A Model 10 on Steroids

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CajunBass

CajunBass

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I glanced into the "If you have to ask, you can't afford it" case at the local gun store a few days ago, and saw what looked to be a rather mundane heavy barrel Model 10 with Pachmayr grips in there. "That's odd" I thought.

Closer examination revealed it to be, not a Model 10, but a Model 58, in 41 Magnum.

The 58, sort of a red-headed stepchild with Smith & Wesson, was intended to be the ultimate police revolver, but it was met with a sort of lukewarm, at best reception. The gun itself, an N-frame, was big and heavy to carry all day, every day. The factory ammo was limited to basically two rounds. A mid range "police" load with a lead bullet that leaded the barrel badly I'm told, and a higher power jacketed bullet one that kicked pretty hard and made follow-up shots difficult. Those are probably not the only reasons the 58 sort of flopped, but that's the Readers Digest version as I understand it.

Anyway, I've always sort of liked the Model 58 for some reason. I actually owned one several years back, but someone wanted it more than I did, so it went on down the road.

Flash forward. This one was tagged at $499.99. I looked again, and it said the same thing. I haven't seen a N-frame anything for that price in a long time. Mechanically it checked out. I asked if they could do any better, and to my surprise was told "Best I can do is $475.00. We just got it in."

Into the layaway bin it went.

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Nice gun, good luck with it!

My folks were antique collectors, and they used to go to the large shows. They always impressed on me to ask that same question, "can you do a little better". It's pretty low key in the world of bargaining, and you never know how good the results can be. I don't recall anybody ever being offended by it, worst they can do is say no, but the answer was yes a surprisingly large number of times.

So it's a question I always ask when buying a gun. My last purchase got a used Uberti SAA clone down from $299 + tax ($320) to $269 tax included just for uttering those six words. That was good for almost 3 boxes of shells.
 
I used to frequent a gun shop that had been business for 50yrs. Knew the original proprietor, and later his son.
The first time on striking a bargain, I would always as open "can you do a little better?"
He would doodle on a piece of paper, and announce a price 10% HIGHER than original price tag! Then he'd chuckle and give me a 10% lower "out the door" price because he knew where that was going... DID A LOT OF BUSINESS over 4decades...

He finally developed a heart condition and due to competition from Academy, Dicks, and Gander Mountain he sold the business.

New owners streamlined the store and products, computerized the inventory, and prices are same as big box prices IF they have what you need/want. Haven't been there except to purchase a scope base I didn't want to order. Paid full, MSRP retail. (Absentee owner, employees no discretion in price).
Haven't been back.
But, Gander is out of business for same reasons.

Re op... I recently traded for a NEW 2017 mfg Marlin M1894 .44mag. It wasn't PERFECT, but as good as any JM Marlin I've ever owned.
It has required further fitting of forend, replacing barrel tenon and screws due to being stripped by factory installation. Replace too tall front sight blade .343" (from M336 .30/30) with correct .278" blade. Did a trigger job to lower trigger pull to 4lbs "crisp", and lapped bore. Plan to lap the bore some more as it's still "fuzzy" IMO.
First trip to range after completed "tuning" first shot was 4" left of previous zero (wears a Leupold 2-7 VX1 only third new Leupold I've ever bought NEW. Other 11 bought used...)
Next 4 cut a single hole 1" wide, 3" below first. Subsequently, 5-shot groups run 2.5" or so at 100yds.
I'm pleased. My first one back in '70's had same "problems". But through trial and error through the years and lately excellent guidance/info from Marlinowners.com I'm something of a Marlin guru. Last count, I own 11.

If you don't feel competent to do the work yourself, for a reasonable price, RangerPointPrecision will "complete" your Marlin and work is warranteed.
I'm satisfied, considering that Marlin tests random guns and claims 2.5" with the .44mag 1894 at 50yds. The barrels are very light due to thin contour and LARGE bore. Mine slugs at .431" and requires a .433" cast bullet for best accuracy. Also has the despicable 1/38" twist.
I Suggest you give the .44 Marlin further consideration.
 
