The 'unofficial' 58 Club

[Combat_Diver]

I never did date my Model 58. Can anyone tell me what year a N233XXX was made?

Thanks,
CD

 

[SAFireman]

I never did date my Model 58. Can anyone tell me what year a N233XXX was made?

Thanks,
CD

How about: 1974-75

 

[blackdeuce]

My model 58 has the serial number S295XXX. It came with diamond target grips that appear to have been modified. With the input of other forum members, I was able to determine that this gun probably shipped with diamond PC magnas. I bought a nice set from a forum member and they look really nice on the gun.

 

[Sebago Son]

Stocks...

"I believe they are Herret's - I bought them on a different forum - they make shooting .41 and .44 Magnum more comfortable..."

I think you'll find that they are Mustangs..

 

[Sebago Son]

58-44...

Did you mean "N" frame instead of "S" frame? That is the first time I've seen a model 58 in .44 magnum. Did you do the conversion yourself from .41 mag to .44 mag? I've been looking for an old kinda beat up model 58 (because it has a fixed rear sight) to convert to .44 magnum, and then to put a .44 special pencil barrel on it with the old style half moon front sight and to relieve the bottom of the barrel for a larger ended ejector rod so it would look like a model 1917,....only in .44 magnum. Your's already has the correct heat treated frame for the magnum pressures and the .44 mag cylinder so I'd only have to change out the barrel to a .44 special barrel with half moon front sight and then relieve the barrel bottom to install a larger end ejector rod and it would be a fixed rear sight, .44 mag 1917 clone which doesn't exist. Wanna sell it? Seriously. If you do shoot me a P.M.


.

Bill, nope not for sale. It is an "S" serailed "N" frame. I had a 58-44-20 such as you describe. Was a Model 58 with a Model 29 cylinder and a rebored Model 20 Heavy Duty barrel. But to be honest it didn't shoot as well as I would have liked and I sold it off. I don't mind trading off a few more oz in the barrel for more recoil control and shooting comfort with realistic .44 Magnum loads.

I didn't do this conversion myself, I purchased the gun locally after it was done. I have no idea who did the work, but it's near perfect in my view....

20 yards...

Drew

 

[TAKJR]

True story....

Many...many moons ago, I attended the Smith & Wesson Armorer's School for the 4506 series (Smith & Wesson's semi-automatic pistol armorer's course) that had recently been adopted by my department. The week-long class was in Springfield, Illinois.

During one break, while in the bathroom doing my thing at the urinal, I asked the Smith & Wesson instructor/employee who was also doing his business next to me, what was his "favorite" Smith & Wesson?

His reply?

The Model 58.

Of all of the guns in their catalog at the time, he picked that gun.

That says a lot.

Strange place for a brief conversation, true, but that is a true story.

Looking at seven pages of responses here.....reference the Model 58......I guess he was right.......and he wasn't "pissing-in the wind" after all.

It is....a "classic" defensive revolver for the "purist"......., pure and simple

TAKJR

 

[Vanilla Gorilla]

Here's mine. Hard chromed SAPD gun, barbecue ready.

Limey, you've made up my mind. My ugly old nickled 58 is going to be hard chromed.

 

[shawn mccarver]

Too big and heavy with excessive recoil for police work.

To quote Clint Smith, "Carrying a gun is not supposed to be comfortable; it's supposed to be comforting."

Recoil in the Model 58 with the Police load is no worse than a .44 Special or .45 Auto, which are both rather mild, especially when compared to some of these modern over pressure auto cartridges.

Unfortunately, many did not understand that the .41 Magnum was factory loaded to two distinct power levels. Apparently, quite a few people still do not understand that, if the commentaries about this revolver are to be believed.

 

[BigBill]

Here's my new S&W M58 4" barrel in 41mag in nickel. I paid only $699 from my local dealer. I purchased the new S&W M57 with 6 1/2'' barrel in 41mag in nickel the week before for $699 NIB also.I picked up a few boxes of federal 210gr JHP and some Corbon 210gr JHP ammo for it too. My dealer said they just got in the 41mag ammo. They been out of it for many years. That tells me there are a lot more 41mag owners than i once thought. Bill

BTW; I was at the crowded range were everyone was shooting there quiet 9mm's and i figured to let them all hear a real gun. I let the S&W M58 sound off for 6rds. It got quiet when they all looked at me.

 

[ladyT]

The gun that serves no real purpose. Too big and heavy with excessive recoil for police work. The fixed sights make it less attractive for sporting use than the 57. There is nothing the 41 Magnum can do the 44 can't do better. The 41 is a caliber that demands reloading for economy and to make sure you have some as not every store will have it on hand.

Yet the 58 has developed a cult following. I described the 58 as "a Model 10 on steroids" many years ago. Back around 1988 when I had an FFL I saw a wholesaler offering 58s as police trade ins for $189. I bought one as a curiosity. Came with the usual (and abominable) Pachmayrs so I dug through my big box of parts and found that somewhere along the way I had acquired two sets of correct 58 Stocks (without even looking for them) so I slapped on a set.

No matter how hard I tried I never could figure out a specific purpose for this gun. The closest I came was as a "woods" or backpacking gun where one might want a lot of power for dangerous animals is the most compact package possible. But this was reaching. I am not in the least bit surprised that the 58 was a failure in the marketplace.

