[Edited 5-10-14: In looking over RM threads, I rediscovered this thread and thoroughly enjoyed re-reading the posts from some of the Forum's most expert members. I also was hoping that by running this up the flagpole again, we might find out if Terry has done anything with the gun yet (it has been almost 7 years...). Terry - Are you out there??? - We would love to know if you have done anything with this interesting gun???]There has recently been an interesting and ongoing discussion on another Gun Collector's forum that centered around this revolver. TJ did not post pics on that forum, but I agreed to post them here, and pose the question as to what he should do - Refinish/Restore or Clean and Leave AS IS? The history of the gun includes some time in the hands of a local law enforcement officer. Love to see your thoughts.



p.s. When I get some more photos I'll post them here...

Photos Added 11/29/07:

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Richard
Engraved S&W fan

does TJ want to keep it and shoot it, keep it and not shoot it, or sell it for a profit? as stated here before, the Kansas City guns were about all refinished and that has not hurt the price of them much and the cost of a great restoration will not be cheap.

I know this generated a lot of discussion on the S&WCA forum and that TJ is thoughtfully considering all options. I graciously offer to solve the problem by letting him ship it to me.

My suggestion is to clean it well, polish it with Flitz then re-evaluate.

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Kevin Williams SWCA1649 HF208

My view, baldly, is that it looks bloody awful and that TJ oughta save up some bucks and give Dave Chicoine a shout.

(And I also think TJ is a fortunate man to own it and have the choice! )

I think that this Registered has "earned it's stipes" and it's history is written all over it.

If it were me, I'd pay homage and respect to it.

A refinish would make it just another reblued gun.

I was once faced with the same dilema with a 4" registered. Micheal Stern passed it on to me when he couldn't make up his mind either. Ultimately we determined it is an FBI Gun and we were both glad we left it alone.

If it were mine this Registered would be lightly cleaned, oiled, researched and treasured for it's unique history that cost it it's finish.

Drew Sr.

If the present condition was the result of it's LE history and that in itself means something in terms of $$, then I guess the best thing to do is leave it alone. I'm going to guess that the unique history of it's present condition is the result of neglect and/or abuse by someone that either forgot about the thing under a wet blanket somewhere, or perhaps it sat unattended after it's last use and handling in a corrosive setting and the results are obvious. Aside from the first senario with supporting documentation etc to show why it looks the way it does and still demand big money, it's a gun that most folks would want to buy for a bargain price for obvious reasons. An excellent restoration would be my pick then. No it won't be cheap. Anything else shouldn't be considered IMHO. No slick-em-up blue jobs. Alot depends on what you have in it, and as 'azmick' says what do you expect to get out of it or want to do with it.
BTW, are the chambers and bore in nice condition? Poor condition there like the outside might make restoration less of a choice.

As Dad says, leave the damn thing alone! I'm guesssing the gun won't be a daily shooter/carry gun. If the gun gets refinished, in 10 years you'll be regretting you did it as you watch all-original regmags climb even higher. The gun has seen hard use and paid its dues. Would you refinish a hard-worn Colt SAA? I think not.

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"Nothing is more terrifying than ignorance in action" -Goethe

as musch as i like and prefer originallity i have to say in this case.... please dont let it spend the rest of its life looking like Karl Mauldens face.....

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Bene Qui Latuit, Bene Vixit !!

Hey! If you Sebago boys have gotcher beer goggles on, it don't count!

I don't pay homage to inanimate objects.

Generally I oppose refinishing except in two circumstances.

1. Gun is so bad something needs to be done.

2. Gun has sentimental value and you want to refinish it even though it means losing money on the deal.

IMO #1 clearly applies here. A good reblue will not reduce the value of that gun as it's so ****** now.

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No life story has happy end.

hah! Beer goggles or no, it still doesn;t deserve to be reblued...

going with my earlier analogy, if the gun was a SAA, people would go NUTS with the suggestion of a refinish, even if it was by Doug Turnbull...the RegMags are far less numerable than SAAs, and prices for originals will only go up. I reblued thousands of guns in the 8 years I worked for a gun shop, including a super-rare Winchester 1985 Carbine in .30-40 with ALL THE WOOD, including the upper handguard. The only reason I agreed to do so was on the condition that the owner keep using the gun in the field and the range. Otherwise, the gun deserved to be left in its orginal condition. Same with this RegMag, unless the guy will be using it day in and day out. Leave the gun alone. You'll destroy 75% of the value and 100% of the credibility and dues if you
refinish the gun.

