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Old 12-09-2013, 06:14 AM
Hapworth Hapworth is offline
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If you're intent upon a home job, your best bet probably is, yes, a nickel strip, followed by parkerizing; there are home kits for that at Brownells, too.

The question is whether you'd need a bead blast between the nickel removal and the parkerizing for the park to properly take. Doubt you want to invest in that set-up for the home, and if you pay someone to do it, they better know what they're doing as much can go wrong (there are plenty of people who bead blast other media who'll be happy to bead blast a gun with no knowledge of the special care that must be taken bead blasting firearms).

Look into the home spray options like Duracoat -- some people like them.

Home hot salt bluing isn't much of an option unless you're prepared to invest some coin and time to master the learning curve. Some report good luck with home slow rust bluing options.

I'd either live with it and keep it oiled and wiped down, or seek one of the less expensive refinishes from a professional -- either parkerizing or a bead blast and matte reblue. This, especially, if you intend to carry.

Mind you, this being a classic old five screw S&W, if the nickel is the original finish there is still some collector value, even rough -- if you opt to refinish -- even in nickel -- that collector value is gone. May not matter to you, but worth knowing.

Lastly, keep the cleaning solvents you use mild, like a CLP; various gun cleaners can further damage nickel once the finish has been compromised. Check the product before you use it.
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