I bought the 581!

[Jaymo]

I've always found the Colt V spring models to shoot very well and normally have a wonderful action.
I am a Colt fan.

That said, I'm also a Smith fan. I currently own one Colt and about 15 Smiths. Guess that says a lot.

The L frame is an absolute good. My 586 is a fantastic shooter. The action is slicker than snot on a doorknob.
IMO, Smith really got it right with the L frame.
If they wanted something to compete with the Python-sized Colt .357s they succeeded.

For me, the advantages of a Smith over a Colt are that the Smiths are easy to work on and have worked on (and done right), and to get parts for.
Any other advantages they may have are just a bonus.

Just like the Ruger GP100, I hated the L frames when I was growing up.
Then, I shot them. And bought them.

Long live the L frame.

 

[MJFlores]

December 1983. Give or take a couple of months.

"524" I believe is the assembly number. The frame, the yoke, and the side plate (on the inside) would all be marked with this number. These three parts are fitted together and matched very early in the production process. They are so marked to prevent them from becoming separated as they move from station to station during assembly.

The other numbers and symbols are commonly called "fitter marks". Their precise meaning is unknown to collectors, but it is thought they signify various QA tests and inspection points. For example, some of the symbols on the grip frame to me look like they were put their during the hammer forging process. The mark might indicate a certain machine or die.

The fitter marks were meaningful during the brief moment in time when the gun was being made. They were not unique to any one gun as the same symbols, marks, and numbers were used over and over again.

Thank you for all that info! Very interesting stuff. Neat to know the year and month it was shipped. I was 12 years old when it went out the door LOL!

 

[629shooter]

I was 12 years old when it went out the door LOL!

That is alright. I own a few that are older than I.

 

[DFrame]

Thank you for all that info! Very interesting stuff. Neat to know the year and month it was shipped. I was 12 years old when it went out the door LOL!

Such information is always fun. I have a Colt SAA that was shipped in 1911, 12 years before my father was born.

 

[BCDWYO]

Love the 581 and 681!

 

[weyerbacher]

They could have tacked on another $100 and I still would have gladly made that deal.

 

[Fishinfool]

Very nice looking. The "L" frames were introduced in 1980. They were never offered in a P&R version. Yours should be 3rd year production. One way to tell first year L frames is the location of the S&W Shield stamp. First year guns had a large stamping on the right hand side of the frame. It was the second year, I believe, when the stamping was made smaller, and the location was moved to the left hand side of the frame, under the thumb latch. My 1st. year 586 has the S&W stamp on the right side.

Larry

 

[MJFlores]

It's a beauty and you got a heck of a deal at that price.

"took it out back to the range"....wish we could all be that lucky!!

I found this no dash last Summer in a LGS. It had the M stamp and a fresh Factory recondition with the high gloss reblue. I didn't care for the high gloss blue finish as it looked sort of like plastic powder coating. Sent it back to the mother ship for the bead blast blue finish. Looks a little more business like. The actions on these L frames always seem to be like butter. I don't know if S&W put a little extra care into them knowing most were going to LE.

WOW, that looks really nice!

 

[Shorty 45 MK2]

Congrats on a sweet revolver!

 

[Stirling]

You got a great deal there! Great looking revolver. Maybe you could use wax to remove the mark for the barrel. I'm sure there must be some ideas out there.

PS I'd love to test my guns out back.

 

[AlHunt]

That's just the sweet spot to me. Stainless would be a tad more to my taste but that one has it all. Versatile caliber, fixed sights for easy concealment, if needed. Classic wooden grips. The full underlug should tame recoil on hotter rounds.

Others may prefer a more specialized tool. But I agree with Robert Heinlein - specialization is for insects.

 

[AlHunt]

Sweeeeeet! Not sure if S&W ever made 2.5" 581/681, but it'd be something that would make me smile.

Well, a hacksaw would be all you need, really. And some JB Weld to put the front sight back on.

 

[Kframerbluvr]

Y'all are killing me with all these pics of fixed sight L-frames. I was issued a 581 in the mid '80s that came from confiscated stock. Had to turn it in for destruction soon thereafter. We had two. Wish they could have been saved...