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"Nothing is more terrifying than ignorance in action" -Goethe

Arlo,

No beer tonight... Hornitos Reposado instead... and that fine distillate only effects my judgement when it comes to Mamacitas!

With that kinda fine pitting Dave would have to use flat files followed by stones to blend them... flats would be really flat and radiased surfaces would be smaller.... I'm not sure how good this one could turn out given it's current conditon....

'Cides... wouldn't you want to know the story behind the Blood Spatter? I sure would....

This old War Horse oughta be able to keep it's dignity in my opinion.....

Drew Sr.

Does that include a sheepskin good Doctor?

I've done quite a bit of metal finishing/polishing early on in my welding/fabrication career. This would not be an easy job.

That gun doesn't have "honest wear"...it's been seriously neglected. Without the pitting, I'd re-blue or nickel it in a heartbeat...but the apparent pitting would disqualify it from any kind of quality reblue job, in my opinion...unless the person doing it is literally a miracle worker.

It's a damn shame...but I'd say use it as a paperweight or doorstop.

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'Merica!

Hi:
I had a .22 Combat Masterpiece that had the same "Finish". The revolver had been kept on a boat (salt water). If it was my weapon I would
re-finish.
Jimmy

UNLESS (and this is a big unless) this revolver's pitiful cosmetic condition is the direct result of a significant and historically relevant story I have to side with those who suggest a good re-finish. Fair wear-and-tear is one thing but this apparent abuse is something else.

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Frosty
S&WCA # 2816

My old eyes can't see what's what in the photo so well. Is the metal pitted? If so, then the gun is ruined anyway.

Really, there is no good answer to the question. The gun is junk at this point. That's not honest wear, that abuse and neglect and it's a real shame. I would still refinish it (know it won't look good but will look better than it does now) and shoot it.

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No life story has happy end.

My opinion, which I posted on the SWCA forum:

"Disclaimer- The following is ALL personal opinion, from a subjective
perspective, and meant to offend NO one in any way. In the spirit of
living in freedom, do what you wish.
To begin, let's define a term: "Restoration". It does not exist for
purposes of this discussion! No gun can be "Restored". It can be very
skillfully REFINISHED, but it can NOT be restored. "Restoration"
would require the impossible- replacing the ORIGINAL finish with the
ORIGINAL finish. "Refinishes" vary greatly in quality, and those that
approach the original factory appearance have come to be
called "Restorations", but they are merely high-quality refineshes.

Collecting is subjective. One collects things one likes for various
reasons. I like S&W Hand Ejectors. I like them like S&W made them. I
do not like them like other people refinish them. I do not like them
like S&W refinished them, even though I have to pull the grips to
tell, sometimes.
In short, I only like original guns. I have not, do not, and will not
put a gun in what I consider "my pile" that has been refinished by
anybody. Will I deal in them? Yes, occasionally. I try to avoid them,
but oftentimes, it is "buy all, or none". Sometimes, like with a Reg
Mag, there are a few bucks to made on a refinished gun alone. (is
that honest enough?)
This means I own, and have owned, MANY guns that are not pristine,
even some real doggies. If a gun's appearance bugs me too much, I
sell it, and hunt a better one.
I have marvelled in recent years at the evolution of collector's
standards. 30 years ago, a refinish was the "kiss of death" for a
gun. Now, here we are discussing it, and many are recommending it, at
the highest level of S&W collecting.
As I said, it is subjective. Each gun stands alone, and "It IS what
it IS". I look at a Hand Ejector, and determine if I can stand the
appearance. If it is a variation I desire to own, it is "keepable".
If it is too ugly for me, I move it along.
A few years back, I stumbled across Ed McGivern's Reg Mag. The gun
shipped to Ed as a 5", and Ed(we think) had cut it to 3.5". I could
live with that- he did it in the course of making it as he wanted it.
It wore most of the original finish. Unfortunately, I could not
AFFORD to keep it, and had to move it along. I had the pleasure of
owning it for a while, handling it, photographing myself with it, and
SHOOTING it. If I could have afforded to do so, I would still own it.
If it had been refinished, I would not have considered keeping it.

