What exactly is so great about the Model 58?
- Thread starter Izzydog
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Art Doc
SWCA Member, Absent Comrade
Someone noted that before and I hadn't noticed. Not mentioned in letter so I assume added by a former owner but I have no idea why.
I picked up my 58 years ago for a song. The bluing was about worn off but the gun was still tight and shot great. I sent it back and had it re-blued, looks like new. It is my "go to" gun when I take a walk in the woods. No adjustable sights to worry about. Last fall I finally found a Marlin 1894s to go with it, shot my deer with it too. It is even more fun to shoot now that Starline is making 41 Special brass.
I also own Model 57 (no dash) 4", 6" and 8 3/8" but the 58 is the one I shoot the most.
I also own Model 57 (no dash) 4", 6" and 8 3/8" but the 58 is the one I shoot the most.
S.B.
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The model 58 may not be everyone's cup of tea. I've owned several model 57s over the years and have grown to
like them but, never owned one of the 58s till recently and it grows more one of my favorites as time goes on. I do
reload for the .41 magnum so, I may be prejudice?
Steve
like them but, never owned one of the 58s till recently and it grows more one of my favorites as time goes on. I do
reload for the .41 magnum so, I may be prejudice?
Steve
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1-1917
Member
I have a 58, I reload and cast bullets (9 moulds) for it and a few other 41s. I like fixed sight revolvers and since I reload, the 58 is a near perfect revolver for me.
elm_creek_smith
US Veteran
I'm pretty much locked into K-frames until I win Powerball. I just "loaned" my son-in-law my 3 inch Model 13-3. [emoji849]
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Jack Flash
Member
If S&W had made a .44 Mag, 4", fixed-sight revolver, I wouldn't know the .41 Mag / M58 exists. Due to the residual effects of Mr. Wesson's predilection for handgun hunting, S&W always put adjustable sights on its .44 Magnum revolvers, NO MATTER HOW SHORT THE BARREL IS!
(Experts: correct me if I am wrong on this!)
I don't care about cult status or rarity, I just love the concept of a fixed-sight, 4", magnum-powered revolver chambered for a cartridge that starts with "4". That's what is so great about it.
(Experts: correct me if I am wrong on this!)
I don't care about cult status or rarity, I just love the concept of a fixed-sight, 4", magnum-powered revolver chambered for a cartridge that starts with "4". That's what is so great about it.
Close but no banana. Remember, never write never and always expect to be proven wrong after writing always. There were small production runs of fixed sight N frame .44 Magnums and some from the Performance Center. I suspect you haven't noticed them because you do not spend much time in the post 1980 revolver sub-forum.
StrawHat
Member
The Model 58 (or 57) is nearly the perfect revolver. I would prefer it in 45 ACP but not everyone feels that way. So, like Howard Johnson's, S&W offers 51 flavors, something for everyone.
Kevin
Kevin
SAFireman
Member
You can check out the Unofficial 58 club for details (pages upon pages of details), or you can just ogle the photos below.....
The 58 club - The 'unofficial' 58 Club
Model 58 EFFECTOR -
San Francisco,CA PD
San Antonio, TX PD
Two first year Model 58's
This started life as a Model 58. I bought it as a 41 Magnum, but it turned out to be a 44 Magnum....I carry it anyway
Ya gotta love the M&P on steroids
The 58 club - The 'unofficial' 58 Club
Model 58 EFFECTOR -
San Francisco,CA PD
San Antonio, TX PD
Two first year Model 58's
This started life as a Model 58. I bought it as a 41 Magnum, but it turned out to be a 44 Magnum....I carry it anyway
Ya gotta love the M&P on steroids
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pantannojack
US Veteran
Missing Persons
I do miss my 58 Nickel. I got it a GS for 310$. I did not know what it was, but it was big and beautiful; Like a mod 10 on steroids. I mentioned it was nickel and had a diagonal scratch on the cylinder, i guess nickel is soft. It had service stocks that were cracked in the screw holding area from someone over torquing the screw. I did not shoot it well one handed because service stocks just don't fill my hand in the right places. I had to send it to S&W for repair because one of the locating pins within the extractor star area was gone, rendering it late on timing. S&W did a nice job for only 85$ and fast return. I named it "The Companion" after a Star Trek episode. It went with me everywhere, my Companion, for self defense on the road and elsewhere, until one day a friend suggested: "...if you light up that 41 in the cab of your truck, It will be the last thing you ever hear." If I had know about Tyler T-Grips, I may still have it today, but by and by I sold it to a dealer for 275$. That's the was things go sometimes.
