Model 58 Sighting

S

scotchblade

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Yesterday was an interesting day. Maybe I was just lucky or maybe I need to check out gun shops more often to see what's in the display cases.

It's important to point out that being a CA resident, the vast majority of revolvers are not on the roster. So I can't shop Gunbroker, I am limited to PPT or a local classified. Needless to say, it is very frustrating to be so restricted in my ability to purchase an old six shooter. Being that is the case, demand is high and we pay more than other parts of the country.

Anyway, back to yesterday. Between two stores, I stumbled upon:

Model 27-2 with a 6 or 6-1/2" barrel
Model 66-1 with a 4" barrel
Model 58 with a 4" barrel and the box.

All pinned and recessed. Maybe this is a common occurance in Utah and Texas, but for a guy like me, that's the stuff that dreams are made of.

Now if I only had more money! The 27-2 was too $$$ so I grabbed the 66-1.

I walked away from the 58 but can't stop thinking about it. It's not often that these opportunities come up. I reload and would need to purchase .41 Magnum dies, brass and projectiles, but have found sources for all. It also is wearing rubber grips. The service magnas issued with it are missing. I prefer wood, even though they may not be as comfortable. I checked around for "original" square butt target N-frames and they seem to be out there, but not cheap. Somebody neatly put white paintfill in the Smith and Wesson on the barrel. I don't think it came that way. Otherwise, it appears to have seen little use.

Model 58 owners, past and present, I welcome your thoughts on what just might be my next purchase.
 
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By the way, I did check Gunbroker to get a sense of price. There are less than 10 available for sale at the moment, nationwide. There are many more 57's. Is the 58 a fairly uncommon model?
 
They are about as common as honest politicians .
The model 58 in my avatar has Ahrend's Retro Combats. He also makes Retro Target's. To my hand both are an improvement to the factory service grips that came with the 58. The Ahrend's stay on the gun and get range time. The factory grips are in the box for collection purposes.
If you can can get one , do so. I have never regretted getting mine.
Gary
Member of the Unofficial Model 58 Club.
 
I went in search of a model 57 I always wanted a 41 mag revolver. My dealer had both the m57 6" & m58 4" both in nickel. I purchased the m57 for $699 but the m58 stayed on my mind. A few days later I had the m58.
I went to s&w store online and purchased the n frame combat grips for the m58. Now it's a handful of wood and feels perfect in my hand.
 
It strikes me that the 58's still out there are drying up in numbers since those finding them don't tend to give them up. If you can go back and get it you may yet be one of those that finds out you didn't know what you were missing. Worst that could happen is you get your money back out of it in another deal.
 
Well, I am one of the newest Members of the "Fan Club." The Model 58 has certainly become my favorite revolver. Just something about them.....I would grab it while you can. Good luck!
 
gwpercle said:
They are about as common as honest politicians.
...
Member of the Unofficial Model 58 Club.
Click to expand...

gwpercle got that right. You might be lucky to see just one in your lifetime.

So, ask yourself, "When's the next time I'm going to see a model 58, especially in that condition and in California?"

Not to be too personal but because there's always the "what's it worth" question and there's conjecture about price variance throughout the country, it would be nice to get some real examples of California revolver prices. What were the asking prices on the revolvers you cite in your post?

John
 
g8rb8 said:
...would be nice to get some real examples of California revolver prices. What were the asking prices on the revolvers you cite in your post?
Click to expand...

Two years ago, I paid $900 out the door for a 29-2 with the wood presentation box. Looking back, I think I got a pretty good deal. Here are the prices on what I saw Saturday. I hope you are sitting down!

Model 27-2 6 or 6-1/2" barrel (no box or papers) - $1100
Model 66-1 4" barrel (no box or papers) - $750
Model 58 4" barrel with box and papers - $1100

Here is another one, from a local seller on Gunbroker that could sell to me via PPT. Unfired 28-2 with the works for $1450.

A couple of months ago, I paid $450 for a Ruger Security Six, no box, no papers. Was thrilled to even find one.

So there you have it. Pretty brutal. Buying options are few and sellers know it.
 
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Count me as a .41 mag fan. It took me 40 years to find a replacement for the 58 I sold long ago. Thanks to a forum member I finally have it in my hands. I really doubt you will regret the purchase and it might even become your favorite Smith. I'm not letting this one go.
 
I got it! Beautiful condition. The previous (and only owner) added some paintfill to the markings. It would have not been my preference but I looks very nice and looks like it was done by a pro. No magna grips either, but those are fairly easy to find. It is a S prefix and according to the standard book came from 1968-1969.

I'm tickled pink.

So, will this get me in the club?

Cheers
 

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WELCOME TO THE CLUB SIR...and The Cult of the 4T1....

If you don't reload Georgia Arms makes a 210 hardcast at just about the speed of the original 210 lead Police Load. Very pleasant recoil.

The Winchester Silvertip 175, CorBon 170 are 1250+- fps loads that kick a little less than most 210s. They will however usually shoot a little lower than point of aim.

Now you just need a nice holster to show it off in...

Bob
 
Very nice example of a great gun. I think you did very well and will really like that gun. I hope to find a M58 someday.
I recently got a M57 and a Ruger .41 magnum with a short (4.625") barrel. You said that you reload, so I would like to pass on some info. The factory loads and the .41 magnum loads in my manuals were a little more than I wanted to shoot on a regular basis. I asked and I got some really good info in this thread on the reloading section of the forum.

http://smith-wessonforum.com/reloading/401624-reloading-41-magnum.html

I just tried some loads with 7, 6, and 5 grains of Unique and was really happy, especially with the 5 grain loads.
George
 
Hi all -

Thanks again for all the helpful feedback.

