I sent in a very rust covered 19-4 to S&W for refinishing. I got my note back and it said glass bead blue only option. Surprisingly the only parts that needed replaced are the hammer and trigger. I am assuming the glass bead blue is pretty flat. Does anyone have an example of this finish on an older revolver?

the price is 220 although the web page says 170

I think this will be the finish you are looking at.

I had this 19 given the Combat Action Package, which came with the bead blast blue.

Not sure what the cost for the full package is now but I will tell you if it isn't much more than the blue by itself you might consider it.

The action on this thing is like butter!

Not the greatest photo taker so sorry for that.

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My guess is that after rust removal, the surface is pitted to the point that polishing to a bright finish will not look very nice or will obliterate some of the roll markings. Pitted firearms do look better with a finish applied to a bead blasted surface.

Normally a bead blasted blue finish will be a dead flat black.

Just look at the top rib and sights of a revolver or the top of the slide on many autos.
These areas are finely bead blasted to give a non-reflective surface.

A heavy bead blasted blue looks like the Remington Express shotguns.
So, depending on how they do it, the gun is going to be a flat black.

The reason for giving your revolver a bead blast finish is likely because removal of the pits would require so much metal to be polished off it would leave major defects like dished out areas, rounded off edges, and irregular surfaces like lumpy looking areas like on the barrel.

In order to "remove" pits the all metal has to be reduced down to the bottom of the pit.
If it's not too badly pitted a Master polisher can work wonders, but when the pits are large and deep so much metal has to be removed the gun will look bad.

I had a Model 19-2 done in the bead blast finish about 20 years ago. It is a very, very good finish. I requested the finish because I didn't have the money for a high polish model 19 finish and because I wanted to shoot it and not worry about the finish. I am still satisfied with this finish. I think that you'll be pleased.

I own a bead blast blued .22 Masterpiece. Unexpected on such a turkey it had serial # matching excellent condition high horn Magna stocks. It's been around 10 years but it was about $250 at Cabela's. If both were in excellent condition the .22 Masterpiece would be more valuable than a 19-4 so maybe for the $220 you'll turn your 19-4 into a $250 gun. Hint. Hint.

I’d check with Fords before I let Smith refinish a 19-4.

Smith can’t reproduce the 19-4’s finish regardless of the condition of your gun: their current ‘bluing’ isn’t even close.

Fords is much more capable.

I don't get the hint. If you read the op the finish was in such poor condition that the only option is a bead blast finish. What it is turned into is immaterial at this point. I just wanted to know if someone had an example of this finish and someone was kind enough to do so. Now smith charges $280 even for a bead blast, at least that's what they charged me.

The hint was it's better to sell the gun you are not happy with and buy one that is what you want. However, It sounds like the decision was made so with that behind you enjoy your gun. My bead blast blued .22 Masterpiece shoots as good as new.

I have a friend who did his service Model 10 HB in glass bead at the factory. It was so nice that I wondered why S&W didn't do all of their service revolvers in that finish. Very handsome finish.

A cheaper option would be to blast and park it black.

If I remember correctly, S&W made an N frame 357 intended for duty use. It had a matte finish(bead blast?). I believe it was the Model 28

You’re correct M28 Highway Patrolman

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I sent 4 revolvers in to S&W, three for refinish and one for warranty, only the 19 was a problem. I did notice different names on the estimates.