Restoration of art was mentioned in this discussion. That is not
exactly the same thing, to me. Were 5200 Mona Lisa's painted?
Using art as an analogy, here is a hypothetical situation:
Let's say a Rembrandt looted from a Dutch home in WW II had been
found. Trouble is, a soldier had cut the canvas from the frame,
rolled it, and stored it in a collasped building that was never
rebuilt or demolished till recently, when the painting was
discovered. A small portion, say 15%, of the paint remained so the
painting could be identified. Since photos exist, it could
be "restored". If I bought it, would I have a Rembrandt? No, I don't
think so. I would have a copy, done on the original canvas. A full-
sized photo would be closer to the Rembrandt to me.

Getting back to S&W's, my vote is leave that Reg Mag alone. It cannot
be put back to what it once was. I would decide to live with it As
Is, or move it along and get a better one. The pic makes me wonder if
it is a suicide gun. I have seen a few, and they are sometimes
spattered with blood in a similar pattern. If YOU prefer, Terry, have
it refinished.
If anyone is thoroughly incensed by now, start again at the beginning
of this treatise with the disclaimer. (;>)"

Currently-
Actually, when I look at the pic again, I came to wonder even more about that strange pattern of rust. A suicide gun is usually not spattered so far back. If it was one, I think blood may have been smeared by subsequent handling. What is the other side like. Can we get more pics?

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Regards,
Lee Jarrett

WoW,

I personally would have it refinished. but that is due to my like of nice looking guns. I have a gun that I am faced with the same options. although it is a Ruger and doesnt compare in History with this RM, it is still a very early 357 Flattop serial #144.

I have made the decision to have the gun Engraved to help hide its detractions(pitting). It will never be valued the same as a Pristine LNIB gun but I will enjoy it in my safe much more than if it stayed in its present Condition.

I guess it boils down to your freinds wants, It will never acheive a value of a mint gun but it cant hurt its Value to get a facelift either.

Here are some pictures of my Ruger

Dan

That's a sad Ruger. Too bad.

I spoke with an engraver about working a pitted gun and he said no can do.

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No life story has happy end.

I generaly am not into refinishing. How deep are those pits on both guns? If I thought a good refinish could be done I would refinnish both in a heartbeat.

As much as I am against refinishing collectable guns, this one needs help. It is ugly enough the owner will never take it our and use it, so may as well refinish, UNLESS there is some historical connection.

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H Richard
SWCA1967 SWHF244

This is, indeed, an interesting discussion.

One distinction to be made with a restored [sic] RM and the hypothetical painting reproduced on original canvas, is that in the painting's case the original canvas itself is of little worth and the application of paint by the artists is the sum total of the art. It's original purpose is to be hung on a wall and admired.

This is not the case with a revolver, and most especially not the case with an RM, given the meticulous handfitting by the best craftsmen, etc. It's original purpose... well, you get the idea.

I'd also stress the point that not all refinishes are the same. Most, I would agree, are mere refinishes, of varying quality, but some I believe worthy of being termed "restoration." It should of course be acknowledged that there is a great distinction between original and restored, with restored, in my view, being the results of an accomplished artisan doing his best to return an object to the condition that it was when it was first produced.

I like factory refinished guns with the star in the butt. To me these represent good deals. And while I would not pay the same amount for a gun restored by a master that I would for a high condition original, I'd pay for the restoration talent.

I'm very much in agreement with all of those comments of "your gun so do what you want!"

It is not in good shape externally, is it? As an engineer, I'm always looking at hidden quality. What shape is the bore in? How about the action?

I like stealth myself. I'd like a pistol with that history that looked like that, but had the accuracy and sweet trigger that Registered Magnums are supposed to have.

One of my favorite vehicles was my old '78 Country Squire with the passenger side doors bashed in. Everything still worked just fine, the doors opened and closed and sealed, the power windows went up and down. And as an added bonus, those people who stick their noses out at intersections pulled them back when that old boat appeared over the horizon.

It would be a total hoot to take that little beauty to the range and fire some 158 grain 1475 fps Buffalo Bores out of it.

Better yet, find some competition where it is appropriate.

Fix the insides, just stabilize the outside. That's my contrarian advice.

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Regulate Banks, not guns

>
That Ruger is more than salvagable. Alot of engravers will pass at 'saving' a gun like that because they don't do their own prep work,,polishing. Knowing what and how to polish in preperation for your own engraving and what the engraving is going to have to do in a case like this can save one such as this Ruger. Not a knock against those that don't do their own prep work, just a fact. It takes alot of extra time, skill and patience not only to polish correctly but to learn how to in the first place. That's time most engravers would rather spend cutting.
Furthermore the R/M at the beginning of this thread is a perfect candidate for an engraving project. A careful polishing and engraving job could leave the gun with no signs of it's present condition IMHO. I've worked with alot worse.

