It turns out the San Francisco 58 was the most difficult to find gun I've ever chased. I still can't believe I finally acquired one.

It didn't take long at all before I decided to start the chase for a San Antonio 58. Hopefully it won't take as long to find as the other one, but eventually I'll have both.

A very close friend bought an SAPD 58 a few months ago after chatting with a stranger at a gun store. They're out there, but I'm confident I won't blindly fall into one like that.

SCSW mentions that "many of these revolvers were shipped to PD's in San Francisco, Texas, and New York", but does not mention specific numbers. Do you know how many were sent to those respective departments? Are they marked with SAPD, SFPD, etc., and what years are these guns?

Mine's just a plain ol' M58 from 1967.

I bought two used 58 while living in San Antonio. Neither marked SAPD. My father did buy a used parkerized 870 Magnum Wingmaster used by the SAPD and gave that to me, its not marked either.

CD

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De Oppresso Liber

I have seen SFPD (San Francisco, CA), SAPD (San Antonio, TX), and LDC (Louisiana Dept of Corrections?). I don't have any numbers for these depts, but a historical letter from Roy Jinks will tell how many were in the shipment related to your serial number.....he might have the total for each dept stashed away somewhere.

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On the Oak Savannah

Yep, these are the only marked ones I'm aware of.

With the demise of the old police load, what factory loads are you guys finding to shoot closest to the sights? My practice handload is fine (and has been for the 30+ years I've been using it), but I try to keep at least a box of factory ammo on hand for each handgun.

So it is finally my turn to post up in this thread. I have long been a fan of the .41 magnum ever since being introduced to it in high school. I loved knowing it was specific built as a police round and as a high schooler I believed it had mythical powers well beyond its ballistic stats. I went on the search for a police marked 58 a few years ago. About two years ago a great member on this site sold me his SFPD model 58. It is in beautiful condition and it does not show any real signs of riding in a holster everyday. I am thinking it was not issued or rode in a detectives drawer.

When I got it it had non descript aftermarket grips on it. Last week I found the right PC Magna grips from another great member here on the site. Tonight the grips met the 58 and the 58 was made right again!

I am a 33 year LEO in the Calif. Bay Area (Contra Costa County). I now have three police specific revolvers (58, 520 and a NY-1 64). The 58 is my most sentimental of the three by a long shot.

I hope you all enjoy the pics!

Attachment 617146Since I posted my question, I had three of my revolvers lettered, my M58 being one of them.

Attached Images

Letter M58 SWHF redacted.jpg (87.3 KB, 40 views)

The 58 and the 65/3" are my two favorite fixed sight S&W revolvers of all time...

There are fewer and fewer 58s listed for sale on the auction sites. Rarely do they go under a grand anymore unless they are well worn and non-original stocks.

Recently there was one on GunBroker that was a documented Target Hammer/Target Trigger special order with letter from the factory...unfortunately it was missing the original box...

Have had ten over the years and still have two...they aren't going anywhere...

Bob

Jim, I have a few boxes of Rem Sivlertips stashed away for a rainy day, and nowadays I mostly shoot my reloads. The closest to the sights for me was the Remington 210gr JSP. They are a hunting round and a handfull, but the hit the X every time for me. Good luck!

Well sir, that is a VERY nice example of a San Francisco 58. It must have belonged to a Captain who never left the office. Very nice indeed

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On the Oak Savannah