S&W Model 56

Gene L

Saw a true crime show yesterday where a suspect shot his wife with a S&W 56.  The gun wasn't recovered but the bullet was, and so was the original box.  The narrator and people in the prosecution end said it was a ."357" bullet based only on the recovered bullet; didn't say how they knew it was a .357 v a .38.  Said the Model 56 was a .357 Mag based on the box. 

Since I've never heard of a Model 56, I looked it up.  A 2" K frame gun, about like a Model 15 except made for the US government, marked US on the back strap.  The top is smooth and not grooved like on a 15, nor is the back strap.

Very valuable, as most were destroyed back in the 60s. In the show, the guy had apparently "lost" the gun after using it (probably) to kill his wife. The gun was never recovered.

Michakav

Same size bullet (.357) for both.

JunkCollector

So as typical the show didn't know what they were talking about.

Gene L

No, the show didn't know from crap.  But there were some interviewees who should have known: DA, Investigators.  I figure they said "Magnum" because it sounded more deadly than .38 Special.  Or the box was mislabled.  The perp's kids were afraid of him and spoke to keep him locked up when he came up for release after the parole board recommended he be released at 80+ years old.  Gov Jerry Brown of CA over ruled the parole Board twice to keep him incarcerated.

The 56 was worth $10K, had it been recovered.

GunNut

Pretty interesting info, I had never heard of a model 56, EVER!  Learned something new today, thanks!  I wonder if they didn’t mean a model 656 (much more common gun) and it got lost in translation?

Gene L

Smith made a 686, but I don't think they made a 656.

Michakav

GunNut said:

Pretty interesting info, I had never heard of a model 56, EVER!  Learned something new today, thanks!  I wonder if they didn’t mean a model 656 (much more common gun) and it got lost in translation?

Interwebs say around 35 still exist with the rest supposedly being destroyed by the USAF.

GunNut

Gene L said:

Smith made a 686, but I don't think they made a 656.

You are correct.  I meant a 586 or maybe even a 65 but they transposed the number.  If it was a 56 it was a sin to use it in a crime and then dispose of that gun!

Gene L

They showed a box, don't know if it was THE box or a prop, but couldn't read the writing on it.  And it was an older box for a Smith. Since the gun was never recovered, guess we'll never know.  I inferred the box was introduced as evidence so an error in identifying it would have been an error jumped on by  the defense.  I missed the first part that told when the murder was committed, but think it was years ago. No one on the show knew the gun was rare; that was never mentioned.  Could well have been a 65 misidentified. That would fit the .357 assertion and lend strength to "shot by a .357. They showed some bullets I think were in the killer's house, but just the tips of the bullets which were Silvertips.