Model 581 (no dash) Pawn Shop Rescue

[wnr700]

Maybe it's because we have no children. Maybe it's because we have rescued our dog from a puppy mill, one cat came the day before uthinization at the pound, another from a busy parking lot...

I visited a local Pawn Shop and was stopped dead in my tracks. I had wanted a 681 or 581 since picking up a pristine 586 last month.

Let's just say the pictures make her look ALOT better than she really looks. Any bluing that is left looks mottled.

It obviously had a long life of service in some capacity. Tightened a few loose screws, withstood the sharp edges the cracked and seperating grips at the range.

Gave her 50 rounds of 158grain Remington Lead RN target rounds. The trigger was as smooth as any revolver I have ever shot. My accuracy was about up to my abilities with fixed sight revolver at 20 and 30 feet. About hand size groupings.

I was looking for a shooter for IDPA, because I was have second thoughts about roughing up the 586.

This may bump the 586 to safe queen/HD duty.

I figured for $320 out the door, there wasn't much to lose.

Funny thing... no serial number around the crane. Was not sent in for the recall. Not sure what all the stamps mean, but I'm assuming circa 1980...

Can anyone decipher the stamps and date the serial number?

 

[Flint Ridge]

Good looking gun there! Very nice pictures as well - I need to improve my camera - but buying guns is more fun.

 

[Engineer1911]

Engineer's Heresy

You have a nice 581. Now get it dressed for the party or BarB-Q! Buy a 4" Aristocrat rib and drill and tap the frame/barrel to install it. You will have a muzzle heavy revolver that shoots 357 mags with no recoil and very little muzzle flip!

I had a 581 and sold it -- bad move. Bought a 681 and got it dressed up. Great shooter and is just a terror on falling plates. Go for the Gusto!!

 

[wnr700]

camera set up...

I'm cheap and use a Canon 10d bought off Ebay... $200

I'm cheap so I bought an Olympus 50 or 55mm macro lens off Ebay... $50

A Olympus to Canon lens adapter off Ebay... $15

Any crappy old flash w/syc cord placed above and left of camera/tripod (placed about 2 o'clock)... $60

$20 worth of poster board to make a light box.

$5 flashlight to aid in manually focusing.

Shutter release cable... $30

Tripod... $30

Camera setting is manual, ISO either 400 or 800, lens is probably f/32, manually adjust shutter speed to gain right exposure. Probably at a half second exposure even w/flash (thus the need for cable release and tripod)

That's about as cheap as you can get, to get easy and quality images.

Blued guns need more light and are tougher to fill shadows.

Helps that I once moonlighted as a wedding and sports photog... but it is really easy once you get the setup.

These are really lazy attempts (I'm critical and see my mistakes)

 

[tgwillard]

I have a 681 no dash that needed to be cleaned up (polished) and new grips installed. I know you will enjoy your 581 as much as I do my 681. As for the serial number I looked it up in my copy of SCSW 3rd edition and as best as I can tell from the serial number reference page is that your ACJXXXX was made in 1983.

I removed the side plate from my 681 and sprayed in some Rem Oil. Mechanism looked good but the light Rem Oil didn't do any harm. Trigger pull is almost as good as my 686, which has had trigger work done on it.

 

[Flint Ridge]

I'm cheap and use a Canon 10d bought off Ebay... $200

I'm cheap so I bought an Olympus 50 or 55mm macro lens off Ebay... $50

A Olympus to Canon lens adapter off Ebay... $15

Any crappy old flash w/syc cord placed above and left of camera/tripod (placed about 2 o'clock)... $60

$20 worth of poster board to make a light box.

$5 flashlight to aid in manually focusing.

Shutter release cable... $30

Tripod... $30

Camera setting is manual, ISO either 400 or 800, lens is probably f/32, manually adjust shutter speed to gain right exposure. Probably at a half second exposure even w/flash (thus the need for cable release and tripod)

That's about as cheap as you can get, to get easy and quality images.

Blued guns need more light and are tougher to fill shadows.

Helps that I once moonlighted as a wedding and sports photog... but it is really easy once you get the setup.

These are really lazy attempts (I'm critical and see my mistakes)

Maybe I'll stick to bad shots with the camera. I heard what you said, but not that motivated yet! I'll get there - someday. I have some ideas that I have not seen on any gun site that would be fun.

 

[Lew Archer]

Nice save!

If you want to pretty it up, S&W does a great job of re-finishing. The standard and high polish finishes are available.

I sent back a very well used Model 15 with a chipped rear sight and it came back like new. Likewise, my well worn Model 49 came back like new.

While aftermarket refinishing deminishes the collector value, a factory refinish doesn't lower the value as much and certainly gives one the satsifcation of restoring a gun to its original condition. And it's nice to know to that while they have it, S&W will inspect it inside and out.

Not something you NEED to do, but it is nice to do...

 

[frbeall]

I just bought a 581 last weekend, my thread is on page 2 or 3. I found some good reading material on the 581, check it out. First Shots: S&W Model 581 .357 Magnum - 1911Forum I'd ship that puppy off to S&W and finished in a brite blue, about $250.

 

[Maximumbob54]

These 581/681 threads always make me wish they would bring them back into production. I don't think I'm the only one that thinks this but then again, if there were a market S&W would be pandering to it.

 

[ENGINE18]

Great score. I would have broke my wrist yanking my wallet out for that one!

 

[03clyde]

Nice find - I have a 681.

 

[easyrider604]

Nice 581....lots of character revealed in blueing wear.

However, the cylinder notches look quite fresh and very sharp. I think your 581 was shot very little. Good find.