686, Bright Polished Finish

Rule 303 · Jan 20, 2012

I bought a 686-1 yesterday that has a bright polished finish.
I was wondering if anyone can give me any information if this was a factory finish. I've never seen a 686 with a bright polished finish and I was wondering if this came from the factory like this. It really looks good as a factory gun would.
No rounding of the letters or numbers, no missed places.

It Serial # is AWY95XX, I figure its a mid 80s gun.

Any information is appreciated.

Rule 303

handgunner356 · Jan 20, 2012

The earlier 686s' were more polished than the later guns, and it doesn't take much to bring them to a high polished finish. My guess would be someone got after it with some Mothers or simular polish.

RIDE-RED 350r · Jan 20, 2012

I am one who takes a little Mothers Billet Polish to my 686 and 629.. Not at all hard to bring a nice, even shine to em that way..

one eye joe · Jan 20, 2012

handgunner356 said:
The earlier 686s' were more polished than the later guns, and it doesn't take much to bring them to a high polished finish. My guess would be someone got after it with some Mothers or simular polish.

I agree.....

sbeatty1983 · Jan 20, 2012

Pics or it doesnt exist

This is my no dash 686. Is it bright like this or more like a mirror polish?

gumpys · Jan 20, 2012

a 686 with that a high polish finish is a job done by someone other than at smith and wesson.
Eric

ckprax · Jan 20, 2012

There is a good chance the previous owner polished it. I like my stainless guns to have a mirror shine, a few hours with a rag and some mothers mag polish and it is bright and shiny.

If it locks up nice and the timing is good the finish wouldn't bother me (it would save me some work). You can also use it to your advantage, it basically has 0% finish so try to get it for less $$.

If you like a matte finish a gray (I believe is the right color) scotchbright pad will match the original finish pretty well.

Sent from my DROID BIONIC using Tapatalk

mball · Jan 21, 2012

Patience, a micro-fiber rag and some Mothers is all you need...

RIDE-RED 350r · Jan 21, 2012

ckprax said:
There is a good chance the previous owner polished it. I like my stainless guns to have a mirror shine, a few hours with a rag and some mothers mag polish and it is bright and shiny.

If it locks up nice and the timing is good the finish wouldn't bother me (it would save me some work). You can also use it to your advantage, it basically has 0% finish so try to get it for less $$.

If you like a matte finish a gray (I believe is the right color) scotchbright pad will match the original finish pretty well.

Sent from my DROID BIONIC using Tapatalk

So, if a person polishes his/her stainless handgun it is considered to have 0% finish?? Interesting... Didn't really seem that they had a finish from the factory to begin with.. Just bare stainless steel...

1 old 0311 · Jan 21, 2012

Just add rags and elbow grease.

RIDE-RED 350r · Jan 21, 2012

1 old 0311 said:
Just add rags and elbow grease.

Yep, Mothers+soft rag+elbowgrease+ Stainless S&W=one classy looking piece!

ckprax · Jan 21, 2012

Dooman said:
So, if a person polishes his/her stainless handgun it is considered to have 0% finish?? Interesting... Didn't really seem that they had a finish from the factory to begin with.. Just bare stainless steel...

Well it would no longer have the factory finish. To a collector that would be a deal breaker even if it was unfired and had the box, tools and paperwork.

Personally i don't even worry about the finish of a stainless gun, i can easily change it to my liking.

Rule 303 · Jan 21, 2012

Guys,
Thanks for the infomation. I have never polished one of the Stainless Steel S&Ws and I've had S&W Stainless guns since the first Model 60s came out. This one looked so good I thought it was nickle until I opened the crane. Thank again for the information.

Rule 303

DOEBOY1 · Jan 22, 2012

I bought 4 model 60's and polished one thinking it would nice to keep. A friend was looking for a small gun would you guess it he picked the one I polished. So I had 3 left polish another one and it was the next one gone. I polished the other 2 and put them up. I think a clean shiney gun will sell far fast than not. I don't have enough that I want to get rid of to test my therory, just saying. Doeboy

Magnum-Krazy · Jan 22, 2012

You can speed up the bright polishing process on stainless (and save the hard hand rubbing) by using small buffing wheels that fits the Dremel tool. Run at a medium speed.
Also using the same process using blueing paste will brighten a faded out dull blued gun.

Ernie

fyimo · Jan 22, 2012

It seems that people either like the bright shiny finish or they hate it and it's a deal breaker to them. But like others have said you can get them to look almost anyway you want with a little work and the right processs. Funny, I read about polishing a stainless revolver in a gun rag when the author bragged about cleaning up a used police trade in and making it look new again by polishing it.

686, Bright Polished Finish

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