Up for discussion today is the Smith and Wesson Model No. 58 Revolver, technically named the .41 Military and Police Revolver. This S&W large N frame revolver shoots the powerful Remington .41 Magnum cartridge.
Without getting too historical, Gun Experts in the mid 1960’s felt Police Officers would be better armed with a new caliber. The thinking was that the .357 Magnum was not enough gun and the .44 Magnum was too much gun. So, the .41 Magnum was developed. Two types of ammunition was initially offered. One being a 215 grain Lead Semi Wadcutter at around 1000 fps, designed for Police, and a second 210 grain Jacketed Hollow Point at a scorching 1300 fps, designed for Hunters and Outdoorsman.
Smith and Wesson produced two revolvers for the new round. One having adjustable sights and the second with fixed sights, the topic of our piece today. The Model 58 looks like a standard S&W Military and Police Revolver, like a Model 10 or 13, but much larger. Sporting a four inch barrel, it weighs in at 41 ounces. While adopted by some large Police agencies at the time, such as San Antonio and San Francisco, it never was widely accepted as a Police sidearm. The weight of the sidearm and recoil of the more powerful round probably lead to it’s demise as a Police Revolver. The Remington .41 Magnum cartridge continues to have a following today and the Model 58 Revolver has developed a cult like status among Gun Enthusiasts, commanding prices of around $1000.
My Model 58 is my most prized Revolver in my collection. It is in outstanding condition for it’s age. It is a flame thrower with full power Magnum ammunition, but very pleasant with the original Police type load. I have a local Vendor that manufactures a 215 grain LSW at 1100 fps round, that is my go to load. There are also Manufacturers that produce “Cowboy Loads” at 800 fps that feel like you are shooting a standard .38 Special round. Lots of ammunition choices are available on- line for the .41 Magnum.
At the range, the Model 58 performs well. At self defense distances of five and ten yards, all large .41 bullets hit center of mass, while shooting off hand. Follow up shots were easy with the effective Police load at 1100 fps.
While not plentiful, with patience and persistence, you can still find S&W Model 58 Revolvers on the used market. It took me a while, but I found a real nice one. It is without a doubt my last Revolver I would part with. While large as a concealed carry revolver, it makes an outstanding companion in the outdoors. There is just something special about the Smith and Wesson .41 Military and Police Revolver!
Grey Viking