I picked up several Smith revolvers a while back from a collection from an old gunshop owner from LA. The model 66 no dash has become my favorite. Also picked up a lew horton 1st 100 686 unfired new in box. Both awesome revolvers but there was also a deblued highway patrolman that kind of got thrown in on the deal. It obviously had been rusted up pretty good at one time. I didnt really know anything about smith revolvers at the time so I kind of stumbled into these but anyway I got to looking at the patrolman and realised how nice this revolver still is. You have to look very close to see some very faint pitting in spots but at first glance it looks like a stainless gun. I decided to shoot it to see how it functioned and couldnt believe how nice it was to shoot. trigger is far better than the 66. Anyway I was wondering about refinishing this gun and if chrome or nickel would hide the pitting or not. I will try to post some pics tomorrow. any advice would be appreciated. The serial no. is s1153xx so I think it puts it about 1955. Thanks

I would leave the highway patrolman the way it is and enjoy it.

IMHO Paul

I second that motion.
It was probably born in 1954.

A chrome or nickel job would be almost like putting lipstick on a pig! If you do, you will soon say "What was I thinking! You won't get rid of any pits with a refinish - it will make them even more visible.The gun's a beauty, as is. Don't mess it up! Ed.

Glad the Highway Patrolman shoots well. They are great revolvers.

As it is now deblued and without any metal protection, there is no 'collector value', but lots of user value! I would consult in my area and seek a low luster reblue. Or you could try some Oxpho Blue, which should take well on most of the metal, possibly excepting the tougher cylinder metal..[If so inclined, you could try the face of the cylinder and see if it is satisfactory - and polish it off, if not.]

Best of luck.

Dyson

I like how my pig looks in lipstick

My pig resents your remark.
What's wrong with a pretty pig?


Just kidding around. I probably would not have an early HP refinished. With wear like that it really don't have any collector value but why put the money into it. Just enjoy it for what it is.

There are lots of Katrina guns still out there in Louisiana. Many of these guns have been cleaned up to the extent possible after prolonged exposure to SEAWATER, chemicals and human waste. Seawater alters the crystaline structure of steel. One spot that seems near impossible to clean is the small circle around the firing pin. If you see rust in that spot, it is probably a Katrina gun and I wouldnt put a dime into it. I have seen a number of guns that have been refurbished, the best coming directly from S&W. In most cases, I think people are better off putting the money into another gun. I have yet to see anything including steel that still doesnt have a hint of the smell of death after contamination during Katrina.

FYI, many of the houses exposed to Katrina are still collapsing. Flood waters soaked the wood. Wood expanded, but nails stayed the same size- so nail hole opens up and becomes loose. Such houses usually start tilting inward, a little more and a little more- then implode.

Heeere Piggy-piggy-piggy ...


Hard chrome was a very popular treatment in the 50's and 60's. Best rust preventative available at the time.

[IMG][/IMG]I understand from a purist standpoint why you wouldnt refinish the gun. I am planning on shooting this gun so from a durability standpoint and since this gun doesnt owe me anything I want some kind of finish on it and dont mind spending some money on it. As you can see from up close there is faint pitting so if I am going to spend the money I guess I am looking for further suggestions on what to do with it. Functionality wise you would never know this gun was 57 years old.

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What is often done and looks very nice is a "Bead Blast" finish then blued or satin nickle finished. The Bead Blast with fine glass bead will hide nearly all the pitting, it will just blend in. A friend had a mod 36 that he had Cylinder & Slide Bead Blast & Blue ant it looked fantastic. Since the Mod 28 was a matte finish blue to start with, that would be close to what it was originally. There are lots of newer hi-tech finish's that are nearly impervious to wear, if that is your choice. Here's a Mod 19 that had a similar problem. The finish is Metaloy, and it wears like iron.

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H Richard
SWCA1967 SWHF244

Thanks H Richard. If this revolver was in good shape other than the bluing showing some wear I would definatly be leaving it alone but since I got it in the condition it is in I am thinking that plating might be the way to go. who did the work on your revolver?

I think it is a Katrina gun. The key is INTERNAL condition. The outside looks OK for a field gun, but the inside may be a whole different story. I would have a smith take the side plate off and have a peek. If it is a Katrina gun, internal work will almost certainly be necessary.

The finish on my 19 was done by Metaloy, Berryville, Arkansas. I had previously had a 1911 frame done by them 20+ years earlier, and it wore like iron, and with probably 30,000+ rounds through it, still looks good.

