I have the opportunity to purchase a 586 Brazilian contract 38 Spcl only revolver. This is an over run and not issued. Seller asking $550. Seems to be in like new condition, no box. Thanks for the information and Happy Holidays!

Dave

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From my cold dead hands.....

RUN, dont walk, RUN back and buy it.

What he said!

What they said! Good thing you are on the other side of the country from me, I have a 681 in 38 special that would love to have a blued brother and I would be tempted to snatch that one out from under you! Just kidding, but go get it.

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Stay safe people!

Yeah, I agree with the above.

Well, I guess I better talk to them about it......

Thanks so much for your valued opinions!

Dave

__________________
From my cold dead hands.....

Well, I comitted to the purchase, it is on layaway. Will post pics and other particulars when I receive it.

Thanks again for the enabling!

Dave

__________________
From my cold dead hands.....

Price is OK, you can get one that will shoot .357 in like new for the same price or less ($500 would be a good buy)...not sure if the "brazillian contract" thing adds any value...wouldn't to me since I'm a shooter not a collector.

Hey helilogger
You did great! These were overrun guns released to the US market in 1994.
One of these should look like the one you bought!

2 1/2" Product code #103497 158 made
4 1/4" Product code #103498 23 made
6" Product code # 103499 quantity unknown
jcelect SWCA#LM723

Hey jrs70
IMHO! ! ! The picture I posted is my "collector guns"! For me they qualify as such because of the fact they were released in the US in limited quantity, chambered in 38 SPL, and the ones pictured came with the original boxes with labels that indicate they were for Brazil. The value is established by the "collector" buying the gun. The $550 price that heliglogger paid for his gun would be the value of a shooter. Here are a couple more examples of "collector guns", unusual 586 W/Front adj. sight, limited production run


586 W/Scope rings, limited production run


A collector piece sits in a safe until a collector comes along that is willing to pay a ridiculously high price for that particular gun.
jcelect SWCA#LM723

My 586-5 6" is my favorite of my S&W revolvers -- 686-5 5", 15-4 4", 15-5 4", 14-4 8" 14-4 6". I can not remember how much i paid for mine NIB -- approx $550 out the door.

Good buy.

I am still looking for a 586 with a 3" or 4" barrel in .38. If I find one, I will sell one of my 15-x.

Well guys, I plunked down my deposit tonight and looked it over real well. The SN is CCE8011. The barrel measures 4 1/4". It is a 586-4. There is a "B" stamped on the rear of the cylinder face. It has Hogue grips with the S&W logo. The only wear is a slight turn line on the cylinder. I could see the tapped holes for scope mounting on the inside of the top strap. I would rate it at 99% with no box.

Dave

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From my cold dead hands.....

Hey helilogger
Your last information is very intriguing! My 3 guns all have serial numbers that start with"BPY", all are 586-5 guns, and all are drilled and tapped for a scope mount. Your gun is an earlier dash number, with proper grips and drilled and tapped, but a later serial number. I have one more question for you! When you get the gun try to chamber a 357 mag round. My guns are chambered for the 38 SPL only.


These two guns were made for Brazil. They are model 19-8, barrel lazer etched 38 SPL, and round butt. However these guns will chamber a 357 Mag round.
Strange things turn up when we dig deep!
jcelect SWCA#LM723

I too am a little confused..........586-4, CCExxx SN, 4 1/4" barrel. The SN series is ca.1997 and yet the model number is prior to 1994. I will ask the seller to try to chamber a 357 rouind and keep you informed........

How much is it to get a factory letter?? Most of my experience is with Ruger, who dispenses letters for free, but I do have a nice bunch of Smiths as well and would like to "letter" some of them as well..

Dave

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From my cold dead hands.....

Hey helilogger
Don't be confussed by the serial number! S&W NEVER shipped, manufactured, or even stamped guns in any sequencial serial number order other than in small blocks of numbers. Then to compound the problem, their storage/shippment system is a first in - last out type of storage. What intrigues me is the 4 1/4" barrel marked 38SPL on a -4 gun when they were made for a -5 frame. Keep us informed, please?

Factory letters cost $50.00 each. On the top tool bar under "Downloads" you will find a file to download which is the request form!
jcelect SWCA#LM723

Well, the shop was kind enough to allow me to take a few pics. I measured the barrel length and it is 4" exactly, not 4 1/4". A 357 Mag cartridge will NOT fit the cylinder. You can see the barrel roll mark, the "B" on the face of the cylinder, and the model number and serial number on the crane. The pics belie the revolver condition. It is pristine with a faint turn ring on the cylinder. Here ya' go.......






Dave

__________________
From my cold dead hands.....

a beauty!

That is is 'only' 38 I find extra special and desirable too.
Have fun with it.
I would ad a few wood target grips.

According to the 3rd Edition of the Standard Catalog of Smith and Wesson, 200 of the 4-1/4" model were shipped to Brazil, and 23 were released to US distributors. I bought one new years back. I used it for an indoor PPC league one year, and for IDPA for a year or two. Great gun. I bought it on the hunch it might be more accurate for shooting .38 specials then a gun chambered for .357. I never shot it in a Ransom Rest, but it seemed accurate. I later sold it off when I decided to switch IDPA categories. I decided that for a self defense gun I would want a .357 in a revolver, and I wasn't using it in competition. I just learned recently how rare they are. Wish I had kept it. I doubt they will ever be a real expensive collector item, but one should sell for some premium I would guess. I saw one on Gunbroker recently and the seller seemed real proud of the one he was offering. If you want to keep it for collector value, I suppose you shouldn't shoot it at all, but what's the fun in that? {;-)/

I recently requested Roy Jinks for a letter on my 586-5 .38 SPL 6" revolver. I received it yesterday and there was a paragraph in which he says, quote;
"One of the more interesting variations in the (586) group was made for the Brazilian Government. This group of revolvers was chambered in the .38 S&W Special cartridge rather than the normal chambering of .357 magnum. This variation was manufactured in 2.5, 4 and 6 inch barrel lengths. Since the government of Brazil canceled the order prior to its completion, many of these revolvers were sold through our domestic distributors. Slight more than 200 units of this variation were sold in the United States. These revolvers were all serial numbered in the BPY serial number series."
I know that in the past people have found typos in these letters, but this is what mine says at this point in time. My gun, BPY79XX was shipped Sept. 22, 1994 to Zanders in IL.
Happy New Year;
Mike Anderson

Sorry, I have to ask...

All bashing aside, why would Brazil order a S&W product when Taurus was already producing functionally equivalent firearms in-country?

Hahahaha

I have been saying the same thing whenever this topic comes up.......I even made a few "freinds" with this comment on the Taurus forum, which I visit once in a great while because I own 4 Taurus boat anchors.

I aksed the same thing, with a "thriving" arms maker like Taurus capable of making all kinds of .38 revolvers, why import S&W's?

Well, I finally got to bring the 586 home , into my warm and loving hands!

Now, to get a letter from S&W......




Dave

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From my cold dead hands.....