M2MikeGolf
US Veteran
Sounds like good advice after looking carefully through the posts and the accompanying photos. Thanks!
The 'unofficial' 58 Club
- Thread starter SAFireman
- Start date
Sounds like good advice after looking carefully through the posts and the accompanying photos. Thanks!
gwpercle
Member
SAFireman
Thank you so very much for directions to sticky. I never dreamed to look in the forum office.
I downloaded ( printed on paper ) the instructions. After reading them I decided to just give them to my computer savy wife and get her to do it. why do computer things have to be so complicated ? Maybe she knows what that GIMPY photo editor download button is, I was scared to press it... I think I'm going back there and press that download button... just to see what happens. Thanks gary
Thank you so very much for directions to sticky. I never dreamed to look in the forum office.
I downloaded ( printed on paper ) the instructions. After reading them I decided to just give them to my computer savy wife and get her to do it. why do computer things have to be so complicated ? Maybe she knows what that GIMPY photo editor download button is, I was scared to press it... I think I'm going back there and press that download button... just to see what happens. Thanks gary
wheelgun28
Member
Picked up my new girl today.
Its is so clean its amazing it has that turn line. It came from a collection that was clean but all had some turn lines. My guess is that they were owned by a guy that would dry fire shoot at the TV or something like that. The stocks are some of the nicest magnas I have seen.
Its is so clean its amazing it has that turn line. It came from a collection that was clean but all had some turn lines. My guess is that they were owned by a guy that would dry fire shoot at the TV or something like that. The stocks are some of the nicest magnas I have seen.
Very nice gun WG28!
Picked up my new girl today.
Its is so clean its amazing it has that turn line. It came from a collection that was clean but all had some turn lines. My guess is that they were owned by a guy that would dry fire shoot at the TV or something like that. The stocks are some of the nicest magnas I have seen.
Nice package
drhenzler
Member
They're being made again... if anyone would want one bad enough to take current production models
While I consider myself a Member of the Mod 58 41 Mag Club, I owned one way Back in the Day, and carried it on duty,
it was my foul weather revolver. And I had a second hammer I fitted with the spur cut off. I carred the Mod 58 off duty in an upside down Safariland shoulder holster really for a 4" K frame. It held the Mod 58 real good. Since the Mod 58 did not have the sharp adjustable sights and no hammer spur it was fast and slick draw out of the upside down shoulder holster.
However, I am really a 44 Mag kind of guy, I always wished they made a Mod 58 in 44 Mag...
Superman and I used to work together, and I can say he is a 41 Mag kind of guy, to the core...
Also, I will say, back in the day, His reloads were approved for Official On Duty use. Yes our Dept. allowed reloads for on duty use...
I think S&W made a BIG MISTAKE, by not offering a 44 Mag, in the same configuration as the "M&P" Mod 58. I would have bought several of them.
Now there is nothing wrong with the power, accuracy, etc of the 41 Mag, it is just that I was "flush" with 44 Mag loading "stuff".
Even today, and I am somewhat "ashamed" to admit it, I still think the 41 Mag Mod 58 is one cool, business looking Revolver... It is Bad to the Bone...
It is a Shame it "ain't" avialable 44 Mag...
it was my foul weather revolver. And I had a second hammer I fitted with the spur cut off. I carred the Mod 58 off duty in an upside down Safariland shoulder holster really for a 4" K frame. It held the Mod 58 real good. Since the Mod 58 did not have the sharp adjustable sights and no hammer spur it was fast and slick draw out of the upside down shoulder holster.
However, I am really a 44 Mag kind of guy, I always wished they made a Mod 58 in 44 Mag...
Superman and I used to work together, and I can say he is a 41 Mag kind of guy, to the core...
Also, I will say, back in the day, His reloads were approved for Official On Duty use. Yes our Dept. allowed reloads for on duty use...
I think S&W made a BIG MISTAKE, by not offering a 44 Mag, in the same configuration as the "M&P" Mod 58. I would have bought several of them.
