A very special 581 Custom

DHart

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I've been promising my friends here some pics of this for a very long time. I finally made some today.

When I acquired this gun is was a tired looking, scuffed up 4" 581. My favorite S&W revos are fixed sight models and I couldn't resist this (my second) 581 "find". It didn't appear to have been shot much, but looked like it had been knocked around a little and not cared for very much. The perfect candidate for a really cool custom. I decided to send it to Mark Hartshorn. Asked him to cut the barrel to 3", recrown, cut the butt from square to round, install a gold-bead front sight, bevel the cylinder edges, polish, deep re-blue, and give it a dreamy, buttery, light trigger pull. Finished off with a pair of my very favorite revolver grips... Kim Ahrend's finger-groove grips. All was done and the result is a magnificent gun, as beautiful shooting as it looks. With the weight and strength of the L-frame is shoots like a Cadillac-6-shooter. Now one of my most treasured S&W revos.

SW_581_LF3243.jpg


SW_581_L3221.jpg


SW_581_R3222.jpg


SW_581_Ck3235.jpg


SW_581_RR3242.jpg


SW_581_RF3223.jpg
 
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I've been promising my friends here some pics of this for a very long time. I finally made some today.

When I acquired this gun is was a tired looking, scuffed up 4" 581. My favorite S&W revos are fixed sight models and I couldn't resist this (my second) 581 "find". It didn't appear to have been shot much, but looked like it had been knocked around a little and not cared for very much. The perfect candidate for a really cool custom. I decided to send it to Mark Hartshorn. Asked him to cut the barrel to 3", recrown, cut the butt from square to round, install a gold-bead front sight, bevel the cylinder edges, polish, deep re-blue, and give it a dreamy, buttery, light trigger pull. Finished off with a pair of my very favorite revolver grips... Kim Ahrend's finger-groove grips. All was done and the result is a magnificent gun, as beautiful shooting as it looks. With the weight and strength of the L-frame is shoots like a Cadillac-6-shooter. Now one of my most treasured S&W revos.

SW_581_LF3243.jpg


SW_581_L3221.jpg


SW_581_R3222.jpg


SW_581_Ck3235.jpg


SW_581_RR3242.jpg


SW_581_RF3223.jpg
 
FANTASTIC. Yes, I know I was yelling. Pardon the rude question, but what was a ballpark figure on the cost of the work?
 
Superb! I applaud the choices you made in how to customize that gun - and the craftsmanship evident in the finished work.

Thanks for the great pics, also!

Jerry
 
SWEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEET!!!!!!!

Coolest looking S&W I've seen in a long time. Can you PM me Marks contact info please?

Thanks,

SG
 
I suggested the same gun in the "Wish List" section a few years ago, except in 44 Special. Call it a 591
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So yeah, I obviously would love a 3" L-frame like yours. Good job, beautiful revolver.
 
As always, DHart, phenomenal. I recently acquired a PC681 with the Birdsong Black T and Green T finish. I contacted S&W in regards to removing the finish. They refused to touch it, saying Birdsong would have to do it. I contacted Birdsong's and spoke with Mr. Birdsong himself. He told me to blast it with low pressure using aluminum oxide, followed by glass beads. I will be attempting this soon. When it is done, I'll get a photo and post it for your approval.
 
Holy smokes...that's one sexy gun!

Brian~
 
Outstanding DHart, your pictures are great. Not a bad looking little 3"er either.
 
Dhart, great to see you back here again and thanks for posting photos of that masterpiece! It has been well worth the wait to see it.
 
can you post how much$ it cost to get the work done, I want to have this done to my 681.
 
Originally posted by pete950:
can you post how much$ it cost to get the work done, I want to have this done to my 681.
Ditto, I too have a 681 lying about not doing much.
 

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