19-4 With Rust Issues And Refinish?

[Inusuit]

If you decide on a refinish, Glenrock Blue in Glenrock, Wyoming has done excellent work for me on S&W revolvers. Had a M19 with a thumbprint sized blemish on the sideplate. Spoke to the owner, sent it in. Amazing match to the original finish. Also had them do a re-blue on a Model 15. Very nice work without overpolishing.

 

[StrawHat]

If you decide on a refinish, Glenrock Blue in Glenrock, Wyoming has done excellent work for me on S&W revolvers. Had a M19 with a thumbprint sized blemish on the sideplate. Spoke to the owner, sent it in. Amazing match to the original finish. Also had them do a re-blue on a Model 15. Very nice work without overpolishing.

Unfortunately, polishing will not remove those pits. They will need a proper machinist to attend to them. Or a good welder.

Kevin

 

[BC38]

Sorry about your family's loss, Love your wife, "like" your guns.

I had a friend come by with a similar situation, she was cleaning out her Father's truck and found a 19-6 in a leather holster, she said she tried to remove it but it was STUCK! She knew nothing about guns and was afraid to pull on it. Everyone here will wonder so I'll say yes, I over paid her in their time of need. The bore and chambers were bright, sharp and shiny. The cylinder, muzzle and area up the rib around the front sight were the problem areas. I knew the pits weren't going to polish out but the active rust had to be stopped. MOST polished off with oil and a rag. On the heavy areas I used a styrofoam fingernail polishing board (yes! I've found they work great on old guns) with plenty of oil of course.. on the REALLY heavy areas I used 3000 grit wet or dry, again plenty of oil. As everyone may imagine I had to go to WHITE, in the worst areas. Perfect? No, the outside never will be! But it shoots PERFECT

Got any pictures that you could post of the 19-6 - maybe some BEFORE & AFTER photos?
Just curious...

 

[BC38]

I would not consider a rebarrel making a different gun. You could pick up a used model 19 bbl in much better condition and have it installed without dealing with the pits.

A good suggestion - IF you can find an M19 barrel to swap.
From what I have seen over the last couple of years, M19 barrels with intact forcing cones have become pretty much unobtanium these days.
10 or 20 years ago, maybe, but these days, pretty hard to find from what I've seen and heard.
But I could be wrong - it surely wouldn't be the first time

 

[MajorD]

I would knock the rust off, just keep an eye on it and clean as needed. Good quality refinishing is extremely expensive these days, and will not add value to the gun. I have had guns with lots of blue wear down to exposed metal, and they never rusted. I am not real fussy about maintenance either. And used to live in a pretty high humidity area.
A good candidate for a simple working gun. Not pretty just effective.

 

[4K2022]

Got any pictures that you could post of the 19-6 - maybe some BEFORE & AFTER photos?
Just curious...

Just after, and I'm no photographer!
I'm sure many will cringe at my efforts, but this is by far the worst rust I've ever attempted to remove. I knew the owner and he was a little rusty himself, I think of him every time I look at this (his) gun.

Leather +Humidity = Disaster

 

[BC38]

Just after, and I'm no photographer!
I'm sure many will cringe at my efforts, but this is by far the worst rust I've ever attempted to remove. I knew the owner and he was a little rusty himself, I think of him every time I look at this (his) gun.

Leather +Humidity = Disaster

Looks like you killed the rust, and that's the most important thing. Nothing you can do about the pitting, but a good cold blue touch up will still make it look a LOT better. The pitted areas being bare steel really makes them stand out and a good cold blue touch up would make them much less noticeable.
Just one man's opinion.

 

[BSA1]

You cannot easily replace the missing metal where it is pitted so I would consider having it beadblasted and reblued. Bead or sand blasting will knock off all of the rust including the rust deep in the pits and help even out the metal.

While cold bluing looks good in pictures on Internet forums I have never seen it look that good in person. More of a 5' away look. In addition cold bluing wears off quickly from handling and holster wear.