Now there is nothing wrong with the power, accuracy, etc of the 41 Mag, it is just that I was "flush" with 44 Mag loading "stuff".
Even today, and I am somewhat "ashamed" to admit it, I still think the 41 Mag Mod 58 is one cool, business looking Revolver... It is Bad to the Bone...
It is a Shame it "ain't" avialable 44 Mag...
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Frizzman
US Veteran
I finally got approval on the Virginia "instant check" after waiting since Monday and picked up the M58 I had on hold at my favorite local gun shop. WOW, it's in absolutely new condition with the box and rod and brush in unopened plastic bag, instruction sheet, warranty card and a receipt from April of 1971 showing that the previous owner bought it from a shop on the other side of the bay for a total of $148. The unblemished Magnas are serial numbered to the revolver and so is the box...It is a virtual M58 time capsule. It's almost too nice. Now, do I shoot and carry it or not? I know the two previous owners passed away and never did. I don't think I want to let it languish in the safe anymore...I think after over 40 years, it deserves to come out and play!
Frizzman
Are you a "Collector or a Shooter". Nothing wrong with being either or, a combination of both.
I have always been a shooter, at my age even more so... There would be some exceptions of course...
I do still have some unfired S&W's I have held in reserve, in case I wear out, or my users get stolen...
Are you a "Collector or a Shooter". Nothing wrong with being either or, a combination of both.
I have always been a shooter, at my age even more so... There would be some exceptions of course...
I do still have some unfired S&W's I have held in reserve, in case I wear out, or my users get stolen...
Sebago Son
Member
If your 58 is truly NIB and complete, it is certainly 'investment grade' and you should think twice before shooting it. In the past 15 years these guns have tripled in price. If you hang onto it in perfect, unsullied condition, it may do the same in the next 10 years.
But, you put one round down the tube of an unfired gun or one scratch in an otherwise perfect gun and it's investment value diminishes considerably.
The "I'M A SHOOTER" bunch will pull their trousers up real tight, stand on their tippy-toes, puff out their chests and proudly proclaim that "this is what the gun was made for...". They of course are missing the point in their short sighted view and their suggestion to you is ill advised.
For in reality there are always enough beaters to go around for these guys to rough up and the prices reflect that. But there are never enough good, virgin guns for collectors, and those prices reflect that reality too...
Were it me, I'd stash the unmolested gun and pick up a modified or used gun for carry and range-play. In fact, I did.
Drew
But, you put one round down the tube of an unfired gun or one scratch in an otherwise perfect gun and it's investment value diminishes considerably.
The "I'M A SHOOTER" bunch will pull their trousers up real tight, stand on their tippy-toes, puff out their chests and proudly proclaim that "this is what the gun was made for...". They of course are missing the point in their short sighted view and their suggestion to you is ill advised.
For in reality there are always enough beaters to go around for these guys to rough up and the prices reflect that. But there are never enough good, virgin guns for collectors, and those prices reflect that reality too...
Were it me, I'd stash the unmolested gun and pick up a modified or used gun for carry and range-play. In fact, I did.
Drew
Sebago Son
Member
Modified 58's
Above having been said, some of my favorite guns are modified 58's.
My 58-44 is an 1967-ish Model 58 with it's barrel rebored and rifled to .429" The origional cylinder is rechambered to .44 Magnum. I picked it up for a song. It's a rugged companion in the field and shoots moderate loads very well...
Cast, 242 grain roundnosed, flatpoint by Tennesee Valley Bullets at 900 fps.
Currently, I am considering the following conversion with Hamilton Bowen which will mate a refinished Model 58 that I paid $300 for last year with a shortened 1955 Target Barrel and a .45 ACP cylinder. (This is Bowen's work. Photo from the internet, but I can't remember where....)
Oughta make for a perfect fighting revolver....
Drew
Above having been said, some of my favorite guns are modified 58's.
