I have a first year production pre 29 6.5" shipped May of 56. It had been refinished at some time and has the dreaded plum color in the flutes and some on the barrel. The gun is otherwise in excellent, tight condition. Should I have a delux blue job done by the factory since it has already been refinished? I purchased it many years ago thinking that it was original.

Also, I had heard that sometimes bluing plums with age and that it was not all because of a poor quality rebluing job as discussed in a recent posting at length.???

I have a first year production pre 29 6.5" shipped May of 56. It had been refinished at some time and has the dreaded plum color in the flutes and some on the barrel. The gun is otherwise in excellent, tight condition. Should I have a delux blue job done by the factory since it has already been refinished? I purchased it many years ago thinking that it was original.

Also, I had heard that sometimes bluing plums with age and that it was not all because of a poor quality rebluing job as discussed in a recent posting at length.???

I would love to see some pics.

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"I also cook."

Tom,
My take is absolutely, yes....refinish the gun and have it as one of the most beautiful...
The factory does not REMARK the guns today, as they did in the past. It already has a moniker of having been refinished, so value is not affected. It can only add to the current resale value....
Do it and enjoy it....be certain to shoot it though...these are not meant to be abstract art, although some are sculpture in steel.
Here is one I redid at the factory, since it was once refinished.....gorgeous.....
Model 53, 4":



Terry

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Terry
SWCA, SWHS, IWLA, NRA

I'm about to do the same thing with a 4" 28-2 I just rescued for $301.00. It probably wasn't a really great deal, as its advertised at 60-70 percent, but with no dents or dings that would keep the bluing from looking good, I figure $460.00 won't be too far out of line in 5 years or so for a good looking shooter. I may be wrong. It just may be that while I'm at it, I may have it cut to 3 1/2 inches if it isn't cost prohibative. Who knows?

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War Eagle!!!

Tom, being that it has already been re-blued once before, I would certainly go ahead and do it. I like shooting pretty guns.
Regards,Mike

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Sure you did

You can check and see, but I don't think the factory will refinish or work on any gun made prior to 1957. That used to be stated on their website.

What does the factory currently charge for refinishing? Any ideas? Would you be better off "upgrading"? They're out there!

I guess anything is possible; however, the 'plum' color was a characteristic of an original finish. I, personally, like the plum color...on all that I've seen in the past. You sure it has been refinished? It's your gun, tho'.....best. GR

You have to recognize that there is a chance the refinish job they will do nowdays will be worse than what you have now. I wouldn't do it, personally. Your money, your choice, though.

I recently had S&W reblue a 29-2 6 1/2" and they did a excellent job. The only reason I did it was because I got the gun CHEAP and it had the pres box and all the docs. I cant remember the actual cost but I believe around $300 give or take, they rebuilt the gun,replaced all the screws, replaced the rear sight and it looks like new. While they had it, it gave me time to refinish the box & grips. Couldnt be more happy with the results.

I am not certain that it is. It seems to have turned over time. I have owned this gun for about 15 years. Chuck told me that it is reblued.

T

Ruger has made a lot of blue guns that turn purple with age. Some Ruger collectors seek these guns out. I have an older S&W Heavy Duty that has a slight purplish hue to the cylinder, but appears otherwise normal. I used to think it was reblued. Now I don't know for sure.

Plum doesn't necessarily mean reblued. I don't know who "Chuck" is, so apologies if necessary. I'd be absolutely certain before I had any work done on a pre 29.

Then I probably wouldn't reblue it anyway, unless the gun is just butt ugly.

my 2¢

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Hoot Gibson

I just had a model 36-9 refinished by S&W. It was LNIB when I bought it, but the topstrap had a nick in it, which could only have happened at the factory since it was blued over, and the finish was brownish looking in spots. Just looked very second rate.

Just bad finish...from the factory. I had to pay a hundred and something, but it came back flawless. They even got the nick off the topstap, I have no idea how. The gun is fantastic. They're refinishing service is second to none. If the serial number wasn't the same I'd say they gave me a new gun....it's that good.

I say go for it. You WILL be pleased.

Sent you an e-mail buddy.
f.t.

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South Carolina-God's country

I had my 4" 29-2 refinished the year before last. They did an excellent job. Of course I didn't have to pay for it because they damaged the gun, requiring it to be refinished.

Does the reblueing process require that the barrel be removed from the frame?

HK P7's often have slides that are "plum" they are not looked for... nor are they overlooked....its just the way some of them are.

I would make certain that it has indeed been reblued. If so, my vote would be to have the factory reblue this classic. And....we want pictures! Nice, sharp, closeups!

Hey Gents,
I`ve heard through some friends that the master bluer at Smith retired . I guess that they will be sending it out . That what I heard .
I `ve seen some work done by Fords in Fla and they looked perfect !! Its kind of a long wait . But I think worth it .

Ralph

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ralph,
i spoke with jim rae (head of the performance center/gunsmith) at the shot show 08, and he said that the master polisher that recently retired is still polishing for smith & wesson on a limited basis....he just couldn't stay retired i guess!

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S&WCA #2112

Hey mwc,
Great info .
Thanks ,
Ralph

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Live Well , Laugh Often

Thanks guys. I am well aware of the plum color thing with Rugers. I just sold a first year 4 3/4" .357 flattop with the whole frame being rose colored. It was a type 1 (Ross variation), very rare.My 7.5" .44 flattop also has a lot of the plum color on the frame.

I had heard that bluing can plum out over time. I do not know if this is true. I may just leave it alone.

T

T...Early Ruger FTs and Single Sixes and some models of Colt have plum colored frames or parts (most Rugers have plum loading gates), but I have never seen a plum frame or part on a S&W that was blued using the carbona blue process (that was used on your 44 Magnum). There may be a few around, but they are few and far between.

Bill

My 1962 M40 has a very slightly plumish barrel.

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