Just saw an ad for a S&W Model 520 (the 7 shot L frame, not the NYSP N frame.) The pictures seemed to make the gun appear gray when I knew it should be a bead blasted blue, with the Titanium cylinder.

I contacted the seller and he confirmed that he had a local gunsmith do a trigger job and smather this rarity revolver in a gray Cerakote. I thanked him for his time and told him he had a good shooter and that somebody would probably be interested in picking it up.

How many otherwise collectible Smiths suffer this same fate? As a shooter of collectible S&W revolvers more than a collector of these fine firearms I guess I shouldn't let this bother me like it does.

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I share your pain. I even get the willies when someone polishes a stainless steel S&W revolver, especially a pre-lock, pre-MIM piece. I take nothing from the newer guns from a shooting perspective but the older ones are no longer made and the number of them in original condition that can be purchased dwindles as time passes so their future collector status remains uncertain but is likely to improve.

Look at cars from that same perspective. Those of us who were able to enjoy the pre-emissions muscle cars of the 1960s did not hesitate to modify them in all sorts of ways but today, which ones bring the big bucks? The ones that weren't altered. The day may come when the older unaltered S&W revolvers we currently almost take for granted experience a serious rise in value and the owners of those guns who altered them will regret doing so.

Just my opinion, of course...

Ed