I bought one this weekend on a whim. It is pretty clean
and finish is what I would consider 95-98%. Are there
many out there?

Hi, I suspect no one can give you an exact degree of rarity. There is a rule of thumb that about 10% of S & W revolvers were nickel finish, but I think that pertained to older guns. I'm sure you'll see plenty of photos of Forum members' nickel 586s to follow

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Alan
SWCA LM 2023, SWHF 220

My experience of gun shops, shows, and other venues is that the 6" 586 in nickel is not an uncommon gun. Not rare at all. I'd say around 1/3 of 6" 586s I see around here are finished in nickel. I was just looking another one over a couple of days ago.
About a year or so ago I saw a 4" 581 finished in nickel, I went back for it the next day and it was gone. I would guess that would be a fairly uncommon L frame/nickel gun to find, as it was the only one I've ever seen.

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Geoff. Since 1960.

I think nickel 586's are rarer then blue ones by a wide margin but maybe not as low as only 10% of those made. At gun shows in local gun shops I have seen only one for sale with a 6 inch barrel and I've seen lots of blued 586's for sale. I also think it doesn't matter hold rare a nickel gun might be because if it's not new and unfired in the box with all the goodies it's not worth more then a blued gun that's been fired.

I see more N-frames than 586s. I almost never see blued steel L-frames. And we go to a lot of shows and shops.

I think folks in this area keep their 586/581s, and sell their other guns.

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NRA Lifetime Member

I still have an unfired new in box 586 6" nickel that I bought back in 1982. Paid $289 for it!

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ken
SWCA #1959

I'll give ya $300.00 for that junker AND pay all shipping!

In all seriousness I'd say it's worth $550.00. I paid 325.00 IMS 6 years ago for my no dash 4" 586 in nickel and it is one accurate and sweet looking revolver IMO. I have Herretts on it as the stock grips are absolutely beautiful and I shoot the revolver better with them on.

There WAS is a 4" beaut on the forum right now for sale and I think it's worth every penny of what the gent WAS asking for it. Don't see many around. I actually used to dislike nickel guns. I now have 5 of them and growing.

Mines a keeper. They are very easy to maintain and the finish is tough contrary to what you hear and read.

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V/R
Roger / SG

I've got a 99%+ 4" nickel 586 no dash. I bought it when they were first announced. Shot it a little. Didn't cotton to it much. Since then/now it lives in the safe. I've always liked the K/N's better.

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S&W Accumulator

Here is a 586 no- that is NIB that hide in the safe.

Why oh why did they have to full lug all those nice smiths? I have couple with FL's and sometimes I'm tempted to grind them off. Dang sho doesn't make them look better.

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S&W Accumulator

I have a 568 no dash in nickel and also have blued version no dash.I don't like nickel myself and was going to refinish it.But if they are rare I might not.

Ken

From years of shooting almost all S&W's of every size and types I love the full underlug on the 6" and below models, especially the 3 & 4" guns. They balance perfectly for me and keep the muzzle down when recoiling from the extra weight, making them a joy to shoot. Everyone of my full lugged models are tack drivers. Don't know if this has anything to do with the stiffer barrels.

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V/R
Roger / SG

What is a 586 6 inch 95%+ in nickle worth?