My 58-44 is an 1967-ish Model 58 with it's barrel rebored and rifled to .429" The origional cylinder is rechambered to .44 Magnum. I picked it up for a song. It's a rugged companion in the field and shoots moderate loads very well...
Cast, 242 grain roundnosed, flatpoint by Tennesee Valley Bullets at 900 fps.
Currently, I am considering the following conversion with Hamilton Bowen which will mate a refinished Model 58 that I paid $300 for last year with a shortened 1955 Target Barrel and a .45 ACP cylinder. (This is Bowen's work. Photo from the internet, but I can't remember where....)
Oughta make for a perfect fighting revolver....
Drew
jframe
Member
Pretty appropriate name for a fine looking revolver, since Tennessee sheriff Buford Pusser used one to great effect for a while in the mid Sixties when he was Sheriff of McNairy County.
Above having been said, some of my favorite guns are modified 58's.
My 58-44 is an 1967-ish Model 58 with it's barrel rebored and rifled to .429" The origional cylinder is rechambered to .44 Magnum. I picked it up for a song. It's a rugged companion in the field and shoots moderate loads very well...
Cast, 242 grain roundnosed, flatpoint by Tennesee Valley Bullets at 900 fps.
Currently, I am considering the following conversion with Hamilton Bowen which will mate a refinished Model 58 that I paid $300 for last year with a shortened 1955 Target Barrel and a .45 ACP cylinder. (This is Bowen's work. Photo from the internet, but I can't remember where....)
Oughta make for a perfect fighting revolver....
Drew
I saw that masterpiece in another thread. It belongs to one of our members. It's in .45 Colt I believe.
I picked up a model of 1950 target NOS barrel & cylinder to have my 58 converted to a 3" or 4" .45 Auto Rim. May keep the 58 as is now. The parkerized finish is really growing on me.
What caliber are you going to have yours converted to?
s2harry
Member
Oh wait yeah I get it. But thats just it it IS perfect! Whoever said they should make it in all calibers is right! A fixed sight gun wont break a rear sight off so for cops it is good. At close range it just wipes them out. You need longer range 41 mag beats 38. Maybe if it was in 357 it would be liked more. So yeah they should make it in all cal 357 to 44Mag then you could pick your favorite. Like the Model 22 they make now. People are automatic crazy and at the range they shoot like ****. Bed side a 15 shot auto may be ok. I always shoot rev better. As for Newhall CHP 1970 the first two cops got supprised and the second ones didnt rush the dirtbags. The CHP could have run up and unloaded through the doors and that would be the end. My dad always carried a Model 27 with FMJ mining in the desert or camping. I figure the .41 would be that much better. anybody can learn to shoot a heavy gun. Look at all the women shooting 45 in IPSC etc. If your going to be a cop you got to train to be a killer or dont bother. If you want a ***** gun NY reload
Sebago Son
Member
Conversion Ideas...
Chris, I'm thinking .45 ACP... Yes, now that you reminded me the gun above is in .45 Colt... If you used your slender 1950 barrel your conversion might look like a NYSP 520! ... That would sure be trick!
Drew
Chris, I'm thinking .45 ACP... Yes, now that you reminded me the gun above is in .45 Colt... If you used your slender 1950 barrel your conversion might look like a NYSP 520! ... That would sure be trick!
Drew
Frizzman
US Veteran
Yes, it is 100% factory new condition and thus is a "collector grade" revolver. I have a few like that and always feel some conflict about actually shooting and carrying those. On one hand, I think the wise choice is to preserve them and gently take them out and admire them when I want. Then, if the day comes when I want to sell them they will have maximum value. On the other hand, I look upon them as similar to having a great vintage wine or other luxury that I would eventually want to enjoy and not just leave it behind for someone else to uncork. I guess it comes down to whether I will get more enjoyment having the unblemished revolver to fondle and admire or have a revolver that I will enjoy shooting...For now, its going to just be a thing of beauty to admire...The problem with the idea of getting a "beater" to shoot is I haven't come across any of these in the last 30 years and I'm way too old to wait another 30 years...lol
nframes4me
Member
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Okay guys, here is your chance....post your photos, stories, and favorite loads for the unloved beast that is the Smith & Wesson Model 58.
