A friend of mine told me that a lady had given him some old revolvers that had belonged to her brother. Said they were a S&W and a couple of Colts. Went on to say that he'd let me have the S&W if I'd clean them up for him...of course I said "OK".

Just look at this thing...old "5" screw...was a beauty in it's day. But, I'm afraid it's a gonner now. Took the grips off and the mainspring fell out in pieces. Side plate screws rusted to the frame, cylinder won't open....about the biggest mess I've ever seen.

Elwood

Rest in Peace

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RIP Shipmate

that poor thing!! ill take it off your hands if you want to get rid of it!....

Ok, i know there is a really nice revolver in that mess somewhere.

What a shame... does that now classify as a "relic"?

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Isaiah 55:8-9
Phil. 4:13

WOW!!! Another "graveyard project"? What does the other side look like? It can probaby be brought back to shooter status. Are the photos before or after clean up! Price is right.

And I'm telling ya, the picture really doesn't show the extent of the damage. It's eat up.

Where were they stored........in the bottom of a fish tank?

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Miss My Buddy crsides!!

They were in a box under a couch. There had (somehow) been some water damage to the couch. They got wet and sat there for years until he passed away and his sister was cleaning the house out and found them. I'm getting this second hand so not certain except I'm sure they were exposed to some water and sat for a long time.

you might salvage the grips . . .

Look at the bright side; at least the grips look salvageable. The gun can be used for a book on "How to Clean and Maintain Firearms".

Were the Colts in the same sad shape? Might make a good "buy back" gun. You might get a gift card out of it.

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AL
Pax Per Potens

Not a bad idea, using it for a buy-back gun. But, I don't think we have those programs around here.

Yes, the Colts were just as bad. And, no I wasn't able to salvage the grips. They were rotten and just "crumbled" when I removed them.

It's a mess.....

What a shame that they were neglected like that. Too bad.


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James

Thank god it was not loaded

I think I would stick with standard pressure ammo in that one . . . . no +P.

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Georgia On My Mind

Oh-well, "into each life a little rain must fall."

Sad, sad, sad.

Save it for when some politician will pay for turned in guns....you might get some $$ out of it that way.

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Laus Deo! <><

buff right out

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with wings as eagles

lets just call it "Patina"

Can you read the serial number??

So sad that a ROUND butt M&P 38 should be destroyed like that.

Let us have the serial so we can date it. and put it in the database.

Allen

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NRA cert.instructor&R.S.O.

http://www.rowand.net/Shop/Tools/Electrolysis.htm

Might be fun to see what's left if you could remove the rust

That is sad, RIP indeed.

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ΜΟΛΩΝ ΛΑΒΕ

I wonder if someone threw enough money at it if it could be resurrected? Amazing things can be done. Anyone heard of smiths or restorers bring something like that back from the grave?

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Go big or stay home

A nickel C-prefix round-butt Pre-10 snub. From the very late '40s to mid-'50s given the hammer and front sight profiles and the top sideplate screw.

Yes, please let us have the serial number for the data base. We can give the gun the respect in death that it didn't get in life.

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David Wilson

Poor thing. That was a heck of a gun in its time. RIP.

Gents, let us look at the bright side. No one will need to wear white gloves while observing it closely!!!!

regards

Bill

I don't even want to know what the Colts look like!

It is going to take a whole lot of Mothers Mag polish to clean that up.

Was the Aquamans carry weapon? Wow.

I would like to own it...

If it cant be brought to a shooter, I could make a plaque out of it or a bookend. Something decorative could be done I am sure.

Life after death if you will, it can live on in a new form.

No I am not going to heat it up and smush it

With a little Flitz and old T shirt, you can get that thing up and running in a little bit.

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John 3:16 .

SN is not in good shape...I make it as C 23063_. Can't make out the last number and not certain of that last "3".

I'm going to do something with it...certainly don't plan to toss it. Not sure what, but something.

Elwood

Very desirable 5 screw M&P in .38 special with 2" barrel and rare factory nickle finish. Original grips nmbered to gun, good honest wear appropriate for a gun this age. Side plate screws look like they have never been turned. Great retro shooter. Unable to post pictures at this time, but I promise this revolver just says "WOW!"- guaranteed. $400 shipped.

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Forum consigliere

"I can't tell if this revolver has ever been shot, outside of the factory"

If you got the money, and desire, Turnbull Restorations could bring it back to life.

It just needs a cylinder, barrel, frame, and a few minor parts to be "good as new".

Strip it, blast it, parkerize it. Ugly shooting is better than no shooting at all. Or put in on GunBroker. Bet you could get at least $150 as is.

Thanks for the sharing of this piece. It was a very desirable configuration, indeed. I, for one, would be inclined to try some electrolysis, or, given the nickel, at least a good soak for 2 weeks or more in ATF or Kroil. At least you could discover the condition of interior that way.

Who knows?

Regards,

Dyson

What he said! I am working on an old 36 that wasn't quite that bad, but close. It's looking good.

Never give up on a old smith, just don't put goodyears on it! get it fixed, might take a winter or two, but it'll luv ya back, again I hit the button! for a big like!

It has Kroil all over it....and in it. We'll see if anything happens.

Shame, dirty shame....What redlevel said...




chuck

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They hold no Quarter

Looks like a Katrina gun a neighbor wanted me to restore. You sure it wasn't in salt water???

I agree
My stepfather got a katrina gun. A Luger with nazi proof marks. Broke my heart to see such a fine firearm totaly ruined.

No...not sure but doubt it. We're a long way from the beach. But, it could have had something unusual happen...just don't know the details of how it was stored except to say that it was stored poorly.

I have been able to get 3 of the 4 side plate screws out...the front one just below the cylinder hasen't moved. Still soaking....

If I do eventually get the side plate off, I'll consider some pictures of that if the damage is as I'm expecting. We'll see. Side plate removal might require drilling/grinding off that front screw head...trying not to.

Elwood

I found a badly rusted ice-cream maker and took it home to experiment on. I flooded all the iron with WD40 an began working it. It took hours but gradually the parts freed up and worked again. It still looked terrible but one could make ice cream in it again.

Wouldn't a gun respond that way?

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USN WWII Korea
NRA

Stored under the couch with "Water damage" .... and an old guy sitting on the couch above.......Hmmmmmmm ....could be....sure does LOOK like it could be !

Hmmm...I guess that brings the salt water theory back into play. Not saying this isn't what happened. Hope not.

I'm going to continue with the soaking for a while. Will let everyone know if anything happens. Again, I'll say, it's hard to see the extent of the damage from the photo. It may not get any better but will make a nice "framed" example of a poorly maintained revolver...maybe in a shadow box display along with the Colt Detective Special that is in comparably sad shape.

A set of bigmtnman's custom made stag grips would make that gun look awesome. You wouldn't even notice the rust & corrosion and if you did it wouldn't matter.

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C & L