I do agree with surveyor47, pop the side plate off and inspect it thoroughly or have a "smith" do it. If the gun was a salt water immersed one, there could be problems lurking.

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H Richard
SWCA1967 SWHF244

Someone's already put some kind of coat over the pitting. Dunk it in diesel, blow it out with a compressor and if it functions fine, use it. Take them nice grips off first. Joe

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Wisdom chases me; I'm faster

The gun has been locked in a safe since the mid 80s so not a Katrina gun.The gunshop owner passed away a few years ago and his wife decided to move some of the guns they had kept after closing down the shop in La in the mid 80s. I dont know the history of the gun or who did the work but there was no rust or pitting under the grips and the barrel and cylinder look like mirrors inside. By the way, what grips are on this gun. These things are perfect and look better in person than in the pics. Also, I cant believe how much I have learned on this forum in a short time. Thanks guys....................Randy

Randy,

If I understand you correctly your gun is in the white...no finish at all. I'm not sure some of the posters to this thread get that. This M27-2 was badly pitted and rusty. My gun smith bead blasted it removing the rust and most of the pits. The re-blue turned out like this - serviceable and was economical.




Just thought I'd give you an idea of one way to go. Good luck...and those appear to be smooth target stocks. They look good and are highly desirable to many Smith fans.

Dave

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RSVN '69-'71
PCSD (Ret)

Hey Dave. Yea I probably should have been clearer about deblued as in stripped and some light to medium sanding but no finish on the gun for sure. Anyway beadblasting looks great on your gun and might be the way to go to take this gun back to life. Thanks............Randy

Close inspection of my 28-2 shows very slight pitting on the left side of the frame. This is probably why either before, or right after, rebluing my revolver, the previous owner had it bead-blasted. It looks good, but if it ever comes off I think I will parkerize the gun. If I still worked for a previous owner that did a lot of parkerizing it would already be done.

Hello Ironhand. There are a lot of different finishes available for firearms today. I am looking at pros and cons of each and obviously cost. probably overthinking this one but I like this gun and want to be happy with the results. Thanks..........Randy

Ok, value wise, the gun has no collector value. Thats accepted. However, utility wise, it is an outstaning old gun. You seem to have accepted that, and, thats good. Even a factory reblue will not bring back its collector value.

So. I would turn it into the best using Model 28 in the world. Take a look at this finish: Isonite QPQ. Coal Creek Armory Custom Finishing And Refinishing

(for all practical purposes, its Glocks Tenifer like finish)

I had all the steel parts of a High Standard Derringer done so I would have a rust proof deep carry gun. A wonderful deep black satin finish.

The gun would still look pretty much like it had the correct finish, it would hide most of the pitting and, would likely last forever. I would really encourage you to look into this finish, and, post pictures when you get it back. I'm exceptionally happy with thier work.

Thanks Sgt 127. I have contacted Coal Creek Armory and when they receive the gun they are going to let me know what they think as far as what finish after they examine the gun. I threw in some more photos of my first foray into Smith revolvers. The 66 is a no dash that was polished and obviously had trigger work done. Pics dont do it justice. The 686 is a first 100 lew horton unfired new in box. I thought I wouldnt mind owning a safe Queen but am probably going to let it go. I Figured out I am a collector of shooters. Anyway the smith revolver bug has bit and I cant wait to find another deal. Thanks all.........Randy.........

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If devoid of finish it needs something. Nothing will cover pitting and it will be visible. I would have it blued rather than plated.

Another $.02 worth: It's a shooter now, period. A fine glass-bead and reblue will make it a good-looking shooter as well, very close to the original appearance, and likely more economical than one of the hi-tech treatments. Just be sure and leave the hammer & trigger color-cased.

Larry

Thanks for the 02. gentlemen. They are going to look it over and give me a recomendation on what to do with it. The smith I talked to suggested a bead blast and possibly a reblue. We will see when they receive it what they suggest. Thanks again ......Randy........

Of course you could be done of the entire"problem child" and sell it to me and I will gladly take full responsibility for it's proper care. Interesting corundum you have there, Kyle

Decided to bead blast and reblue the old HP. The gunsmith who inspected it said she was in really good condition mechanically and thought it would clean up really nice. Will post pics when I get it back. Thanks for all the advice...........Randy..........

Good choice. We look forward to seeing "after" pictures.

Best,

Dyson