Oh ho! Now there is a terrific idea!

What, you mean S&W didn't ship this gun in Ocean Camo pattern?

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My sgntr is mor thn 30 chrctrs

Here's one more opinion...
And this opinion is coming from someone who has never had such a nice gun and does not collect "keepers" as a practice.

My dad used to collect old Winchester lever guns. Mom gave him a '73 in .22 rimfire....an unusual caliber...BUT...it had been re-blued and the wood had been re-finished.

To my mother, it was a "beautiful" gun. Dad never warmed to the gun. I have to admit, I didn't either. Like my father, I prefer guns that hold their original finish (or a % of the original finish).

The only guns I've had re-blued were:

1. Cheap and non-collectible. (like an old 38 HE that was good mechanically but had already been re-blued at least once when I came upon it)

2. Sentimental. My wife gave me a nickel plated M28-2 that began to flake. I chose to re-blue this gun because it was my wedding gift and I like to show people the gun. (note, this gun is also a non-collectible piece).

Just my .02

Bob

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"Onward thru the Fog"

There is an interesting theme, or consensus, that I see developing in this
thread, and that is that, quite apart from earlier beliefs about the pro's
and con's of refinishing, there is a belief that the ususal rules do not
apply, in this particular case. A lot of the respondee's feel that the
damage to this gun is not historical wear and tear, but something different,
like abnormal abuse. Furthermore, I would say that theere is a consensus
that something needs to be done, with this gun.

Of course, there are several die-hard responses, who can probably best
be sumarized by " Damn the torpedoes, full speed ahead with doing nothing."
Personally I think they have closed their eyes to this situation - particularly
the comments about - "If it doesn't plese you - sell it and move on" .
I would bet money that if that happens, the next owner will get the gun to
a refinisher as quickly as possible - and not ask the opinion of any of us.

The gun is an important gun, and should be preserved. If it were restored,
and that word is not obsolete, it would be a very desireable gun for a
lot of the respondee's here. Those who do not prefer restored guns would
avoid it, but again I would bet money that a lot more would be very interested
in it.

I'm not a fan of restored guns, and I own a couple, but as long as they are
appropriately marked and identified, I don't go into a tizzy over them. Its like
Ray Brazille says: You don't have to be a horse-person, but there is a butt for
every saddle.

Later, Mike Priwer

I did forget to mention that Mike is right about one point- SOMETHING needs to be done about the rust. Since there is no plastic front sight, it can be soaked in various things. I would pull the grips, put it in a sealable container (maybe metal), and soak it in either Hoppe's #9 or CorrosionX for a week or two. It might take bronze wool and copper brushes to remove it all. Once cleaned, slop RIG all over it, and wipe it down. What rust might remain can't continue without oxygen.
You can ALWAYS refinish it at any time, but you can't UNDO it, so take your time on deciding. You'll be spending money, time, and attention to get nowhere.
IF that rust is from blood from a suicide or a contact shooting, is THAT considered part of the history? Do you know how the rust occured? Can we see the other side?

__________________
Regards,
Lee Jarrett

I think that Lee may have a good thought that the gun was either a suicide gun or a contact shooting gun that was discarded. If either of those were the case, it was apparently left untouched and exposed to the elements for a long time.

The only way that I could leave it in the present condition (after arresting the rust) would be if the traumatic history could be documented and then I would seal it up in a shadow box with the supporting information.

As it stands now, it MAKES MY TEETH ITCH!!

Of course, there is an old saying that "all cats look alike in the dark"...so perhaps if the electricity went off...

Bob

Bob,
Never heard that one.
I have heard "they all get prettier at closing time"...

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Regards,
Lee Jarrett

I wonder about the mechanical condition of the gun, especially the bore?

My first preference would be to have the gun restored - as opposed to just reblued - by somebody who really knew what they were doing. That is assuming that the pitting isn't so deep that restoration is impossible.

Perhaps I should add a little to my comment here. What I meant to imply was that if the gun could be tied to a significant event (and certainly a suicide or murder would be significant, at least to the victim), I would leave the gun as is. At that point, the event would become the center of focus amd the gun would become a piece of supportive documentation.

Bob

I do not like refinished guns.
I do not like them, every one.

I do not like them in a box.
(No more than I like internal locks).
I do not like them fixed & cured
With history on them quite obscured.

I do not like them brightly renickeled
Even if the finish looked quite pickeled.
I do not like the nice reblues.
I do not mind those buggered screws.

