New Revolver.... .41 Model 58..

[pbureau66]

The one that seems to be a curiosity is what I believe being a unfired S&W Model 58, caliber .41 Magnum, after a little research, all I see online are blue models, so I have questions;

1. mine is Nickel, rarity of this?
2. a series of stamps which I would like to find out the meaning of them (I see a spade and some other characters.)
3. was told it was never fired, how could this be verified?
4. manuals for tear down and restorations (action sticks etc. its not damaged but old oil I take)
5. looking at the model 58 stamp is it me or it seems like an over stamp over another model number?
6. what was the period correct "grip" for this model ?

joined of course is the information according to the "identify your gun" is:
3 Screws model, Hand Ejector, Strain Screw, Fixed Sight, 4" Barrel, .41 Caliber Model 58, Serial number S2602xx.
according to Smith & Wesson Model 58: The Uncelebrated .41 Magnum the serial number falls between 1965-1966.

Here are some pictures, the marks on the nickel are very shallow and will be one of the questions about restoring it later.

Patrick

 

[22hipower]

Welcome to the Forum. Looks like a 58 that has led a fairly tough life and is badly in need of cleaning and some TLC. It certainly is not unfired as they're test fired at the factory. Some were original nickel finish, more in blue though. That finish might be original but I'd guess a refinish. Looks like a fair amount of pitting.

You don't show the grips which should be PC Magnas. If you don't have them a correct set is not easy to find and will run $100-$200. I've rarely found a S&W which I believed to be unfired since leaving the factory that doesn't have its box/tools/paperwork with it. Could happen, but rarely I think.

Looks like the trigger and hammer were gilded at one time, if so the factory didn't do it.

The stamps are factory inspection stamps that mean nothing outside of the factory. The Mod. 58 stamp might be an overstamp of the 8 but unlikely as the 58 is a fixed sight gun and there weren't many other fixed sight N frames from that period. Looks a little like a 7 under the 8 which could just be a factory error. Either way, no effect on value.

A fine revolver and will look a lot better with some TLC and some Flitz or other polish.

Jeff
SWCA #1457

 

[murphydog]

Welcome! These were made as factory nickel guns. The serial number suggests a 1965 production year, so fairly early in the model 58 series.

The proper stocks would be Magna or service style, with the “diamond” around the stock screw and rounded bottom edges, called “modified” or “PC (plainclothes) style. Not easy to find.

Finally, the finish looks heavily worn. Photos of the front cylinder face and recoil shield would help but it was either badly neglected, heavily shot or both.

Jeff beat me to a lot of stuff.

 

[pbureau66]

her are the requested pictures, and yes, I agree it will need a lot of love to be restored., I am not looking to sell it, just trying to figure out if it is worth the hassle to restore it.

as for fired or not, it doesn't matter to me, I just wanted to confirm or not.

 

[22hipower]

The recoil shield doesn't show signs of a lot, or any that I can see, firing. The front of the cylinder is also clean but that doesn't tell us it hasn't been fired. One in new in the box condition would be expected to show that two or perhaps three chambers had been fired at the factory; usually every other one. That's not always the case but likely would have been in the timeframe this one was produced.

Possibly it got the corrosion from being poorly stored. But where did it get the gilded (gold wash) hammer and trigger and why?

You haven't told us about the grips. We would expect an unfired example, even if improperly stored, would still have the original grips numbered to the gun.

Is it worth anything? Yes, as I see it probably $500. Maybe more if it cleans up well and has the original grip. Especially if the action is tight and it is mechanically sound. Model 58s are sought after by many of us, even in that condition.

Jeff
SWCA #1457

 

[pbureau66]

so, I asked the family (this is an inherited gun) about the history of the revolver, and as I was told the box in which the gun was in, was found in a Texas attic, in a box that was filled with clothes. boxes which were brought down from attic about 20 years after they had been forgotten up there. so yes, the "storage" was not proper at all and if you know how much humidity Houston has year-round. the pitting isn't terribly surprising.

The grips where nowhere to be found at all. I cannot answer what happens, again no one else in the family seems to know why no grips.

regarding the different colouring of the trigger, no one knows, except the pull on this trigger compared to the model 586 I also have is like half the pull required to fire the gun, so there may be something there I dont have the "pull tester" to give you a number, but the reset on the trigger is also about half of the very long 357 Magnum, so your likely correct it isn't factory as far as I can tell, but again I am not a S&W expert what so ever. and even less on revolvers.

