A friend has an old S&W Model 10 that looked like it had been dragged behind a truck down a hundred miles of gravel road. It was in good mechanical shape but looked like death warmed over.
He got some OD green Alumahyde II from Brownells and painted the gun. It really looks good now even if it is an unusual color.
He carries it while bird hunting or fishing so it is carried quite a bit. He says he'll repaint it if starts looking ratty again.
He said it cost him less than $15 for the epoxy paint that will redo the gun several times if he has too.
If I find a bargain (an ugly but good functioning gun) I may do the same.