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01-30-2017, 02:26 PM
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Quote:
Originally Posted by Nighthawk0083
Have you considered sending in both barrels with the frame? They would be in matching finishes if done at the same time. If you wanted to change later it wouldn't be that hard to do I think.
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I probably will do that if I can figure out who I can trust to do the work correctly. I looked up the posting that JudgeColt mentioned and saw the punch dot Colt logo he mentioned. It was horrifying. Mr. Bowles also mentioned another gun he sent them in the same shipment that was polished so much that it looked like it was melting. Scary stuff.
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01-30-2017, 02:57 PM
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Quote:
Originally Posted by lawman445
I probably will do that if I can figure out who I can trust to do the work correctly. I looked up the posting that JudgeColt mentioned and saw the punch dot Colt logo he mentioned. It was horrifying. Mr. Bowles also mentioned another gun he sent them in the same shipment that was polished so much that it looked like it was melting. Scary stuff.
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Wow I just looked at the thread on the colt forum. That is hideous
Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk
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02-01-2017, 04:52 PM
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Thanks, Judge... I gave you a "like", but I sure don't "like" what I saw. I can only imagine how that poor guy felt after receiving that gun back...yikes!!
Best Regarss, Les
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02-01-2017, 09:31 PM
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Wow what a decision to have to make, I like the short barrels but I understand making it original too. I owned another of those nickel RM's that had issues too, I couldn't take it any more the stress of it not being right I sold it.
here it is with a factory refinished HD
Dan
Last edited by Dan M; 02-01-2017 at 09:44 PM.
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02-02-2017, 10:19 PM
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Too many chances for further mischief at this stage. Poor polishing, over buffing, etc. Did I understand there was a rework date stamped on the frame? Are you going to have that factory rework date erased should you refinish it? It sure didn't come from the factory with that on it.
Keep it as is and shoot with pleasure knowing all that you know about it. Document all that you know and keep copies with the revolver. You get to enjoy it now and hopefully the next owner will continue the history.
My opinion only. Yours to do anything you wish, including selling it off part by part or melting it down into Indian railroad spikes as mentioned above.
rayb
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04-12-2017, 12:29 AM
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Quote:
Originally Posted by Nighthawk0083
Have you considered sending in both barrels with the frame? They would be in matching finishes if done at the same time. If you wanted to change later it wouldn't be that hard to do I think.
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Not a bad idea. I doubt that I would ever switch back to the post war barrel and rear sight, but I will keep it with the gun since it is numbered to it and part of the history of where all it has been.
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04-12-2017, 01:05 AM
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I got my S&W Historical Foundation letter and copies of the documents they were able to come up with the other day so I thought I would add images of them to the thread. It looks like Mr. Gustavus, the original owner, was some sort of peace officer and SWHF had a letter dated 10-6-36 on file answering his original inquiry about special police officer pricing of $48 for a reg mag. They also had the original order form dated 10-26-36 with all the specifications he wanted including his preference for a nickel finish if he could get it. There is also a note at the bottom indicating that he couldn`t find 357 magnum ammunition in Memphis and requested 100 rounds be included with the gun COD.
Looking at all this paperwork and thinking about what this gun must have looked like when Mr. Gustavus opened the box the first time has my mind made up that I want to see how close I can get it back to what it looked like that day. I spoke to an engraver from Texas at the Tulsa show about the project and I think I can trust him with the refinish and any freshening up the markings might need. He had a nice engraved Python on his table that he had nickled after the engraving and it looked to me like it was the right color of nickel for a prewar S&W. I also picked up a nice medium size RM box at the last gun show so now I just need that rear sight and I can get started on this.
Last edited by lawman445; 04-12-2017 at 11:06 AM.
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04-12-2017, 11:39 AM
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Quote:
Originally Posted by AlHunt
Given the rarity of that gun and the fact that it left the 12/52 rework with the shorter barrel, I'd consider a re-nickle and restoring it to the 12/52 point in time.
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Or keep it as is and use it as an awesome concealed carry piece.
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04-12-2017, 01:43 PM
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I've shown this one previously but forgive me since it is somewhat relevant (similar) to the OP's problem.
