dan500
Member
What's everyone's thoughts on having a SS revolver, say a 500 or even the 500 ES polished to a mirror finish. Help or hurt the value?
To Polish or Not to Polish?
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I think most here will say it doesn't help and may hurt. That said I have one or two SS S&Ws that have been polished and I'm ok with them. Wouldn't pay a premium for them though. Here's a polished 617 that the owner swore he bought brand new and is "S&W bright stainless" but I'm pretty sure he misremembered how it got that way.
Jeff
SWCA #1457
https://flic.kr/p/2pfiowZ https://www.flickr.com/photos/194934231@N03/
Jeff
SWCA #1457
https://flic.kr/p/2pfiowZ https://www.flickr.com/photos/194934231@N03/
65Whelen
Member
IMHO, polishing would be a detractor. That's just me. Vote of one.
While I have a couple of Polished S&W's, the value is usually in the "Original" finish.
I think most here will say it doesn't help and may hurt. That said I have one or two SS S&Ws that have been polished and I'm ok with them. Wouldn't pay a premium for them though. Here's a polished 617 that the owner swore he bought brand new and is "S&W bright stainless" but I'm pretty sure he misremembered how it got that way.
Jeff
SWCA #1457
Think it does look sharp. But to me, value is the bottom line
lppd4
Member
I would consider going the other way first, with a nice velvety glass bead blasted finish. Maybe performed by the S&W factory smiths. If I remember correctly its part of an action tune package.
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ACORN
Member
It will cost you to have it polished and decrease the value.
Paying someone who is skilled and talented to polish your revolver will cost money, then the revolver is actually worth less money since it no longer has its factory finish, so that makes little sense. You can polish it yourself and save money, but again, should you decide to part company with that revolver, it will be worth less than if you left it in factory form.
Shutthefrontdoor
Member
I've been told that if you want a shiny revolver to get a Colt.
AudieMurphy
Member
It all boils down to the owners preference, who care what others think, If buyers didnt want the shine S&W wouldnt offer nickle plating...it sells, also cant help but notice and read posters FIXATED on value/worth. Obviously every gun is a collectable...they never depreciate....LOL
AveragEd
Member
I dislike polished stainless guns but I was able to buy a mint-condition no-dash Model 67 for $300 because it had been polished. Another $115 restored the brushed stainless finish and I added a set of checkered target stocks from my collection. Guns are like old muscle cars - originality counts!
Ed
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rockquarry
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Wasted time and effort. Consider two things:
using that time wisely to become a more proficient shooter. That's what that dull finished revolver is for.
resale or trade time...the original finish will hold value better and be more desirable to prospective buyers.
using that time wisely to become a more proficient shooter. That's what that dull finished revolver is for.
resale or trade time...the original finish will hold value better and be more desirable to prospective buyers.
Autonomous
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Most of the polished guns I've seen ended up with wavey flats and lost definition of their edges and even lettering, A high end polisher would do better as well as cost more.
No thank you.
No thank you.
Inspector-Callahan
Member
I personally do not like polished metal finishes on my firearms, and do not own any nickel plated firearms either. I would avoid polishing for the 2 reasons mentioned above (reduces value, extra work to do), but also because it can remove the protective passivation coating from the surface of the metal and make it more prone to corrosion. That is the 3rd reason its unwise. BUT, as always, its your gun! Do as you like.
Simple Google search:
How to remove passivation coating?
What happens if mechanical finishing is done after ...
In short, any mechanical finishing (blasting, abrading, cutting, milling, turning) that removes even a very small amount of material from the surface of the substrate will remove the passive layer given from passivation processes on stainless.
Simple Google search:
How to remove passivation coating?
What happens if mechanical finishing is done after ...
In short, any mechanical finishing (blasting, abrading, cutting, milling, turning) that removes even a very small amount of material from the surface of the substrate will remove the passive layer given from passivation processes on stainless.
Bruceboy
Member
I only have one, a 686+ and one's enough.
Al
Al
Many of the stainless revolvers I have seen were polished to cover signs of abuse. A non-factory polished stainless revolver would have to be a real bargain before I'd buy it.
GypsmJim
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I have a nickel Model 19, and a high polish stainless Vaquero. Side by side the finish looks almost identical.
I also have several "regular" stainless revolvers, as they came from the factory. I have, on occasion, put a blemish on one of them, but a scotch brite pad seems to bring them back to original. Not like a blued handgun, which requires professional refurbishing.
I like high polish and I like "regular" SS. I also like blued. I could not care less about value, since it's MY collection and my heirs can worry about that.
However, I'm of the opinion that what I like is what I like and if I want a particular finish, I'll go out and get it, rather than modify something else.
I also have several "regular" stainless revolvers, as they came from the factory. I have, on occasion, put a blemish on one of them, but a scotch brite pad seems to bring them back to original. Not like a blued handgun, which requires professional refurbishing.
I like high polish and I like "regular" SS. I also like blued. I could not care less about value, since it's MY collection and my heirs can worry about that.
However, I'm of the opinion that what I like is what I like and if I want a particular finish, I'll go out and get it, rather than modify something else.
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It would hurt the value to me by the cost of a bead blast, plus a handling fee.
greenrunner
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