There is one area that the model 58 was superior. When the model 57 cost $150 the model 58 cost $87.00. That was a lot of money at the time. My first .41 was a Ruger Blackhawk that I paid $87.50 for in 1965. I later traded it off on a Beretta 20 Ga Double Shotgun. In 1973 I bought a 6" model 57 and I bought my model 58 in 1978. At the time I was doing field work in Alaska and the model 58 was more comfortable to carry in a cross draw holster that the 57 was in a shoulder holster. After I left Alaska an unarmed USGS Geologist had a black bear attack her and she lost both arms as a result. Here is a photo of my model 58.

I have read repeatedly that part of the .41 magnum's decent into nitch status was the fact that they made hunting ammo for the 57 and police duty use ammo for the 58, but too many people were buying the hunting ammo for the 58's and cops siad recoil was too fierce. 58's came with magnas and had no intention of hot and heavy loads although they could. So just like how (and this is IMHO) overly hot, no matter how well they worked, 125 grain magnums killed the K frame magnums, hunting ammo killed the 58's chance at popularity. I hear enough how just because the 19/66 say .357 on the side then by God that's what they are going to be fed. And go figure (like I'm getting into a habit of posting here) S&W dropped new combat magnum barrels from production. So too many people fired ammo the 58 wasn't made for (not that it hurt in in this case) but they all complained to no end of recoil, and they were dropped. But for hunting the .41 magnum and the .44 magnum are so similar that there isn't enough separation from the two to justify enough people to jump on the 57's bandwagon. The best most can say is that anything a .44 can do then so can a .41 and that isn't enough when you can load .44 specials and have dozens of factory loads to choose from. So maybe calling it the .41 magnum and not the .41 Police is what killed it. The 58 was made as a beefed up model 10 and was supposed to just offer more power to those that felt they needed it. Making a hunting version of the same gun and offering hunting ammo may just have been the finishing kill shot.

Either way, I would still like one at some point. I think it looks very down to business with the M&P look to it.

Forgive me but this is how the 58 should have looked. Sort of like S&W finally realizing that the Second Model HE was not quite right and needed to be improved to the Third and then Fourth Model with the barrel shroud.



Keith

Here's my month of february/2011 purchase. Its a brand new S&W m58 41mag in nickel finish, its my new CCW gun. I hung up the 9mm's when i looked at the ballastics again. I always carried the wheel guns in magnums before. I paid only $699 for it. I also purchased a brand new S&W M57 w/6" barrel in nickel too, in january/2011. I put the pachmayer presentation grips on my m57 and put the m57 orginal wood grips on my new m58. I'm not sure yet which new S&W i want next for the month of march yet. But i may go for the S&W 657 in 41mag in stainless or the S&W M57 4" in 41mag in nickel too. I want both anyway. Since my dealer has all of them in 41mag and with most marked $699 i can't pass these up. At this price i can look past the key hole for sure. I picked up some Cor-Bon hunting ammo in 41mag its 1250fps/850ftlbs i use these as my carry rounds right now. I also picked up some new federal ammo in 41mag also which is a tad lower in ballastics. With the 41mag ammo being hard to find at times i picked up 900rds of brass, the lee carbide dies and a lee pro1000 set up for 41mag too. When my dealer told me its the first time he has the 41mag ammo in two years i figure to stock up on everything to stay ahead. Bill

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here's my 58 was my fathers r.i.p. he carried when i was young we had property backed up to the mountians he saw a bear once. i was about 7ish when i first fired it. was in total aw' still am what a brute. i like odd not every has one things.havent had it out for years.picked up a wittness p 45 acp looked at it at home and thats not a gun this is a gun. just dug it back out and fell back in love its blue and has harrett grips i maybe a fool but ordered s&w rosewoods today dress it up. any comment about that ill understand just wanted s&w grips. pick up some silver tips $$ wow is been a while. but this is a only live once world and in my hood i think this will stop them at the door. going to take to the range and see how it handels,haha. have a 586 357 also nib maybe carry that

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This thread makes me want to dig out my 58 that was purchased in early 1970's, but hasn't been fired in 20 years.

Jim,

Did that 'ol boy out and give it a work out...I bet that you can't put it down....if that's not the case, let me know and I'll PM you my address

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On the Oak Savannah

any question on dumping the harrett girps for some new s&ws just what to know what you all think

My wife calls my 58 my "Barbie gun" cause I change stocks like Barbie changes shoes....
I have N frame Targets, Rogers, and right now she is wearin' Elkhorn stocks by forum member Executioner along with a Smith and Wesson branded T grip.
I like your Harrett stocks, they look great on your 58...but having several pair ain't ever a bad idea....HOWEVER, if you decide to sell the Harrett's, you know how to reach me....

I do like that shrouded barrel and front sight....real nice carry gun...

Do like the good Sheriff and get several pairs to swap out

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On the Oak Savannah

these are the herretts they were on it when dad got it 1969 the 58 is model s2578xx any info is helpful. if the herretts go up for sale whats reasonable. also have a model 36 w/mother of pearl no pics yet in sis,s night stand changing those as well.any thoughts'thanks

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the herretts are model RM dont know if that means anything.

