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S&W Revolvers: 1961 to 1980 3-Screw PINNED Barrel SWING-OUT Cylinder Hand Ejectors WITH Model Numbers


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Old 06-16-2010, 09:17 PM
jnat306bg jnat306bg is offline
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Default Refinishing stocks? Good idea or bad?

Is it a problem from a value stand point to refinish stocks? I have a set of magnas on a 19-3 2 1/2" with the blue finish in good shape but the finish on the stocks looks bad. They are not discolored or dinged but just need some TLC. Does anyone know what finish was applied to the stocks at the factory?
Thanks for any info you can give.
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Old 06-17-2010, 01:13 PM
large_orange_drink large_orange_drink is offline
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Ah hell, I'll go ahead and jump in. Many on this forum will tell you ALL S&W handguns are collectible and ANYTHING that you do to alter the original finish and patina, no matter how nasty the handgun looks, will drastically reduce it's collector value.

It's a good thing I'm not a collector. If you think your Model 19 may have collectors value for any reason, leave it alone, or search out one of the many S&W experts on this forum to get their opinion before doing any alterations.

My personal opinion is your 19-3 would gain a positive benefit from a proper grip refinish. To me, a stock refinish is in a completely different category than metal refinishing. Please do a search on stock refinishing on this forum, there are many good write ups on this (MAG-NUM's write up is very good).
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Old 06-17-2010, 01:19 PM
Crabtree Crabtree is offline
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Quote:
Originally Posted by large_orange_drink View Post
To me, a stock refinish is in a completely different category than metal refinishing.
I'm inclined to agree and I would really like to hear more input on this very topic.
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Old 06-17-2010, 01:55 PM
rburg rburg is offline
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A good refinish on a set of grips probably increases their value to the shooting crowd. A really good refinish is almost indistinguishable from original. The problem is most folks can't do a very good job.

And the OP here hit upon part of the problem. The original finish isn't real glossy, and AFAIK wasn't ever polyurethane. There are wood refinishers that in an objective sense, do a nice job of putting a finish on some wood. Its not anything like the original. A person who isn't familiar with S&W grips could look at it and admire the job. A S&W nut will view it and puke.

From the collectors standpoint, we always prefer original grips in perfect condition. We can't always get what we want. But the next step down is a pretty darn good chunk of wood that at the very least wasn't harmed by some rube with a bucket of Poly.

So if you want to refinish your grips, first take the time to see what they should look like. Or maybe we should stop calling it "refinish" and just say anyone who wants to break new ground in their "finishing" shouldn't try to deceive anyone into thinking its an improvement. But when you take the step to deviate from anything close to what the factory did, you've decreased the value to most of us.
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Old 06-17-2010, 02:47 PM
dkees dkees is offline
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Right on Rburg!! Years ago I thought grips, stocks, etc. had to be shiny so I bought Tru-Oil by the gallon and smeared it all over everything including the checkering. I still have many of the guns with the grips I did and have been refinishing them. What do I use????

4X steel wool, mineral oil, and hours of rubbing with a soft cloth.

A beautiful, soft finish that shows the grain and compliments the finish of the gun (blue or nickel.)
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Old 06-17-2010, 03:15 PM
large_orange_drink large_orange_drink is offline
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Does anyone know what the original finish was?
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Old 06-17-2010, 03:36 PM
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Quote:
Originally Posted by rburg View Post
wasn't harmed by some rube with a bucket of Poly.
I don't know why, but this description made me laugh out loud. I guess it was the mental picture I imagined.
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