Hey all,
I'm thinking of sending my 66-4 snub off to the mothership to get some either the Combat revolver package or the Master revolver action package.

I briefly owned a 66 snub that had the Master revolver package done, and the trigger action was outstanding! (I sold it off, cuz that is how I operate, duh!)

Question is this: Do you have any experience or knowledge regarding the Glass Bead Finish that S&W uses on their handguns?

Is the finish "tough" or will it start to show those shiny spots that some bead-blast finishes show?
Is the only advantage to bead-blast the reduced glare due to the dull finish?

I do like the looks of a bead-blast finish, but also like the standard stainless look of Smith revolvers.

What say you? To bead or not to bead?
(Gratuitous snub photo)

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I wouldn’t.

I’ve got a 66-1 snub that has had the Combat Revolver package done. I purchased it that way.



Trigger pull is very good and the satin finish is nice. I wouldn’t hesitate on a newer revolver but I wouldn’t do it to an older P&R gun.

I’ve got another 66-1 snub that has had a Performance Center trigger job. Feels exactly the same as the Combat package gun.



Honestly the trigger job is worth it. Not sure about the rest of the package.

I just sent my 66-4 off to Marc at Gemini Customs. I’m going a bit further than just an action job however. This will be my 5th gun from Marc and can’t recommend him enough.

Yes, Marc does such great work on revolvers!
I've had him do the treatment to two different Ruger SP101 revolvers, but never had him work on a S&W.

I'll be sure to keep an eye out for your posting on this forum with the finished product from Gemini

I'm looking to keep the cost down on this revolver and so decided on the factory treatment, though I am considering Nelson Ford and seeing what his timeframes are looking like.

I actually heard from Nelson Ford a couple of weeks ago before I made the decision to send it to Marc and for what I was looking for, he quoted about 3 months. Dave was about 4-5 if I recall correctly.

I don’t have any experience with the Performance Center on revolvers. But I bought a Performance Center M&P CORE for a target gun. Its trigger was absolute garbage. After long phone conversations and two trips back to the factory I had to put an Apex Trigger in it. I felt like if my gun was ever in the Performance Center; it never got off the cart. I still buy S&W handguns, just not paying extra for PC guns.

Bead blast is personal preference. If it’s a carry gun it will get holster wear marks that are more noticeable than just the stainless finish. If you get scratches or marks in a plain stainless finish, they are very easy to return them to a new look. Not so much if you have to have it reblasted. None of that really matters if its a range gun.

How much price difference is there between the factory and one of well know revolvers guru’s of today?