New Departure 1st Model - factory or refinished?
- Thread starter Colorado68
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Boulder350
Member
It does not look like a factory refinish. I would say its a later refinish because of the heavy buffing. Nice looking revolver
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Hi There,
Cute revolver but it has definitely been re-finished. It was course
buffed (sometimes called a 'hunter' refinish) and then plated. There
is funneling around screw holes and the edges of the side plate show
beveling buffing.
Cheers!
Webb
Cute revolver but it has definitely been re-finished. It was course
buffed (sometimes called a 'hunter' refinish) and then plated. There
is funneling around screw holes and the edges of the side plate show
beveling buffing.
Cheers!
Webb
OP
Colorado68
Member
Thank you for the replies. I suspected it was refinished, so I appreciate confirmation.
It is "a peanut of a gun." Now that is a new one I have never heard before.
Nice looking new departure. Could be a fun shooter. As to the number of examples in fine condition, I believe may of these pistols were bought for home protection and ended up in a drawer somewhere. People were more mechanically inclined back then and knew to use an oiled rag to wipe the gun down every year or so. I have my Grandfather's Iver Johnson nickel 32. It is in fine working order.
I would tend to agree, quite a few people wanted a gun for self protection but didn't actually carry it all the time. Many were simply loaded and placed in a handy drawer. During my time as a gun dealer I had a number of old guns brought in by people who found them cleaning out an elderly relatives house. Some with a holster (that showed little signs of usage), some still in the box. Not uncommon to have a box of ammo with it either, often with only a couple rounds missing (and a few times those "missing" rounds were still in the gun!).
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Hi There,
This reminds me of the .32 1907 Savage auto pistol I have.
One side is in mint condition and the other has a couple
spots of wear (the Indian logo on the grips show a little
"flattening" and one spot on the frame). I contemplated
why this wear on one side for a while and then it dawned
on me.
This pistol lay on its side in a drawer and every time that
drawer was opened, the gun slid a little. And when the
drawer was closed, it slid back. After 40 or more years
of this, one side would have the wear pattern my pistol
shows.
Cheers!
Webb
This reminds me of the .32 1907 Savage auto pistol I have.
One side is in mint condition and the other has a couple
spots of wear (the Indian logo on the grips show a little
"flattening" and one spot on the frame). I contemplated
why this wear on one side for a while and then it dawned
on me.
This pistol lay on its side in a drawer and every time that
drawer was opened, the gun slid a little. And when the
drawer was closed, it slid back. After 40 or more years
of this, one side would have the wear pattern my pistol
shows.
Cheers!
Webb
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Generally when it was a factory refinsh there will be a star stamped after the serial number and a date stamped on the frame under the left grip panel.
OP
Colorado68
Member
Appreciate all the replies. What do you make of the "W" stamped on the left side under the grip?
Maybe refinished once by the factory? And then again by someone else? The bore is near excellent.
Maybe refinished once by the factory? And then again by someone else? The bore is near excellent.
- Joined
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- Messages
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- Reaction score
- 17
- Joined
- May 20, 2025
- Messages
- 19
- Reaction score
- 17
- Joined
- May 20, 2025
- Messages
- 19
- Reaction score
- 17
And there is a "d" stamped on mine is believe its just an inspection mark.
