1965 SFPD Model 58

Glad to be a part of the club!
I’ll be posting of my second model 58 when I pick her up out of Gun Jail in a few days.







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Nice, indeed!

I see yours has TH and TT as well; do you know if it shipped like that?

My newest and oldest 58 came home today. She's seen some holster time, but she's a beaut to me. Born on date somewhere to mid 1965 I'm guessing. Looks like a short trip to the indoor range may be in order!

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Whaaaaaatttt?????

Please excuse the ****** photos, they are not mine.....and yes, that IS a 41 Magnum

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On the Oak Savannah

I just put the box and papers away from my 1973 made Mod. 58.
I am really interested in the story about the above .41 (shrouded Bbl)
Was it made from a .44 N frame ?
Imitation Ivory stocks ? And who was the original owner?

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Dino in Pittsburgh's Rat Pack

Dean,

That gun is a Smith & Wesson Model 58, it is a tribute gun built to match the 3 44 Magnums that were built in 1974. It began life as a Model 58, you can see a before picture on the first post on this thread.

I had a model 57 barrel cut down to 3.25", moved the front sight back and made it shorter. The frame was round-butted, the trigger guard narrowed, and then the entire project was given a high polish blued finish.

I don't know the original owner from when it was new, but I am the original owner of the conversion.

The stocks are Catalin, which some refer to as Bakelite. It was John Wayne's favorite, and I think it looks pretty cool (but it does need a Tyler T grip adapter).

I will be posting a thread just for that gun once I get some good pictures of it.

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On the Oak Savannah

That gun right there is my dream gun. I always wanted a model 58 with round butt and somehow get a 3" model 57 barrel with the ejector shroud on that gun. I can't wait to read a thread about that gun with more pictures.

I have a Model 58 because I wanted to be different, just like everybody else.

I seriously like this gun. Shipped circa 1973. Original grips numbered to the gun. Shot little, carried little, but a previous owner stored it in a holster, which damaged the bluing (abused, but not used?). I bought this gun to shoot, so I am not concerned about that.

Home brew ammo is a 210 grain Lee tumble lube powered by 8 grains of Unique.

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And it has the proper grips , " PC Magna's " . Those grips are harder to find than " hens teeth " . Don't let them get away even if you decide to change . I hunted " high and low " till I found a set for my 58 . My favorite load for mine is the " KEITH 220 gr swc, HG 258 ) using 8.5 grs of WSF . enjoy ! Regards, Paul

The original grips are very nice to have, but I can see why they get changed out. I am looking for a beat-up Tyler T-grip for it.
Here is what happened to the inside of my thumb after about 100 rounds of various loads (that is a spot of brown mud on the left grip panel, not damage of any sort):

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Ooh-Wee !!!
Same experience here , first range trip and factory loads drew blood . Those original grips came off and were put away . They might be desirable for looking at but the Ahrends Retro Combat's are much easier to shoot with and don't leave you bleeding like a stuck pig . That's them on the 58 in my avatar.
My factory grips my not be original as they aren't numbered to my gun or any gun... I need to take a closer look for any light pencil marks .
Gary

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Certified Cajun
NRA Member

^^^ Can you post a bigger picture of those grips, please?

The numbers on the grips for my gun are machine pressed into the wood itself, not printed on with ink or pencil. I can post a picture if someone wants to see.

...and here I though you were reduced to buying Model 65 LADYSMITHs....

You keep posting those things and you're going end up COSTING ME MONEY!!!

Bob

I have found my PC Magnas very comfortable even using full power loads after many rounds, I have always been looking for another set for my 27 , 5” barrel . I hope you enjoy your 58 , as I sure do mine , I had a friend make me a left hand shoulder holster for mine . Regards Paul

What about we make the Official Breakfast of Champions load for the Model 58...it exactly duplicates the original 210 grain swaged SWC POLICE load made by Remington and Winchester...

I chronographed some original ammo a couple of years ago and I believe the Remington was doing 940 and the Winchester 965. Most of the 210-220 grain bullets I have chronographed with 8.0 grains of Unique have been the 930-980 area...

9.0 runs 1100 and 10.0 1180.... The original 210 JSP runs 1250 from a 4" and not exactly fun to fire...

Bob

I recently passed on a 58 that had been altered to a round butt grip . Had an after market finish . Kind of a dullish chrome finish . It had a tight lock up , wood grips . He wanted $600 OTD . I just didn’t need another one. Regards Paul

For what it's worth, here is the chronograph data for my loads in my gun (all with 210 grain Lee bullet):

6.0 grains of Unique; 755 fps
7.0 grains of Unique; 905 fps
8.0 grains of Unique; 1011 fps
9.0 grains of Unique; 1121 fps
17.0 grains of 2400; 1202 fps

Elmer Keith’s mid range std everyday carry load for the 41 magnum was his 220 gr swc over 7.5 grs of unique . He never said what the velocity was .
Bob , your 8.0 gr load of unique is a popular load by many . It would make a good candidate for your suggestion. Regards Paul

How about posting a picture of that shoulder holster, please?

Once the weather gets here I'm going to run some more loads through the chrono with the 8.0 load... I am beginning to wonder that when "NEW" Unique came out did maybe velocities get boosted a little.

I was looking at one of the old Gun Digest COMBAT HANDGUNNING books the other night and it had a several page article on the .41. One of the guns and loads tested was the Remington 210 POLICE loading and it clocked 940 from a 58... I think the 210 SP was 1250 or 1275...

