Hey Guys
I have a 1905 4th change snubbie that was reblued at the factory in 1951. I also just obtained a pre-model 15 (1954)

I just noticed that it appears both have the same issue. On the frame just above the barrel in the cylinder area the blueing is coming off. It has the look of being worn off. Is this normal. Yes I do shoot them. Or do you need more info?
Sorry no pics I can't seem to get this site to take them. From my I phone or computer.

Morgan88

Holster wear?

see if I can get this to work.

Holy **** I think I worked this time. Just above the barrel in the cylinder area it appears the finish is coming off.

Attached Images

IMG_0767.jpg (72.2 KB, 283 views)

Looks like lead build-up to me.

Hapworth
I just happen to use reload wadcutters. Does that make more sense.?

It's lead, the blue is hiding. If you have some thin copper sheet, use some tin snips to make a little scraper. Or, a pre 82 penny. Unless you go nuts, the copper should not scratch the finish. Even some hard pointy toothpicks may work. And follow up with solvent and a brush.

Yep, looks like lead from here, too. Try a cartridge case mashed flat w/a hammer and shaped w/a file.

Larry

I am curious how you know it was refinished at the factory? Guns with Stars and date stamps have gone back to the factory, but that is no guarantee that it was refinished. It is more likely it was repaired. Could have been re-blued at a gunsmith's shop??

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Gary
SWCA 2515

Yep. Unjacketed lead. Might be normal or you might be shaving a little if there are timing issues. It's in a spot that ordinary cleaning has difficulty reaching.

Try some of the suggestions above (gently) and see if it peels away.

Gary
Great point. It does have a star at the end of the serial #. I bought the gun out of a pawn shop in another state. (On my way back from a West coast motorcycle trip) The pawn shop gave me with the gun a piece of paper the previous owner that had researched the gun. It has marks of 3-51 under the grips with a star. This person says it was "refinished and re-fitted with 2 inch barrel in March of 1951"

This paper says and I quote "Other marks on the grip-frame indicate refinishing"

I only have this paper by "someone" to go by.

Morgan88

Thanks for the reply. I just wanted to bring this topic up in case you ever sell the gun. Refinished guns are always a question mark and some buyers might argue that the gun does not have a factory refinish, if that is how the gun was identified by the seller. It sounds like that is the information you received when purchasing and it is a fact that is hard to prove. Factory refinished guns usually sell for more than those done by gunsmiths.

There is lots of controversy over the meanings of factory markings on returned guns. What is generally known is the star and date means the gun went back to the factory. It is usually thought that any part with a diamond indicates replacement, but any indicator that the gun was refinished is not fully understood. If the factory replaces any exterior part on the gun, it would seem logical that the entire gun was refinished to match. The S&W Historical Foundation is in the process of digitizing shop records from the factory that would include any gun that was returned for repair and/or refinish, but I do not think it is up to 1951 yet.

It used to be said that if any original stampings on a refinished revolver are worn or removed, it was not a factory refinish, but I have a short barrel Model 1 1/2 that has a very weak marking on the side of the barrel. Refinish, definitely, but with the star and a return date that is 56 years after manufacture. It is likely that the factory no longer had access to some of the roll stampers that have not been in use for a very long time, so they either left the stampings weak or removed them entirely in the refinish. Lots of questions and never enough answers.

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Gary
SWCA 2515

That is a typical process by the factory when a major part is changed. Chances that the replacement short barrel and the original frame would look the same are unlikely.

Much easier for S&W to just reblue the entire gun. They were bluing things every day so not really a big deal and why their prices for refinishing back in the day were very inexpensive.

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James Redfield
LM #497

Gary
Your thoughts are well written and presented so novices like me can understand. Well done! You may have answered countless others questions by answering mine.
I notice you continually use the word "refinish" instead of reblued. Must be a reason?
I guess for now I am going to not care who refinished it and enjoy the hell out of it. There is so much more to this handgun stuff than I could have ever imagined. So much detail and as you say "very little answers"
Thanks again for jumping in the discussion
Morgan88