I'm looking for info on a M581 that I just acquired. From the little I've been able to dig up, it appears to be a fairly scarce version. The 581 is in nickel with a 4" barrel, in about 95% condition (with the exception of a previous owner having his initials engraved on the side plate), with aftermarket Pachmayr grips. Ser.# is ABY8xxx.

I'm not too worried about collector value, as the original grips are gone, no box came with it and, of course, the defaced side plate. I'm mainly curious about the year of manufacture and production numbers. I realize that grips and side plate can be replaced (Are they Ser.# matched?) and add to the value, but my intentions are primarily to use it as a shooter, not to stuff it in a safe and take it out to fondle it only on occasion.

No photos yet, but I will have them available soon.

Thanks to all.

Welcome! The 581 was produced from 1980-'88, total production unknown. Nickel would be less common than blue. The prefix is from early-mid 1983.

The standard stocks on these were square butt Magna or service style, checkered walnut, which are easy to find. The sideplate is individually fitted to each gun and a replacement part will likely not match finish-wise, so the 'easy' alternatives are to refinish the entire gun or make up a really good story about the initials . Hope this is helpful...and Go Navy!

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Alan
SWCA LM 2023, SWHF 220

The 581 came standard with PC magna style stocks and by this time were no longer numbered to the gun.

Thanks for the input, brothers. As stated, I'm not really worried about collector value. I've owned a bunch of Smiths over the years (love the hell out of K-frames), revolvers and semi-autos. This is my first L-frame, and, luckily, it fits perfectly in a vintage Jackass K-frame crossdraw rig I've had since the mid-'70s. I was looking for another K-frame 4" in .357 and stumbled onto the M581 at a fairly decent price. Though I'd much prefer a M13 or M65, I'll see how the new baby in the family works out. Kind of a flashy thing for me...

Got any pics? We LOVE pics!

The 581 was the fixed site version of the 586, if your shooting Magnum rounds the L frame is a stronger design than the K Magnum.

S&W also made a SS version as the 681 which was the fixed site version of the 686.

These were popular as a cheaper alternative to the target site guns and interestingly I have only seen them in 4"....
Too bad as a 3" or 2.5" version of the 581/681 would have been a neat gun.

There was a late production 3" 681, ported or something similar. I've seen photos but never handled one.

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Alan
SWCA LM 2023, SWHF 220

That was the M681-4 Quad Port. It was a 3-inch gun from the Performance Center, product code 170080. Lew Horton had 310 made in 1996.

It's the only M681/581 that I've EVER seen that didn't have a 4-inch barrel.

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~ S&W aficionado in training ~

Pics of the M581... I did a deep clean on her and Flitz'ed the nickel. Have not applied a coat of wax, yet. A new set of Pachmayr Gripper Pros will be here tomorrow. My vintage Jackass Crossdraw pairs well with this Smith.

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You have a winner. IMO, the 581/681 revolvers are two of the best looking guns ever made by S&W. Enjoy it.