Finish variations on Outdoorsman

[pieceinthevalley]

I have a very nice Outdoorsman sn S987XX with a somewhat dull blue finish; not as dull as a Model 28 but not as shiny as a regular finish. I have seen only passing reference to this duller finish, but do not know where in the production or on how many guns this occurred. Is this finish par for the course, or is the higher quality blue more prevalent? I'm hoping the experts will chime in and offer a short primer. As always, thanks.

 

[digi-shots]

I’m thinking 1950 to 1955 or so..?

I’ll wait and see what some of the more knowledgeable folks have to say.

 

[DWalt]

The closest Outdoorsman SN on my list is S981xx which shipped in 1953. It would have been shipped with a duller finish at that time. About the only postwar S&W gun which retained the bright finish was the .357 Magnum.

 

[22hipower]

Just reading from the 4th edition of the Standard Catalog (page 183) for .38/44 Outdoorsman Model of 1950 "Pre-Model 23:"

"The blue finish is now a polished blue finish or nickel finish." However, in the pricing info for that section it says "25% to 50% premium for bright polish finish."

A picture is included which appears to me to be more like the dull finish of a Model 28 than the bright blue polished finish. I have only one (S101699) which I believe is from 1954 and has what I would call the bright polish finish. The info in the 4th edition is a bit confusing as seems to suggest all from that period should be bright blue or nickel but then distinguishes those, presumably from the same period, which are not bright blue finish. Interesting question and hopefully someone here will have additional information. Pictures of yours?

Jeff
SWCA #1457

 

[RKmesa]

It is very rare to find a post-war 38/44 Outdoorsman with the "bright" high polish finish. Most of them came with a more matted finish, much like the Highway Patrolman. There are some variations between individual guns in just how shiny the matte finish is going to be, as that was dependent on the amount of time the finisher spent with the gun on the polishing wheels...

 

[22hipower]

"It is very rare to find a post-war 38/44 Outdoorsman with the "bright" high polish finish. Most of them came with a more matted finish, much like the Highway Patrolman. There are some variations between individual guns in just how shiny the matte finish is going to be, as that was dependent on the amount of time the finisher spent with the gun on the polishing wheels..." RKmesa

Very interesting and beautiful revolvers. Not to hijack pieceinthevalley's post, but I'll take some better pictures of mine tomorrow. Likely it is just one that spent a little more time on the polishing wheels but would be interesting to hear opinions. Will post pictures tomorrow.

Jeff
SWCA #1457

 

[DWalt]

Well into the late 1950s, S&W advertised either the "Blue" "Blued" or "S&W Blue" finish on everything but the .357 Magnum which was listed as "Bright Blue." When the .44 Magnum came out, it was also listed as "Bright Blue." I have a 1953 HD which has the duller blue finish, and there is no reason to believe that the Outdoorsman was any different. As earlier stated, I have understood that the "Bright Blue" finish could be special ordered for any gun at additional cost. It was just a cost-cutting measure as hand polishing to a mirror finish takes a skilled craftsman and is expensive and time consuming. I have wondered if S&W even polished those postwar guns. It's even possible that S&W may have bead blasted everything using very fine blasting media instead of using hand polishing.

 

[handejector]

The answer is simple-
'Satin Blue' was standard on most guns after WW II-
M&P, HD, Postwar 1917s, 38 OD, 44 Mil, 45 Mil, 1950 Targets in 44 & 45, K-22, K-32, K-38, 38 CM, 22 CM and the small frame guns.
Almost ALL could be ordered in Bright Blue for a slight upcharge.

At the very end of the 5 Screw period, several "Premium" models were introduced that ALWAYS had the bright blue-
44 Mag, Combat Mag, and the 1955 Target. The Factory acquired new buffing equipment for the large numbers of these guns to be polished.
Soon after, ALL models were shifted into bright blue as standard AT THE END of the 5 Screw period. Look at the very last 5 screw K Targets, 50 Targets and Mil models, and even the lowly M&P, and you see bright blue.

I've explained this many times before.
You guys ought to print it.

 

[handejector]

I have wondered if S&W even polished those postwar guns. It's even possible that S&W may have bead blasted everything using very fine blasting media instead of using hand polishing.

They were polished, not blasted.
Would you believe the pics?

Raw Steel to Smith & Wesson (Pic HEAVY)

 

[rct269]

I'm glad DWalt mentioned bead blasting before I did, lest the Big Gorilla correct me too! And I'm glad whoever said Satin Blue said that too, because I've been calling it matte blue ever since I forgot "Satin".

As an aside, mine (S93429) left on April 14, 1953.

Ralph Tremaine

 

[Texas Star]

I've read that S&W charged an added $10 for the better blue job. That for an M&P. Larger guns may have cost more for that feature.

That price seems trivial now, but in the late 1960's, I was earning $1.43 an hour as a library asst.Ten dollars in the 1940's and 1950's was a significant sum.

Post-war stocks were also less finely checkered than were pre-war stocks.

That said, individual guns were sometimes better finished than the average. I've seen Highway Patrolmans quite a bit better polished than the average example.

 

[Valmet]

I only have a handful of S&W wheelguns and wasn’t aware of the ore and post-war finish variations. Educational thread for me

 

[iPac]

They were polished, not blasted.
Would you believe the pics?

Raw Steel to Smith & Wesson (Pic HEAVY)

Thanks for the link and thank you for the uploads. Very interesting, as this is the history that really interests me and makes these vintage revolvers so special. Same with Colt back in the day. Sadly, things are not the same as they used to be. The companies aren't really even the same anymore.

What I liked most about that behind the scenes look in the '50s? Where they mention the roughly 500 inspection steps that occur during production, then showing some of those inspection stations along the way. That, along with the personal attention these guns received from actually talented skilled laborers, is why the older guns are deemed "better" on so many levels by so many people.

To each their own though.

 

[pieceinthevalley]

Thanks for all the useful information. I guess my 1953+/- revolver is more "standard issue" than special. It is similar to those shown by RKmesa. I too was confused about what was stated in the Standard Catalog. Now would be a good time to compare it to my no-dash 28. +1 on the Satin vs. matte as well. Since apparently this info has been shared before, perhaps it could be included in the educational stickies. The learning never stops.

 

[22hipower]

Took some pictures, better than what I had but still not great. Maybe good enough for opinions as to whether this is "satin," "bright" or otherwise. Sure looks "brighter" than my Highway Patrolman or even my pre-24s and pre-26s from the same timeframe. Thanks much for comments and for the previous posts helping us to understand the difference in finishes on various models from the early 1950s.

Jeff
SWCA #1457

 

[pieceinthevalley]

Yours would certainly fall into the category of "bright" if laid beside my Outdoorsman!

 

[handejector]

Maybe good enough for opinions as to whether this is "satin," "bright" or otherwise.

That is Bright Blue.
Do you have a ship date? It could be a late finished frame that was built after all guns switched to Bright.
It could have been a special order with the extra charge.
I'm assuming there are no rework marks on the grip frame?

 

[22hipower]

That is Bright Blue.
Do you have a ship date? It could be a late finished frame that was built after all guns switched to Bright.
It could have been a special order with the extra charge.
I'm assuming there are no rework marks on the grip frame?

There are no rework marks on the frame. SN is S101699 which I have as 1954 in my notes but suspect I got that based on Standard Catalog SN lists. Finish looks original to me and has a good bit of wear in places. Found it at my favorite pawn shop five years or so ago; $650 which I thought was too much at the time but didn't have one so bought it.

Jeff