I have a very beat up trade-in 5906TSW that I want to get refinished to its factory state. I'm looking at the Performance Center's bead blast stainless service and probably their 3rd Gen Action package while it's there too. Has anyone had any luck having their 3rd Gens refinished by S&W lately? Particularly the TSW guns too, as goofy as they are I'd actually like the laser etched TACTICAL billboard restored as well and I'd also be worried about the serial number potentially getting wiped as well.

It would be a crime to remove the serial number, so no reputable shop is going to do that. If S&W no longer does this work you might try Ford’s.

I had a 6906 completed at S&W Performance Center exactly the way you described. Came out looking new. Of course it wasn’t a TSW. But being you are sending it to the mothership, I highly doubt S&W will alter the serial number

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Fear not, S&W is not going to obliterate the serial number.

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My fear would not be losing the S/N - as stated above it would not be legal - BUT my fear would be losing any of the additional TSW logo and markings on slide and receiving a well done but unmarked slide back.

I guess I worded it poorly, my concern would be more that they just wouldn't work on the frame out of concern for wiping the serial, which is why I'm wondering if anyone has been able to get a TSW gun redone.
When were you able to get it done and what was the turnaround time? When I called them just now they were saying it would be over 8 months for charge work.

I'd contact member BMCM to see if he'd have time to work on your 5906TSW. His work is outstanding.

I think I got back both guns in two months

It definitely is, I actually have one of my guns over with him right now. He looks like he has a lot on his plate right now what with most of the forum sending him their guns and I don't think he'd be able to restore the TACTICAL billboard. Of course Smith and Wesson themselves also seem to be swamped with work if what they told me about 8 month turnarounds is true.

I’ve been following this thread and I’m just wondering how “beat up” it really is. (?)

Is the TSW Billboard gone now? Are there scratches through it? Some of my TSW Billboard’s are getting faint now just from use. Being a stainless example you could do a lot to improve it yourself. If it is really that far gone you can’t make it worse.

Everyone here has seen this picture of my 4566 LE trade in too many times but. It was scarfed cosmetically including a nasty “idiot” scratch from the slide stop. It is internally perfect AND it was cheap. New grip and 3M ScotchBrite kinda made it better. I can live with it now anyway.

The front of the slide, (both sides,) was very bad off so that’s why the S&W logo looks faint. I took it easy around the S&W emblem and serial number.

Jim

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The TSW billboard is pretty faded but still visible, I used to have a pristine 4013TSW that had an intact one. Lots of little scratches all over the slide and frame, whichever department issued it also very crudely carved the internal inventory number onto the dust cover and barrel instead of the much neater method I've seen on other police trade ins. It's not visible here but a corner of the magwell and the original grips were also pretty chewed up, like it had taken a hard drop or something. There was even a gouge in the original recoil guide rod. Wasn't the cheapest thing in the world but for California I did OK. Internally it looks fine, I probably shot it more than the cop it was originally issued to who clearly carried it quite hard but didn't fire it often.

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Umm, well that doesn’t look all that bad. It actually looks pretty good in my world.

Treat it to a “little judicious” love with a ScotchBrit pad going with the grain. It will make you happy until you actually decide to restore it, (if that is even possible.)

Jim

No doubt S&W could bead blast your gun without removing the serial number. I have a blast cabinet, etc., and have done some of my guns. The gun comes out looking like new, with serial number unaffected. Restoring the LASER etched "Tactical" etc., maybe. If S&W can't or won't restore the tactical on the slide, one of the outfits that does the custom LASER work likely could do it economically. I once had something applied to a slide by one of those outfits, came out fine....

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