I have been a fan since I held one the first time...many months later I finally came to own 2, now I am totally sold on them...how about y'all?
Here are my two, both are first year of production. The blue one gets carried while riding the fence lines, the nickel one is on BBQ detail
Mine is just like your blued one with the T-grip adaptor. I've wanted one since I was in high school in 1965 abd a frind bought one that year. I shot his and liked it but come to find out that his ammo must have been the reduced velocity "Police" load. Magnum loads are not fun with the "Magna" grips, but the T-grip helps a lot, and I reload using the xlnt Hornady XTP 210 grainer and Unique powder to a level that is stout but accurate & controlable.
The fixed M&P sights and the lack of a barrel shroud are what make these guns look distinctive, as do the magna grips. They don't look right without those grips, and that nickled one ofd your with the stag grips is a beauty.
Mine has an N-prefix serial number, N2162xx.Can anyone tell me what year that was?
nframes4me
Member
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I don't think it's necessarilly a case of either/or. Even collector guns can be and SHOULD be fired as long as great care is taken in handling the gun, and for cleaning it is advisable to use a bore snake rather than a cleaning rod ands to be especiall gentle and patient while cleaning.
There are guns that people claim are "Unfired" but really there is no such thing because all guns have been proof-fired, and on a revolver each cylinder (or chamber) is proof fired. And yet, there are people who say they can tell by looking if a gun has been fired or not, while others simply take another person's word for it.
IMO, a gun isn't a gun unless you can fire it.Otherwise I think people might as well consider it a wallhanger. There have been so many different and unusual guns made and they are wonderful to collect but my opinion is that the need to be fired at least once for you to fully appreciate what they are.
nframes4me
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Someone earlier mentioned not understanding what the "Purpose" of the m58 was. To understand that, you need to go back in time to the mid 1960's.
In the late 50's early 60's some police agencies had succeeded in convincing the bed-wetters in administration that patrol officers needed a more powerful gun than the 38 special and those agencies were issued 357's in the form of the models 27 and 28. because the model 19 was not yet in existence. These guns were also "unnecessarily heavy" and hard for those with small hands to shoot, but many LEO's didn't mind paying the price for a more powerful round than the 38 spl.
Then it turned out that even with the additional velocity, the 357 wasn't always all that impressive with solids, and Super-vel ammo was just coming into existence, but once again, the PR people, the lawyers, and other bed-wetters in police administration were absolutely horrified at the notion of one of their officers shooting committing "curbside justice" by putting too large of a hole in some miscreant using what was considered at the time as a "Dum-dum" bullet, fully outlawed by the Geneva convention and all civilized laws of humane warfare.
So here's what purpose the model 58 accomplished:
with the same size and weight gun as the existing 357 magnums, you could fire the same non-expanding ammunition but one with a projectile that began with the number 4 which was in comparison to a 35, "Pre-expanded".
What went wrong was that two kinds of ammo was introduced at once and that's where the complaints of excessive recoil came from which was made worse with the fact that these guns were issued with grips essentially too small for the gun.
What Smith should have done was produce two cartridges; a 41 special for the 58 and the 41 mag for the 57. But the gun would have become obsolete anyway as soon as Smith came out with the model 19 and officers were allowed to use HP ammo.
As such, it made perfect sense at the time to replace one large frame revolver for another prior to the existence of a medium frame 357 with both large revolvers firing non-expanding ammo. Looking at some of the vintage ads that have been posted, you really get the idea of the need at the time for a more powerful service revolver when the only other choices were a medium frame 38 or a large frame 357 limited to non-expanding ammo.
Eventually the 58 would have become obsolete once again with the introduction of the medium frame Model 19 firing 125 grain JHP ammo which turned out to be an exellent duty weapon.