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Yep. When I said I was surprised they dropped the price it's only because I knew they hadn't had it long. I'm in and out of there two or three times a week and have a pretty good idea what they have that I'm interested in. Generally speaking the longer it's been around the quicker they'll come down on a price. I understand that, and work the same way when I sell something. After all, the first guy to come along might just say "I'll take it." Once it's been around a little while, it's a different story.
 
CajunBass said:
Yep. When I said I was surprised they dropped the price it's only because I knew they hadn't had it long. I'm in and out of there two or three times a week and have a pretty good idea what they have that I'm interested in. Generally speaking the longer it's been around the quicker they'll come down on a price. I understand that, and work the same way when I sell something. After all, the first guy to come along might just say "I'll take it." Once it's been around a little while, it's a different story.
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The fact you are a steady customer and you visit several times a week is probably why the price dropped without the gun being there very long.
 
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CB, as I have said somewhere else you done good with that one.

This one and I put on a million miles in patrol cars. We got into some serious social encounters during that time.
It did what it was designed to do and got me home at the end of the shift more than once

There ain't enough money in the world to buy this one.
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Anytime I hear 41 Magnum mentioned I always remember Bill Jordon's book "No Second Place Winner". He thought it the ideal caliber for law enforcement at least from his perspective. I know, ancient information from years ago but still a good read.
 
Bill Jordan and Elmer Keith convinced me I needed a 41 Magnum.. It worked out just fine.

Spent an afternoon shooting with Bill many moons ago.
What he taught me saved my hide a couple of times.

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Sierra 210 gr JHP dug out of the dash radio of a Ford Bronco that tried to run me down.
I use it as a tie tack now.
 
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I knew a few deputies that carried them back in the day. They seemed to like them. I also knew a deputy that carried a nickel model 29 4". Really, I don't think we thought about the weight back then so much. You get used to it, you just wanted a heavy hitter when you were by yourself in the middle of no-where. My first duty auto after my model 66 was a S&W 645 .45 auto. THAT was a heavy and big handgun.
 
How's the lock up and timing, the carry up, endshake, and cylinder gap?

These are important things to look for in a used revolver.
 
I gotta get out more. That's an incredible price for a seriously collectible -- and shootable -- S&W revolver. Wow.

I have nothing in .41 Magnum. Just now realized ... I need something ...
 
CajunBass

A most excellent find! Way to wheel and deal too! I would have paid full price to have one again!
 
Oh, I was going to pay full price. I won't let $25.00 or maybe even $100.00 stop me from buying something I want. Normally I don't even mention how much I paid, but the last 58 I saw was tagged at $750 and sold in a couple of days, so I knew I was on pretty solid ground with this one. It's not a matter of the dealer not knowing what they had either. I've noticed some softening in the revolver market around here lately. Combine that with a sort of unpopular caliber, and the Pachmayr grips, I suppose they just wanted to move it along.

How's the mechanicals? Nothing at all wrong with it.

Iggy, every time I see a 58, I think of your stories and that picture. :) I had one several years ago, but had a couple of 44 Magnums at the same time and thought the 41 was sort of redundant, so I sold it to a fellow who wanted it more than I did.

You know, I think of it as a heavy gun now, but as Preacher says, I probable wouldn't have when I was younger and didn't have as much weight of my own to lug around.

I thought at one time that I had sworn off N-frames, but a 1954 Highway Patrolman (6"), a Model 29-2 (4"), and this one have come along to make a liar out of me.
 
Driftwood Johnson said:
A 38-44 for $285?

Man, did you ever steal that.

Which one was it? The Heavy Duty or the Outdoorsman?
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It was a 6½" Heavy Duty and it was now 17yrs ago, so a bit before S&W prices really shot up. I traded an old Redhawk for it. Then I later traded the .38-44 for a pre-lock/forged innards 629 Mountain Gun tuned by Bob Munden. Wish I had been able to keep the HD and buy the MG but it was the only trade I could make at the time and I wanted a 4". Heard later that the HD went to Bowen and became a .45Colt.
 
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