WHEN WAS THE SMITH & WESSON 357 MAG MODEL 58-1 MADE ?

[MrMajestic]

There you go! Short lived model but can't believe nobody here figured it out. We did know that a 57/58 series was a .41 Magnum! I wonder if the S&W forum would have figured it out? Bet you would have gotten sick of .41 comments! ;D

 

[Hombre0321]

I for one am a little embarrassed, I own three 581's and I should have put this together. I guess what got me was the 58-1 comment. Two of the three 581's I own are DAO (double action only) this was a common conversion done by Police Dept for there new young police officers. I guess that didn't want there new cop's shooting thereself in the foot or something.

The 581 is a good and servicable pistol, for certain for there intended purpose of service weapons for Police officers.

I don't think your value question has been answered: For the most part a good used 581 should be worth in the $400.00 range and a little more for a really pristine one. The grips you have are "Probably" some form of moulded plastic. They could be Ivory but all of the Ivory Bans are still in place for the most part and getting the stuff can be hard. Easy way to tell is Ivory has some grain to it, it is after all just a tooth, maybe a real big tooth but a tooth none the less. if they are plastic they will be grainless and smooth, pull one of them off and look at the back side that should tell you something.......

Roland

 

[short range]

Hi Roland, When I talked to Steve at Smith & Wesson yesterday, he said the "model 58-1" has to be mis- stamped. He said the serial # ADE4499 is a model 581 "L" frame made only in 357 magnum this one was made in 1983.
I think the grips are real ivory. I read an article stating how to tell the difference between real ivory and fake. As you stated, real ivory has growth rings and grain.
On the front (facing the triger) and on the bottom of my grips there is irregular growth rings, not evenly spaced growth rings that might be on fake ivory, also if I look at mine with a magnifying glass, I can see the grain. On the inside of each grip is carved : " SKO AJE India" These things make me think they are real ivory. I'm not a expert by any means, but if they are fake, they are good fakes.

 

[chinozzz]

I know this is an old thread but I have come across this exact same gun, my serial is 1 number different and has the same LARGE 5 followed by 8-1. So reading through this post, are these infact MISMARKED or just a rare Smith and Wesson MOD 58-1 357 Magnum?

Here is the picture of the stamped model number:

<a href="http://s1213.photobucket.com/user/zzzpawnshop/media/20140726_143824.jpg.html" target="_blank"><img src="http://i1213.photobucket.com/albums/cc461/zzzpawnshop/20140726_143824.jpg" border="0" alt="smith and wesson MOD 58-1 357 Magnum photo 20140726_143824.jpg"/></a>

Any help would be appreciated.

Thanks

 

[bheadboy]

I picked up some (4) smith highway patrolman 357 pistols when the local law force upgraded to auto about 1973.

a Smith parts dealer in Birmingham, al had factory 44spcl bbls 4 inch, so I purchased a Clymer reamer, opend the cylinder to 44spcl and changed bbls.

result - the caliber/bbl did not match the frame model id, you may have one some one messed with as I did.

Bob

 

[M-61]

Elephant ivory has the ban. Some plastic fakes are very good. Take grip off, heat a pin held in piers, and touch it to the inside of the grip. If it's plastic you'll wind up with a small hole......plastic melts. If it's ivory you'll get no reaction but it could discolor it. That's at least one reason to do it on the frame side.