I have a 19-0 with a very worn finish. The finish is past the "honest wear" stage. There is not any pitting and mechanical condition is very good. I have entertained the idea of bead blast and blue. Does anyone have any opinions and or pictures of this treatment. Thanks in advance for your help and advice.
19-0 Bad finish
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Keeping in mind that whatever the cost would be will never be able to be recovered in the perceivable future, unless you are into the gun for very little. I can recommend a Metaloy type finish, as both attractive and for hard use. I had this 19-4 done several years ago, as I bought it for very little. It had been left in a damp gun-rug after a fire for several months. The pitting wasn't too deep, but was definitely there is several locations. I polished it out as best I could, and had it refinished. Cost me about $250 with shipping, as I had disassembled it for them and they did not reassemble it either.
A friend has a Mod 36 that had lots of carry wear bead blasted and then blued, and it was very nice looking, but continued to show more wear.
A friend has a Mod 36 that had lots of carry wear bead blasted and then blued, and it was very nice looking, but continued to show more wear.
You might want to first check the provenance of the gun. If there is something special
about where it was shipped, or to whom it was shipped, then you'd be miles ahead just
leaving it as it is. A factory letter will give you this informtion.
Assuming there is not special about its provenance, then its just an issue of personal
preference. As Richard points out, refinishing is not free, and it reduces the gun to have
zero percent original finish, which has an impact on its perceived collector value.
This question comes up frequently, and it always boils down to the same thing:
its your gun, and your money.
Mike Priwer
about where it was shipped, or to whom it was shipped, then you'd be miles ahead just
leaving it as it is. A factory letter will give you this informtion.
Assuming there is not special about its provenance, then its just an issue of personal
preference. As Richard points out, refinishing is not free, and it reduces the gun to have
zero percent original finish, which has an impact on its perceived collector value.
This question comes up frequently, and it always boils down to the same thing:
its your gun, and your money.
Mike Priwer
Thanks for the input. I realize that the cost for re-blue will not will not pay off. This 19-0 is about 1958/1959 mfg. The original Target stocks were replaced with later stocks. I plan to keep and pass on to later generation. There just something about pinned and recessed that I like. The action has been slicked up and the cylinder chamfered, which also kills collector value.
Three things I have learned from this forum;
All S&W's regardless of model, number produced and condition are collectables.
Refinishing any S&W regardless of model, number produced and condition destroys it's value.
You are foolish to spend any money refinishing your gun as there are always better ones out there.
I vote for whatever gives you the most pride in your gun.
All S&W's regardless of model, number produced and condition are collectables.
Refinishing any S&W regardless of model, number produced and condition destroys it's value.
You are foolish to spend any money refinishing your gun as there are always better ones out there.
I vote for whatever gives you the most pride in your gun.
Back in 1976, I took a 3 1/2" blue M27 and had it converted to .44 Special with a factory 1950 barrel. In 2005, I had the barrel cut to 5", a ramp front sight mounted, and then had it reblued. The barrel was a satin blue and the frame was of course bright blue.
Could I ever get my money out of it? Probably not, but I carried that revolver as a young deputy sheriff and policeman. I ain't young no more and it ain't for sale anyway.
It shot like a house afire when it was a 6 1/2" and cutting the barrel didn't change a thing.
Could I ever get my money out of it? Probably not, but I carried that revolver as a young deputy sheriff and policeman. I ain't young no more and it ain't for sale anyway.
It shot like a house afire when it was a 6 1/2" and cutting the barrel didn't change a thing.
Every point is true, with a caveat to the first one. All Pre MIM and P&R smiths are collectable. Lock guns, not so much!
As far as finish, what do you want to do with the gun? If it's a keeper and you want it real pretty, you could send it off to someone like Fords and have a super high polish finish put on it. If the gun is real special for you, think about having it engraved, as you'll end up with a nice refinish at the end of the work anyway. If you want it to continue to strictly be utilitarian, think about a Cerakote-like finish, the stuff is practically indestructable. Any way you go, with the exception of the engraving, you probably wouldn't get your money back out of it. If its a keeper, who cares?
BTW, I am firmly in the don't refinish camp. With that being said, I took my dads WSP Commemorative that was unfired but badly rusted and put a 3 1/2" barrel on it and had it reblued matte. I did end up getting a pristine Commemorative to replace his damaged one, though.
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