Smith & Wesson Model 581 Distinguished Service Magnum .357 Magnum, 4 Inch Heavy Barrel, Bright Nickel (1983)
This 1983 Smith & Wesson Model 581 is the fixed-sight member of the early L-frame Distinguished Service Magnum line. Notable features include a 4 inch heavy barrel with a full-length underlug, a six-shot fluted cylinder, and factory bright nickel plating across the frame, barrel, and cylinder. It delivers classic S&W L-frame strength with clean service sights and period-correct details that matter to knowledgeable buyers.
Condition
Overall Condition: Good condition, showing some signs of prior use and handling.
Bore Overall Condition: Good - Clean, well-maintained, minor wear marks.
Bore Rifling: Good Rifling - Intact, well-defined lands and grooves.
Specific Condition Notes: The revolver is in solid functional shape. The exterior shows scratches and blemishes. Very light minor pitting is present.
What’s Included
- Smith & Wesson Model 581 revolver
The Model 581 is an L-frame .357 Magnum revolver built for service use, featuring fixed sights and a 4 inch heavy barrel with a full underlug and ejector-rod shroud. Its six-shot fluted cylinder and DA/SA action provide the familiar S&W operation and capacity expected from this series.
Construction is all carbon steel with factory bright nickel plating on the frame, barrel, and cylinder. It retains period-correct color case-hardening on the hammer and trigger, along with a yoke-mounted cylinder release and a knurled ejector-rod tip for positive manipulation.
Sight configuration is straightforward and durable: a serrated ramp front and a square-notch rear milled into the topstrap. The square-butt grip frame wears checkered hardwood Magna-style stocks with S&W medallions, complementing the revolver’s service-oriented layout.
This example dates to 1983 and represents the fixed-sight Distinguished Service Magnum variant within S&W’s early L-frame lineup. As a pre-1987 L-frame, it falls within the period of S&W’s M-modification program; no "M" stamp is observed in the provided photos.