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S&W Revolvers: 1980 to the Present All NON-PINNED Barrels, the L-Frames, and the New Era Revolvers


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Old 12-17-2011, 05:16 PM
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When was my S&W Model 581 born? When was my S&W Model 581 born? When was my S&W Model 581 born? When was my S&W Model 581 born? When was my S&W Model 581 born?  
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Default When was my S&W Model 581 born?

Today, I bought a 4" S&W Model 581 357 Magnum. It has the firing pin on the hammer. The serial number is AAC9XXX

There are no signs of it ever having been fired. No blast circles on the cylinder, no brass on the recoil shield, barely a scratch around the cylinder, and a cleaning patch came out WHITE!

This is definitely a service revolver: fixed sights, and it has a non reflective finish along the top of the frame and along the barrel.

How old is my new toy?

TIA

Steve
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Old 12-17-2011, 06:51 PM
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When was my S&W Model 581 born? When was my S&W Model 581 born? When was my S&W Model 581 born? When was my S&W Model 581 born? When was my S&W Model 581 born?  
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Per the book, the 581 came out in 1981, and they started with AAD2120 serial number a higher number than yours, and the book further quotes "unconfirmed report of ONE with AAC prefix". You may have one of the first 581s ever made. I would factory letter it.
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Old 12-17-2011, 08:17 PM
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When was my S&W Model 581 born? When was my S&W Model 581 born? When was my S&W Model 581 born? When was my S&W Model 581 born? When was my S&W Model 581 born?  
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diamondback68, what do you mean by, "I would factory letter it."

I've been wanting a 4", blued, pre-lock, fixed sight S&W 38 or 357 for concealed carry for quite some time. Is there a possibility this thing is worth more than the $450 I paid for it?
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Old 12-17-2011, 08:26 PM
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If it is comfired by a letter from Roy Jinks that is indeed the first one and if it is 99% I would say it is worth a premium orver the price you paid and if you have the box and stuff It might bring enough to buy a more used one and a lot of ammo.

I'm not a collector and just a shooter. So my opinion my not be worth anything.

John
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Old 12-17-2011, 08:27 PM
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When was my S&W Model 581 born? When was my S&W Model 581 born? When was my S&W Model 581 born? When was my S&W Model 581 born? When was my S&W Model 581 born?  
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Quote:
Originally Posted by CTI1USNRET View Post
diamondback68, what do you mean by, "I would factory letter it."

I've been wanting a 4", blued, pre-lock, fixed sight S&W 38 or 357 for concealed carry for quite some time. Is there a possibility this thing is worth more than the $450 I paid for it?
By factory letter I mean request one from the Smith Historian Roy Jinks. Application can be found at the top of this page under "Downloads", cost is $50. I would tell Roy everything including the emphasis on the ACC serial number and include pictures. I could be worth more to some collectors that like first year guns, but I would think not much more that a $50-75 premium. It may be worth than that to some though. Check it out first.
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Last edited by diamonback68; 12-17-2011 at 08:30 PM.
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Old 12-17-2011, 11:04 PM
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I should get this one factory lettered as it has a AAA serial number prefix. The SCofS&W is pretty vague when it comes to the early 581's.
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Old 12-17-2011, 11:24 PM
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When was my S&W Model 581 born? When was my S&W Model 581 born? When was my S&W Model 581 born? When was my S&W Model 581 born? When was my S&W Model 581 born?  
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Wow, that is really an early s/n because according to the book the triple AAAs started in 1980, but 581s supposedly didn't come out 'til 1981. As you can see here, that one is even way lower than the OPs. That one, with such a low serial number, I would be filling out the letter request form as we speak.
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Old 12-18-2011, 12:10 AM
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When was my S&W Model 581 born? When was my S&W Model 581 born? When was my S&W Model 581 born? When was my S&W Model 581 born? When was my S&W Model 581 born?  
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Thank you steamloco76 ! I feel free to USE my 581 now !
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Old 12-14-2020, 03:18 PM
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When was my S&W Model 581 born? When was my S&W Model 581 born? When was my S&W Model 581 born? When was my S&W Model 581 born? When was my S&W Model 581 born?  
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1A180F73-BE40-47FD-B1C1-D16E4BB6F83D.jpg

53DF1550-D2A2-4189-BBF5-0A51449EFCE3.jpgI know this is an older post but I just picked up a 581 that has an AAA2XXX on the but of the pistol. I guess mine is from 1980 also . It doesn’t looked like it was fired and doesn’t have the M stamp either next to the 581 model #. . If I can I’ll post a couple of pictures . Not sure how to do that .
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357 magnum, 581, concealed, jinks, lock, s&w, sig arms

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