Sir, I have a very similar set of Herrett's on my S&W #63, in the middle in this photo. I gave $35.00 for them, IIRC.

Herrett model RMs are Shooting Stars for the N frame square butt. Your's are the earlier ones. I have a similar pair and I really like them. They would be hard to replace so you might think twice about selling. They are worth something in the $50 range.

Never liked the .44 Mag cartridge. Started reloading and shooting my uncles 57 with a 8.375" bbl. Owned a 57 and 657 both 6" when I finally got a 58 seen here. Taking this one overseas to Germany for 2 tours (wish I could have it here in the sandbox). Also have a 14" TC and a Marlin 1894S. My normal load is a 215 LSWC behind 7.5-8 gr Unique and Winchester 175 STHPs. Need to locate a set of wood Combat grips for it someday whenever I get home.



Had a second 58 with a slow barrel (always 100fps slower) and a gunsmith friend of mine wanted a fixed sighted .44 Mag. He did his magic between my 58 and a 29. I later sold that one.

CD

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De Oppresso Liber

OK.....I'm back in the club....have yall changed the secret handshake? 58 got here last week...sat down at the Dillon today and whipped out some 220 lswc and some 210 jhp's. Oh happy day.

I want a 58 bad, it is going to be my next.

combat, sent you a PM

I can understand why the M58 failed as a police officer weapon. And probably there were enough officers (male and female) who couldn't handle the recoil of the standard lead "Police" load much less the high velocity load.

But as a backwoods carry gun or "vehicle" gun I think it shines. I load mine with the Hornady 210 grain FMJ bullets to about 1,000 fps. It will penetrate any animal found in New Mexico (I was concerned about black bears when camping with my daughter) and it will penetrate an automobile quite well also.

On horseback it is also a great carry gun.

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Have guns...will shoot'em.

I must add a note in defense for the model 58. It has been said that it can't do what another revolver can't do better and maybe it has no useful purpose. Yes there very were few made and they didn't take off like wild fire as hoped, but the 58 can do everything any other .41 or .44 mag 4" revolver can do at a very slight weight advantage, snag free advantage, and to boot, it can do everything and more that any lesser caliber revolver can do and more. It is what it is, a straight shooting business piece that cost a lot less than a 19, a 27, 57 or 29 back in the day. It is a very interesting piece, and it holds a very special niche in the collecting field and the user world as well.

My God! Could they have put a bigger,uglier screw in a worse place?

I have always been a fan of the .41 Magnum but always wanted one. I watched my BIL carry a nickeled one on duty as a LEO for many years and I enjoyed shooting it in his back yard.
During his funeral it and a 1911 were "stolen" from his house,supposedly by "friends" of his girlfriend.

They were recovered in SC several years later during a search of some suspected robbers house. Local Sheriff here knew of the guns and said he was going to try to get them back for us but the Judge in SC would not release them.
Probably got destroyed or added to someone's collection.
I still have one on my Bucket List!

Hey Keith,
Who makes those grips?! Nice!

Indeed...the Model 58 is my favorite Post-War N-Frame, and, a joy to shoot.

I hope to be re-loading for it one of these days also.


One could not ask for a more versatile Cartridge either, for the Hand Loader, as for covering a wide range of purposes.

It is too bad they did not offer any Models of the .44 Magnum Revolver with plain Duty Sights, where the Revolvers of that Calibre would have retained that basic dignity and clean look of being all business, also.

Of the two, I prefer .41 Magnum to .44 anyway, but, just sayin'...

The grips on the custom 58 above are Craig Spegel's Extended Boot Grips in Brazilian Rosewood. They're a tad longer than his standard extended grips and work very well with my large hands.
Keith

Nice! So Spegel Boot Grips -- either extended or regular (my hands are smallish).

Here's my official entry into the 58 club. N serial # that I got at Cabelas last December. I've wanted one for several years and expected to carry it on duty.......But about 1 month after I got this they decided to remove the 41 mag from the approved calliber list. Oh well, we still have the 45 Colt......

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Tom
"Panem et Circenses"

...beautiful Hybrid...and like you said...what the 58 should have been. Could you please advise who did the work and is that a 57 6" barrel that has been cut back or 4" barrel that had the sight removed...

Thanks...Bob

Thomas,

That is a great looking 58 you have there, and you got the box too! Score!

It is a shame that they took the 41 mag off of the roster, but I would be that nobody was using one, so they figured what the heck...Is 10mm still on the list there?