When I got this non-Reg. Mag. it had a badly done and worn blue finish. It came from deep south Texas and I can imagine that it spent a good bit of time on the south side of the Rio Grande. It was no more than "shooter grade" at best.
I ordered a letter on it without much expectation of any details but was I surprised! It was originally a 3.5" nickel that shipped to a lawman who served in both the Kentucky Highway Patrol and the Hopkinsville Ky P.D.
Nickel non-Regs are far more rare than the nickel Registered guns. I know of only 3 of them in collections today and this is the only 3.5" one that I know of.
Since this one had already had its original finish removed I decided to return it to its original glory. It is obviously worth less than when it was original, but I'm comfortable in knowing that it is significantly more valuable as a restored gun than as a worn modified one. The total cost of the gun, the restoration by Gene Williams, re-nickel by Fords and the set of Keith Brown grips was less than $2500 and I now rank it Excellent + as refinished and have it valued in the $6,000-$7,000 range.
Bob
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04-12-2017, 03:21 PM
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The problem these days is finding someone with the skills, willingness, and ability to restore one properly!
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04-13-2017, 11:14 AM
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Quote:
Originally Posted by Brian in Oregon
Or keep it as is and use it as an awesome concealed carry piece.
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I`m pretty flush in the prewar 357 magnum carry piece department these days, which is why I thought about selling off this 2 tone rebarreled one until I had it lettered. The gun in question is on the top left in this picture. The 4" blued one w/ humpback hammer below it is the only original finish gun of the bunch (and oddly the one I have the least money in), so I probably won`t ever carry or shoot it. I also probably won`t carry or shoot the 3 1/2" nickel one below that since it is a factory refinish and the factory won`t work on the old ones anymore. That still leaves me with the other 4 that have been refinished or rebarreled (or both) to carry and shoot.
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04-13-2017, 11:20 AM
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Quote:
Originally Posted by bettis1
I've shown this one previously but forgive me since it is somewhat relevant (similar) to the OP's problem.
When I got this non-Reg. Mag. it had a badly done and worn blue finish. It came from deep south Texas and I can imagine that it spent a good bit of time on the south side of the Rio Grande. It was no more than "shooter grade" at best.
I ordered a letter on it without much expectation of any details but was I surprised! It was originally a 3.5" nickel that shipped to a lawman who served in both the Kentucky Highway Patrol and the Hopkinsville Ky P.D.
Nickel non-Regs are far more rare than the nickel Registered guns. I know of only 3 of them in collections today and this is the only 3.5" one that I know of.
Since this one had already had its original finish removed I decided to return it to its original glory. It is obviously worth less than when it was original, but I'm comfortable in knowing that it is significantly more valuable as a restored gun than as a worn modified one. The total cost of the gun, the restoration by Gene Williams, re-nickel by Fords and the set of Keith Brown grips was less than $2500 and I now rank it Excellent + as refinished and have it valued in the $6,000-$7,000 range.
Bob
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Now that`s a great piece with some great history. I`d sure rather see it in it`s current condition than the way you found it. Do you have any "before" pictures of it?
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04-13-2017, 02:43 PM
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Lawman,
No, unfortunately, I don't have any pre-restoration photos. That is my only regret after seeing how it turned out. But at the time it was just a worn old gun that I was trying to decide what path to follow.
Bob
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02-17-2019, 09:42 AM
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PM sent
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02-17-2019, 10:51 AM
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Quote:
Originally Posted by lawman445
The letter doesn`t mention the current 3 1/2" barrel, just the original 5 1/2"...
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Quote:
Originally Posted by LLOYD17
PM sent
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WOW - I just went back and looked at the letter and you found not just "a 5.5" Barrel", BUT "THE 5.5" Barrel"!!!  
So cool!!!
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02-17-2019, 11:41 AM
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Man, I love this forum! That's awesome!
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02-17-2019, 11:44 AM
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^^^
Are you kidding me?!?
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02-17-2019, 11:57 AM
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Is that the original barrel owned by another forum member?!?!?!?
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02-17-2019, 11:59 AM
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Quote:
Originally Posted by SVT28
Is that the original barrel owned by another forum member?!?!?!?
