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S&W Antiques S&W Lever Action Pistols, Tip-Up Revolvers, ALL Top-Break Revolvers, and ALL Single Shots


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Old 04-08-2017, 11:18 AM
04gtofan 04gtofan is offline
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Default Re nickel mistake?

Just picked up my 1.5 inch Safety Hammerless from a gunsmith after a re nickel. Not so sure I'm happy I did it. Not thrilled with the results, and I suppose the purists would say I should have left it alone. I am in the classic car restoration business, so I am fully aware of the old unrestored survivor vs. restored debate. Personally, I wanted to bring this 4th model .38 back to its original glory. Opinions please, was this an expensive blunder on my part?
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Old 04-08-2017, 12:07 PM
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It appears that the sideplate (the action cover on the left side of the frame) may have been over-buffed in preparation for the refinishing. The edges of the sideplate should be almost invisible in its original condition.

Are those aftermarket grips on the refinished gun?

Last edited by SkipD1; 04-08-2017 at 12:08 PM.
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Old 04-08-2017, 12:15 PM
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Im one of those "leave it alone" kind of guys. I will hold my tongue for now.
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Old 04-08-2017, 12:22 PM
04gtofan 04gtofan is offline
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Default Re nickel

The grips came off my chopped 2nd model SH (1890) which received repro grips. Pic attached. On the refinished gun, I carefully tried Flitz Polish followed by Renaissance Wax. It cleaned up OK, but every flaw in the metal shows through....unless it's the new coating. My poor photography skills do not show the flaws. I suppose I was hoping for a brilliant high polish finish and that's hardly the case. My unrestored 2nd model looks better. Not looking to throw the gunsmith under the bus as his reputation is top notch. Perhaps I just expected too much.
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Old 04-08-2017, 12:26 PM
Lee's Landing Billy Lee's Landing Billy is offline
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What would you take for that?
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Old 04-08-2017, 12:27 PM
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I have to ask -- why are you asking? Done is done, no going back. If you wanted a prettied-up shooter, you got it; if you wanted a collector piece, albeit a less-than-prime example -- you goofed bigtime.
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Old 04-08-2017, 12:28 PM
04gtofan 04gtofan is offline
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No need to hold your tongue, I expect and accept a backlash. Honest opinions are why we are on this forum. I'm learning a valuable (and expensive) lesson. Unfortunately, one I can't reverse.
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Old 04-08-2017, 12:31 PM
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It looks okay to me, granted all the pics are out of focus.

I have to believe the refinish will have to help preserve the gun, so there is that also.
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Old 04-08-2017, 12:34 PM
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Sell it to poster #5, then start the search for one in better
condition that you will love unconditionally.
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Old 04-08-2017, 12:40 PM
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I'm not a purist, so I don't see anything wrong with it. I probably would have done the same thing.
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Old 04-08-2017, 12:40 PM
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I was going for a pristine safe queen/occasional shooter. Shooter? Certainly. Pristine safe queen? Not so much. I accomplished a factory lettered 4th model shorty that now is probably worth less then I have invested. And I do appreciate everyone's input.
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Old 04-08-2017, 01:06 PM
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I think you just summed it up pretty good. Anything more that we would say would be needless repetition. It's now a nice shooter not a safe queen.

Guy
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Old 04-08-2017, 01:37 PM
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Agreed Sir. Final note, can someone inform me on the proper way to respond to poster #5 without breaking forum rules? Thanks again.
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Old 04-08-2017, 01:43 PM
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Generally, refinishing any S&W will not pencil out from a cost/value approach. Few refinishers are capable today of doing the job correctly or have any where close to the skills of the old time polishers ( pre 1955 @ S&W) . If the $$ spent are for vanity, ego reward, or other merits the owner sees, so be it. Ed.
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Old 04-08-2017, 01:43 PM
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I think it looks AWESOME !
If I was an old west gambler, that is the weapon I would carry in a shoulder holster.
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Old 04-08-2017, 01:49 PM
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04, click on his name to get a drop-down menue; click on 'send a private message..'.
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Old 04-08-2017, 01:54 PM
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I guess I'd have left it alone, too.

Larry
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Old 04-08-2017, 02:03 PM
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OP you really have to take better pictures. In focus pictures. For what you want, you need someone who can redo the factory markings. To polish out every defect will screw up the markings. Finish starts with metal. You said you were a car guy, what defects does paint cover up? None. Hilights is more like it. No different anywhere else. Send it to Turnbul. He is a restoration artist.
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Old 04-08-2017, 03:13 PM
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Sorry about the poor quality pics from my Amazon Fire. My hereditary tremors don't help. For what it's worth, the barrel markings came out fine. I've attached one more photo that hopefully shows the flaws a little better.
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Old 04-08-2017, 03:50 PM
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The barrel markings turned out fine? I dont see them. I see a caliber mark
on the left side, that is all. Best
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Old 04-08-2017, 06:24 PM
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If those vertical striations weren't there on the side plate before the gunsmith started work, then he and I would be having a serious talk.
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Old 04-08-2017, 07:36 PM
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A tripod for the camera makes a world of difference. Also, making sure the close up setting is engaged.
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Old 04-08-2017, 08:18 PM
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My philosophy is that a gun can only be original once. Still and all, it looks nice. I wouldn't sweat it.
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Old 04-09-2017, 12:15 AM
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Quote:
Originally Posted by Gunsnwater View Post
OP you really have to take better pictures. In focus pictures. For what you want, you need someone who can redo the factory markings. To polish out every defect will screw up the markings. Finish starts with metal. You said you were a car guy, what defects does paint cover up? None. Hilights is more like it. No different anywhere else. Send it to Turnbul. He is a restoration artist.
Turnbull is indeed a restoration artist-------one which no longer works on S&W's-------hasn't for quite some time.

