I asked my local "gunsmith only" shop (not a gun store) how much it would cost for a deep cleaning and high polish of my stainless model 65-5. I bought it from a pawn shop and its pretty dirty. I did try to clean it and shine it up but its still pretty rough looking when it comes to the tiny swirly scratches and nooks & crannies that I cant reach without taking it apart.


I dont own polishing equipment and have no experience polishing stainless steel. I dont want to use high speed tools on my baby and ruin it!

They quoted me around $200 since it has to be taken completely apart and reassembled. Now this may be old hat to most of you but keep in mind I am a noob and this is my very first revolver. Does that sound like too much for the work involved or is that the norm? Thanks

Absolutely too much. It's about 45 minutes of detailed polishing work on buffing/polishing wheels and does NOT require complete disassembly of the gun.

The easiest way to polish the gun yourself is to get some Mothers Mag polish. It's sold in automotive supply stores for polishing aluminum-magnesium car wheels. An old tee shirt, a few dabs of the polish, and just start to rub the entire gun down, a small area at a time. It will come out looking like bright nickel plate.

I don't think polishing is the right way to go.

If you think you see a lot of little scratches and such now, you will see many times more after the polish job. And it will make you crazy.

I suggest getting some fine Scotchbrite pads and have a go at it with them. This will produce a matted type of finish and you will be able to touch it up anytime.

Bob

Done properly, it should be totally disassembled. The polishing media will get into every crevasse in the gun, and could get into the lock-work and cause a lot of damage if not totally cleaned out. If you are just going to rub Mothers Mag Polish by hand, it would not require disassembly, but be very careful.

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H Richard
SWCA1967 SWHF244

I agree, I'd skip the high polish and just clean it up really well. If you have him do it, maybe pay him a bit more to show you how to take one apart and put it back together. (or however you wish to learn the process)
I doubt that this is your last revolver or gun for that matter that will need cleaning. It's nice to know how to do it yourself. I tear mine all apart when I get them for a cleaning/lubrication.

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Lynnie, Professional Pest

Thanks guys, I think I will do a little learning and try to field strip it myself. So if I start taking screws out, do I need to thread lock them when I put them back?

Also a noob question but how do I take off the hogue grips? There is no screw? (see above pic)

How to remove Hogue Bantam Grips.

http://www.getgrip.com/PDF%20f...s/Bantam%20Grips.pdf

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No. Not me. I'm in my prime.

$200 to have a professional do the job does not sound too high to me. You are not really paying for the dis-assembly, you will however pay for the correct re-assembly with all the right parts in the right place. The $200 may be a cheap price to pay if you take it apart, bung it up and have to see the 'smith with a bag of parts.

"a bag of parts" LOL yeah thats very true.

Thanks Doug for the link. Very much appreciated. I knew it had to be that simple I just didnt want to bung it up trying to figure it out.

That price ($200) is not bad for a complete disassembly, cleaning and true high polish. Last time I heard, Smith & Wesson was charging around $400 for a high polish.

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Centennial Every Day

I found a can of never dull in the garage. It seemed to do a decent job but I want to try the automotive stuff to get it really shiny! It cleaned up the baked on carbon around the coning area and the cylinder

I just picked-up a L/E Consignment S&W 686
and touched-up the holster wear marks and
scuffs with 'Wenol-metal polish' from my
local hardware store.

After 45 minutes my 686 looks pretty good.
Then I added some oil.

586L-Frame

Before pics.
[IMG:left] [/IMG]

[IMG:left] [/IMG]

After pics.
[IMG:left] [/IMG]

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