I do miss my 58 Nickel. I got it a GS for 310$. I did not know what it was, but it was big and beautiful; Like a mod 10 on steroids. I mentioned it was nickel and had a diagonal scratch on the cylinder, i guess nickel is soft. It had service stocks that were cracked in the screw holding area from someone over torquing the screw. I did not shoot it well one handed because service stocks just don't fill my hand in the right places. I had to send it to S&W for repair because one of the locating pins within the extractor star area was gone, rendering it late on timing. S&W did a nice job for only 85$ and fast return. I named it "The Companion" after a Star Trek episode. It went with me everywhere, my Companion, for self defense on the road and elsewhere, until one day a friend suggested: "...if you light up that 41 in the cab of your truck, It will be the last thing you ever hear." If I had know about Tyler T-Grips, I may still have it today, but by and by I sold it to a dealer for 275$. That's the was things go sometimes.
I have no idea....when I acquired it the seller said it was for Louisiana Department of Corrections. But it remains a mystery to me.
"If you have to ask, you wont understand" hear that about a lot of guns.
As far as the 58 is concerned, I owned a very nice one. Shot a little under a box of shells through it and was less than impressed with it.
I am just not a big fan of the 41. I know it has lots of fans here on the forum and I am glad they like the cartridge. It just did little for me and in that 58 with the original stocks it was not a lot of fun to shoot.
As far as the 58 is concerned, I owned a very nice one. Shot a little under a box of shells through it and was less than impressed with it.
I am just not a big fan of the 41. I know it has lots of fans here on the forum and I am glad they like the cartridge. It just did little for me and in that 58 with the original stocks it was not a lot of fun to shoot.
El_Phantasmo
Member
I bought mine from my uncle for the simple reason that it was something weird and interesting that I'd never heard of at the time.
I like odd things!
Mine is stamped "SAPD" also.
I like odd things!
Mine is stamped "SAPD" also.
The_Truth
Member
I've always wanted a 41 magnum. I love fixed sight guns, especially police service revolvers. I wish there was a 3" fixed sight round butt 41 magnum, I'd be all over it. I guess that's why I've never owned one. They never made them in my favorite configuration.
Or am I ignorant?
Or am I ignorant?
I picked up a model 57 S prefix a few weeks ago, I happen to really like the 41 magnum, plenty of ammo online, I also reload so no problem, I can reload hot, or light target rounds.
The fact that I snagged this beauty at a great price is probably due to the fact that it's not a 44 magnum.
The fact that I snagged this beauty at a great price is probably due to the fact that it's not a 44 magnum.
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crsides
US Veteran, SWCA Member, Absent Comrade
Not ignorant, just late. Buy you a 58 and wait until Smith brings out the 3" fixed sight you want. I bet you keep the 58, but if not, you will probably make money on it.
crsides
US Veteran, SWCA Member, Absent Comrade
Lilly
Member
Excellent. The 58 in a 3 "Try it you will then see the light.....58 and 57.
I have a 657 in 3.0 inch RB, with beautiful Cocobolo grips. I bought it new in the mid 80s, at an unbelievable price.
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Lilly
Member
Great collection. I reload for all mine. Plenty of components available.I fell in love with the 41 Magnum cartridge back in the mid 1980s. My first one, a 6" Nickel Model 57, was acquired unintentionaly and that was the start of a life long friendship with the cartridge,
At the present time I own and shoot more then 3 dozen examples of firearms chambered in that cartridge
Here is a 10 year old group photo showing about half of my 41 Magnums
I do not now own a Model 58, have never owned one and can not see a reason to own one in the future. The same goes for Rugers chambered in 41 Magnum . . . and yes I have shot them
My collection is not about what will make money, or what is rare, or what has a cult following. My collection is about firearms that catch my eye and speak to me i one way or another . . . no, I do not mean the way Sledge Hammer's 629 talked to him
Here are some of the acquisitions that were made after that group photo
There are others, I just need more time to photograph things
I bought mine from my uncle for the simple reason that it was something weird and interesting that I'd never heard of at the time.
