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Shoot it, regardless. As for the refinish, I would probably do it - a well used 27-2 is hardly a 4" TripleLock. As for nickel, that's your call.

Clean those grips up and sell them for $75. Slap on a set of rubbers and you got a dandy $300 blaster. Joe

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Wisdom chases me; I'm faster

I'm usually one of the guys going on and on about not refinishing a S&W revolver but in this case for what you paid for it might be worth it to have S&W refinish it. It will never be original again but they are wonderful revolvers and in this case I might even consider doing it. To me they are such wonderful looking revolver I could never put rubber grips on it.

If it was mine I'd keep it like it is and revel in the fact I bought an N frame for less than 400 bucks and be glad I don't have to pet it and worry over something dinging it up somewhere down the line.

If you really want a 4in nickel 27, save up and buy one, an original one.

If you refinish it you'll likely not get your full investment back out of it if you sell, but I'm one that thinks if it makes you happy you should go for it. But only on the condition that refinished, you shoot the heck out of it. If restoring it at the factory means making it a safe queen, I wouldn't do it. I'd keep it as is, clean it up and put some Van's on it and shoot the thing - a lot.

Shoot it. Shoot the snot out of it, and don't worry about refinishing it.

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Vaya con Dios

I vote this also.

I saw this one and thought it was a great deal, even with blemishes. I was tempted, but after I ended up with a nickel Model 19, with a few blemishes, under $300 earlier in the day, I had to pass.

Congratulations and enjoy it! You may be surprised how well it will clean up.

Just clean it up and shoot it. Does not look that bad, and its a seldom seen 4 inch. You reblue it and you will want to leave it in the safe.

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Richard Gillespie
FBINA 102

Greetings-

I concur with the "leave it as it is" sentiment. Refinishing probably won't increase the value of the gun, the improved appearance notwithstanding. Also, a new finish may disincline you to use the revolver, which would be a shame.

Respectfully,

Mike Q.

I'd send it to smith and wesson for a nickle finish. I love nickle n frames!

I agree with those that suggest you do the best you can to clean it up, and use it as a shooter you do not have to fuss over. Use the $300 you would shell out for refinishing toward a fondling piece of your dreams.

i would leave it like it is....aside from the wear on the sideplate it doesnt look too bad....as far as what pharmer said....if you dont like the wood grips you could easily get $75 out of them...enjoy the new gun

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Kris
OGCA, NRA LM

Any refinish is a cr ap shoot - you may be very happy with the results, or some assistant monkey with a bad hangover may be on the buffing wheet that day.

I would just keep it as is and enjoy shooting it. Maybe a touch of cold blue to see if I could mask the blood spots.

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My sgntr is mor thn 30 chrctrs

Me...I would ship it to Birdsong and have that black finish put on it. Then I would carry and shoot the snot out of it. No matter what you do you will never have a valuable collectible-and the birdsong finish rustproofs it and looks way cool. If you do this-PLEASE do it in black and not in green.

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Forum consigliere

Whatever you do, you aquired a very cool shooter at a great price. Enjoy it!

Smith and Wesson will make it new again for a little North of $200, probably a little more for nickel. I know this because I bought a 3.5" for about what you bought yours for, and it was a rusty mess. I asked for opinions and was also told not to refinish, but I was in it so cheap, and I just couldn't live with it the way it was. Came back in about 4 months in FLAWLESS condition. Lettering just as sharp as the day it left the factory. Not a pit anywhere to be seen, and so shiny it looks like black liquid. I was watching that auction, and was sorely tempted to bid, but I'm already 5 deep in short 27's and couldn't justify it even to myself. I'm truly glad it went to a member of the "family"

I can see having it redone but then you would have to get another pair of grips since you can't have lousy aftermarket wheels on a corvette! I think it was a great buy because you got it for less than a Taurus full size 357 magnum, and we all know which one is quality and which is a cheap knockoff.

Shoot it and enjoy it. One nice thing about leaving it alone is that you could carry it and never have to worry about the finish. You probably could sell the gun for more than what you paid as is, IMO.

I also vote to shoot it and enjoy as is. No worry about a scratch or bump. Great gun and I think a great buy.

Looks like a nice revolver, send it back to S&W for a reblue - skip the nickle! Put on a nice pair of Herrett Roper grips and shoot the heck out of it - make it YOURS!

If it were me, I would send it back to Smith for a reblue and tune and then shoot, shoot, shoot it!

Two schools of thought here. One, already expressed, is the myriad opinions on whether Smith or others should refinish back to "original" status. Nothing wrong with that.

But a second school is to hard chrome that puppy. NOT talking about Bubba Shadetree buffing the heck out of the rollmarks, but a master of this such as Ford's, Cogan's, etc. could make it look almost like nickel and you'd have a virtually indestructable finish that imo is more durable (and easier to clean) than stainless.

Just throwing it out there but I've had in mind a project gun like that for several years, a true working/carry gun and you certainly got in at a low enough price to have a great pistol, regardless of what you choose to do.

I'd also suggest/request that you do a before/after pic and then post them here when done so we can mess with you further .

NICE grab though, jealous frankly.

I don't understand the question. What you have now is one of the finest shooting 357 Magnums on the planet, take it out and shoot it. If you have it refinished in nickle it won't do anything to increase it's value and you'll turn it into a Safe Queen you won't shoot.

nice score !!

you know it looks like a mountain gun..well..thats what they were from ..;

whatever you decide, shoot it well and prosper...

Congratulations, nice buy. It is hard to find any n-frame for a reasonable price these days. The refinish is your call, just don't make it so pretty you're afraid to shoot it!