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S&W Hand Ejectors: 1896 to 1961 All 5-Screw & Vintage 4-Screw SWING-OUT Cylinder REVOLVERS, and the 35 Autos and 32 Autos


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Old 04-04-2013, 10:27 AM
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Default help / advice needed

This thumb piece is on a M&P that was made in 1947 that I'm thinking about buying.



The rest of the gun is in excellent condition and I'd like to add this gun to my collection.
I'd like to either replace or re-blue this thumb piece so it matches the condition of the rest of the gun.

I can see from the picture that some of the checkering is damaged. I don't know how hard it would be to find a new and correct thumb piece for this gun. If I can't find a new one, I'm wondering if the damaged one can be re-blued, and if the bluing will be a close enough match to the original bluing that was done in 1947.

Any help / advice / opinions welcome!!
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Old 04-04-2013, 10:36 AM
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Time to send it back to Smith and Wesson, their master gunsmiths should be able to bring it back from the dead.
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Old 04-04-2013, 03:22 PM
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I can live with some of the checkering being damaged. I'm more concerned with the bluing matching the rest of the gun if I get the piece re-blued.
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Old 04-04-2013, 03:28 PM
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Maybe try a little bit of cold blue and a little gun oil. I wouldn't try to reblue the whole thing, just the damaged areas.
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Old 04-04-2013, 03:54 PM
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Quote:
Originally Posted by snubbyfan View Post
Maybe try a little bit of cold blue and a little gun oil. I wouldn't try to reblue the whole thing, just the damaged areas.
That's what I would do. Degrease it, then Q-tip, cold blue, oil. It should match OK. In any case, can't hurt to try.
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Old 04-04-2013, 04:28 PM
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I'm familiar with the cold blue, but not using it with gun oil. What do you do with the gun oil??
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Old 04-04-2013, 04:39 PM
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Quote:
Originally Posted by 1blindref View Post
I'm familiar with the cold blue, but not using it with gun oil. What do you do with the gun oil??
As mentioned by DAinTX ya need to degrease first for the cold blue to work properly. After it dries a little gun oil will prevent corrosion and enhance appearance.
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Old 04-04-2013, 05:06 PM
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1blindref,

They mean after you touchup with cold blue you put a thin coat of oil on it. I would give it three coats of Brownell's Oxpho cold blue. But I don't think you'll be happy with the result because the damage will still show.

You can find a replacement;
1. ebay and Gunbroker
2. New from S&W: these were reproduced for the classic series revolvers but are a cast part and will need polishing and re-bluing
3. Originals: see my PM for sources

But 1st you need to determine which style you have.
Pre war style with relief cuts behnd pad also used early post war:




2nd type used post war, the first ‘new style’ post war thumbpiece, still has the double 'pinch' but without relief cuts under checkered pad.

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Old 04-05-2013, 12:46 AM
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If you decide to touch up with cold blue, I'd recommend using the torn end of a paper match stick rather than a Q-Tip.

Ralph Tremaine
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Old 04-05-2013, 06:31 AM
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Leave it alone, there not all perfect and don't use cold blue!!
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Old 04-05-2013, 09:55 PM
Muley Gil Muley Gil is online now
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Quote:
Originally Posted by Parker357 View Post
Time to send it back to Smith and Wesson, their master gunsmiths should be able to bring it back from the dead.
The factory generally doesn't work on revolvers that old, as they don't have any parts available in case they have to replace anything.
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Old 04-05-2013, 11:38 PM
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Well, I came to an agreement with the seller and this M&P is mine.
I guess I'll try finding a replacement first (thanks for all of the source info Jim!). If I can't find one, then I'll take off the thumb piece and see if I can find a vendor to re-blue the whole thing.
Unless anyone has a better suggestion??
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