I do not like them all restored
The history’s gone & I get bored.
I do not like them polished and buffed
Of “restoration” I’ve had enuff!

Dr. Soups.

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Jim Supica

Jim, that was a great one!

Do you have that little diddy copyrighted??

Hope you don't mind if I use it some time.

__________________
Linda
SWCA #1965, SWHF #245

Good one! Jim Seusspica

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To be a rock and not to roll

Wow Dr. Soups, that is a reply with style. Jim did you ever consider that you might make some "REAL" money writing kids books instead scholarly tombs about guns? Your style might really catch on.
Mark

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Mark Connot

I would send it in to be restored to someone like RGS Restorations that can not only polish it properly, but keep the roll marks sharp, the edges and rounds without sacrificing the original dimensions, plus they can do the proper "carbonia blue" and re-case color the hammer and trigger. It will cost more than a repolish and rebluing, but the result is far more credible.

Not to stir the hornet's nest, but how about restoring the gun to proper mechanical condition and leaving the finish as is?

Where is the line drawn? For those that say do not refinish, are new springs, a replacement hand, and a replacement, but vintage, sideplate screw combined with some gunsmithing a "refinish?"

I would make it mechanically safe to shoot, if possible and use a good preservative grease on the inside and outside.

Mark

Here is the problem with gun collecting, it lies somewhere between coin collecting and car collecting, where one is leave as is at all costs and the other is restore to make like new in most cases. Guns that look like a train wreck need some level of restoration, I guess it depends on who you ask and to what degree.

Hmmmmmmmm,

I guess I need to look at this from my Antique Gun collecting experience. I know in the antique arena Refinished Guns are looked down upon, Go to any of the auction site and just the mention of refinish devalues the Gun Considerably.

After Dr Soups little diddy, I had to think about this.

We are todays keepers of yesterdays History and what we do today could actully Harm the value for tomorrows keepers.

Kind of like Global Warming????? What we do today could vastly affect the outcome of tomorrow..... Ok a little melodramatic but it got me thinking anyways

Dan M

This discussion, and the similar one on the SWCA Forum, has been most interesting. It's pretty evident that our opinions exist on a continuum ranging from "not just NO, but HELL NO" all the way to "Oh, its got a scratch. I've got to get that fixed". Like most things obsessive compulsive, the majority of us probably fit somewhere in the middle of the bell curve and would make our decision based on the specific conditions at hand.

I'm not at all surprised, in fact, I'm pleased to see Jim and Lee express themselves as being firmly in the NO! category. Both of those gentlemen enjoy sterling reputations with their clients; such that when they describe something, you can take it to the bank that it is as they say. Where most of us who only collect these guns might lose some money and take a blow to our ego if we misidentify something, those guys stand to lose something much more valuable, their reputation. Their firmness in this point is perhaps the best protection that we, as collectors, have that a restoration won't some day show up as an original.

As wide ranging as this discussion on restoration has been, there is another aspect that I don't think has been touched upon. I don't mean to imply that the point that I am going to raise is applicable in the case of this specific Registered Magnum, but rather, I am speaking in generalities.

Roy Jinks has said that, during the golden age of gunmaking (for the sake of argument, let's call that the time between the two World Wars) the factory could restore a gun so that it was impossible to distinguish it from the original finish. I don't doubt that at all , but it is an unfortunate fact of modern life that the Factory artisans who could do that have long since passed away. Today, there are probably no more than a handful of men/women who possess the skills to work metal and wood such that it is the equal or perhaps even exceeds the quality of the golden era. Today, the products of these few people are becoming collectable in their own right. As these folks age, and inevitably reduce or cease their output, the collectability of their work will increase dramatically. That should not be the deciding factor in any contemplated restoration, but realistically, it probably should be included in the equation.

Bob

Unless it's got provenance, restore the damned thing and be done with it. You will sleep better. First, the problem is solved. Second, you have a nice gun that is better on the eyes! Just remember to take before and after photos and explain to the prospective buyer that you did it to enhance it.
Cheers

it is what it is. leave it alone, take care of it, and shoot it often.

i would love to have a rm in that condition and the thought of refinishing it would never occur to me.

if your wife had a 6 kids and went through 30 years of marriage with you, would you have her go for cosmetic surgery? does it really matter? you love them for who and what they are, not what they look like.