I like odd things!
Mine is stamped "SAPD" also.
Would love to see a picture of yours with the SAPD....San Antonio was one of the few departments to adopt the gun.
Scharfschuetzer
Member
I've certainly enjoyed my Model 58 and I receive a police pension after carrying it for some time after I upgraded from the 357 Magnum. After getting used to the 41 and finding it a superb cartridge, I bought a 6" Model 57 and found it to be about the best long range revolver cartridge in my arsenal. I routinely load cast 210 SWCs to 900 fps (duplicates the old police load) and it is about all I shoot anymore in the caliber.
My two cents worth and my two 41s.
My two cents worth and my two 41s.
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Jack Flash
Member
I will remember the bold part.
But PC guns are pretty much custom made, right? I think of them as much the same as having a gunsmith convert one for you.
And the "small production runs" what are those, like Lew Horton orders? Ok, I guess that qualifies, but still awful close to custom ordered. You could say S&W didn't want to do it themselves but were just filling an order for LH.
But I concede, and I will not use the word "always" again!
Kframerbluvr
Member
Or could it be someone's monogram? I would be surprised if any state correctional system bought these considering the price difference between it and a Model 10.
Just wondering....
MakeMyNight
Member
The 41 Remington is probably My favorite revolver cartridge, though, I don't own a Model 58, but, I may find one eventually.
I do own an 8-3/8" barreled Model 57, also, a Model 657 bbl 6", a Ruger Redhawk 2.75" snubbie, just like the Kodiak 44 model, (it is a beast), but chambered in the 41 Mag cartridge. My first 41 Remington firearm, which I still own is a generation one T/C Contender, with a 10" bull barrel, and of course a bunch of other caliber barrels.
One of My more recent acquisitions, is a blue steel Henry Big Boy, chambered in 41 Remington.
I have no complaints about any of the three original magnum cartridges, 357 Mag, 41Mag, 44 Mag & Spl, as I own firearms arms chambered in all three calibers.
Back in the day, I mostly used My Redhawk 7.5" bbl 44 Mag for big game, because I found the 44 Mag better able to penetrate thick brush, where the White-tail Bucks and Black Bears hang out.
Last I knew, S&W was building Model 58 revolvers again, though, with the disdained lock and sintered metal hammers & triggers.
I do own an 8-3/8" barreled Model 57, also, a Model 657 bbl 6", a Ruger Redhawk 2.75" snubbie, just like the Kodiak 44 model, (it is a beast), but chambered in the 41 Mag cartridge. My first 41 Remington firearm, which I still own is a generation one T/C Contender, with a 10" bull barrel, and of course a bunch of other caliber barrels.
One of My more recent acquisitions, is a blue steel Henry Big Boy, chambered in 41 Remington.
I have no complaints about any of the three original magnum cartridges, 357 Mag, 41Mag, 44 Mag & Spl, as I own firearms arms chambered in all three calibers.
Back in the day, I mostly used My Redhawk 7.5" bbl 44 Mag for big game, because I found the 44 Mag better able to penetrate thick brush, where the White-tail Bucks and Black Bears hang out.
Last I knew, S&W was building Model 58 revolvers again, though, with the disdained lock and sintered metal hammers & triggers.
El_Phantasmo
Member
It's not a very good pic, but you can see the stamp.
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fishwishin
Member
Certainly a lot of love for the 58 around here, especially considering how this topic just kinda fell on us out of nowhere. As much as I have always loved the model I have been hesitant to add another caliber (do not currently have a .41), but I have to admit I really want to get one now!
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Like so many other guns, few people had any interest in .41 Magnum revolvers when they were being produced, but they became quite desirable when production stopped.
I don't know what the cartridge offered that the .44 Magnum did not. While it may have been designed for law enforcement use with the lighter loading, law enforcement traditionally has been resistant to a lighter loading of anything when something more powerful is available. I only fired a Model 58 .41 Magnum on one occasion, about 1971. Recoil seemed similar to that of .44 Magnum.
I don't know what the cartridge offered that the .44 Magnum did not. While it may have been designed for law enforcement use with the lighter loading, law enforcement traditionally has been resistant to a lighter loading of anything when something more powerful is available. I only fired a Model 58 .41 Magnum on one occasion, about 1971. Recoil seemed similar to that of .44 Magnum.
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