Some restoration on a special model 10

BC38 said:
FWIW, Ralph has probably owned more S&W revolvers than most people have ever seen, and probably worked on more S&W revolvers than most people have ever owned.

FWIW, it seems like he was just trying to offer you the benefit of his years of experience, but YOU were the one who took offense. Your gun, your decision. You don't have to take his experience or advice. But considering the source, I would.

Bronze wool is easy to find at any Ace Hardware. Personally, I'd much rather err on the side of caution and be safe rather than sorry.

The finish is only ORIGINAL once, and once the damage is done there isn't any un-doing it.

JMO.
Click to expand...

I don’t care if he’s the Grand Wizard of S&W. He came across as arrogant and condescending. He could have said the same thing without being rude. I stand by my response. I’m sure he’s much more skilled at gunsmithing than I am. Fortunately, it doesn’t take expert hands to lightly rub at some light rust with extremely fine 0000 wool And some oil , as many many people have done. I just took my 10-8 out of the safe and looked at it very closely under a light. Surprise, surprise! It still looks great! I’m so lucky!

And I said before I’ve heard bronze wool is great for the job. Next time I need to do it I’ll give it a shot. Tons of articles and videos say 0000 steel is ok. Also read copper wool is good, too. But many say copper wool is still steel wool covered in copper plating.

https://youtu.be/sg6ya9OURmM?si=4ON8-DOBdmX9yE55
 
Last edited:
Kalamazoo - a great story and a great revolver. One to cherish.
I bought a retired police Capts model 10-6. You can see where someone used steel wool on it especially on the side plate.
I myself have used steel 0000 wool very sparingly in the past but will look for some bronze wool to have on hand. In the case of this gun I chose the alternative of a bead blast and re-blue at the gunsmith shop where I had bought it. Now a very nice matte blue like my 28.
 

Attachments

  • IMG_7993.jpg
    IMG_7993.jpg
    107.6 KB · Views: 36
  • IMG_5598.jpg
    IMG_5598.jpg
    82.9 KB · Views: 34
H Richard said:
I have both steel wool (0000), and Bronze wool (0000), and I can actually feel the "grab" when using bronze wool (with oil) and can't with steel wool. My personal feeling is the steel wool is less damaging than bronze. But always use a light hand with either.
Click to expand...

Exactly...If you use 0000 steel wool ONLY, then you are absolutely fine with light pressure on light rust like OP has...Generally though, 0000 is the finest grade of steel wool I would use on a blued gun.

Bronze wool is OK with something like a very tiny rust spot on a very valuable Registered Magnum or the like...However, this moderate rust on a common Model 10, then I feel OP did the exact right thing in my opinion...I would have done the exact same thing.

Good job OP!
 
Baxter6551 said:
Kalamazoo - a great story and a great revolver. One to cherish.
I bought a retired police Capts model 10-6. You can see where someone used steel wool on it especially on the side plate.
I myself have used steel 0000 wool very sparingly in the past but will look for some bronze wool to have on hand. In the case of this gun I chose the alternative of a bead blast and re-blue at the gunsmith shop where I had bought it. Now a very nice matte blue like my 28.
Click to expand...

From observation, that gun had been scoured with a harsher grade of steel wool then 0000.

Even one grade courser can make a massive difference in blue removal.
 
Well, I did a very scientific range session with it this am - I absolutely killed a bunch of beer cans scattered across a two track. :) Haven't had that much fun in a long time. Smooth as silk and after 50 rounds, I don't think I missed a can once out to about 20-25 yards. So happy and satisfied with this revolver. I have lots of nice/expensive guns, some never fired, but I think we all can agree that this one's very special.

Thanks for everyone's kind comments, much appreciated!
 
Just a question for those who advocate using steel wool.
What will it do that bronze wool won't do - other than damage the bluing if you accidentally get too aggressive with it?
What is the advantage to using steel over bronze?
FWIW, I've used 00 (fine) bronze wool to scrub a rust-freckled gun REALLY hard and the only negative effect I've ever seen is it left a slight bronze tint behind. Of course it wiped right off with a rag.
 
Last edited:
BC38 said:
Just a question for those who advocate using steel wool.
What will it do that bronze wool won't do - other than damage the bluing if you accidentally get too aggressive with it?
What is the advantage to using steel over bronze?
Click to expand...

Again, it is all in the grade of the steel wool...0000 only and not 000 or 00 or Brillo pads...It's all in the grade.

Bronze wool is like mother's love and subsequently many sins are not erased, especially on OP's gun...

0000 steel wool is like Dad's correction...A little harder, but generally not too hard.

If that makes sense.;)
 
Home Depot carries the 0000 steel wool in the paint section. I couldn’t find bronze. Some say real Chore Boy copper pads are great, but some say many copper pads are steel with a copper plating.

I have no doubt bronze wool does a great job. Maybe better or maybe safer than 0000 steel wool, but the videos I saw like the one I posted say 0000 steel wool is fine and it was easy to get. The 4 or 5 guns I’ve used it on came out looking 100 times better. If I ever see some real bronze wool I’ll grab a pack, but I don’t have any plans to clean rust off a gun anytime soon.
 
kbm6893 said:
Home Depot carries the 0000 steel wool in the paint section. I couldn’t find bronze. Some say real Chore Boy copper pads are great, but some say many copper pads are steel with a copper plating.

I have no doubt bronze wool does a great job. Maybe better or maybe safer than 0000 steel wool, but the videos I saw like the one I posted say 0000 steel wool is fine and it was easy to get. The 4 or 5 guns I’ve used it on came out looking 100 times better. If I ever see some real bronze wool I’ll grab a pack, but I don’t have any plans to clean rust off a gun anytime soon.
Click to expand...
Yeah, Home Creepo isn't a hardware store. They're a home improvement store. If your wife or girlfriend wouldn't buy it, they probably don't have it ;)
Ace Hardware carries a good selection of bronze wool.
 
Last edited:
BC38 said:
Yeah, Home Creepo isn't a hardware store. They're a home improvement store. If your wife or girlfriend wouldn't buy it, they probably don't have it ;)
Ace Hardware carries a good selection of bronze wool.
Click to expand...

I’ll check one out. Don’t know if any near me but I’m sure it’s not too far. Always good to have another tool in the toolbox!
 
You must log in or register to reply here.

Similar threads

M
Restored, Grandpa’s Rusty S&W Model 39-2. You won’t believe it….
2
Replies
26
Views
2K
peterdeb
peterdeb
G
S&W Model 49 lost for 40 years, Finally Found!!
Replies
2
Views
216
Dino44
Dino44
S
Found “treasure”, it’s a Smith!
2
Replies
32
Views
1K
olfart
olfart
oldbrownhat
Found some old powder- Unique & 700X
Replies
7
Views
281
muzzlestuffer2012
muzzlestuffer2012
TXBryan
Back to Viet Nam
Replies
17
Views
916
Onomea
Onomea

Latest posts

Back
Top