My 40L is starting to show early (1,800 rounds) signs of wear on the top of the barrel which appears to be normal (see pic below). I was thinking about polishing it with a Dremel and Fitz to remove the black finish and hopefully under it will be a stainless steel color. I like the look of a chrome barrel showing in the slide opening.

Anyone ever do this and if so what were your results?

Attached Images

Barrel Pic.jpg (52.6 KB, 100 views)

Yes, people have done this. Yes, you can polish it up to shine like a new penny.

Personally, I see it as quality character. You can't get your gun to look like it does now without use. It is a badge of honor. Wear it proudly.

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Freedom isn't free.

It is a stainless steel barrel and slide under the S&W proprietary finish so...you can do it but I agree with Rastoff.

The "Dremel and Fitz" is a lot of work to do on these barrels. Been there, done it.

I have done this to about every one of my semi-auto with excellent results.

Like you, I find their appearance after the polish much more pleasing than the worn finished look.

I start with the rough 3M pad and work my way down throughout the grits until it is ready for the final Dremel polish. All in all, about a 20 minute job.

I've done that very thing to my Shield & my 40c. With the proper Dremel attachments it doesn't take that long. I did it the lazy man's way:all I polished was the barrel hood & the tip of the barrel, just the parts you see when the barrel is in the slide, & it looks fine.

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Lounge Lizard Extraordinaire

Any pictures of what it looks like afterwards?

I like to keep my guns as new looking as I can for as long as I can so every bump or scratch in the finish really get me upset at the time. I deal with it however I can to fix it like factory if I can.. That said i picked up a few used guns with maybe from 40% to 75% of the finish left thinking I could learn to re finish them somehow. But after I had them and used them I love the well used look about them too!! Go figure!! In any case you can remove the finish and buff just the hood if you like that look.. I Do but have not done it yet, just can't bring myself too.. You can also get some cold blueing in a felt tip pen in the right shade to touch that up. Go to your local gun shop or Smith and he will advise you the best product to use.. Yes you'll have to do it every so often.. Go with whatever floats your boat!! let us see what you do and how it turns out! best of luck! George

Also what i see in your picture is nothing at all and I'm fussy, My LC9's and LCP's are all like that and heck they were like that with just handling the guns and working them in by hand before fireing them..

Sure. Here you go.





The lighting isn't too good, but hopefully you can see the shine on the barrel.

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Lounge Lizard Extraordinaire

Nice, Thanks.