In the late 50's early 60's some police agencies had succeeded in convincing the bed-wetters in administration that patrol officers needed a more powerful gun than the 38 special and those agencies were issued 357's in the form of the models 27 and 28. because the model 19 was not yet in existence. These guns were also "unnecessarily heavy" and hard for those with small hands to shoot, but many LEO's didn't mind paying the price for a more powerful round than the 38 spl.
Then it turned out that even with the additional velocity, the 357 wasn't always all that impressive with solids, and Super-vel ammo was just coming into existence, but once again, the PR people, the lawyers, and other bed-wetters in police administration were absolutely horrified at the notion of one of their officers shooting committing "curbside justice" by putting too large of a hole in some miscreant using what was considered at the time as a "Dum-dum" bullet, fully outlawed by the Geneva convention and all civilized laws of humane warfare.
So here's what purpose the model 58 accomplished:
with the same size and weight gun as the existing 357 magnums, you could fire the same non-expanding ammunition but one with a projectile that began with the number 4 which was in comparison to a 35, "Pre-expanded".
What went wrong was that two kinds of ammo was introduced at once and that's where the complaints of excessive recoil came from which was made worse with the fact that these guns were issued with grips essentially too small for the gun.
What Smith should have done was produce two cartridges; a 41 special for the 58 and the 41 mag for the 57. But the gun would have become obsolete anyway as soon as Smith came out with the model 19 and officers were allowed to use HP ammo.
As such, it made perfect sense at the time to replace one large frame revolver for another prior to the existence of a medium frame 357 with both large revolvers firing non-expanding ammo. Looking at some of the vintage ads that have been posted, you really get the idea of the need at the time for a more powerful service revolver when the only other choices were a medium frame 38 or a large frame 357 limited to non-expanding ammo.
Eventually the 58 would have become obsolete once again with the introduction of the medium frame Model 19 firing 125 grain JHP ammo which turned out to be an exellent duty weapon.
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cwo4uscgret
US Veteran
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Obsolete? I don't think so...
Merriam-Webster's online dictionary defines obsolete as:
a : no longer in use or no longer useful <an obsolete word> b : of a kind or style no longer current : old-fashioned <an obsolete technology>
It is in my educated opinion that while in some areas it is hard to find factory loaded ammo for the .41 Magnum (a lot of gun shows have it available for a price) there is not anything old-fashioned nor unuseful about the .41 Magnum.
Taurus made the Model 415, a 2-1/2" barreled, stainless, 5 shot chambered in .41 Magnum; I wish I had kept it. The only bad thing about it was the recoil - with lead bullet loads the recoil would cause the bullet to move forward, causing a jam...not an issue with jhp ammo.
My Model 58 Nickel serves a greater purpose; it serves double duty - on the nightstand for home defense and when I need to show a pretty gun I'll wear it...
The knives are a Carrol Shoemaker Patch Knife (with the monogram) and a Jerry Hossom Bird and Trout Knife.
Merriam-Webster's online dictionary defines obsolete as:
a : no longer in use or no longer useful <an obsolete word> b : of a kind or style no longer current : old-fashioned <an obsolete technology>
It is in my educated opinion that while in some areas it is hard to find factory loaded ammo for the .41 Magnum (a lot of gun shows have it available for a price) there is not anything old-fashioned nor unuseful about the .41 Magnum.
Taurus made the Model 415, a 2-1/2" barreled, stainless, 5 shot chambered in .41 Magnum; I wish I had kept it. The only bad thing about it was the recoil - with lead bullet loads the recoil would cause the bullet to move forward, causing a jam...not an issue with jhp ammo.
My Model 58 Nickel serves a greater purpose; it serves double duty - on the nightstand for home defense and when I need to show a pretty gun I'll wear it...
The knives are a Carrol Shoemaker Patch Knife (with the monogram) and a Jerry Hossom Bird and Trout Knife.
