Smith & Wesson 9mm, .357, .41 Mgnum, .44 Magnum, and .45 Caliber Handguns (1982)

Smith & Wesson 9mm, .357, .41 Mgnum, .44 Magnum, and .45 Caliber Handguns

Smith & Wesson manufactured several 9 mm handgun models during the Bangor Punta era. They included the Model 439 / 539 8-Round Autoloaders; Model 459 / 559 14-Round Autoloaders and Model 547 9 mm Revolver.

Smith & Wesson Model 439 / 539 9 mm Autoloader

Smith & Wesson Model 439 9 mm Autoloader

Model 439 is an alloy frame, eight-round autoloading pistol designed for 9mm Luger and Parabellum loads. It features a new "dogleg" extractor system for a strong positive pull and sure extraction.

The front sight is a 1/8" serrated ramp, the protected rear sight is a square notch with micrometer click adjustment for windage and elevation. Stocks are checked walnut and the Model 439 is available in either S&W blue or nickel.

Model 539 is a steel frame version of the Model 439 eight-round autoloading pistol. All other specifications remain the same.

Smith & Wesson Models 459 / 559 9 mm Autoloaders

Smith & Wesson Models 459 / 559 9 mm Autoloaders

Model 459 is a 14-round version of Model 439. It has the same superior extractor system, the same new adjustable rear sight, the same front sight as Model 439. Stocks are checked high-impact molded nylon . The gun is available in S&W blue or nickel.

Model 559 is the steel frame version of the Model 459 14 - round autoloading pistol. All other specifications remain the same.

Smith & Wesson Model 547 9 mm Revolver

Smith & Wesson Model 547 9 mm Revolver

Model 547 is Smith & Wesson's new 9mm revolver which features a unique new extraction system with retractable leaf springs for each of the cylinder charge holes.

As the extractor rod is pushed, the leaves pop out to engage the indent in the cartridge case for positive extraction.

Built on the K frame, the Model 547 six-shot revolver is available with a 3" or 4" barrel. Front sight is a 1/8" serrated ramp, rear is a 1/8" fixed square notch.

Stocks are checkered Magna Service square butt on the 4" barrel, checkered walnut round butt with speed loader cutaway on the 3" barrel.

Smith & Wesson produced a number of .357 Caliber Handguns during the Bangor Punta era including the model 19, 27, 28, 586, 686, and 66.

Smith & Wesson Model 19 .357 Magnum Revolver

Smith & Wesson Model 19 .357 Magnum Revolver

Model 19, the .357 Combat Magnum, is a six-shot, .357 Magnum revolver built on S&W's medium size K frame.

It's available with 2 1/2", 4" and 6" barrels with a 1/8" Baughman Quick Draw front sight on the 2 1/2" and 4" barrel versions and a 1/8" Patridge on the 6" model, ideal for a hunting handgun.

All have S&W micrometer click stop rear sights. Stocks are checked Goncalo Alves with a speed loader cut for the 4" and 6" versions, and checked walnut round butt service stocks for the 2 1/2" model.

Finish may be either S&W bright blue or nickel.

Smith & Wesson Model 27 .357 Magnum Revolver

Smith & Wesson Model 27 .357 Magnum Revolver

Model 27 is a six-shot, .357 Magnum revolver built on S&W's large N frame to absorb the energy of high velocity hunting loads.

A choice of 1/8" S&W Red Ramp or 1/8" plain Patridge is available as a front sight, the rear is an S&W micrometer click sight.

Model 27 is available with 4", 6" or 8 3/8" barrels, has checked Goncalo Alves target stocks and finished in either S&W bright blue or nickel with a finely checked top strap and barrel rib.

An optional presentation case is available.

Smith & Wesson Model 28 .357 Magnum Revolver

Smith & Wesson Model 28 .357 Magnum Revolver

Model 28, the .357 Highway Patrolman, is a six-shot, N frame, .357 Magnum revolver. Front sight is a 1/8" Baughman Quick Draw on a plain ramp, and the rear is an S&W micrometer click sight.

Model 28 is available with 4" or 6" barrels, has checked walnut service stocks and is finished in S&W satin blue with sandblast stippling on the barrel rib and frame edging.

Walnut target stocks are available at a slight extra cost.

Smith & Wesson Model 586 .357 Magnum Revolver

Smith & Wesson Model 586 .357 Magnum Revolver

Model 586 is S&W's new Magnum of the 80's — the all new L frame, six shot .357 Magnum revolver with a beefed up cylinder and a heavy weight barrel with a full length, extractor shroud .

Model 586 is available with 4" and 6" barrels and has a .375" wide semi target hammer and a .312" smooth combat trigger. Front sight is a 1/8" Baughman with an S&W red ramp on the 4" barrel, and either a 1/8" plain Pat-ridge or 1/8" Baughman with an S&W red ramp on the 6" barrel.

Rear sight is a fully adjustable S&W micrometer click sight. Stocks are checkered Goncalo Alves target models with a speed loader cutaway. Finish may be either S&W blue or nickel.

Smith & Wesson Model 66 .357 Magnum Revolver

Smith & Wesson Model 66 .357 Magnum Revolver

Model 66 is the stainless steel version of the Model 19 .357 Combat Magnum.

