I may be able to acquire a particular S&W revolver at a very reasonable price. However the finish is ruined and there is some light pitting in the barrel. Mechanically the action is fine. My gun smith can bead blast and hot blue the gun for $100. Attached is a photo of the worst of the damage. Do you think a bead blast and hot blue will make it presentable as a shooter? I am not looking for a restoration and I'm not concerned with any lettering or trademark stamps being wiped out (of course the serial number will NOT be touched); just want to make it a little more presentable and use as a plinker. Also, the light pitting in the bore shouldn't be a problem for "Minute-of-paper-plate/milk-jug" acuraccy at say 15 yards, should it?

Any opinions are greatly appreciated.

Kelly

This message has been edited. Last edited by: Duke426,

I cannot see how it could look much worse than it does now. Not surprised available cheap.

Looks like been to hell and back.

The blasting and reblue will give a matte blue/black finish that should certainly be better than what you currently have.

Minor pitting should have minimal effect ob accuracy. Does make thorough barrel cleaning more difficult.

To my mind, it's presentable as a shooter right now -- but, hey, I think my house is presentably clean, too. $100 ain't bad for a beadblast and reblue. If it makes you happy, go for it.

I would go with a gray/black parkerizing. It has enough texture by itself that modest surface flaws wouldn't be a big thing.

I tell you what I'd be tempted to do. Procure a tube of Flitz or a little tub of Mothers Mag Polish and do are real good deep cleaning of that surface rust. If it cleaned up good and I suspect it will. Then finish cleaning and lubing the gun. Take the $70 that you'll have left and buy ammunition and go enjoy the gun. A $100 reblue will not be quality and the fellow will most likely reblue the whole gun without disassembly. Clean up the old gun and shoot it.

I'd leave it alone. It has character and is easily identifiable. Plus there is nothing more fun than pulling something like that out at the range for everyone to laugh at, then outshoot everyone with it.

unless it was given to me i would pass on it. just my opinion.

quote:

unless it was given to me i would pass on it. just my opinion.

For a hundred dollars?! If the mechanicals are in good shape. I do what I previously posted and carry that old girl. A $100 in a good carry gun would be great!!

Thanks everybody for your insight.

IF i were to acquire this piece I believe I will try Pistol Toter's approach first. If that doesn't do it for me I think I'll follow robertwalsh's advice and get it parkerized - never even thought of that rather than bluing.

Jellybean, not only would the fellas at the range being laughing hysterically at the homely old pistola, they would have a field day with my ineptitude behind the trigger

The smooth grips seem to indicate a military arm if they are original to the piece. Personally, I hate destroying history. I'd leave it as is or attempt to learn its heritage. I'm not big on "sandblasting a gun and throwing it in the bluing tank" if it might have a story it could tell. If it has a history I rather see it sold/traded to someone who would appreciate that aspect of the arm and then obtain something more current such as a heavy barrel Model 10. There are police trade-ins still available at reasonable prices.

Just my preference.

Bill

"Sandblasting" any firearm is a VERY bad idea.

You seem like an Smart fella, you would not have come here and asked our opinion if you were not.

I'm guessing like most of us you are on a buget . All of us have to pick and choose our purchases .So I would reccomend you take the money you were going to spend on the gun and the $100 you were going to pay the "gunsmith " to blast and blue the money, and pick up something a bit newer and in a bit better condition to start with . You won't regret it. I always say buy a gun that worth a bit more than you can afford to spend !

Forgive the multiple posts .

I took a peek at the S&W mod. 1917 that you are looking at. It still has quit a bit of original blue remaining on the right side and elsewhere on the gun. The area on the right side of the frame is the only major area of finish loss. . My 2nd mod. 44 hand ejector has very little org. finish left also . It will remain as is because these old guns are survivors. Up until this point they have survived all sorts of disasters including being ruined by an improper refinish. The good news is that gun appears to have very little pitting on the outside of the frame .

I agree with Pistoltoter, Jelly Bean ,Bill and others . If you really want a vintage type gun to shoot you have two options after you purchase ,leave as is or do a proper resto. on it. I also agree that you may be better off finding somthing newer and in better shape. There are always others for sale.

You see as the gun is now it would appeal to Two types of people . 1)someone who likes vintage guns and would leave it as is because the gun has history, character, and some remnant original finish .2) Someone who see the potential the gun has for restoration but is willing to do a proper resto. in order to do the gun justice. There are plenty of Guys out there that do proper restos. And Shops such as Doug Turnbull Restorations can do the proper S&W Charcoal bluing ,a very durable bluing done quite differently than other types of salt or hot bluing.

BUT ! If you go ahead with the sandblast ,the gun will be ruined . All the edges and corners will be rounded off ,the surface will be uneven, and worst of all the tight tolerances and fit between the parts(cylinder, crane ect.) will be lost . It will be loose ,and poor fitting from metal being blasted away .That alone should steer you away for your own sake.

On the other end if your wanted to resell the gun or later trade up for something better you would be stuck. Type 1) who is into vintage guns wouldn't bite because the gun has no appeal, and type 2) would see that the gun once had a chance to be put right, but was done improperly and has now gotten to the point of no return . Anyone else left could see the looseness caused by sandblasting and loose interest.Gunshows are FULL of guns most folks will never want from being boogered up.

I've taken more time than I should have so I apologize to all who are still reading. I do not mean to sound abrasive. This is a free world and an open market.Every man must go there own way. So best of wishes fellow S$W fan I hope you make a good choice and enjoy whatever you decide to do . Hope we meet again on the board again some day .

If sandblasted "correctly" (even bead blasted.....)there is little chance of the gun getting "loose", as said, it would only blend in the offending surface areas, then either parkerize or the blue, ( even black oxide) will all make the gun come out fairly decent, and certainly use-able....we've done some over the years far "worse" than the one pictured.

Well there are always exceptions to the rule I guess . It may be possible that someone could "correctly" sandblast and not cause a problem .If someone took the time and care to do so . But I would say, based only on the guns I,ve seen mind you, that most folks that offer this servive do cause problems by taking too much metal off of close fitting areas. However even if done under the best of conditions it will not replicate a gun that was hand polished . Hand polishing using a wooden block or file as a backing for your paper allows you to maintain even surface level on flat areas and original edges and corners, not rounded over edges. Also remember, most bluing methods do not replicate the factory charcoal bluing method. And will produce a diffrent "look" . Doug Turnbull Restorations does excellent Charcoal blue .