Model 57

[carlwil]

This gun is a Model 57 no dash with serial #S237379. I have been shooting this 57 for a couple of years and really like the way it shoots. A previous owner (Jack) did an unthinkable (to me) thing as you can see in the photo. May be an engraver could do something to hide the name? Can anyone tell if the nickle plating is original? I think probably not. No N or B any where that I can find. Left grip frame has a 1 over a zero and the number 90966. .Right grip frame has only a 7. Thanks in advance for comments.
Carl

 

[rbrbrb6]

I'd say "Jack" is a prime candidate to but strung up for what he did to that beautiful gun!

 

[22hipower]

That's a first year gun (1964). Kind of a shame that Jack made it forever his and the gold hammer and trigger too. Can't tell if the nickel is original but didn't see any obvious signs of a refinish but without an N on the left grip frame it is likely a refinish. Originally had "coke" stocks too rather than the much newer ones that are on it. A great shooter no doubt, enjoy.

Jeff
SWCA #1457

 

[Narragansett]

Almost unthinkable. About 40 years ago I bought a George Lawrence Gunslinger 2 holster for a super blackhawk, and etched my name and date on the back, and I was sorry I did that. But it did go to one of my sons, so I guess that makes it ok.

That looks like it was done with a cheap Ideal vibrating engraver used to mark tools and such for companies.

I think your best bet is asking a gunsmith. I know you can metalize and polish gold to get rid of dings and gouges. But gold is not steel, and it is laser done. Maybe the factory can do it? I doubt it is going to be inexpensive. Somebody that deals in restoration may have a process. Ford's in Crystal Springs FL maybe?

 

[oysterer]

Bubba Jack

wow...such a shame and Bubba did a great job thing some $2500 off the table here by pawning the cokes, scribbling his childish musing and turning the trigger and hammer into junk.

Not sure where to start. The engraving looks pretty deep and redoing a nickel is tough as you have to remove the old nickel which may contribute to rounding the edges.

I'd say get a nice original case hardened hammer and trigger set, some really high quality grips and end it there. Anything beyond it may make things worse than better.

For the trigger and hammer job send it to SW maybe and ask them their advice?

I revisited the images and I have to say that the gold plating bothers me even more than stupid jack. If that is taken care off with the right grips maybe something to live with with a certain cool factor to laugh off.

I believe you, this must be a tremendous shooter.

 

[M29since14]

Jack, Jack, Jack... Get a rope!

I’m sure that travesty could be overcome but it wouldn’t be cheap. Why people do stuff like that defies the imagination.

 

[78bagger]

I wonder if his last name started with an A?

 

[SuperMan]

My guess would be that since the hammer and trigger are gold plated whoever did that also nickle plated the gun...

I would contact Ford's...they do some really masterful work...

Bob

 

[carlwil]

wow...such a shame and Bubba did a great job thing some $2500 off the table here by pawning the cokes, scribbling his childish musing and turning the trigger and hammer into junk.

Not sure where to start. The engraving looks pretty deep and redoing a nickel is tough as you have to remove the old nickel which may contribute to rounding the edges.

I'd say get a nice original case hardened hammer and trigger set, some really high quality grips and end it there. Anything beyond it may make things worse than better.

For the trigger and hammer job send it to SW maybe and ask them their advice?

I revisited the images and I have to say that the gold plating bothers me even more than stupid jack. If that is taken care off with the right grips maybe something to live with with a certain cool factor to laugh off.

I will certainly consider this. Thanks.

 

[series guy]

Well I guess Jack took the money for calligraphy class and spent it on a home brew gold plating kit. Like oysterer suggested replace the hammer and trigger and live with the rest. It will always be a joy to shoot.

 

[jmclfrsh]

If you can’t live with it, Ford’s does case-hardening work as well, so they can refinish both the hammer and trigger and re-nickle the finish.

You’d have $400 or so in it, and it would look brand new again. Shame that doofus did that to such a nice gun but it can be fixed if you wish to at least.

 

[BigMuddy]

"Bustamonte I Hate You"

 

[Doc44]

A Model 57 shipped with a nickel finish would have an N stamped on the lower left hand corner of the grip frame. If the 57 was mine, it would be off to Ford's for a repair of the area where the name is cut into the frame, case coloring of the hammer and trigger, and refinished in either nickel or bright blue.

Bill

 

[29-1]

Looks like Jack left his last name off this early 1964 Model 57. Starts with an A and ends with an S. Yikes....
Chuck

 

[SteveA]

I'm thinking his last name started with an S and ended with a T!

 

[CajunBass]

I'd bet "Jack" never gave a minutes thought to what someone 30, 40 or however many years later would think. HE wanted HIS name on it, so he put it there. I have no idea why, but it was his. Maybe he even came to regret it years later, but maybe not.

There is a model 19 out there somewhere that has my SS number electro penciled under the grips. It was the "in" thing to do at the time. Police, insurance companies, TV stations, and for all I know preachers were urging everyone to make sure anything valuable had a personal ID mark on it. Every time I see a Model 19 around here, I have to pull the grips to see...maybe. Yea, yea...I was stupid too.

The gold plated hammer and trigger are interesting. That must have been a "thing" at some point during the past, because I've seen maybe a half dozen or so guns with that treatment. They were all chrome/nickel also.