Value Model 58

[SAFireman]

So I started looking at the Model 58 again and came across this. Guns were shipped from the factory with 3T's. Am I looking a this correctly?

That paragraph of the letter is referencing the most recent 58-1's, not the original models. This was from the 'Classic Series' during the lock and MIM era.

 

[Retired W4]

Those letters always have the short history of the model. The gun in that letter did ship Aug 68. Still, 3T's on a 58 is unusual. cobiaS&W passed on his subject 58 back in April.

 

[Muley Gil]

So I started looking at the Model 58 again and came across this. Guns were shipped from the factory with 3T's. Am I looking a this correctly?

The particular M58 listed was shipped with the 3Ts. The vast majority of M58s came without the 3Ts.

 

[murphydog]

The second to the last paragraph of the letter does discuss the 58-1, but the last paragraph clearly describes a late S prefix 58 with the 3Ts. Not a common setup but there you have it.

 

[Retired W4]

I'm a big fan of the Model 58. I'm on the look out for a nickel version that shipped with 3T's to go with with this one (standard/nickel).

 

[ladder13]

Did Model 58s come with the three Ts? It looks like that one certainly has 'em. I carried, as well as other officers, a Model 58 for several years. I never saw or heard of one with a target trigger or hammer.
……..

Yes, some did, like this one. TS, TT, TH

 

[ladder13]

So I started looking at the Model 58 again and came across this. Guns were shipped from the factory with 3T's. Am I looking a this correctly?

Some did ship with 3T’s. That’s my letter.

 

[tlawler]

It’s easy to say a gun is too high. It’s much harder to find a
model 58 . Especially a s serial number . If you sell yours at prices you think are high just try to replace them.

I agree, the M58’s price seems to be somewhat driven by it’s scarcity. I spent years on the hunt for a nice M58, and can say in all that time, I came across three. By comparison, I’ve seen probably 20+ Model 57’s. This is just at gun shows and frequent stops at LGS’s and pawn shops in my travels, not online.
The first one was at a gun show in Fort Myers back around 2010. The price at the time was $550 IIRC and I couldn’t afford it. Next one was at a local show in 2018 and the asking price was $1250. I tried trading a 1006 and five mags for it, but he didn’t go for it. I’ve since become friends with him and saw his M58 at several subsequent shows until he sold it for his asking price sometime in 2020. The third one was at a show in Lakeland in 2019 and I knew I had to have it, so I traded a nickel M57ND 6” with an N-serial# for it. I had bought the 57 about a year earlier for $650, so to me it was a heck of a deal. No box or docs came with the 58, but it’s an S-serial gun with the original stocks.

 

[Retired W4]

As for current market value, a high condition 58 can be sky high, depending on where it is shown. I put the one on the right in my case last weekend (ATL Expo) with a price tag of $1700. Original box and manual, 1975. It hardly caught anyone's attention. Not even an offer. But that show has turned into the land of cheap sub-compact plastic 9mm/brace AR's.

One might think my asking price was high, but try to find one in this condition. Besides, I really don't care if it sells.

 

[WCCPHD]

Yes, some did, like this one. TS, TT, TH

Not only targets, but COKES. Probably the best grain I've seen in a set of Coke grips????

 

[ladder13]

Not only targets, but COKES. Probably the best grain I've seen in a set of Coke grips????

Bill

I was told Roy never mentioned Coke grips in any letter, just Targets.

Those grips fit the 58 perfectly.

Only 57’s and 29’s came with Cokes?

Was this gun special ordered, and by whom? Who knows.

 

[demkofour]

I’m going to resurrect this thread, started a while ago by my friend CobiaS&W, as it was a bit slow at the shop today and I took a little time to examine the M58 which was the original subject here.
I’m NO expert, nor do I propose to say I know all about Smith and Wesson revolvers, but I’ve handled my share of Smith’s over the years. I’d be very surprised if this 58 is a reblue, all of the rollmarks are crisp and clear… and although the sideplate isn’t as tight fitting as is usually seen, I think it’s fine. The sideplate screws show no sign of being buggered and the barrel, cylinder and frame all have matching serial numbers.
I’ve attached a few photos of the 58, to show in particular stampings on the frame. Hopefully some real experts here can decipher if the stampings are routine or tell a tale.
I’ll be back at the shop on Friday, so if you all have any particular concerns or thoughts, I’d be happy to take another look and some better pictures…

 

[murphydog]

I’m going to resurrect this thread, started a while ago by my friend CobiaS&W, as it was a bit slow at the shop today and I took a little time to examine the M58 which was the original subject here.
I’m NO expert, nor do I propose to say I know all about Smith and Wesson revolvers, but I’ve handled my share of Smith’s over the years. I’d be very surprised if this 58 is a reblue, all of the rollmarks are crisp and clear… and although the sideplate isn’t as tight fitting as is usually seen, I think it’s fine. The sideplate screws show no sign of being buggered and the barrel, cylinder and frame all have matching serial numbers.
I’ve attached a few photos of the 58, to show in particular stampings on the frame. Hopefully some real experts here can decipher if the stampings are routine or tell a tale.
I’ll be back at the shop on Friday, so if you all have any particular concerns or thoughts, I’d be happy to take another look and some better pictures…

The lower left side of the grip frame has the R-S stamping (refinish-standard blue), done in (edited to read) September, 1978. The digits of the serial number were sometimes stamped on the rear cylinder face to get the parts back together after the redo.