Except for its sights, which are an S&W Red Ramp on a ramp base for the front and S&W black stainless steel micrometer click sight on the rear, specifications are the same as for the Model 19.

Smith & Wesson Model 686 .357 Magnum Revolver

Smith & Wesson Model 686 .357 Magnum Revolver

Model 686 is the stainless steel version of the new L frame Model 586 .357 Magnum.

Possibly the most popular of the Smith & Wesson handguns produced during the Bangor Punta Era, the .44 Magnum was the preferred handgun of choice used by Clint Eastwood in Dirty Harry film series.

.41 MAGNUM

Smith & Wesson Model 57 .41 Magnum Revolver

Smith & Wesson Model 57 .41 Magnum Revolver

Model 57 is a six-shot, .41 Magnum revolver built on the large N frame for hunting and silhouette shooting. The front sight is a 1/8" S&W Red Ramp, the rear S&W's micrometer click sight with a white outline notch.

The gun is available with 4", 6" or 83/8" barrels, comes with checked Goncalo Alves special oversize target stocks and may be finished in S&W bright blue or nickel.

.44 MAGNUMS

Smith & Wesson Model 29 .44 Magnum Revolver

Smith & Wesson Model 29 .44 Magnum Revolver

Model 29, a six-shot, .44 Magnum, N frame revolver, is a favorite of handgun hunters and metallic silhouette shooters. It is available with 4", 6" or 8 3/8" barrels. Front sight is the S&W Red Ramp, rear is S&W's micrometer click sight with a white outline notch.

Stocks are special oversize target models of checked Goncalo Alves. Finish may be either S&W bright blue or nickel. A presentation case is included.

Smith & Wesson Model 629 .44 Magnum Revolver

Smith & Wesson Model 629 .44 Magnum Revolver

Model 629 is the stainless steel version of the Model 29 .44 Magnum. The Model 629 is available with 4", 6", or 83/8" barrels. All other specifications are the same as for the Model 29.

Smith & Wesson produced a couple of .45 Caliber Handguns during the Bangor Punta era including the Model 25 and Model 25-5 Revolvers. Quality built and durable, these handguns were powerful and accurate.

Smith & Wesson Model 25 .45 Caliber Revolver

Smith & Wesson Model 25 .45 Caliber Revolver

Model 25, the 1955 .45 Target model, is a six-shot .45 A.C.P. revolver built on the rugged, large N frame. The front sight is a 1/8" plain Patridge, the rear an S&W micrometer click sight.

Model 25 is available with a 6" barrel, and has a checked target type hammer and grooved target type trigger. Checked Goncalo Alves target stocks are standard and the gun is finished in S&W blue.

A wood presentation case is included.

Smith & Wesson Model 25-5 .45 Caliber Revolver

Smith & Wesson Model 25-5 .45 Caliber Revolver

Model 25-5, in .45 Colt, is also a six-shot, N frame revolver for those who prefer a heavier hunting load. It is available with 4", 6" or 83/8" barrels.

Front sight is a 1/8" S&W Red Ramp, the rear an S&W micrometer click sight with a white outline notch. Model 25-5 has a checked target type hammer and a grooved target type trigger and is furnished with checked Goncalo Alves target stocks.

Finish is S&W bright blue.

The Dirty Harry Connection

Excerpt from Wikipedia

"Dirty" Harry Callahan also helped popularize the Smith & Wesson Model 29 .44 Magnum revolver. The film initiated a modest increase in sales of the powerful handgun, which continues to be popular some thirty-five years after the film's release.

Throughout the film Eastwood's Model 29 is lionized as an all-powerful instrument capable of sending assailants flying wildly through the air, while in reality the round is far less dramatic than depicted.

The .44 Magnum round is not considered to be a practical caliber for urban police use due to excessive recoil (making target re-acquisition difficult) and over penetration issues, which greatly increases the likelihood the bullet going through targets and injuring bystanders.

The gun used by Clint Eastwood in the filming of the movie was reportedly not a .44 Magnum.

According to a story related by a member of the studio's prop department, Smith & Wesson did not have a Model 29 in stock at the time one was requested for filming.

Instead, they used a Smith & Wesson Model 57 in .41 Magnum. The Model 29 and Model 57 are identical except for minute differences in bore size, chamber dimensions, and exterior markings, none of which are visible in the film.

Another version of the Dirty Harry gun story: In the scene where we see Inspector Callahan drawing his oversized revolver for the first time, the gun used was a Smith and Wesson Model 29 in .44 Magnum with an 8 3/8" barrel, but subsequent shooting (both with the cameras and the gun) was conducted using a Smith and Wesson Model 25 in .45 Long Colt with a 6" barrel.

The choice of .45LC over .44 Magnum was to use the standard "Four-In-One" blank cartridges, which were widely used in filming cowboy movies, and thus readily available (unlike blanks for a .44 Magnum, which the prop department would have had to fabricate from scratch.)

As in the story above, the Model 25 and Model 29 are so similar that it would be impossible to distinguish them at a glance.

Smith & Wesson

GG Archives REF: BPS&W-030-1982-C-CAT

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