I looked at previous image and notice alot of "yellow" showing I want to provide a better image and its all silver except those two items your correct (previous one seems to look like poor plating colour changes on the handle. which it isn't, it must be lighting at the time.

anyways, thank you very much, I'll be bringing it to my local gunsmith and see if it has been registered in his system, no one seems to know if it was or not. maybe he will have other insights about the trigger/hammer situation.

 

[stansdds]

I have my doubts about it not being fired outside of the factory. I do not see an "N" stamped on the left side of the grip frame nor on the rear of the cylinder, so that leads me to believe the finish is not original. It's in pretty rough shape, so it's nothing more than an lower grade shooter.

 

[mtgianni]

Be also aware that a model 58 as a shooter is sought after as it is the perfect combination of power and nothing to hang up from drawing from a holster. Lawmen and backcountry walkers have used them successfully since they came out.

 

[cndrdk]

so, I asked the family (this is an inherited gun) about the history of the revolver, and as I was told the box in which the gun was in, was found in a Texas attic, in a box that was filled with clothes.

And....the box for the revolver is not the original box, box is about 20 years newer than the revolver.

 

[Hawg Rider]

"here are the requested pictures, and yes, I agree it will need a lot of love to be restored., I am not looking to sell it, just trying to figure out if it is worth the hassle to restore it.

as for fired or not, it doesn't matter to me, I just wanted to confirm or not."

Welcome to the Forum! Regardless of its condition, you inherited a fine revolver. I wouldn't worry about any restoration until you give it a good cleaning and polish. Both the revolver and the original box are in rough condition, and definitely exhibit being stored in an attic in humid Houston! But both can be cleaned up with a little DIY TLC. Give the revolver a good soaking and cleaning with some CLP (Cleaner, lubricant, protectant), and then a gentle polishing with a microfiber cloth and some Flitz Polish or Mother's Mag Wheel Polish. Buff it off and you'll probably be amazed at how that Model 58's nickel cleans up. As to the trigger and hammer...probably a trigger job and some aftermarket plating. Looks like the cylinder release was also plated. Who knows? Nothing much you can do about the deep pitting in the frame except to stop the rusting process and prevent further damage. I'm sure that some other Forum members will be along to offer some advice on stopping the rust. After you get it cleaned up, you may want to take it to your local gunsmith and have him give the revolver a once over (especially if you intend to shoot it). Good luck.

 

[6string]

Is the question of fired or "unfired" status really that important when the firearm is in this state of preservation?

Nonetheless, it's pretty cool and has a ton of character!!



Purely personal opinion, but I would go for a "preservation" rather than a "restoration". There's lots of good advice in the forum archives on how to clean old nickel finishes in a non-invasive way.

 

[ken158]

Your model 58 appears to have had a rough life… and being represented as unfired could be unfired from where you obtained it but definitely not unfired. I see no N on the rear of the cylinder to indicate factory finish but you might see it on the grip frame. I doubt that is factory nickel. The other marks you question are just assembly marks which mean nothing after it was built. I would value your 58 at about $300 and you will spend 3x that for a quality restoration.

 

[Joe in Fl]

Nice old gun, as hawg rider said, Flitz or Mother's will do wonders. I had a Mod61 nickel that looked about the same, a couple hours watching tv and lightly polishing really brought the nickel out. They're great woods guns. definitely one of my grail guns even in that condition.

 

[SGT ROCK 11B]

The one that seems to be a curiosity is what I believe being a unfired S&W Model 58, caliber .41 Magnum, after a little research, all I see online are blue models, so I have questions;

1. mine is Nickel, rarity of this?
2. a series of stamps which I would like to find out the meaning of them (I see a spade and some other characters.)
3. was told it was never fired, how could this be verified?
4. manuals for tear down and restorations (action sticks etc. its not damaged but old oil I take)

1. Originally blue it was nickle plated and the hammer and trigger got a 'gold' wash.
2. It does not have the "N" stamp for factory nickle.
3. It has been fired and when it was nickle plated it made it look new. Apparently it was not fired after it was prettyied up.
4. Your right about the old oil has turned to gum. A great cleaning will make it run right.

