Sent a revolver to S&W for a re-blue. It had never been refinished since it left the factory. They did it in high polish, when I asked for regular (I didn't like the high polish since I carry this particular revolver). They offered to re-blue it in regular finish but said they'd have to see if it was possible to re-blue it "since you can only re-blue so many times." I have not really heard that before except in cases where guns had been refinished many times. My local gunsmith sort of rolled his eyes when he heard S&W's comments on this. Any thoughts? This is a Mod. 36 from the 1960s btw.

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Aaron Terry

Hmm, might have something to do with preserving the roll marks? Since it was just re-blued, I doubt it has anything that really needs to be buffed out though. Two refinished doesn't seem like an issue at all, maybe they are just playing it safe in telling you that.

How does the high polish finish look? Just a thought, you could probably trade someone straight up for similar gun with regular polish. I bet the gun looks great and it would save it from going through two refinishes.

[QUOTE=Dragon88;136087712Two refinished doesn't seem like an issue at all.

How does the high polish finish look? Just a thought, you could probably trade someone straight up for similar gun with regular polish. I bet the gun looks great and it would save it from going through two refinishes.[/QUOTE]

Since THEY screwed up your order, I am assuming that shipping BOTH WAYS and the cost of re-bluing would be on them. If they can discourage you, the won't minimize their profit on the job. I would take Dragon88's suggestion. Trade it or sell it for whatever you want.........

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'Nam 1968-69.DAV,VFW,NRA Inst.

The steel itself can take the hot bluing process as many times as you want to put it through.
It's 300F+/- salt soln and rinse.

What might limit that would be the amount of metal prep/polishing needed to be done. If it removes markings that cannot be replaced (by the rebluer) they may refuse,,, or removing so much metal to get to a clean, true surface that it effects safety.

Regarding your M36,,if it's freshly redone in high gloss and markings are fine. It's a simple strip the blue,,wire wheel the surface while coated with oil,,then reblue to get the less shiney finish. No edges will be lost, no markings effected.
No polishing wheels touch the parts again,,only a fine wire wheel. If a more matted finish is desired (like a M28), then the surface is bead blasted with glass beads right over the top of the high gloss polish already on it, then reblued.

well if they're gonna "high polish" yessir, you may put a number on the times before something gets "polished out or rounded off..." but if one just chemically strips the finish, little or no polish, you can do it over and over.............as said above, its the 'prep' that does the removal of material from the surface......and YES, even too much "chemical" or strong stuff (acid), can and will 'etch' off material............

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dan
NRA Benefactor,PMA

I would think you can reblue a gun as many times as you want, but the polishing process the gun goes through in preparation for the bluing will deteriorate the lettering on the gun after a while.

Chief38