Pre 10 Snub back from Fords

[jbtrucker]

Sent in last November returned today , Master Blue with case color hammer , trigger and locking bolt fitted. Ford's Custom Plating Crystal River , FL

 

[SVT28]

Do you have any before pictures you could share with us? Looks lustrous and nice

SVT28


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[g-dad]

That's a dandy, very nice!

Now are you gonna look at it or shoot it?

 

[SS336]

That M10 looks great. I really like the case hardened hammer and trigger.

 

[jbtrucker]

I know it had character but it broke and action was rusted . Regrettably after two surgeries and med bills will have to sell it . Doubt will shoot it have three other revolvers can shoot . I have a set of Black Walnut stocks but they didn't fit well

 

[Welderzero]

I still have my first pistola, a M10 my dad left me.


Almost the best trigger of anything I have.


And that was from the factory...

 

[Hondo44]

Look like a new gun with such a black finish.

There's master refinishers that can get very close to its original blue color.

 

[tlawler]

Sent in last November returned today , Master Blue with case color hammer , trigger and locking bolt fitted. Ford's Custom Plating Crystal River , FL

How's the side plate seam? Hard to tell from the pictures. I had them do my 14-1 in master blue, but they polished the side plate off the frame and I ended up with a more visible seam than I like. That's my only complaint…the finish is stunning.

 

[Bald1]

I know it had character but it broke and action was rusted . Regrettably after two surgeries and med bills will have to sell it . Doubt will shoot it have three other revolvers can shoot . I have a set of Black Walnut stocks but they didn't fit well

I would imagine many people on this forum, myself included might be interested in purchasing such a gun.

 

[NY-1]

Glad to see that Ford's is still capable of good work. I'm also interested to see how the sideplate seam looks up close, but all in all it looks like a nice job.

 

[IamCaleb]

Looks amazing, I have a 36 snub I'd like to send to Fords.


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[jbtrucker]

How's the side plate seam? Hard to tell from the pictures. I had them do my 14-1 in master blue, but they polished the side plate off the frame and I ended up with a more visible seam than I like. That's my only complaint…the finish is stunning.

Seams fit fine the only thing is a very small amount of pitting in the edge of blast shield and frame on right side.

 

[Baltimoreed11754]

Nice revolver jb. I have this one that needs the barrel screwed in and a refinish but I'm still on the fence as to either a blue or nickel finish.

 

[boykinlp]

In the process of their polishing or after, did they have to redo the S&W Trademark or any of the other factory markings? If they did, do you think they did a good job?
Larry

 

[Hondo44]

How do refinishers do case hardening? Do they actually harden the part again, or is an effect?

Yes, they re-heat the part packed in charcoal, bone, etc.

 

[jbtrucker]

In the process of their polishing or after, did they have to redo the S&W Trademark or any of the other factory markings? If they did, do you think they did a good job?
Larry

factory markings were worn and requested engraving and yes did great job

 

[JudgeColt]

If you wanted a black, shiny gun, you should be pleased.

 

[ZGrand]

Very nice. The MOP grips really compliment the finish.

 

[2152hq]

Since case hardening works through carbon migration into the steel, is that ever a problem to apply another case hardening cycle on top of a previous one? Or does getting a nice case color effect not require as much time and carbon as the original hardening? Or it doesn't matter?

Having worked in shops that do CCH, I can tell you that re-doing the process on previously CCH parts is very common.
Generally the parts are annealed first, that is (believed) to allow the newly done process to come out with as brilliant colors as possible.
Some purveyors of the trade will say it's not necessary however.

Annealing doesn't remove any carbon, it just softens the hardened surface of the previous case hardening.

Then polishing is easier and any recut engraving can be done.

When the re-CCH'g is then done., there is no special care taken because the part was a previously CCH part. It gets done at the same temp, time in furnace and quench as a piece that is made from a block of steel that has never been heat treated before in any way.

FWIW it is possible to get the colors with no hardening to the surface, or very little hardness. This is done throught manipulation of temp and time in furnace mostly.

It's also possible to get the part too deeply hardened, not something you necessarily are shooting for but rather a mistake in your process.
This leaves thin parts brittle nearly all the way through and prone to breakage and cracking.

Warpage creeps into the process as well at any temp and time factor.
That can be controlled with a few different ways. Inserts for the parts, warming the quench water, and more.
But warping does happen.
Some parts can be straightened out. Wedges, simple jack-screws or the lead hammer work well.

For every one that practices the art, there are that many different ways to get the desired results when you get right down to the fine details of it.
The basic process remains the same. Its those little details that change from one person doing the coloring to the next.
That's why Parker colors were different from Winchester, from Marlin, from Colt, etc.
Everyone had slightly different small details in the process.

 

[rct269]

Well, as others have said, I'd like to have a better look at it; but it seems Fords is BACK-----BIG TIME!!

This is the best I've seen from them since a long time ago when they brought a Registered Magnum back from the dead----dead and worthy only of being buried in Potter's Field. This RM was a fugitive from a junk yard---finish-wise AND structure wise. It was owned by a friend who had a little-bity S&W forum----where he constantly sang the praises of Fords, and sent them A LOT of business----enough that they did whatever for him free---for nothing. They told him if they'd charged for this RM job, it'd have been over $1,000. (!!!!) Then they said they hoped he'd NEVER send them another one like THAT!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Bottom Line: THAT'S NOT TOO SHABBY!!!

Ralph Tremaine