57 sported a red insert front sight with a white outline, adjustable rear iron open sight, and a target trigger, target hammer, and oversized wooden target grips. 

Starting in 1946, Star began manufacturing the Model A-Super, an enhanced version of its Model A pistol series. Building upon the improvements introduced with the Model 1940, the Model A-Super featured several upgrades. Most notably, the swinging link mechanism was replaced with a closed cam path integrated into the barrel, inspired by the Sig 210 design. This change, along with adding a full-length guide rod with a captive spring and a convenient quick takedown lever, aimed to improve durability and ease of maintenance. These models incorporated a magazine safety mechanism, albeit different from earlier S variants, and an extractor that served as a loaded-chamber indicator. Furthermore, the sights were redesigned for better visibility, and minor adjustments were made to the trigger system. Widely exported for extensive use by foreign militaries, production of Model Bs with Super upgrades continued until the conclusion of classic-model production in 1983. Despite their advancements, most Super pistols across all series were not explicitly labeled with an overall series letter, contributing to confusion among collectors. This has led to instances where firearms, actually Model As, are mistakenly sold as Modelo Supers or even as Model Bs on the surplus market. 

The Colt Single Action Army (also known as the Model P, Peacemaker, M1873, Single Action Army, SAA, ) is a single-action revolver with a revolving cylinder holding six metallic cartridges. It was designed for the U.S. government service revolver trials of 1873 by Colt's Patent Firearms Manufacturing Company, today Colt’s Manufacturing Company, and adopted as the standard military service revolver until 1892. It is perhaps the most copied, fraudulently modified to replicate an original Colt SAA, than any other revolver made.

The Third Generation began in 1976, characterized by a change in barrel thread pitch and a solid cylinder bushing replacing the removable/replaceable parts from the first and second generations. This Generation of production began with ser. no. 80,000SA, and reached 99,999SA in 1978. At this point, the SA suffix changed to a prefix beginning with SA01,001. Serialization reached SA99,999 in 1993. In 1994, production resumed with the increase in popularity of "Cowboy Action Shooting". These models are known either as "Late Third Generation" or sometimes Fourth Generation with the serial number convention changing yet again starting with S02001A and continuing with the "S" prefix and "A" suffix to 2009. Colt currently offers the Single Action Army in one of two finishes: either an all-nickel or blued with color case-hardened frame; in the traditional three barrel lengths: 4¾", 5½" and 7½"; and six chamberings: 32-20, 38-40, 44-40, .38 Special, 357 Magnum or 45 Colt; a total of 36 variations. 

The Smith & Wesson Model 610 is a robust N-Frame revolver chambered in 10mm, ideal for hunting or personal protection. Its stainless steel construction adds weight, reducing felt recoil. The interchangeable front sight and adjustable rear sight enhance accuracy. The exposed hammer allows for both single and double action firing, with included moon clips enabling .40 S&W use. Featuring a thick underlug barrel for balance and recoil absorption, the 44.3-ounce gun boasts a fluted six-round cylinder and exceptional sights. It excels with full-power 10mm and reduced-recoil .40 S&W rounds, suitable for hunting and backup in bear country.