Could someone post a Pic of a 686 that has been sent back to the factory for refinishing and how close to the original finish did they get. I have never seen a factory refinished Stainless S&W. The refinished pistols I have seen have been done by local refinishes.

Sorry, not 686s, but I have a couple SS revolvers factory refinished:

and

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-jwk-
US Army '72-'95

Neither of the bove guns look very much like the original brushed SS finish. They look like they were media blasted to me.

Bruce

Pretty sure that you couldn't tell a factory refinished stainless gun from a new one.


But I wouldn't buy one that I couldn't hand finish with metal polish.

I think both originally had that dull frosted look. The LS definitely would.

2000 grit sandpaper with a little CLP, followed by a single pass with Mother's Mag and Aluminum polish will bring back the factory finish on a gun with light scratches or a couple of small dings

for slightly deeper scratches/light gouges, add an additional step of 400 grit sandpaper too.

***I know that you want a "factory" refinish, but why spend the money on a stainless gun when you can do it yourself?***

The below 629 was pretty rough when I got it (had yoke and cylinder endshake, plus quite a few light handling marks). After about 5-6 hours including a trigger job, plus some grips that I had sitting aside for her, she looks as good as she did when she rolled off the assembly line 38 years ago.

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Taroman, S&W redid the Lady Smith ? I have a 65-5 that the previous owner had the LS logo blasted off, I assume that the factory can restore that?

Yes, they can laser it back as original.
Just need to specify that on your work order.

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-jwk-
US Army '72-'95

That was the factory finish on both of these.

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-jwk-
US Army '72-'95

For the truly nitpicky, the factory will re-etch the Lady Smith logo but it is smaller than original for a K frame. My guess it is now sized for the J frame.

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Alan
SWCA LM 2023, SWHF 220

Thanks to all respondents. You all have some beautiful guns.I will probably work on the scratches myself, however, my top strap has some scratches on the Matt grooves and ramp that would need to be bead blasted. Is the factory shop good at that?

I bought the 686 with the K Frame side plate,
Then found out that a side plate was a factory only part-
Sent the 686 to Springfield.
They put on the correct sideplate and then charged me for a 'factory refinish.'
Didn't look that different to me.

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NRA LIFE MEMBER

I know that to be true for the LadySmith and will take your word for it on the M64. That said the original finish on most of the M686's and other SS guns of that era was a brushed finish which those two guns definitely do not have. That said, the finish on them is not the original finish on the M686.

Bruce