By new are you refering to the differences between Hercules and Alliant?
Steve

I read that the police load was a 210 gr cast bullet on top of 7.0 grs. of Bulls Eye powder . The gentleman writing the article had pulled apart some police loads , sent the powder off for identification to a laboratory. Just passing along what I have read. Regards Paul

Warren , we’re trying to figure out how to send pictures. Will send as soon as we can conquer . Regards Paul

^^^ I feel your pain! BTDT. Just follow the directions, and it should (eventually) work.

(edited to add; I used a recent lot of Unique in my chronograph data in post #1368 above)

Warren , It says I'm not allowed to create an album I guess due to a pretty serious " ding " I got about a yr ago . I wasn't hostile in a post , just an infraction . Anyway , if you will google " Cochise Leather Works " . On the right hand side of the page , at the very bottom of the first column it says , " western shoulder holsters " . Mine is the " Doc Holliday " version . As you can see , Dave LeFleur has many different styles. I hope this helps .
PS. Dave has made several shoulder holsters for me , the N frame , K frame and J frame revolvers . He usually is about 2 months back log on his work . He told me he made the shoulder holster rig for Val Kilmer in movie , Tombstone . Made chaps for Sylvester Stallone . They were all great to work for . He did some leather work for Reba McIntyre -- that's another story . I hope this helps , Regards, Paul

Is this it?

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That's it !

At risk of asking a stupid question, does anyone have a clue when my M58 was made? It has serial number S2952** and sports TT, TH, and period-correct walnut 'football' and raised diamond TS. I have tried to find out if any left the factory with this configuration; I have the box, but those options aren't 'checked' on the endflap.

It left the factory some time in 1967 or 1968.

The TT, TH, and target stocks are not original to the gun when it left the factory.

Perfect, thank you!

I made a crossdraw holster for my Model 58. I came up with my own design that would incorporate my usual feature of having the handle of the gun kept close to the body, but I have never done this with a crossdraw or a revolver, so I did't know how well this was going to work.

The gun is angled at 22-1/2 degrees.

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Cutting out, dying, and stitching...

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The finished holster. Having the straps fasten with snaps allows the holster to be put on the belt without having to remove the belt.

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My objectives were realized; the gun is held close to my body, and the holster can be added or removed without undoing my belt.

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There is the possibility that they are factory original. I have seen two TH/TT 58s that were still in the original box that were so marked. One poster here also has one with the correct markings on the box... Probably only a letter will tell...

biku....was wondering if those diamond target stocks were Cokes, walnut or goncalo alves.... Having a diamond they would be period correct.

Bob

I also have a 58 that came from the factory with TH, TT. I bought it in 79 ( post 1325) and was standing next to the guy who opened the shipping carton from the factory and handed me the blue box.
I moved 11 times in 35 years, so empty gun boxes were deemed superfluous, but I still have the 58.
Bob, I concur with you in regards to 8 grains of Unique and a 210-220 gr SWC, my everyday load for my 41’s.
Bill.

Thank you, I stand corrected. I did not think ANY factory options were offered in the original run of Model 58s.

Have you documented this with a letter? Mind you, not disputing your words.
Steve

Not quite a Jovino 41 but you’re getting there.

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Sure you did

This one, S serial, came with TH, TT, and TS. I have lettered it. No mention of the Cokes( in the factory letter, though I have been told they would not be mentioned) it came with, except Cokes are TS, so could be original. They sure fit like they belong.

I’ll take a pic of the factory letter if anyone doubts it shipped as above.

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Sure you did

No, I have never seen the need for it. I worked part time for the distributor that received the gun, I was in their warehouse when it was received, and when it was taken out of the shipping container from the factory, it was placed in my hands, I paid for it and it went out the door with me. That is a pretty solid “ chain of custody”.
The fact that it came with TH, TT is not anything significant to me other than a deviation from the norm. I was a armorer for this distributor and saw thousands of S&W revolvers, and quite a few deviations from the norm. The fact that 58’s came from the factory with TH, TT’s, have been documented with letters ( like one above this post) so they obviously did ship that way.
I have owned, carried and shot this revolver for 40 years, spending money for a letter confirming something I already know, does not make much sense to me. This gun is going to be with me until I don’t need it, doubt if whoever ends up with it next will care about a letter, if they do, they can letter it.

biku324, the owner of that M58, stated in his post that he had the box and that those options weren't checked on the label. Sometimes, the dealer would install the TT and TH. Of course, the easiest swap was the grips. Over the years, I swap in many a TT and/or TH for my fellow police officers.

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John 3:16
WAR EAGLE!

Nope, they are walnut in the same configuration as the later TS, except with raised diamond.

What's the cost and process for a factory letter?

It costs $75 for the letter of Authenticity.

http://www.swhistoricalfoundation.co...quest_form.pdf

...being there when it came out of the shipping container is about a solid a chain of custody as it gets.... And as noted above, a factory letter may not state that the gun came with them simply because it may have not been noted on the build form.

There are lots of 27s out there that have TH, TT and TGs but the stock was just Service size and Magna...really only some of the N-frames like 29s, 57s and 25s came stock with Target accessories...on most all other models it was an option...

Bob

It was $30 when I sent for one, now $75. I don’t get a letter unless it’s something out of the ordinary.

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Sure you did

Have been looking for one for quite some time.

This one left the factory in 1974 and doesn't appear it's seen much use at all.

It came with Targets which I removed and just happened to have a couple sets of the proper PC's here at the house (imagine that)

Masterbuck54

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Most call me Pete- SWCA#3248

Pete,

That is an outstanding example, very clean.

Welcome to the club!

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On the Oak Savannah

That’s a sharp looking 58 there, really nice.
Re Catalin: I’ve a set of Catalin grips that still have the original label, they’re easily 60 years old and were made in Corpus. Who knew....

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Halfway and one more step