What makes the Model 581 so rare?

[Jack Flash]

Draw4u:
That is a beauty! I don't think you could possibly lose money on it and you will have the fun of owning it for years.

About sending it in for the mod:
I wouldn't. Right now, it is in its most collectable condition.
No matter how careful the factory is, when they are done, it will never again be factory original.
And there are no guarantees it will not get damaged in some way when they work on it! Add to that, guns have been lost or stolen in the process of shipping back and forth.

Your gun, your choice. You really have a nice one there.

 

[Retired W4]

Good point Jack. Factory Original. Who knows, 30 years from now a 581 sans M might bring a little premium. It would not be much, but you know how collectors are. One current blue example of mine, ANIB with all the original stuff, will stay in it's original condition as long as I own it.

 

[Draw4u]

Draw4u:About sending it in for the mod:
I wouldn't. Right now, it is in its most collectable condition.
No matter how careful the factory is, when they are done, it will never again be factory original.
And there are no guarantees it will not get damaged in some way when they work on it! Add to that, guns have been lost or stolen in the process of shipping back and forth.

Your gun, your choice. You really have a nice one there.

Exactly my thoughts! This is why I wasn’t sure I wanted to send it back. Great points!

 

[MajorD]

The story as I know with the M modification was some police agencies ( this applied to all L frames as I recall) could potentially have the gun lock up when shooting full house magnums and the problem was referred to as primer flow- the hot load would cause the primer to back out some of the primer cup deform and get lodged in the firing pin bushing, preventing cylinder rotation.
Unless the gun is depended on for defense with magnum ammo there is no need to send it in. As others have mentioned it was an isolated problem and a lot of non M guns have not exhibited any issues. If it were mine I would NOT send it in.

 

[Tanners Owner]

I sent mine a few months back, seems like it was maybe 3 weeks before I got it back. Will have to check. I posted it on here somewhere.

Rosewood

Thanks, my uninformed assumption was 1 month, though think the factory may shut down for their annual vacation in July that may delay it for me. But might be wrong. I’ll report back once I get it back

 

[Bekeart]

IMAGE DID NOT WOEK

Regardless of whether they were popular or not, the M581 and M681 were pretty cool models.... The M681 below is one of the super rare CRPD marked models. The ConRail (Continental Railroad) models were chambered in 38 Special and so marked.

Pretty cool....

Image did not work for me.

 

[Marshal Tom]

The story as I know with the M modification was some police agencies ( this applied to all L frames as I recall) could potentially have the gun lock up when shooting full house magnums and the problem was referred to as primer flow- the hot load would cause the primer to back out some of the primer cup deform and get lodged in the firing pin bushing, preventing cylinder rotation.
Unless the gun is depended on for defense with magnum ammo there is no need to send it in. As others have mentioned it was an isolated problem and a lot of non M guns have not exhibited any issues. If it were mine I would NOT send it in.

I had exactly that happen with a 686 MTN Gun several years ago. When I sent it in, the factory told me that it could not be repaired. Long story short, they located a frame somewhere and changed it out. The S&W logo was on the opposite side so I guess I had a very rare .357 MTN Gun. I since traded it for a 696.

 

[Piwo]

When I bought mine in '83 I wasn't thinking of it ever becoming a collector's piece. Nor was I concerned about resale value. I bought it because I needed a workhorse 357 magnum. It was in the display case, cost less than the other S&Ws, so I bought it. Best balanced gun in my hands that I own. I agree with the posters who observed that it is the modern day 38/44. Also, It's demise came about due to the switch to autoloaders going on at the time. I see it as the ultimate evolution of the police service revolver. If S&W had introduced it in the 50s or 60s, it would have been the standard cop gun. I have put more rounds through mine than any other centerfire revolver I own. It will never be for sale.

In my opinion, it is never a mistake to buy one, that's for sure!

 

[A10]

Re- the factory modification: As most know Ruger recalled all of their single actions some years back because people didn't know how to load and carry them. They replaced the firing mechanism so you could safely carry six rounds. Many, including myself, did not send their guns in, and these are considered more collectable than the factory "updated" ones. Just a point of reference.....

 

[rosewood]

Thanks, my uninformed assumption was 1 month, though think the factory may shut down for their annual vacation in July that may delay it for me. But might be wrong. I’ll report back once I get it back

Just found my post. Dropped off at Fedex Feb 16, got it back on Mar 3. Not too bad.

Rosewood

 

[rosewood]

One consideration about not sending in for upgrade now, if you ever decide in the future to have it done, they may have quit doing it by then. I missed the easy open upgrade option on the TC Contender because I waited to long.

Rosewood

 

[DocAnyday]

A Keeper!

I have an older 681 (never looked up the year made though) that is a definite keeper. Virtually indestructible with the best action of any of my revolvers aside from my dedicated PPC revolver (K-frame). I have custom 1911's I'd get rid of before this revolver.

 

[spin132]

The one I am considering has a serial number that starts with AAC.  

One way to tell the early first year production 581's is the S&W logo is on the right side of the frame. It was soon moved to the left side plate. Not sure why the move, but I prefer the logo on the right side to fill the void.

Sent from my SM-G996U using Tapatalk

 

[Draw4u]

One way to tell the early first year production 581's is the S&W logo is on the right side of the frame. It was soon moved to the left side plate. Not sure why the move, but I prefer the logo on the right side to fill the void.

Sent from my SM-G996U using Tapatalk

Well, the logo is on the right side of mine but the serial (AAC prefix) indicates it is a 1981, not a first year 1980. S&W also told me it is a 1981. Thoughts?

 

[pasound]

This thread is great knowledge of the nearly "last of the classics". I have two older fixed sight K's - 1913 and 1950. They didn't change much. I'd love to have a 581 or 681 in my collection.

 

[Bore Snake]

I have an early "no dash" 581 with the "M" stamp. The following may bring some clarity why the "M" modification was necessary.

The 1987 L-Frame Recall – RevolverGuy.Com

 

[Muley Gil]

I like to think of the Model 581 and its stainless brother the 681 as the 1980's updated versions of the old .38/44 Heavy Duty models. And I predict that in another 20 years they will have achieved the same kind of respect and reverence.

All business, and able to handle hot .357 loads without the worries that compromised the K frame Magnums and not as heavy to carry as an N frame.

IIRC, a 4" M28 and a 4" M586 weigh about the same. The advantage, to me, is that the L frame has the same grip size as a K frame. However, I dislike the full lugged barrels, so I don't own any L frame .357s.

 

[Jack Flash]

Well, the logo is on the right side of mine but the serial (AAC prefix) indicates it is a 1981, not a first year 1980. S&W also told me it is a 1981. Thoughts?

There may be some confusion between manufacturing date and shipping date. The two are sometimes a year or more apart. Whoever happens to answer the phone at S&W may not know or care about the difference.

The Standard Catalog of S&W gives shipping dates.

 

[Draw4u]

There may be some confusion between manufacturing date and shipping date. The two are sometimes a year or more apart. Whoever happens to answer the phone at S&W may not know or care about the difference.

The Standard Catalog of S&W gives shipping dates.

So serial prefix AAC is 1981 shipping? Anyway to determine manufacturing date? If it’s true the the logo was on the right for only the first year production then I guess mine could have been made in 1980 but shipped in 1981? Wish there was a way to confirm these dates

 

[scout II]

I have an early AAA prefix 581 with box that looks new. I keep thinking about selling it until I take a look at it and decide not now. I have two other 581's that are shooters. I love the fixed sight guns.