.41 Magnum - Model 58 without model number?

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Hi there

I have a question for the experts here. I bought this S&W revolver in .41 Magnum and from my understanding it should be a Model 58.
The serial number is 1653X where the X is also a number and the number has no prefix.

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It is for sure .41 Magnum
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But it has no type in the yoke
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In original it looks better than on my pictures :o
Can anyone help me here a little?
 

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There should be an N prefix to that serial number. Also can you post a pic of both sides of the grip frame with the grips off, and is there a number on the inside of the right grip ?
 
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Show us a picture of the bottom of the butt please; that is where the SN should be. There should be either an S or an N prefix to a 58's SN which should have six digits. There were no "pre" 58s so all should be stamped with the model number.

Jeff
SWCA #1457
 
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Is this a number or letters?
 

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Thanks for the replies!

Both sides of the gripframe without the grips:
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There is no number on the inside of the right grip.

Bottom of the butt:
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It should be stamped MOD 58 on the frame, just above the image of that area in the 4th photo. Since it has service or Magna stocks the serial number would not have been stamped there.

Based on the sideplate fit and the appearance of the bottom of the grip frame, this one appears refinished and the original serial number has been removed and replaced. I don’t know how this affects its legal status overseas but it would make it illegal to own here.
 
Thanks for the replies!

Both sides of the gripframe without the grips:
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There is no number on the inside of the right grip.

Bottom of the butt:
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That s/n on the butt looks suspicious. It should have an “N” or “S” prefix and the font looks off. It looks like the original number may have been ground off and repunched. Just my opinion.
 
You will enjoy it. I got one several years ago.
 

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It should be stamped MOD 58 on the frame, just above the image of that area in the 4th photo.

I don’t know how this affects its legal status overseas but it would make it illegal to own here.

nothing:
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I bought it officially with this number and it is now registered with it.
 

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Cool, no worries about legality then. :)

As noted above, likely a pre-model stamped Target sighted heavy barrel N frame converted to .41 Magnum, either a .44 Magnum or a .45 model of 1955. A fixed sight pre-model frame would not match up with the model 58 barrel cosmetically.
 
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Is the back strap of the butt frame smooth, or grooved? I can't tell from the pictures, but the M58 has a smooth front and back strap, most all other N frames have grooved back straps. It isn't unusual to not see any inspection stamps on the sides of the butt frame, my 1967 M58 doesn't have anything on the right side, but it does have a production number on the left side along the bottom, and an extremely light "L" struck just above it. My model number is very lightly struck in the usual spot inside the yoke cut, but the M58 only has the SN on the butt.

The color variance between the barrel and frame is enough to tell me the barrel didn't come on that frame originally. Both the frame and barrel are pre-1972-73, they both have the lazy ampersand, and the stocks are diamond PC magnas, correct for a 1968 or earlier M58. Hammer and trigger both look just like mine. The number stamped on the butt is too far back, and a much different font, than the SN's of the M58.

Darn unusual gun. The M58 is one of very few models that had no engineering changes (they are ALL no-dash) during the original production run, so any one you find should be exactly like each other, except for nickel or blue finish. I wonder how many of those originals had a nickel finish? I've never seen one, myself.
 
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Is the back strap of the butt frame smooth, or grooved? I can't tell from the pictures, but the M58 has a smooth front and back strap, most all other N frames have grooved back straps. It isn't unusual to not see any inspection stamps on the sides of the butt frame, my 1967 M58 doesn't have anything on the right side, but it does have a production number on the left side along the bottom, and an extremely light "L" struck just above it. My model number is very lightly struck in the usual spot inside the yoke cut, but the M58 only has the SN on the butt.

The color variance between the barrel and frame is enough to tell me the barrel didn't come on that frame originally. Both the frame and barrel are pre-1972-73, they both have the lazy ampersand, and the stocks are diamond PC magnas, correct for a 1968 or earlier M58. Hammer and trigger both look just like mine. The number stamped on the butt is too far back, and a much different font, than the SN's of the M58.

Darn unusual gun. The M58 is one of very few models that had no engineering changes (they are ALL no-dash) during the original production run, so any one you find should be exactly like each other, except for nickel or blue finish. I wonder how many of those originals had a nickel finish? I've never seen one, myself.

I had one once. It had belonged to a Birmingham, Alabama police sergeant. Back in the day, BPD officers were issued heavy barreled M10s. One of the exceptions was a private purchase M58, loaded with the old lead bullet police load. No Magnum cartridges were allowed.
 
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It is smooth, no grooves.

Then it seems to check all the boxes of being a M58 originally, except for the SN stamping, although I still think the barrel isn't original to that frame. The only other N frame I know of with a smooth backstrap is a M520. A M57, M24, M25, M27, M28 or M29 frame all have grooved back straps.
With the acceptance marks on the frame at the barrel, could this have been a non-US gun at some point, brought back before importer's stamps were required?
 
With the acceptance marks on the frame at the barrel, could this have been a non-US gun at some point, brought back before importer's stamps were required?

It is still a non-US gun, I don't live in the states.

At the moment I'm waiting for my reloading equipment for the .41 Rem Mag. I have nothing in this caliber yet and I am curious to find out it is to shoot. :-)
 

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