Hey guys (and gals), I've been thinking about buying a 29-5 lately and was wondering how the blue job done on this era carbon steel guns holds up over time. I know that it is post Carbonia Blue jobs, so I was wondering if the finish used on those 1990's era guns is more durable than the finish used on the newly manufactured guns.

I only have 1 carbon steel blue finish gun from that era (a 27-5) and it seems that the blue job on it is holding up pretty well, but have noticed a little blue loss on the sides of the barrel end and it has had very little holster travel. But a sample of 1 gun doesn't exactly give me a real feel for how durable the blue finish is.

I'm also looking at getting another 27 too, but there are a few 29-5 guns I'm lusting for too.

Hey Mudd, not a dash 5, but the finish on my dash 6 is showing no signs of wear or fading. I've only used Ballistol to clean it. No telling what the previous owner used but it still has a nice shine.

__________________
Don't You Ever Wash That Thing

After Carbona,that hot blue the factory referred to as Black Magic or midnight blue ,holds up very well.Any solvent can also be used on it.

Thanks for responding guys! I'm mulling over bidding on a couple of 29-5 guns on GB and watching them to see what they are going to go for, for now at least. Unfortunately for me, the gun shops around my house and the gun shows don't have much choice in quality used S&W revolvers. So I know that I probably won't get a deal on them and was wondering how well the finish of that time period holds up.

Laketime, that Black Magic finish does look really good on both guns too and I was concerned about how it holds up to cleaning with stuff like Hoppes #9 and also resistance to being blasted away at the barrel/cylinder gap from full bore 44 Mag ammo.

I think I like the 29-5 (or 29-6) best of the model 29's because they have the full Endurance package but still have the forged internals and old style rifling in them.

Don't worry about any finish coming off of those from shooting,not going to happen.I use to shoot my 44's with those finish weekly with out an issue.I use to be hung up on the mirror finish of the Carbona finished versions,but they always had been a fingerprint nightmare.This finish not being as mirrored,seems not to show the finger prints near as much and still look good.