The 41 Magnum was originally conceived as the ultimate law enforcement round, with little interest from sportsman, and not much more interest by law enforcement. What got it kicked off among sportsman, however, was, believe it or not, the huge popularity of the movie Dirty Harry. S&W had trouble selling even the Model 29 till that movie came along, then suddenly, stores couldn't keep them in stock. If you wanted one, you had to get on a long waiting list, and expect to pay full MSRP for it, if not more.
But anyone who wanted one could get their hands on a Model 57, which was the same gun, in nearly as potent a chambering. So folks who didn't want to wait a year or more for a Model 29 picked themselves up a Model 57. They soon discovered that it actually had merit as a sporting round, and it's popularity improved, even if it never became stellar like the .44 Magnum Model 29.