 

[biku324]

I learn something here every day.

 

[csurp34]

T

So, there aren't really a whole lot of them, but the value established by the Catalog for an ANIB example makes the one relative to this thread overpriced.

I bought my blue "N" serial number last year shortly after you bought your "S" serial number.

Mine like yours is ANIB with factory pieces.

I paid $1,500 and I believe that you paid slightly less.

You got the better deal but I am happy that I was able to get mine.

Now it is this year.

These original models with provenance are going up and bringing the others with them.

I don't even look at the Blue Book anymore.

If the OP is looking for a collector piece than I would suggest waiting for the unicorn to appear but be prepared to pay for it and act quickly.

If the OP is looking for a shooter AND this one checks out, I would go to 1K or so.


FWIW, I bought my blue 58 from forum vendor RGNewell who had several and was great to work with.

 

[SAFireman]

The lower left side of the grip frame has the R-S stamping (refinish-standard blue), done in (edited to read) September, 1978. The digits of the serial number were sometimes stamped on the rear cylinder face to get the parts back together after the redo.

Yup, Alan nailed it. The stamp usually has a box around it, but R-N and R-S are factory re-blue and re-nickle marks. Maybe the stamp wasn't hit with the required amount of gusto and didn't sink deep enough to print the box as well as the letters.

Neat gun anyhow....I bet it is a dandy shooter

 

[demkofour]

The lower left side of the grip frame has the R-S stamping (refinish-standard blue), done in (edited to read) September, 1978. The digits of the serial number were sometimes stamped on the rear cylinder face to get the parts back together after the redo.

See! That’s what I’m talking about and why this Forum is so spectacular.

murphydog, thanks very much. Tomorrow I’ll get a closer look and see what else I can photo on the 58. In the meantime, how are you able to nail down the April, 1973 date?

Sorry, I tried looking at the photo of the grip frame without my glasses and this is the price to pay.

The stamp above the R-S is 9 78, or September, 1978. Both stamps are usually seen together if the R-S is present but a gun that has had major work but not a refinish will often just have a date stamp.

 

[Hair Trigger]

I bought my blue "N" serial number last year shortly after you bought your "S" serial number.

Mine like yours is ANIB with factory pieces.

I paid $1,500 and I believe that you paid slightly less.

You got the better deal but I am happy that I was able to get mine.

Now it is this year.

These original models with provenance are going up and bringing the others with them.

I don't even look at the Blue Book anymore.

If the OP is looking for a collector piece than I would suggest waiting for the unicorn to appear but be prepared to pay for it and act quickly.

If the OP is looking for a shooter AND this one checks out, I would go to 1K or so.


FWIW, I bought my blue 58 from forum vendor RGNewell who had several and was great to work with.

I think that in the last couple of years, up to now, if you find a decent M58 at all, there is no bad deal. The relative rarity of the model will ensure the prices will stay high, though.

I was indeed fortunate to find my ANIB example, the seller was relatively close by (5 hour drive each way) in the same state, so there was no transfer fee or paperwork on top of the sale price, and he was good with the value given in the SCSW 4th Ed. He inherited the gun anyway, so whatever he got for it was all profit. Sometimes I'd rather be lucky than good.

 

[DR505]

Prices on Model 58s do seem to have climbed quite a bit lately. I got this one, ANIB from an estate collection bought by my LGS, back in 2016. At the time it was roughly $800 OTD. I still have not gotten around to pulling the trigger on this one as I was using the 3" 657 from the same sale instead.

 

[CobiaS&W]

I’m going to resurrect this thread, started a while ago by my friend CobiaS&W, as it was a bit slow at the shop today and I took a little time to examine the M58 which was the original subject here.
I’m NO expert, nor do I propose to say I know all about Smith and Wesson revolvers, but I’ve handled my share of Smith’s over the years. I’d be very surprised if this 58 is a reblue, all of the rollmarks are crisp and clear… and although the sideplate isn’t as tight fitting as is usually seen, I think it’s fine. The sideplate screws show no sign of being buggered and the barrel, cylinder and frame all have matching serial numbers.
I’ve attached a few photos of the 58, to show in particular stampings on the frame. Hopefully some real experts here can decipher if the stampings are routine or tell a tale.
I’ll be back at the shop on Friday, so if you all have any particular concerns or thoughts, I’d be happy to take another look and some better pictures…

I'm going to try and get in the shop tomorrow to take another look. Has the owner come off that $1500?