So many of you have seen this revolver different times before. Some of you remember when it came up for sale on this site. Some of you are probably tired of seeing it I drove across PA to get it so I could have 1 of 1067. Lately on this forum and the TFL, I've read about the great work S&W does and I've already seen the great work that Ford's of FL does. I'm wondering if I should send the revolver to S&W, fords, or do nothing with it all. I know many people on here would have an opinion. I appreciate a post explaining why you chose whichever option you chose. I'm not gung ho on having it reblued, but lately it crossed my mind. I think its a good candidate for the refinish cause I have nice original grips and it does not appear to be pitted, or perhaps very lightly. I also tend to think that having it sent to S&W for factory refinish is forgivable as far as a collector is concerned? At least somewhat? Would a factory refinish or a fords help the value of this one any? I tried to photograph some of the trouble spots...

I would vote no on a refinish. A professional redo would make it look nicer but in my opinion would not add, or might even subtract, from its collector value. If the brown areas in the photos are rust, I would try to remove them so they don't go deeper into the metal, but that would be it.

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Alan
SWCA LM 2023, SWHF 220

I would also leave it unrefinished. If it was one of 100,000 and you wanted a better looking shooter, I'd say to do what you want. Or if it had already been refinished once and needed a touch up, I don't think would hurt collector value much. But an original K-22 Second that hasn't been touched yet? I think I would give it a total breakdown, then an immersion cleaning -- well, just paint it with Kroil or something better and seal it in a baggie for a couple of days -- to get all the rust off and stabilize it. Then I would oil it thoroughly and keep it as the treasure it is. I wouldn't be afraid to shoot it, either. Somebody kind of let it go once, but the best thing you can do is clean it up after their neglect and then keep after it in the future.

Just two cents rolling in from California.

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David Wilson

Since you seem to be undecided I would suggest leaving it as is. In my opinion the gun has no or very little collector value. It's value is as a shooter. Enjoy the gun for a while and you may be able to decide with confidence at a later date.

I would cast my vote for leave it alone. As others have said, put it unassembled in a tupper wear container with a sealed lid in either Hoppe's or your favorite cleaning solution. Let it soak for a few days and then do a through cleaning. Apply a coat of Renaissance Wax and call it good to go. The condition of this gun is what it is and you can't change that. It is the end result of the care that was given this particular gun and is part of its own personal history. Any refinish either factory or Fords changes all of that forever.

But that said, it's your gun and you can do to it whatever you so choose.

Best regards,

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James Redfield
LM #497

It looks like the gun has been modified by having a modern rear sight installed and the original front sight blade machined off and a patridge replacement pinned into place. If so, that pretty much kills it off as a collector piece in the purist sense of the word.

I have a M&P 1905 1st model in equally rough shape where the front sight has been altered, and someone used a cleaning chemical that stripped the bluing where ever it dribbled out of the barrel onto the surfaces:




Part of me wants to ship it off to Ford's, but I've also been able to track the history of it as being shipped to San Francisco 3 months after the 1906 Earthquake.

I bought it from the wife of a long retired SFPD officer that passed away, who said that her husband got it handed down to him from his Dad.

What role it played during the uncertain times the followed the 1906 Quake 3 months earlier is something I'd love to be able to determine.

With that bit of background, I've decided not to do anything with it at the moment, as I think it's condition adds to it's character and service history.

But having said that, if I had no such info on the background of it, I would have sent it to Ford's to enjoy it's restored glory as a shooter.

I like Ford's, S&W no longer does their own bluing and although I haven't heard any negative comments lately, at one time their refinishing quality was erratic. Ford's has never gotten a negative review as far as I know, plus they have a couple of options for the type of bluing, so you can choose what's best for the overall shape of the gun. Also, there might be a cut off point on how old of a gun S&W will accept for refinishing, I know they have one for repair work.

And as others have said, only you can make the decision, and this is just my .02 worth.

Yup, get it clean and enjoy it!

Actually this is the standard sight configuration for the K22 2nd model. Pinned partridge as well as the newer target masterpiece rear sight is in fact all I've ever seen in a 2nd model. Perhaps you're thinking of a K-22 outdoorsman or maybe you never saw one of these before.

Since it is rare, I think I will leave it the way it is. I think there's still collector value left due to its rarity and it still could clean up well so there's no point in restoring it when one stops and thinks about it.

Yep... you're correct, I was thinking in terms of the K-22 Outdoorsman.. and I've learned something new. Thanks for elaborating on it, it's much appreciated.

I always though the windage adjustment screw heads were smaller than that, which is what made me think modern sights.

I'm with the majority on this one. Soak it in Hoppes-9 for a couple of days, clean it up and wax it. I did that to a 1947 K22 that was in about the same state of disrepair as yours, and it turned out to be a keeper. Of course, K22's are sort of addictive regardless of their condition. Anyways, If you don't like the results, you can always send it out for refinishing at a later date. However, if you refinish it first, you can never recover its original character. Your pre-war K22 Masterpiece (2nd, or whatever the politically correct terminology is these days) is a rare bird, and despite its current state of cosmetically challenged finish, it will always have collector value. Probably less so if it gets refinished. -S2

PS- Be sure to take the grips off before soaking it. If you want, I'll be happy to "preserve" them for you; I've got one that needs such a pair.