The previous owner was likely going for the "BBQ Gun" but today it would be a great field revolver.

 

[gunbarrel]

Mine is from 1972-1974; so, 7-9 years newer if yours was made in '65. I don't know if they changed the style of box and stocks during that time; but if not, this is what it should look like. I traded for mine and it was LNIB. I do shoot it and it is my favorite S&W revolver. Hope this helps.

 

[BigMuddy]

I would value your 58 at about $300 and you will spend 3x that for a quality restoration.

I would love to find one like this for $300. That would be a “half price sale” around here.

Dan

 

[pbureau66]

I want to thank you all for the many replies and word of encouragement.

The goal with this revolver is to "use it".
In a first step it will be cleaned and checked by a gunsmith for possible issues.
Then as per requested of me, take my 90-year-old ex-military police, firefighter father-in-law and go shoot it at the range. (The orignal owner was his military daughter's revolver.
So, it has sentimental origins nor monetary, beyond that, having it documented as correctly as possible, being a little bit of a historical buff, it tickles my fancy to do so, find paperwork still around to "complete" its origins would be lovely.

Again, I want to thank you for all the info, I really appreciate it a lot. I rechecked the revolver and you are correct there are no "N" marking at all anywhere so the assumption it was re-plated is likely the answer to that question.

I do have one last question, because I am confused about grips.
this is (correct me if I am wrong) an "H-frame" type revolver grip, is that correct? Finding originals or repos would be seemingly expensive but surely someone make some that will not break the bank for "using it".

 

[Alk8944]

All I can say about OPs M-58 is what a shame! It doesn't look to have been carried or fired a lot since new. The Nickel finish is after-market as there is no block N on either the grip frame on the cylinder which indicates factory Nickel. There is also no factory re-finish mark on the grip frame which would indicate it was re-finished by S&W at any time.

The correct stocks for the Model 58 are those pictured in gunbarrel's post, P-C Magnas. These are uncommon to find as they were only used on the Model 58 and the Model 520. If it were my gun I would probably settle for some after-market stocks, probably Pachmayr Presentation or similar, as the M-58 can be quite a handful and the rubber stocks mitigate recoil to a great degree. The frame size is "N".

I'm not sure if there is an "H" frame, but if there is it would be a stainless steel variation of one of the blued models.

 

[gwpercle]

I want to thank you all for the many replies and word of encouragement.

The goal with this revolver is to "use it".
In a first step it will be cleaned and checked by a gunsmith for possible issues.
Then as per requested of me, take my 90-year-old ex-military police, firefighter father-in-law and go shoot it at the range. (The orignal owner was his military daughter's revolver.
So, it has sentimental origins nor monetary, beyond that, having it documented as correctly as possible, being a little bit of a historical buff, it tickles my fancy to do so, find paperwork still around to "complete" its origins would be lovely.

Again, I want to thank you for all the info, I really appreciate it a lot. I rechecked the revolver and you are correct there are no "N" marking at all anywhere so the assumption it was re-plated is likely the answer to that question.

I do have one last question, because I am confused about grips.
this is (correct me if I am wrong) an "H-frame" type revolver grip, is that correct? Finding originals or repos would be seemingly expensive but surely someone make some that will not break the bank for "using it".

The Model 58 is an " N " frame revolver ... not H .
The model 58 , during this production time frame , was not manufactured in Stainless Steel .
Gary

 

[Hair Trigger]

The one that seems to be a curiosity is what I believe being a unfired S&W Model 58, caliber .41 Magnum, after a little research, all I see online are blue models, so I have questions;

1. mine is Nickel, rarity of this?

6. what was the period correct "grip" for this model ?

You don't show the grips which should be PC Magnas. If you don't have them a correct set is not easy to find and will run $100-$200.

Nickel M58's aren't rare, but are much less common than blued ones. SCSW gives a 10% price premium for a nickel gun vs. a blued one in like condition.
This is what a set of period correct stocks would look like, as 22hipower has already identified. Yours is possibly a second year model, the M58 was first released in 1964. The one below is from 1968 and yours would have the diamond around the escutcheon like it does. I also included my Letter, it gives the history of the Model 58.