Just picked up my 581

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Well,

I just picked this 581 no dash up today. I did pay top dollar for it at $500, but the Tampa gun market is foolishly high. There are a few surface rust spots that I can't get off with the 0000 steel wool. I knew going into it I wanted to get it refinished. Fords is a couple of towns over from me and I am trying to make up my mind over a reblue or matte hard chrome. It will be a carry weapon.
 

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With the humidity down in these parts (I live in new orleans), and i was dead set on refinishing, I'd go with a matte hard chrome, or I would just leave it be, use Renaissance wax to protect the finish. I picked up a 581 a year ago, had a lot of finishwear, but has the smoothest action of any revolver I have ever fired. Those fixed sight L frames are fantastic guns, dont think I could ever sell my 581 or 681!

Btw, fantastic looking 581, theres a saying around these parts, you didnt spend too much, just bought it a little early!
 
I would worry less about the finish and more about the lack of the mod on a carry gun.
 
Model 581 was my first personally purchased duty revolver. Let it get away from me, but got it back years later. It was all beat up and had rust in numerous areas. Had George Roghaar in Boca Raton, FL re-blue it and he did a beautiful job. Highly recommend his work. Great find and good luck with it.

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Well,

I just picked this 581 no dash up today. I did pay top dollar for it at $500, but the Tampa gun market is foolishly high. There are a few surface rust spots that I can't get off with the 0000 steel wool. I knew going into it I wanted to get it refinished. Fords is a couple of towns over from me and I am trying to make up my mind over a reblue or matte hard chrome. It will be a carry weapon.

Did you buy the one that guy was selling on FloridaGunTrader?
 
There is one of these for sale at a shop near me for sale for 400.00, I am not interested in it but would be glad to help someone else out who is looking for one. Near Chiefland Florida message me if interested...
 
$500 may be at the high end for a 581, but you rarely see them for sale. I think you'll be happy with the gun and forget about the few extra bucks you spent. It was a fair price. Being a huge fan of "K" and "N" frames, I was reluctant to buy one, but when I saw a used 581 no dash last year, my resistance failed me, and I bought it for $450. It was in excellent shape and as tight as it could be. I think it is one of S&W's most beautiful guns. Good luck and enjoy it.
 
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$500 may be at the high end for a 581, but you rarely see them for sale. I think you'll be happy with the gun and forget about the few extra bucks you spent. It was a fair price. Being a huge fan of "K" and "N" frames, I was reluctant to buy one, but when I saw a used 581 no dash last year, my resistance failed me, and I bought it for $450. It was in excellent shape and as tight as it could be. I think it is one of S&W's most beautiful guns. Good luck and enjoy it.

I agree. I really do like it. As I mentioned, the Tampa Bay area is foolishly high in the used hand gun arena. People tend to feel everything is worth MSRP or higher. LGS's are high on prices which holds the used market higher. On average, I would say I am paying $50.00 more per transaction than I should be, however, If you factor in what it cost to purchase abroad with the shipping and transfer fee I would say I am a little ahead of the game.

I had my three smiths dated yesterday. The 581 is a 1983, the 586 is a 1982 and my recent 686-2 is a 1988.
 
I agree about the gun being used as a carry gun and not having the recall modification done. If you're going to carry it for protection, send the gun back to S&W and get the mod done to it.
 

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