I know this has been discussed in the past but I can't find what I am looking for.I want to refinish
a set of N frame grips that have a metal washer behind the medallions.How can I remove the Smith medallions and not tear the grip up?

I just refinished a set of stocks for an "N" frame revolver. I left the medallions on and they look great.

What did you use to remove the old finish?I have done this before and it played havoc with the medallions !!

Formby's Furniture Restorer is what I use, I leave the medallions on, and just follow the instructions.
Wood grips of the 80's had a spray varnish applied so find a can of poly and spray them to look like new.

Put them on Ebay and make several hundred bucks per set!

Milton

some medallions were made of plastic and some of metal. I bet the ones you had trouble with were plastic. The metal ones should be ok with most strippers.

Thanks everybody.I'll give it a try and see what happens.

Take a short section of 2X4 and put it in your vise. Now, take one of the grips and with the finished side of the grip facing the vice, put the S&W medallion against a corner of the 2X4 section. Push the medallion and it should "sink" into the hole of the grip. Be careful as sometimes it's easy and sometimes not so easy. The medallion doesn't need to move much, a 1/16 of an inch or so, deeper if you can. Now, when you sand the grip, the sandpaper won't scare the medallion. When you get ready to finish the grips, cut a piece of masking tape the size of the medallion and stick the tape over it. When the refinish job is completed, with the finished side of the grip facing you, put the retaining washer against the same 2X4 corner and gently push. The medallion should slide to the finished wood surface without to much effort. And the retaining ring is undistribed.

Hello guys,

I apologize in advance for resurrecting this thread, but I did a search for it and it answers some of my grip refinishing questions. I do have another question that I'm hoping you can help me with.
If I'm using a chemical stripper on the grips, will it damage the silver color of the medallions? Are they nikel (or chrome) plated bronze?

Thanks,
Angel

Take a look in the 1857 to 1945 revolvers area. There is a series going there on refinishing a set of 1917 Brazilian grips being done by a member who apparently does it commercially. he has answered all grip restoration questions posed so far.