Pawn Shop 58 and form 4473

[LC '92]

I found this schmoozy model 58 in a local pawn shop. It had been there for several months and they wanted $569.00 plus tax for it. I let them soak in it for about 4 months and then offered them $400.00 drive out for it. They took it. Nice gun, old reblue, but a very good job. Tight as a drum, super bore and tight lock up. Probably an old duty revolver.

I got it home and tried to pull off the Pachmayrs, but as is typical, the screw escutcheon on the off side spun and the screw wouldn't loosen. Finally got it out and looked at the serial number. Nice S prefix followed by 261047. Anyone know the date?

The hard to remove screw made me wonder how the pawn shop got the serial number for their records and the 4473. Went and looked at my receipt, and sure enough, they used the assembly number from inside the crane. I wonder how many S&W revolvers they have recorded this way?

Anyway, I have a very nice shooter 58 for a durn good price. I guess these fixed sight revolvers were regulated for the old Police 210 grain lead load and not the now available 210 grain jacketed. My 1968 Gun Digest shows the lead load at just over 1000 fps and the soft point at a smidge over 1500. Guess I'll start with some 210 grain Kieths at about 1000 fps and see where it hits.

What shoots to point of aim in y'alls model 58's? If I can get it zeroed, I may just use it to swat a whitetail this year.

 

[james56]

Nice score!!

 

[jimmyj]

Hi:
Many years I carried a Model 58 as a duty revolver. I didn't like the 210gr "Police Load" as the leading was "Bad". I used Winchester Silvertips and they were very accurate in my Model 58. The recoil with the JSPs was "Awesome".
Jimmy

 

[pilgrim6a]

My score is 2 out if 3 assembly #s on the 4473. And only one had Pach. presentations on it. If we are all lucky, no one will take any interest in if the right # is on the forms. I try to think positive, and send money to the NRA.

 

[LC '92]

My score is 2 out if 3 assembly #s on the 4473. And only one had Pach. presentations on it. If we are all lucky, no one will take any interest in if the right # is on the forms. I try to think positive, and send money to the NRA.

Pilgrim, that cracks me up. You and I think alike.

I have spent most of this evening cleaning and rubbing all the pawn shop cooties off this old Smith. Its just undignified for it to be in that shop with Wii's, Blue Rays, DVD's, cheap Chinese air compressors, and crappy rechargeable drills. Not to mention being in the gun case with all those Taurus's, Rossi's and other imported crap or all that crappy Hip-Hop they play in there all day.

It's feeling a lot better already being around all my other S&W's and is regaining its self esteem. Tomorrow I'm going to purge it with some .41 Mag reloads and the transformation will be complete.

Model 58, welcome back to a mans life!

 

[sheriffoconee]

I do love my 58......
I am a crappy photographer, but you outta get hold of the Executioner and give it some stocks that make it shine.....
I put these on that I got for my birthday......
I do love this revolver.....

 

[max]

7.0 of Unique over a cast swc shoots very well for me and my 41's. Your serial # looks like 65 or 66.

 

[Combat_Diver]

If I remember correctly my standard load was a 215 LSWC with 8 gr Unique for about 1000 fps. Here's my old 58. Only modification I did was put some hi vis orange paint on the front sight.

CD

 

[Art Doc]

Unless you hate the store owner and want to see him lose his FFL you should tell him what he's doing wrong.

I had the same thing happen to me once long ago.

 

[JSR III]

The unfortunate part is that he probably used the assembly number when buying the gun originally. Not sure how you would go about changing all of the paperwork done previously.

 

[OFT II]

I see that you are from south central Texas. Your new revolver may have been a San Antonio police department purchase as they bought some 58s in the mid '60s.

 

[Chuck Jones]

20 years ago I bought a fixed sight .44 special from a retiring cop who was on the detail the TV show Crime Story was based on. Apparently when there was a particularly bad robbery or burglary crew working that nobody could stop, hurt good people, or kept beating the rap, his stake-out detail was the court of last resort. Their job was to find the crew, force a gunbattle, eliminate the problem, and send a message.

Anyway, when he sold me the .44 he said he always favored fixed sight revolvers for their utter reliability. When I remarked about the pristine condition he answered he'd only carried it a short time. I asked him why and he said the .44 special has a reputation as a stopper but, "nothing hits like a forty-one mag."

I didn't think much about the remark at the time, but on the drive home I realized with a slight shudder and a hard swallow, the coldly serious, clinical matter-of-fact way he made the statement meant it wasn't a theoretical comparison, it was strictly practical.

I'll tell you even 20 years later writing this, there was something in the way he said those words, and the look that accompanied them from his steel blue eyes that still gives me the chills.

/c

 

[jmark1651]

I have had several firearms checked out to me by the yoke assembly number. As has been stated, all had rubber grips that covered the serial number on the butt of the revolver. I have even ordered some with the same number used. You would think if ATF clerks,agents,or whatever they are would catch some of this. I am not their keeper,though.

 

[Frank237]

My S prefix 58 came from a guy waiting in line for the December Bozeman gun show on a well below zero day ....a few yrs back. Mine was either $325 or maybe $350 forget exactly.

7.5 of UNIQUE and a 210-220 SWC..shoots exactly to point of aim at 15 yds. EXACTLY. FGreat guns.

Mine wears a set of Executioner stags as well. Great snag!! Like saving a great dog from the Animal Shelter in amongst the pitbulls and mongrels.

FN in MT

 

[Sportsterguy]

I do love my 58......
I am a crappy photographer, but you outta get hold of the Executioner and give it some stocks that make it shine.....
I put these on that I got for my birthday......
I do love this revolver.....

Had a 58 like that and sold it in 85. Just traded for another to replace it and I have to have a set of them beautiful grips!

SWEET!!!!!!!!!

Stay safe.

SG

 

[firearmsunlimited]

S261000 shipped May 1967.

 

[LC '92]

S261000 shipped May 1967.

Thanks Doug, I'll record that in my notes.

Shot the 58 today. First with 210 grain LBT LFN-GC's. Hard at BHT 22. Loaded them over 6.8 grains of Bullseye (only because I am out of Unique) and they were perfectly zeroed at 30 yards. I shot some factory 210 JHP's that were a lot hotter and they shot low. Still hittable, but low nonetheless.

VERY shootable revolver and easy to hit with. This may encroach on my favorite revolvers territory, my model 24. Too early to tell but I sure like shotting it so far.

 

[Vanilla Gorilla]

I'm pining for a 58, but with prices the way they are, I just can't lay hands on one. I've got an IWB holster just waiting on one I can carry, too.

 

[sheriffoconee]

I'm pining for a 58, but with prices the way they are, I just can't lay hands on one. I've got an IWB holster just waiting on one I can carry, too.

I waited years to find the right deal, but I never stopped lookin'...just depends on how bad you want one, and when you find it, strike quick

 

[SAFireman]

The secret is out, so it seems, about the Model 58's.....It won't be long now before they are as desired as the Super K's.

I just recently got my second 58 and could not be happier. Now I just need to hunt down a SAPD marked one....I bet the current officers won't know what to make of that They probably never even heard of a 41 magnum...