I'm with the leave it alone bunch. Clean, lubricate, wax, enjoy.

Rod

Do what you can to kill the existing rust so it doesn't get any worse, wax it up and enjoy. It is what it is and has character.
Besides, sending it to S&W (if they will even take it because of its age) you will not get a finish resembling what was originally on the gun. You will get a modern finish which just won't look right.

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Dean
SWCA #680 SWHF #446

Were it mine, I'd leave it rough. I like to shoot my guns and having a worn one removes any scratch-anxiety.

I think it should not be refinished either. I would use some Hoppe's # 9 or similar and a copper/brass chore girl to clean the rust spots off, with the grips removed of course. That will clean any rust or blemishes but will not yurt the bluing one bit. With steel wool you can take bluing off if you are not real careful.
One other thing to think about is that if you refinish the steel you would have to have the grips redone as well or it would not look right. In the end, i think you would have much more money in the gun than it THEN would be worth. As is, it's still a collector. Refinished, it will always be a shooter.
Just my opinion. Beautiful gun by the way, warts and all!

As the others have said, please leave that original finish as is. Task # 1 is to assure that the rust is arrested and you have good advice on doing that.

I really doubt that S&W will accept that gun to refinish. If by some quirk they might take it and refinish it, you may get it back with a laser etched logo on the side...at the very best, the finish will stand out like someone trying to pass a Prius off as a Dusenburg. Any one who knows the difference will be able to see it a block away.

Bob

A good cleaning, like DCWilson advised, and then coat with Renaissance Wax. Recoat with Wax after every cleaning.

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H Richard
SWCA1967 SWHF244

NO to refinishing. If you are going to shoot it, I'd use a soft patch soaked in Breakfree & rub the whole thing down.
If you are going to wax it, then you would have to remove the oil, I think.
Russ

Yes, there is a cut off date before which Smith will not accept a firearm for refinishing but I'm not sure what it is. When I sent my 1963 Mod 36 back for refinishing last year I was told I just made the cut off. A person at customer service told me it was because they don't have parts for many of the old firearms and, as you know, they don't like to ship a firearm back with bad parts in it.

I guess my opinion won't matter much as I'm not a collector, just an accumulator of older firearms that have been used but not abused and acquire that old patina that comes with age. I would never remove it's character with a refinish. What the other folks said about a good soaking in Kroil, oil it and use Ren Wax. So I vote no. That's a vey nice old Smith. Rich

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GOD BLESS THE USA

I would not refinish it but it isn't my gun. I do not believe Smith will work on revolvers that do not have model markings due to a lack of spare parts should they find something needing replacement.

YIKES 7 YEAR OLD ZOMBIE THREAD!

Does everyone know this thread is from nearly 7 years ago?

I voted NO 7 years ago. So where is the gun today? Was it ever refinished? Photos please.

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James Redfield
LM #497

IMHO, I'd advise NOT to refinish. The way it is now it just wreaks of reality and surely genuine. No story needed with this one because it talks as tells all, exactly as it is now.

Good luck with that, you'll love it.

Would you mind sharing the serial number with us? (unless it's already posted and I missed it). There are a bunch of us that keep track of the serial numbers and configuration / sights etc.

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ANTIQUESMITHS
LM1300 SWHF425

Thanks, OldChief, for bringing this back to the light of day.

I picked up K22 sn K27XX this afternoon (some of you might have seen my post from a few days ago) so this thread has significant, timely meaning to me. It's a LERK and probably from 1947.

The gun's undergone its first cleaning (by me). I found a very small bit of rust under the grips on the grip frame faces (no mention of that by the seller). I'll employ the tactics suggested here to arrest that.

I knew it had some blue ware, and it's actually not disappointing compared to the seller's description. I wish he hadn't used a home remedy to try to "fix" some of the blue ware on the cylinder. I'll probably be able to undo that with some bronze wool.

I had considered a factory redo (re-blue) when I first saw the gun this afternoon. Thanks to this old thread I'll be happy to have a great shooter, which is what I wanted. The action's incredible as is the gun's fit.

So after all this time and my experience today, don't refinish the gun.

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Wrangler of stray Chiefs
Bob

No, it was never refinished I realized that it being an original survivor, 1 of 1067, was more important than it looking "pretty" with a fresh paint job. For what I paid back then, and considering that the magnas are actually numbered (rarely seen on K22/40s) I am happy to own it, despite the condition.

Here is a thread about its birthday a few years back...

Happy 73rd Birthday K-22 - 5-24-40

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}-----Jim----->
~SWCA #2732~

Your revolver's value is based on its provenance, not it's appearance

Leave it alone.