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On the Oak Savannah

Just picked up a new to me Model 58 with a "N" prefix serial number. been lookinfo for a good deal for a long time and finally found one but had to buy a few more guns to get it. I am quite pleased with the purchase. Think I ended up with less than $500 in it. Here she is. Wrong grips but oh well.

from 1974...bad pics of a nice gun

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ASA/NSA 67-71
NRA Benefactor

Bob,
Bowen did the work. I have four identical guns, the only difference is in the caliber and the base gun. The one in 41 Magnum and the one in 45 Colt were both built on Model 58s. The ones in 44 Special and 45 S&W were built on Model 520s. The 41 Magnum barrel is from a Model 57 and started out as a 6.5". It was cut down to 4" and the sight you see pinned in place. I never like the look of the shallow angle front sight on the 58 so I asked him to give me one with a 60 degree serrated rear face. The sight picture is MUCH improved. No glare at all regardless of lighting. And I think it looks better. The barrel on the 45 Colt came from a Model 1955 and was originally 6.5" as well. Except for the cylinder being rebored on the 45 Colt, the work on the two guns is identical. All the work came out to approximately $1400. The Model 57 barrel was another $150 as were the grips. I recouped about $100 by selling the 58's barrel and another $100 for the grips.

Keith

A pinto 58 from my catch & release program:

Whaaaaaaatt!! A PINTO 58? Where did that come from? Did you get it lettered? I can't say as I have heard of one.

Great looking gun though.

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On the Oak Savannah

Here are my kids again...the Nickle 58 is wearing a set of Elk Stag grips courtesy of Executioner and the blue one is wearing a new-to-me set of N frame, square butt, Combat grips that I found locally. I just love the way that those Combat grips cushion the recoil of the heavy loads, and I couldn't bear to tear up the diamond PC Magna's that came on it. I'm all set for summer - one for BBQ's and the other for ridin' the fences.

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On the Oak Savannah

This is my only 58. I traded handejector for it at the Richmond show and had the factory renickel it.

Max,

That nickle is really bright

I notice that you have a red front ramp...did the factory do that for you when they refinished it? also - target trigger and hammer?

Great looking 58 BTW.

Thanks for sharing

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On the Oak Savannah

That's one fine lookin' 58.
Almost makes me think of sendin' mine in for some curryin' an shinin'.

SAFireman; The 10mm is an approved caliber, and I'm qualified with 2. Carrying a 58 was a goal of mine for several years. I understand the reasoning behind the admin dumping the 41 mag, with so many other calibers approved. I don’t think anyone used a 41 here for years. Just bad timing on my part...

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Tom
"Panem et Circenses"

Now Iggy,

What would make you do a thing like that?

I had a thread somewhere about re-working a 58 and got the distinct feeling that I would be strung up for tampering with a well loved 58 (more especially, one that saved your life).

Keep your old girl just as she is....I bet we could find you a nickle one if you were hankerin' for some 'bling-bling'

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On the Oak Savannah

Where's my shades?

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I’m your Boogie Man, uh huh.

Nah, I'd never do it. That would be like me gittin' my hair dyed and runnin' around in shorts and a tank top.

Ewwww! that's just scary that is!!!

The target hammer, trigger and red ramp were on it when I traded for it. Muley Gil has stated that he did the same thing to his 58 that he carried on duty and may have also put them on other guns for folks.

I have not shot it since I got it back as I think it is too pretty to shoot now. May have to try and find another one in Orlando.

Thanks Keith...it has Bowen written all over it... And you are 100% right about the sights...way too much pitch. I have a Freedom Arms 83 in .41 Mag and had Dave Clements do a 80% ramp with the Keith Long Range gold bars...much better sight picture...



Bob

But there is a guy near me that has a NIB four inch blue model for sale. What would be the going price for something like this. It is as stated NIB with papers and tools. Not that I am a big box, papers, tool guy. They guy wants a grand for it. I think that this is too high. What say the model 58 gurus.

He just might get that on an auction site...often, there are folks floating around there that have more money than sense...I have seen plain jane 58's go for $800 with no box and the wrong grips...I would try to negotiate him down to a more favorable price like $750-800...heck the economy is in the tank, you might be able to get him down more...now is this a first run 58, or a Classic Series? My price guesses are based on it being an older model (not with the lock system).

I hope that helps you out some....let us know if you get it (and post the photos when you do!)

Good luck.

...and I do not consider myself a 'guru' so my advice is worth exactly what you paid for it

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On the Oak Savannah

Knock knock, can I come in?

Just picked up this '73 vintage 58 today. Besides a turn line, this 58 is in excellent condition. Came with mint diamond targets:



Thanks to the dad of SAFireman it now sports the correct PC magna's:



Thank you Scott AND most importantly(not to minimize Scott's involvement), Randy(aka "quinn" on this forum)

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I’m your Boogie Man, uh huh.

Very nice Mike!

I am jealous....that is a very fine specimen. I'm glad that my dad could get those grips for you...I think you made his day as well - that Highway Patrolman really needed the correct magna's on it. Now, go shoot it and let us know how she does...I would bet that most folks would be surprised how accurate the 58's really are

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On the Oak Savannah

I guess that makes 3 happy people

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I’m your Boogie Man, uh huh.

Guess I became a member back when a kind gentleman on this forum used to sell it seems like nothing but Model 58s. I waited, as he would list several here and there, til I was able to pick out a somewhat minty blue one with the correct box and grips. Never have shot the thing, but it sure feels good looking at it and holding it every now and then.

I have to say the pinto with the "catch and release program" had me laugh a bit.