Pawn shop score!

[Dingotech]

A couple of weeks ago, I began a two week roadie to Kalifornia to visit friends, my daughter, and step mom. I missed my turn at Salina, UT and had to improvise, part of which involved travelling through a town with a rather nice-looking pawn shop. Of course, I had to stop and wouldn't you know it, this was a well-stocked (firearms wise) store.

And what did I find? A beat-up S&W Model 58. Actually, not that beat-up, but the finish on the barrel suggests that someone stuck this gun into a soaking wet holster and then forgot about it for the next ten years. See picture- it's much worse on the other side. Really.

Apart from the degraded finish, she was magna ported (rather well, too), and shows little else signs of abuse.

Suffice it to say, I bought her on the spot (for about half of what Model 57 / 58s go for currently), and arranged for shipment to my local FFL.

I think that I will send her back to S&W for a full re-finish and then but a set of wood combat grips on her. I understand that re-finishing degrades value, but for what I paid, I'll get my return should I decide to sell later on.

Whatever I do, I will shoot first, and then decide whether or not to spend additional funds.

Still, I'm pretty jacked! Wanted one of these puppies for a while, now.

 

[ME94]

That a great score. I am with you some guns just need to be refinished. Don't tell anyone that I said that though, but seriously nice find!

 

[bdGreen]

I would have an inch of the barrel removed.

New ramp sight dovetailed in.

Round butt the gun.

Then get it refinished.

That's what I'd do. Ha.

Perfect carry gun.

bdGreen

 

[rubiranch]

I missed my turn at Salina, UT and had to improvise, part of which involved travelling through a town with a rather nice-looking pawn shop. Of course, I had to stop and wouldn't you know it, this was a well-stocked (firearms wise) store.

Great find. I love my M58. Which pawnshop did you pick it up from?


Salina is about 40 miles from me.

 

[stansdds]

That's a good, shooter grade Model 58! As for refinishing, S&W can reblue it, but the blue finish applied by S&W today is not the same as what they applied to vintage firearms. Today's blue is very black and I have heard that some solvents will give it a plum colored tint.

 

[jtcarm]

First things first: get some proper wood or G10 grips on there.

Since it's mag na ported, I'd make a user out of it.

The RB and new sights sound good, but for finish I'd consider something durable like cerakote. I hear Robar has closed it's doors.

 

[Bronco89]

........I think that I will send her back to S&W for a full re-finish and then but a set of wood combat grips on her. I understand that re-finishing degrades value, but ..............

I refinished a S&W m15, with that same understanding. You know, I never regretted that. S&W did a beautiful job with mine, and when the time came, I had no problem getting rid of it. As a matter of fact, people often offered me money for it when I took it to the range. One day, I went brain numb and took the money. That I do regret.

Great find BTW. I love the 58.

 

[Dingotech]

Great find. I love my M58. Which pawnshop did you pick it up from?


Salina is about 40 miles from me.

It was in Beaver, Utah. Beaver Pawn, maybe. Good name for a strip club. They had several other S&W revolvers, all in much better condition than mine, along with a commensurate higher price.

One of the reasons I jumped on this was the price. It was listed under $500, and I was able to get it for $450. This is also why I don't mind having it re-finished- should I sell, I will get back all the $ I put into it.

 

[rubiranch]

It was in Beaver, Utah. Beaver Pawn, maybe. Good name for a strip club. They had several other S&W revolvers, all in much better condition than mine, along with a commensurate higher price.

One of the reasons I jumped on this was the price. It was listed under $500, and I was able to get it for $450. This is also why I don't mind having it re-finished- should I sell, I will get back all the $ I put into it.

Thanks.

I don't think that there are a lot of M-58s out there for sale.

The liquor store in Beaver was named Beaver Liquor.

 

[ken158]

Never regret factory service / refinishing. You know going into it that it is not a "ugh - safe queen..." so enjoy it.

 

[dr. mordo]

Sound like a good deal.

I had a gun refininshed by S&W and the bluing started to flake less than a year later.

I'd send it to Ford's.

 

[Jack Flash]

Good idea to shoot it first then think about refinishing it. A good waxing made my M58's very dull, worn finish take on a deep lusterous look, so you may want to try that.

Plus, if you carry it or use it much a re-blue won't look good long. But it's your gun, and since it's been modified anyways, refinishing can't do anything but make it worth more than you paid.

 

[Snapping Twig]

Ford's is supposed to be good with bluing.

 

[Bob L]

For a carry revolver, I think that I would just clean it up and carry it but only after a good range outing. Very nice find! I too, would have jumped on it at that price.

 

[Dingotech]

No plans to carry it, but if I do, it will be a chest rig for when I venture into bear country. I do want to put wood combat grips on it and I think that the gun will look waaaay better with a re-blue.

Already did one range session and she's a shooter! Used HSM 210 grain LSWC, cowboy load. She shot really well with these rounds out to twenty five yards. I am now waiting on a shipment from LAX Ammo of more potent ammo.

Bob, where in Ohio are you? I lived in Cincinnati for a couple of years before moving to Four Corners area last year.

 

[REVCHARLIE]

Just shoot the gun and ENJOY it just as it is. You can buy plenty of ammo for the cost of refinishing it.

 

[Sixgun100]

That's a great score! I'm in the refinish camp, and put some correct PC Magna grips on it, please!

 

[gman51]

It doesn't look that rough in the pic. If I did decide to do anything I would strip the old finish and use a good cold blue to refinish the gun. I did that with a Colt Detective Special .32 that the finish was all but gone and what was there looked really bad. It came out looking like an old aged original finish. That was many years ago and it still looks good however it does just sit in the safe in a gun bag. For under $30 I thought it looked darn good. It sure looked 10 times better than it did.
If you clean the finish of any oil you can use Birchwood Casey Super Blue to really make it look better. Wet a cotton swab with the super blue and swab over the whole gun. Then wipe the gun down. It actually does a nice job of covering the worn areas and it blends in with the old finish fairly well. I have done that also and I was surprised how well it blued over the worn areas.

 

[Dingotech]

First things first: get some proper wood or G10 grips on there.

Done. Found a set of scuffed combat grips on ebay and they look pretty good on the beat-up finish. I can live with her in this condition. Someone did mess with the trigger pull, however. Probably around 1.5 lbs, or thereabout. I'll have that addressed right away.

Thanks for the suggestions, all!

 

[DeafSmith]

I would have an inch of the barrel removed.

New ramp sight dovetailed in.

Round butt the gun.

Then get it refinished.

That's what I'd do. Ha.

Perfect carry gun.

bdGreen

Absolutely!!!