Model 58 S prefix guns

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Jcon72

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A local retired cop recently sent his guns to auction recently due to health issues. I've been watching for the right 58 to come along and was fortunate to be able to snag this one for a fair price. It had newer (non-diamond) Magnas, but I just so happened to have a couple of spare sets of these on hand and quickly remedied the situation after bringing it home (still gonna look for a set of diamond PC Magnas, though). It's not quite perfect but it's older than me and in better shape than I am, so there's that.....
Not long ago a gentleman was extolling the virtues of the model 58 and then told me that S&W only produced about 1,800 model 58's with the S-prefix. Can anyone confirm or deny the truthfulness of this statement?

<Edit>
With the kind assistance of the right person with the right info I now know that this gun originally shipped on Jan. 24, 1966 to the Williams Gun Sight Co. in Davison, MI.
Yes, *that* "Williams Gun Sight Company".

 
Last edited:
Jcon72 said:
The way I understand it not all the serial numbers in that range were given to model 58's, but all the S-serial model 58's fell within that range.
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That is my understanding as well. I don't believe that S&W kept a log of how many were produced, except in later years with the 'limited editions'. Registered Magnums and some other select models have been researched to death and have a better understanding of the total produced, but it is not an exact science.

Nice 58 BTW :)
 
S&W would have kept the daily production data for the Model 58 in their log books beginning in the summer of 1964. The factory designation for this model is N-410. The first Model 58 shipped on August 6, 1964 has serial number S256119. S-prefix Model 58s could have shipped through 1970 and serial number S333454, the last serial number with an S-prefix. However, as stated above, this serial number range is shared by all N-frame models so it is impossible to know how many in this range are Model 58s.

Bill
 
Early Model 58

So I guess this must be an early Model 58 S2583XX. I think of it as a forerunner of the Mountain Gun concept. Powerful with no barrel under lug. Great for close in dangerous defense. Not a hunting gun but a good backup for hunting dangerous game.I have not lettered it.
 

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I had a 98% condition San Francisco PD Gun made in about 1966. Got it at an awesome price a few years ago, but it had PachMyers on it and I was going to get some factory original grips, but they are hard to fine and extremely expensive.
 
8/68 Lettered with TH,TT,TS

225-A42-E5-8-A71-490-A-8754-42-A01-FE10855.jpg
 
John Adams said:
So I guess this must be an early Model 58 S2583XX. I think of it as a forerunner of the Mountain Gun concept. Powerful with no barrel under lug. Great for close in dangerous defense. Not a hunting gun but a good backup for hunting dangerous game.I have not lettered it.
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Let's see:

M58-Heavy barrel Mountain Gun-Tapered barrel
M58-No underlug Mountain Gun-half lug
M58-Straight cylinder Mountain Gun-Black powder
chamfer
M58-Square butt Mountain Gun-Round butt
M58-Fixed sights Mountain Gun-Adjustable sights
 
Model 58 S prefixes

I have a M58 with serial number S313922 (1968?). Original PC magna grips numbered to the gun. I see it as the quintessential woods walking gun.
 

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Last M-58 Manufactured

Several years ago Someone advertised the last M-58 manufactured and I bought it. I have factory literature and Roy Jinks letter stating "Your handgun , Serial #AZB5248, was shipped from our factory on October 8, 2008 and delivered to xxxx xxxxxx, xxxx, Tn". He was a S&W salesman. This handgun was probably built as a sample. "It certainly is the last model 58 built just 30 years after it was discontinued".
SWCA 892
PS, I'm not computer literate enough to post pictures. Sorry
 
Doug M. said:
M58s did not sell well. I bought a NIB M58 with an S# (S327XXX) in 1978 or so.
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I think you are correct. Back around 71-72 my local gun pusher had a NIB mod 58 in his gun case. Price was $195.00 plus tax. It had been there for several years and needed dusting off. I asked to see it. I told him to sell it to me at cost and get his money back and use it to buy something that would sell. He checked his records and said he had $140.00 in it and He would sell it to me for that plus tax. Done deal. I wore it on duty for a couple of years until the department decided to furnish us with 66-0's. I ran into said gun pusher two days ago and we talked about that deal and several more. He's now 80 years old and still has a very nice collection. I foolishly traded it or sold it to buy something else. I missed that gun for several years until I found one marked SAPD. I paid $400.00 for that one even though it wasn't as nice as the first one. That made me feel a little better. I've had that about 20 years now and still occasionally run a few rounds through it.
 
The .41 Magnum as a service weapon had some features that harmed its value. The original 210 grain LSWC (about 950 fps IIRC) ```leaded pretty badly. I shot some of that a long time ago and don't recall the details of the leading when I used it. The other original load was a 210 grain JSP hunting load at about 1400 fps. Some tried it as an alternative, but had a pretty significant bark. As a wiseguy stunt I actually qualified with it. The situational Tourette's from others under the covered firing points was significant. By then I had gone to Pachmyer grips, like most serious shooters of the day; I have no idea how long it took to remove and replace the PC Magnas, but it was not long.

What I really carried when I started in LE was a cylinder of the 175 grain Silvertips, with 2 more speed loaders of it, and a 3rd speed loader with the JSPs just in case. Other than some bear loads I got when considering a trip to Kodiak, I usually use the Silvertips or some Georgia Arms SWCs in it. When I retired and did my first LEOSA qualification (I usually do so with multiple platforms) I was at an indoor range that did not allow lead, and had to use some hunting load Gold Dots. I got cussed out some more.
 
Nice trio of 58’s

Congrats on the fine looking SFPD 58
I guess about a year ago the Cabelas in FW had a SAPD 58. I was tempted but decided not to pay the $2900. It did not last long.

scott1970 said:
I can account for three of them. And I'm still searching for the elusive SAPD 58, and it continues to elude me.


cQEvHsQl.jpg
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