Retired W4, is acetone perfectly safe to use? Any tips for applying it? I posted a WTB add for the PC modified magna grips. Silly me, I thought PC was performance center, but it is plain clothes. From what I gather, these grips were used on fixed sight models. SAFireman added that to be true to the original S prefix, I would want the ones with diamonds, making my search all the more challenging. And expensive, I'm sure!

Tom K, duly noted on keeping the Pachmayrs for shooting. But I just have to find originals for presentation. Does the Tyler T adapter provide a little comfort?

george_lehr, thanks for the link to .41 magnum reloading. I already have dies coming and found some Starline brass on Amazon for a pretty decent price.

Once I have the gun in my procession, I will add pics to the Model 58 Club of which I am honored to be a member!

Happy Thanksgiving
 
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Factory PC magnas are not pleasant with anything hotter than the old police load . If you've small hands I'd add a Tyler . Larger hands you can use what you like . I shoot Pachmayr's on mine . 41 mag is a reloaders cartridge . The Lyman 410459 & H&G 258 cast loaded from 900 - 1200fps will meet most of ones needs . If you don't cast Rimrock makes copies of the Lyman bullet w/ Carnuba Red lube . 15 BHN sized .001 over cylinder throats ( usually .410 - .411 ) shoot well & don't lead . Most commercial cast are harder than needed & have to be pushed faster to keep leading down ( commercial lubes are most times lacking ) . Nice sedate load with the above is 7.5grs SR 7625 @ 900fps . 7.5 - 8.5grs Unique is also in the same to slightly hotter . IMHO 2400 for faster loads is the ticket . Usually H110 / W296 or VVN 110 will give max fps along with max recoil & muzzle blast / fireball . I only shoot cast in mine because it does everything I need up to & including Black Bear , Hogs & Deer . Good cast will shoot lengthwise through a 400lb Hog .
 
boatbum101 said:
.41 mag is a reloaders cartridge . The Lyman 410459 & H&G 258 cast loaded from 900 - 1200fps will meet most of ones needs . If you don't cast Rimrock makes copies of the Lyman bullet w/ Carnuba Red lube . 15 BHN sized .001 over cylinder throats ( usually .410 - .411 ) shoot well & don't lead.
Click to expand...

Thanks for the advice. I do reload, but don't cast. I am familiar with Rimrock. Checking out their site, I found 215 SWC in both standard and premium. The standard specifies the 15BHN you mentioned. $45 for 500. No image available, so I don't know if the lube is red or blue. Are these the ones? How's the smoke?

Cheers
 
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Those should do fine for a 58 running under 1000 fps... 8.0 grains of Unique duplicates the original Police loading at 950 fps.
 
scotchblade said:
.........Retired W4, is acetone perfectly safe to use? Any tips for applying it? I posted a WTB add for the PC modified magna grips. Silly me, I thought PC was performance center, but it is plain clothes. .......
Click to expand...

scotchblade,
Yes. Acetone is perfectly safe (as long as you're not playing with matches or cigarettes - see post below by Retired W4). A method I have use employs using a small modeling paint brush that I've cut the bristles down on. Put the acetone in a small container and dab it onto the painted areas and let sit a few seconds and use the bristles to dab at the painted area to loosen the paint and wipe off with a clean cloth. I'll try to attach a picture a little later this evening.
Yes. The grips are PC (plain clothes).
John

2014-11-22181800_zpsfe44f6cd.jpg
 
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Scotchblade, I just have a couple more comments on your model 58. The serial number would indicate to me that it was manufactured/shipped in 1969. Only a factory letter from Roy Jinks will solve that mystery. IAW the SCSW the diamond center stocks were eliminated in the 1967/1968 time frame so my opinion would be that your gun very possibly shipped with non-diamond center stocks. I doubt the letter would tell you one way or the other, and S&W could have had diamond center stocks on hand in 1969. The bottom line is your gun is on the cusp, so to speak, and it could have shipped with either but the non-diamond type is the most likely. On a side note, the 3rd edition of SCSW says the 58 was discontinued in 1969, which we know is an error. It's been said many times here, Never say never when it comes to S&W.

One note on acetone, it is very volatile (evaporates quickly). It's also very flammable. An employee of a big camper shell manufacturer in Daleville, AL lit his cigarette with acetone all over him. When he caught on fire he went back inside and burned the place down.:eek:

You have a great example of the model 58 and I know you will enjoy shooting it. I know I enjoy shooting mine. Retired W4, Out.
 
Anybody out there old enough to remember that old chestnut that the M58 was not as strong as the M57? I forget the reasoning why, but the theory held until George Nonte knocked it out in a Guns Magazine article.

Decades ago, I traded my 4" (measured 3.9") 57 for a 58. I considered the 57 clunky as it weighed 51oz, several ounces heavier than the catalog weight. Good decision.

Kaaskop49
Shield #5103

P.S. It was not uncommon for new officers in some jurisdictions to be advised to discard the Magnas on newly purchased service revolvers for Pachmayrs. Sometimes, it was done without their being asked.
 
For me the PC N-Frame magnas work well. I don't even consider installing rubber grips on it for that reason. After a complete tear down (other than the barrel) and reassembly today I will take mine to the range in the A.M. just as a test flight, post maintenance. I'm still waiting for a range report from scotchblade. Let's hear it Member!;)
 
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