I have a realllly nice Model 10 with a bull barrel. Unfortunately the only pimple on this Miss America is that there is some holster wear on the end of the barrel. I'd like to know if there are any easy fixes for this kind of problem. I guess the bigest part of the problem is my own limitations on repairs so I'd like to keep it as simple as possible. Re-bluing would be a real waste of money as the finish is really fine once you move up about 1/2 to 3/4 inch up the barrel. Can anyone offer any relatively simple solutions to this problem of mine? Thanks for listening, bib

There are quite a few cold-blue products available and they will make the gun look better in the short term. Unfortunately they will also all make the problem worse in the long run and damage whatever original finish they touch.

Either relax about it and enjoy the gun. After all, if you use it the gun will show even more wear over time. Either that or bite the bullet and have it re-finished. Yes, you will have more money in it than it will be worth, but the same applies to every new product we ever buy. Try buying a new car for $25,000 and see what you can sell it for a week later!

I heard if you shoot it a LOT it goes away....... :P

Leave it as is, that is what gives it character. Only safe queens are perfect.

Look at the barrel on this one, it will aways stay like this, Patrolman Donald A. Weir made it look like that.

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Dom

Carry the gun around in your hand, give up holsters. (Of course, that won't fix the current problem. Darn.)

When you draw it from the holster for competition the other competitors will see how nicely worn it is and assume you are a very experienced competitor and look up to you.

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H Richard
SWCA1967 SWHF244

I like my holster-worn guns. They have character, and I like having been the one to have put the wear on them. One should, of course, take special care to avoid rust and pitting on areas that have lost their finish, but otherwise, I think a gun that is carried should look the part.

If you intend to carry or shoot this gun, just leave it as is. The only reason I would re-blue it is if you wanted to turn it into a safe queen which is not my personal style. Any gun that is carried and shot often is going to developing some "honest wear". Some call it character, some call it a badge of honor, and some don't give a hoot. The cold bluing formulas are next to useless if the gun is going to be carried and fired, and if you spent the money to re-blue, it would soon happen once again in short order if the weapon is used and or carried with any regularity. If you want to permanently solve the problem, get a stainless revolver. The model 65 is a copy of the M10.


Regards,
chief38

I gave up worrying about "perfect finishes" a while back. Honest holster wear doesn't take away from the beauty of a S&W revolver. Unless you plan to refinish it then place it in the safe not to be touched except periodic fondling just shoot it and enjoy. Once it is refinished it is no longer truly a "safe queen" anyway.

Excellent advice! When you use cold blue, it looks exactly like somebody dabbed on some cold blue and it always looks worse than it did before IMHO.

I will second that! I have yet to find a cold blue that is worth the effort. In my shop I must have at least 6 or 7 different cold blue's and not a one of them even comes close to hot bluing. They have absolutely no permanence about them, and as stated above, they look like ****.

If someone out there has found a descent formula, PLEASE let me know because I have all but given up on the stuff.

chief38

Holster wear is not abuse. IMO, the only time someone should worry about it is for real collectables that are not to be fired.
Chris

No more need be said, as mine has wear that is really consistent with simply stated use. regards, bib

Oxphoblue creme seems to work well to touch up gun bluing. It seems to last too.