New to me 581 Distinguished Service Magnum

[trust-no1]

Long time poster, first time caller........
Picked up a model 581 yesterday at my favorite Atlanta, GA area honey-hole. Here are the particulars: Received a H&R "The American Double Action", .32 S&W Long from an estate settlement. No interest at all in it (H&R's are not my thing, apologies all around to the H&R afficionado's out there). So, the H&R, plus $375.00 later, I walked out with the 581. Conservatively, probably 90% NRA. AAA4### serial number, no M stamp.
So, ladies and gentlemen of the the jury, deal or no deal? I am Fox News in this case. I report, you decide. I think I did alright, not a screaming deal, perhaps, but okay. This was the same gun shop where about 5 years ago I bought a model 610, 5 " barrel, wood combat grips, for $400.00. And no, I won't give up my source. I won't even tell my wife where it is or the name of the shop (for obvious reasons to those of us who are married). I'll post pictures this weekend.

 

[shawn mccarver]

If the question is "did you make a good deal?" Then you will have to decide. It is, as the ad says, "your money - use it when you need it."

Although not in the question, the lack of the M stamp requires that you need to send it back for warranty service.

Firearm Recalls and Safety Warnings- FirearmsID.com

 

[regalsc]

I recently acquired a 686 no dash 6" without the M stamp & was advised to shoot 357's through it to see if there was a problem with primers flowing back into the bushing & there wasn't. There was a member that stated he had shot his a lot with no problems. It was certain primers back in the early 80's that presented the problem so until I have a problem with cylinder rotation when shooting mine is not going back.

 

[Goblin]

I'd say it was a good deal, unless there's something about the H&R that I don't know that makes it a $400 gun. Not as good a deal as a $400 610. Grrrrrrr......

 

[loeman]

I'd be very happy with that deal. If your 581 is as good as my 681, and I'm sure it is, you've got one of the finest. My 681 is my all-time favorite revolver.

By the way, I have no intentions of sending mine back to the factory. I also have a 686 no M and after about two years I've had zero issues. I don't even think about it anymore. However, to each his own and the fix is free.

 

[sodacan]

In the last auction of that H&R model on Gunbroker it went for $4700.00. Seriously

 

[ken158]

I would have wanted more boot if I had to take a H&R on trade....

 

[old bear]

New to me 581 Distinguished Service Magnum

A small bit of trivia. I Believe that the Model 581 was referred to as the "Service Magnum," and the target sighted Model 586, was referred to as the Distinguished Service Magnum.

No matter the name you have a great revolver that should give you years of shooting pleasure. Enjoy it.

 

[trust-no1]

old bear - you got me thinking, so, as I may be in what some people would call the firearms business, I pulled the ol' SCSW 3rd Edition of my shelf at work, looked it up, and Supica & Nahas refer to it as the "Distinguished". No matter, small trivia item. I hope I enjoy it as much as you and others have posted!

 

[AgentM]

I'd say The OP did well on the deal. S&W fixed sight L-frames are pretty much like waterfront property - they aren't making any more of them!

The firing pin/bushing re-fit is only required if your particular gun suffers primer flow back. I have a 681 (no dash, no "M") that was a well-used LE trade, and it has no issues with any 357 ammo I've fired through it. S&W wouldn't send me a pre-paid label, and they told me the gun wasn't covered under warranty. Fortunately, it has no problems! I have a like-new 681-3 as well, and believe the Distinguished Service Magnum is one of the very best weapon designs S&W ever sold to Law Enforcement.

With that said, I REALLY like the re-designed S&W 66. Even though the gun is a K-frame, it sure feels like an L-frame when you pick it up. I'm hoping they eventually give us model 65 counterpart with the durability upgrade. It would almost be like a 681.............

 

[shawn mccarver]

A small bit of trivia. I Believe that the Model 581 was referred to as the "Service Magnum," and the target sighted Model 586, was referred to as the Distinguished Service Magnum.

No matter the name you have a great revolver that should give you years of shooting pleasure. Enjoy it.

I thought it was:

581/681 - Distinguished Service Magnum
586/686 - Distinguished Combat Magnum

Anyone remember for sure?

 

[Sixgun100]

1983 Catalogue

 

[caleb4387]

Cool!where can I get a brochure/ poster like that?

 

[Sixgun100]

Cool!where can I get a brochure/ poster like that?

eBay has them. Just search Smith and Wesson 1983 Catalogue. Just checked and still available.

 

[caleb4387]

Thank you!

 

[trust-no1]

as Paul Harvey said, now the rest of the story..............

The H&R revolver was the "American Double Action First Model (fourth variation" mfg. 1898-1904, .32 S&W caliber.

To be generous, it was maybe 30% (I'd say closer to 20%, but let's not quibble). It was missing the the sear and sear spring. Per the "35th Edition of the Blue Book of Gun Values", pg 843, the value of a 60% revolver is listed at $95.00. Yes, I know the Blue Book is just a guide and a reference to a firearm's value.
The real reason I wanted to part with the firearm was that it had some very bad ju-ju associated with it that I did not find out until after I had settled the estate. Basically, it belonged to my mother's husband, the family did not want it (after I asked, because of the history associated with the firearm).
Yeah, the dealer I worked with may have got the best of me, but I got a nice 581 and got rid of an albatross of a firearm.

 

[G-Mac]

Although not in the question, the lack of the M stamp requires that you need to send it back for warranty service.

Hardly a requirement, shawn.

 

[Kernel Crittenden]

.... it had some very bad ju-ju associated with it ....

I've got a Smith revolver like that. Every time I get it out I get this sinking feeling in my stomach. I can hardly stand to look at it. I keep it as a reminder, I guess.

 

[mike from st pete]

If the question is "did you make a good deal?" Then you will have to decide. It is, as the ad says, "your money - use it when you need it."

Although not in the question, the lack of the M stamp requires that you need to send it back for warranty service.

Firearm Recalls and Safety Warnings- FirearmsID.com

Which begs the question will unmodified guns command a collector's premium?