So I managed to pick up a CS-1, way cheap compared to the going rate, but Bubba got to it first. He Changed the front sight and Polished it, I can live with that, but he did some engraving on it, and I could live with that on a shooter but.... he then tried to remove it from the sideplate...so i got some work to do to try and clean this up cosmetically. May need to send to a pro polisher, or since I want it as a shooter I may check into some coating options, never had anything coated. Mechanically it seems good, hope to try and shoot it this week.

Any one have any advice on cleaning up that sideplate??

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Bead blast is your friend.

It's just steel. It will get shiny if you polish it long enough. You can "oil sand" with progressively finer sandpaper like #600 then #800. After wards, switch to polishing with coarse compound, then fine and eventually it will shine. The final polish can be done using a Dremel and soft wheel but be careful not to overheat it.

Or just send it back to S&W.
They will make it new again for surprisingly few $$.
Did just that for my 65-5 Lady Smith.

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-jwk-
US Army '72-'95

Like Hapworth said, bead blast, which would be the original finish. I think you can find the correct shortened front sight also. The CS1 is a fantastic shooting Smith. Enjoy and keep us posted on your progress.

A used sideplate is $54.80 @ Numbrich--->https://www.gunpartscorp.com/Products/301070.htm
I would probably try and sand it smooth & polish myself & if that didn't work out then I'd go with a new/used sideplate..

Remember, the CS1 front sight is .100 wide as opposed to the more common 1/8th inch.
Curious as to what you gave for it.

One of my CS-1s was pretty beat up when I got it...off to S&W for a bead-blast refinish. Looks great. Been too long to remember the cost.

Thanks, thats the route I'm leaning to for now, I gotta get it off and see how wavy the finish is and there are few deeper gouges still left. See how smooth I can get it and try and find someone around here that can bead blast it.

Maybe a return trip to the mothership would be best, I have to shoot it and evaluate it better, I only spent a few minutes with it after picking it up today.

Sideplate is a fitted part.
The possibility of a used (?) used one being even close to a proper fit is approaching zero.
OTOH, I have had 2 replaced by S&W. Both 624s.
Both were perfect and the price was reasonable.
Especially considering that a refinish would usually be part of the job.
Here's one they did:

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-jwk-
US Army '72-'95

Do you mind giving us an approximate cost to redo the LS and the 624?

If you have ever attempted to fit a side plate you wouldn't even consider doing it.

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H Richard
SWCA1967 SWHF244

Got it, if I can't get that side plate looking decent back to S&W it goes. I'm just getting home from work and I'm gonna resist the temptation to take it apart now until I get it out and shoot it.

Had the jobs done on different revolvers.
IIRC, the sideplate jobs were about $145 + shipping and that included (obviously) finish work. Both of these were 624s.
The LS was ~ $240 (?) and did include re-etching the logo.

__________________
-jwk-
US Army '72-'95

There's more to a sideplate that surface fit/finish.
The trigger and hammer pins have to line up PERFECTLY or bad things will likely happen.
A DIY sideplate replacement will likely become the ultimate Bubba job.

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-jwk-
US Army '72-'95

You can polish that side plate by hand , use some 3M wet-or-dry metal automotive abrasive paper , using oil , get down to super fine grade, then finish up with a metal polishing compound.
Whatever you do , try to keep the original side plate, a new one is just not a drop in/on part, it needs to be fitted properly.
Gary

Sorry I was referring to the stock side plate, If I can't get that looking decent and it needs a new one fitted I will send it to S&W