I've been eyeing a 586 for a while but I just haven't seen the right one yet. What other models shoud I look for?

Criteria: 3, 4, or 5 inch barrel. 357 mag. Blue. Underlug, shrouded ejector rod. Preferably full lug. Hopefully an unfluted cylinder. No locks or modern stuff. I'm looking for old school, hammer mounted firing pins... No K frames.

To paraphrase, that's one unicorn with two horns that craps out four leaf clovers.

I have seen pictures. I know they exist. I don't know exactly what the model was though.

You have the 581, 586, 681, 686 are the common ones. The 6 stands for stainless and the 5 is blued.

What Mr. Smith said. The 1 at the end indicates fixed sights and the 6 an adjustable rear. You may have also seen a Performance Center or special variation of one of these models.

__________________
Alan
SWCA LM 2023, SWHF 220

So what model n frame would this equate to?

I just got my first Highway Patrolman and like it alot. Downsides for you: fluted cylinder and no full lug. Upsides: blue, 4 inch are readily available. And definitely "old school."

The only N frame that I can think of that comes close to meeting your criteria is the 627-0, sometimes called the 627 model of 1989. It is an N-frame with unfluted cylinder and a full lug 5.5" barrel. And it is stainless, not blue. I have one and it is a VERY heavy gun. Nice for shooting, but way to heavy for carrying in my opinion. There have been some L frames made with unfluted cylinders and full lug barrels, but other than 6", I don't know what barrel lengths were made. Come to think if it, there is a blue or black L frame with ported barrel that comes close to what you are looking for.

Edited: Just looked up the L-comp and they may not have been made pre-lock, pre-frame mounted firing pin. Unless there was a special edition made for one of the wholesalers like RSR, Lew Horton etc, you may be SOL finding exactly what you want.

+1 on the Model 28-2 with 4 inch barrel because it was built by craftsman and hand fitted during assembly that is no longer the case.

+1 on 28-2 4 inch. The 581/686 are fine revolvers but to me representative the modern production type revolvers.

Howard

I think it would depend on how old the 581/681/586/686 in question is. When the L-Frame was introduced it was "produced" pretty much the same way and by the same people that were making the 28-2 at the time. The only difference is the L-Frame didn't have the pinned barrel and the chambers were not counter-bored. But from a quality standpoint, it was the equal of anything put out by S&W. In my case, my 681 made in 1982 shows better care in fit, finish, and assembly than my 19-4 made in 1980. My 19-4 has very noticeable tool marks under the nickel on the trigger guard and someone buggered up the tang end of the side plate when they fitted it at the factory. The 681 shows none of these "issues."

How much weight difference is there between the L and N frame. N frame for .357 seems a bit excessive to me. But hey, better safe than sorry. And the 27 is growing on me.

Depending on model and barrel length, six ounces, give or take.

Someone is selling one tonight in the classified section.

WTS: nice 586 no dash .357

Well I've decided it will be either a 4" 586 or 3.5" 27. I think I'm going to hold out for the 27. -2 or older. I want it p&r.

The 27's are an Excellent choice--Cadillacs of the Smiths IMHO. You'll be very happy you did. Rather pricey though.

Don't be afraid to post a Want To Buy in classifieds here--great folks and hopefully you'll find exactly what you want.

Steve

Unfortunately my eyes are bigger than my wallet. I need to bolster the gun fund for a while.

581 on the top, Ruger GP100 on the bottom.

The 581 is one of my favorite Smiths, I love it so much I found another one just like it. Whoever says the 581 isn't "old school cool" is out of their mind! The 581 has more than it's share of "street cred" with cops who carried them in the 80's, 90's and maybe even today.

I also have 2 6" and 1 4" 28-2's, awesome revolvers and not a bit overbuilt for the purpose, they were designed as police duty guns made for lots of shooting with hot .357 and hard use. They found lots of use by sportsman too. The 28's were S&W's workhorse .357 for a lot of years, not everyone needed the "frills" of the 27, especially PD's who just wanted powerful, durable duty guns.

Since this is the S&W forum I won't go into my absolute love of Ruger revolvers But if you want durability and a gun that will last pretty much forever, the Rugers will not disappoint.