Ralph Tremaine
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Old 04-13-2017, 10:54 PM
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Quote:
Opinions please, was this an expensive blunder on my part?
I think that the question begs an answer first. How much did you invest? Knowing that we can probably answer the question.

If you are not happy with the work, take it back and have it done correctly. As a purist collector, I don't believe in refinishing a gun unless I buy it after someone else has already made an attempt at same and botched the job. If its already been messed with then the collectible part is out the window and you are only doing it for personal satisfaction. I work hard for my money and if I choose to spend it on something that makes me smile then so be it.

I own a small revolver that some prior owner had a phosphate type of blue finish applied. I think it looks awful. I may decide to send it to Ford's and see if they can make it look better.

Again, the gun is already messed up and the money is not an investment but rather something I feel like doing.
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Old 04-14-2017, 05:47 AM
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Quote:
Originally Posted by 04gtofan View Post
I was going for a pristine safe queen/occasional shooter. Shooter? Certainly. Pristine safe queen? Not so much. I accomplished a factory lettered 4th model shorty that now is probably worth less then I have invested. And I do appreciate everyone's input.
I like it! But yeah you probably have more in it than it's worth.
Mark
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Old 04-14-2017, 07:52 AM
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Quote:
Originally Posted by 04gtofan View Post
Agreed Sir. Final note, can someone inform me on the proper way to respond to poster #5 without breaking forum rules? Thanks again.
My friend, you may feel free to respond to me in any way you wish. You asked for honest opinions, and you have mine. I assure you, there was no intent to offend, and if you took offense you have my apology. The fact is, you have asked a question which only you can answer. If you are happy with the result of your project, then what anyone else may think is utterly irrelevant. The members of this forum have absolutely no say over how you spend your money, or over what guns you own or how they should look. If, as it seems by the tone of your post, you regret refinishing the gun -- oh, well. We live and learn, and I among many others have learned the same, or a very similar, lesson.
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Old 04-14-2017, 08:15 AM
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Quote:
Originally Posted by Pisgah View Post
My friend, you may feel free to respond to me in any way you wish. You asked for honest opinions, and you have mine. I assure you, there was no intent to offend, and if you took offense you have my apology. The fact is, you have asked a question which only you can answer. If you are happy with the result of your project, then what anyone else may think is utterly irrelevant. The members of this forum have absolutely no say over how you spend your money, or over what guns you own or how they should look. If, as it seems by the tone of your post, you regret refinishing the gun -- oh, well. We live and learn, and I among many others have learned the same, or a very similar, lesson.
I believe the OP said #5, who had asked about being contacted about a sale. You were poster #6.
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Old 04-14-2017, 09:14 AM
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A couple comments. First, I hate when members try to jump on every potential cheap buy out there in the open gun threads. Do it in a PM if you must. The Forum is not the place to go bargain hunting.

Those revolvers were already modified, and to refinish them is the owner's decision. I usually do not like stripping original finish if any remains, but the collector value has already been destroyed with chopping the barrel. Besides, those who follow auctions have seen these little modified pocket revolvers going the more money than a 100% original is worth, so there is a demand out there.

. . . but, if you get hold of a 1st generation 85% K22, please leave it alone!
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Old 04-14-2017, 12:09 PM
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First things first. I am not offended by any honest opinions, in fact I welcome them. The purpose of this forum is to educate, and the experts here know a boat load more about the subject matter then I do. I value ALL input. Secondly, it may or may not have been referred to as a chopped gun. No big deal, but it appears this is a factory correct 1 1/2 inch SH. Detailed photos were sent to Roy Jinks and his response in a phone conversation was "although the factory letter was not definitive, I have no reason to believe this isn't a authentic gun". The chopped SH in the thread was my 2nd Model .38, not the re-finished 4th Model. FWIW.
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Old 04-14-2017, 01:06 PM
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You did fine. I see no problem with having the piece refinished.
Have fun with it.
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Old 04-14-2017, 02:38 PM
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Not so much the "Purists" ....how about us guys who have seen refinished jobs that seldom look even half way decent.
Unless it's a restoration job done by fellow named Turnbull , expect the ruslts to look like 5 miles of bad road.
Refinishes usually look bad and the money you spent can not be recovered....you going to take it back and have the guy refinish the refinish....not hardly !
Live and learn.
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Old 04-14-2017, 02:58 PM
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Agreed. Not at all happy with the re-do on this nickel gun, but definitely not going back to complain. That being said, I had a shop in Aubrey, Texas do a hot re-blue on two Iver Johnson Safety Automatic Hammerless .32's, an 1896 and a 1928. Of course, in both cases the re-do cost more then the guns. Very pleased with the results however, and glad I had them done.

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