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Yep. Seems so. 
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02-17-2019, 12:06 PM
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Wow that is unbelievable...talk about a needle in a huge haystack..
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02-17-2019, 12:42 PM
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Well that changes everything. At this point a strip and refinish with the original barrel makes sense to me. I'd keep it with the short numbered barrel as a set.
Providence sure smiled today!
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02-17-2019, 03:16 PM
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Its been nearly 2 years since Lawman445 posted. I wonder what he did with his RM?
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02-18-2019, 12:59 PM
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Quote:
Originally Posted by Nightowl
Its been nearly 2 years since Lawman445 posted. I wonder what he did with his RM?
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I put it up waiting for someone on here to find my original barrel...it`s about time! Now I`m back to trying to figure out who is still in business that is good enough at nickel plating to put it back like it should be without polishing the markings off. I have a couple leads on that but I also need to find a RM rear sight first.
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02-18-2019, 01:10 PM
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Quote:
Originally Posted by lawman445
I put it up waiting for someone on here to find my original barrel...it`s about time! Now I`m back to trying to figure out who is still in business that is good enough at nickel plating to put it back like it should be without polishing the markings off. I have a couple leads on that but I also need to find a RM rear sight first.
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Please keep us posted!
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02-18-2019, 01:14 PM
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Quote:
Originally Posted by lawman445
I put it up waiting for someone on here to find my original barrel...it`s about time! Now I`m back to trying to figure out who is still in business that is good enough at nickel plating to put it back like it should be without polishing the markings off. I have a couple leads on that but I also need to find a RM rear sight first.
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Professional Gunsmith - Accurate Plating & Weaponry | Cogan Custom can plate it like it came from the factory. Any stampings that are not sharp can be recut with their laser cutter.
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02-18-2019, 03:57 PM
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^^^ That's the one keith44spl mentioned in his thread for the 44spl RM.
Last edited by LLOYD17; 02-18-2019 at 04:15 PM.
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02-18-2019, 04:17 PM
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Quote:
Originally Posted by lawman445
I put it up waiting for someone on here to find my original barrel...it`s about time! Now I`m back to trying to figure out who is still in business that is good enough at nickel plating to put it back like it should be without polishing the markings off. I have a couple leads on that but I also need to find a RM rear sight first.
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You also need a ejector rod with the Large Knob on the end (LERK). I SHOULD have a factory Nickel N frame rod. IF I still in fact do, it is yours free of charge. Please PM me your information.
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02-18-2019, 04:32 PM
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Am I mistaken or did I once read that if a post war sight is installed on a pre war frame it ruins any chance for reinstalling the correct sight? If you do manage to find a pre war sight (which seems easy compared to someone having the original barrel) can it be restored?
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02-18-2019, 05:31 PM
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Quote:
Originally Posted by Art Doc
Am I mistaken or did I once read that if a post war sight is installed on a pre war frame it ruins any chance for reinstalling the correct sight? If you do manage to find a pre war sight (which seems easy compared to someone having the original barrel) can it be restored?
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I'm sure the top strap can be welded up and a pre-war rear sight installed. All it takes is money, generally a LOT of money.
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02-18-2019, 06:27 PM
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Quote:
Originally Posted by Art Doc
Am I mistaken or did I once read that if a post war sight is installed on a pre war frame it ruins any chance for reinstalling the correct sight? If you do manage to find a pre war sight (which seems easy compared to someone having the original barrel) can it be restored?
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From what my evil genius gunsmith says it involves some extra metal work but it can be done. He`s just waiting on me to find a sight.
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02-18-2019, 07:46 PM
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Quote:
Originally Posted by lawman445
I put it up waiting for someone on here to find my original barrel...it`s about time! Now I`m back to trying to figure out who is still in business that is good enough at nickel plating to put it back like it should be without polishing the markings off. I have a couple leads on that but I also need to find a RM rear sight first.
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Anyone have a pre war OD sight? I have a RM rear sight that got installed on a 44 3rd and would be willing to send the RM sight over if I can swap in an OD sight.
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02-18-2019, 10:32 PM
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This board is awesome. All of the guys who just want to make this gun whole again!
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