I always said that a gun can only be original once.
To me a gun that has wear on it from use tells a story about the gun. An LE gun can get alot of wear in 25 years or more. However, this is not from wear. This is damage to the gun from improper storage and care and it looks bad. The story it tells is that some previous owner neglected it badly or lost it. I'd bet my left nut (it's ok, they don't work that good any more) that it spent some time out in the elements.
I'd only consider an expert refinish it. refinish by an expert.

Assuming it letters as a 4" RM and the stocks match, I'd leave it alone. Just shoot the snot out of an original RM.

If it doesn't, I'd think about an expert refinish. Assuming an expert could do anything with it.

I'd send it to Ham Bowen and have him make a .45 Colt out of it.

(Snark, snark...)

Bottom line, in my opinion, is that as is butt ugly. No way 'round that.

Fix it.

Dave Chicoine, as suggested earlier, or 45 Colt with Bowen ain't a bad idea neither. Or engrave -- I think that a super idea, you find that right guy. Just don't turn some guy loose on it with an electro device...

(Wives are more complicated than guns, but IF my missus looked like that -- and she don't -- I'd be thinking some on an upgrade fo sho. )

A few more thoughts:
First, thanks to Bob for the compliments. If you've never met Bob, you should try. He, and his lovely wife, define "class".
I agree with Bob- Not only are the people gone, but the MULTITUDE of FITTED polishing wheels and belts are gone, along with the carbona OVENS. The article I posted some time back: "Raw Steel to Smith & Wesson", shows that myriad of wheels and belts, and the ovens, if anyone cares to see if it can be pulled up. Of course S&W had to fix a gun now and then before shipping- in the course of producing a million items, one is bound to have a polishing or degreasing error, or simply get dinged or dropped. Doesn't matter- if a gun is polished and blued more than once BEFORE shipping, that is an ORIGINAL gun. If a gun was dinged at the factory, and they fixed it, and NO one can tell it, the point is moot. I have yet to see the "restorstion" that looks like a factory gun to me. IF someone is doing carbona blue, they must have an OVEN, not a tank.

How about this solution- TJ wants to keep the gun because it shipped to a sheriff near him. As I said earlier, I try to love them as they are, and move them along if I can't quite accept the condition. I AGREE- that gun looks like Hell. I would NOT want it to be my only magnum. I don't know if TJ has other mags or not, but, if not, I would suggest acquiring a better one BEFORE doing anything to that one. All too often, I have seen a collector put time, money, and effort into a "restoration", only to have the thrill become very faded a year down the road when he acquires nicer, original guns. He is then upside-down in a gun with a limited market, and takes a hit. TJ's membership number suggests he might have some evolutionary steps to go through. The next guy might have preferred the gun had been left alone.
We still don't know the full story of this gun, and might not for some years, or never. What if the good sheriff put his, or someone else's brains all over that gun? Is that not part of the story that should be left on it?
I grow weary of this school of thought that says "I MUST own every model and variation in PRISTINE condition". I would suggest those people might be happier collecting the wonderful commemoratives put out by S&W, Colt, and Winchester. The lovely S&W's and Colts usually come in pretty wooden cases made for display, and the Winchester Commem sleeves are pure ART. (I know- INCOMING!!!)
To qualify this last paragraph, there is nothing WRONG in COLLECTING nice guns if one can find them and afford them. I just don't think we, as collectors, should PRODUCE them. Most of us will have to live with less-than-new-in-the-box guns for pure economic reasons. Even common guns can be rare-to-FIND in NIB condition. THAT is the thrill of the chase. Perhaps we should just clean out all the pawnshops, and seek a quantity or "batch" discount at Ford's, and build a complete collection in record time! (I FEEL my popularity growing ) Take it all the way, and cut a doggy 6-1/2 Reg Mag to the rarer, shorter lengths, and acquire them ALL.(I bet the crosshairs are on me ) While you are waiting on the next batch to come back from the restorer, I'll be quietly plodding along, trying to offer those 80-97% guns some sanctuary.
If anyone is still UNoffended, please post, and be SPECIFIC on how I might offend you also.

Replacing a defective internal part is only logical. If I had a barrel bulged at the end, I would cut it. TJ says his gun is mechanically sound. The sideplate screw- on this gun, I wouldn't bother.

Jim-
I LOVE the rhyme, and will print it out. Maybe you should put it in the FAQ's to preserve it for posterity- it might be the only original thing to be seen here in 10 years.

One last thought(I hear the cheering)- the restorers are MORALLY obligated to mark their work under the grips. I get tired of breaking the bad news to the new guys at shows when they ask me about their guns.

__________________
Regards,
Lee Jarrett