I have kept this gun for 23 years just so I can say I have one... I guess. I shoot it now and then. I must confess that I don't understand the fascination with this revolver.

But, I do have one. I lettered it back when it cost $20 and it was shipped to Philadelphia in 1977. I have never been able to ID any police agency in PA that used the 58 so I don't know which (if any) department used this gun. The serial suggests a 1974 date so it appears this pistol set in inventory three years before being shipped. They were not fast sellers.

The question proposed is what purpose does the model 58 serve? I submit to you that it is the perfect companion for the marlin lever action rifle in 41 mag. Of course that creates the problem of locating said rifle which to date has eluded me. For some unbeknownst reason I've taken to matching up my Smiths to a lever action rifle of the same caliber except for the 29-3 which I recently paired up to a Ruger Carbine in 44mag.

 

[SAFireman]

The question proposed is what purpose does the model 58 serve? I submit to you that it is the perfect companion for the marlin lever action rifle in 41 mag. Of course that creates the problem of locating said rifle which to date has eluded me. For some unbeknownst reason I've taken to matching up my Smiths to a lever action rifle of the same caliber except for the 29-3 which I recently paired up to a Ruger Carbine in 44mag.

I agree about matching lever guns. A few years back I was able to snag a Marlin 1894FG in 41 Mag to go with my other 41 mags. I think that the Ruger Carbine is a good idea for the 44 mags, that is the combo that my dad has.

....and don't mind Saxon Pig...he is always a wet blanket when we talk about the 58's....he just needs to get out and shoot his more often, maybe then he would mellow out

 

[YogiBear]

Aloha,

I own 2 Marlins in 41 mag.

One is a Limted Edition Cowboy and the other is a standard 41.

I want one with a 16" barrel like what Winchester has for the 357 and 45.

 

[LOBO]

The question proposed is what purpose does the model 58 serve?

It is the King of the M&P's!

*gratuitous photo included free of charge...

58-0, 1965

 

[GregG]

There is nothing wrong with a .41Magnum or a Model 58. Mine serves a definite purpose. It keeps me safe day in and day out 365 days a year. I handle it well because I'm 250 pounds with strong hands. I like a gun with fixed sights for SD, and this gun prints about an inch low at 25 yards, and perfectly centered windage-wise. Good enough for close range SD.

When I buy a *new to me* gun I tend to carry it for a while. I always come back to my Model 58 though. It has a LOT of power, and I hit well with this gun. It has a fair amount of wear, and although I try to take care of it, I don't stress about it getting another accidental scratch.

I handload anyways because I can't afford to pay California retail for ammo these days. So why not a .41 Magnum?

Different strokes for different folks, but I guarantee no one on his craziest day would want to kick my door in with me standing on the other side of it with my Model 58.

 

[ladyT]

Yes indeed. The model 58 is just the right accessory to convey your displeasure for those who drop by for tea at 2am, uninvited mind you, Not to ostentatious but just the right amount to make a statement. Of course there may be a time when you need to reach out and touch someone and in that case a model 29 with an 8 3/8 barrel should do the trick nicely.

 

[YogiBear]

Aloha,

I've been known to hit the Ram with my M-58 on more than one occasion.

With a Magnum load, the 58 Commands Attention as does the fireball.

 

[mkk41]

New shoes on my 58. The Ahrend boots are gone to a good home with another forum member. They were beautiful , but not very comfortable with 175gr Silvertips let alone full-power 210 factory HPs..

So I found these Sile grips on Ebay. Have the same grips on J and K frames. My first set on an N frame. They feel great , ever with full-power 210gr loads.



How do they look?

 

[raisedin99]

Another OGCA Model 58

Found this 1964-65 ? Model 58 at the OGCA Saturday. The original grips were replaced with these period correct grips, surprisingly enough only 118 numbers difference.

The turn line is somewhat heavy I suspect that it has been spun often over the years, in comparison the recoil shield would indicate to me that it has been fired very little.

Serial number is S 2572xx, if I am reading the Standard Catalog of Smith & Wesson description and serial numbers correctly this could be a first year production. I am hoping that someone with more knowledge will validate this for me.

I bought my first Model 58 at the May OGCA, seems that this is becoming a routine I will have to curb.

terry

 

[Rapidray]

It is the King of the M&P's!

*gratuitous photo included free of charge...

58-0, 1965

And that is the truth! Nothing else has to be said.

 

[SuperMan]

NICE find Terry!!! and yes, that is a late 1964 vintage gun....

And that BlackedOut 58 is as neat as it gets....

A few weeks ago I saw an add in the classified for a stunning set of custom made grips from Schofieldkid81... I made an offer on them and in a week they were in hand...and boy do they fill the hand. Have not shot any heavy loads with them on the Custom 58 yet but my grip doesn't shift a bit with 950 fps Police Loads...

..18 rounds as fast as I could get back on targets at about 12 yards...the actual target was a 6" paperplate stapled to the camo target...

Saw a nice but slightly worn 58 at Riley's Gun Shop in Hooksett, NH yesterday. Think they were asking $700.00. "S" prefix gun with the right grips but don't know if they had the same serial number...

Bob