1991 S&W 5906 - Factory Refinish and CS Experience

[ThirdGen9623]

I understand all the annoyance EXCEPT the magazine disconnect complaint.

You altered a factory design and then sent the pistol back to the manufacturer. Most any gun manufacturer in existence would do exactly the same thing (exactly) with one small exception… some of them would charge you for the replacement of the missing parts.

Same reason that you shouldn’t send a gun back to the manufacturer with any aftermarket grips or stocks either, because you might lose them.

Similarly, if you send an old-style Ruger Blackhawk for (any!) service at Ruger, they will put all the new safety related parts in to it. (word is that they do return the original guts, in a bag)

$175 sounds like a pretty good deal for a full bead-blast refinish on a 3rd Gen.

Eh, I’m a believer in a society where stupidity isn’t an excuse for companies to take on liability. Wishful thinking.

I also am a very detail-oriented person, so it’s annoying to find something I didn’t ask for was done anyway. If I had wanted that, I’d have asked them to do it.

In my view, I sent it to them in whatever state it was in and requested only that they refinish the firearm. I didn’t request any repairs or replacement. I *wish* we lived in a world where the company only did the work that was asked of them, but I *understand* that we live in a world where they replace the factory magazine disconnect purely so that I am not able to shoot myself out of negligence and sue them for not reinstalling the part later.

It’s a minor annoyance. Let’s just hope I can get the sight drifted to remove it without damaging the brand new finish…

 

[ThirdGen9623]

I sympathize with your wait time and communication problems but the bottom line is that your 5906 looks great! They did a good job for a reasonable price.

That’s all that matters in the end right?

 

[ThirdGen9623]

I bet you'll be even more livid after a private smith takes a year to get your gun back to you...

I dropped an action off to get a barrel installed. Not a re-barrel, just a naked action. He had the barrel blank in stock. Not a caliber change, so no bolt face work. No bluing or finishing. He thought maybe 6 weeks.

It was a year...

Wow, that’s unacceptable. Rest assured, I’ll be holding them to whatever time they quote me. If it’s not done in that time, they give it back and don’t get any money. Thankfully the gunsmith I’m using seems fairly transparent and truthful about their turnaround times.

If not, I guess it’ll have to go back to S&W for another 9-month runaround!

 

[dsf]

Ouch! I’d be livid. My 686 will most definitely be getting refinished by a private gunsmith.

Definitely your choice but don't be surprised if the finish isn't up to snuff. Going with whomever is a bit of a wild card, especially if one is anticipating something like "back to factory" standards. Don't be surprised if the wait time is longer than Smith's. Gunsmiths and Geologists have the same perception of time.

FWIW, it ought not be a surprise that Smith installed the mag disconnector. Sending a gun back to most makers would have the same result. Ruger is especially a PITA that way with their SA revolvers. At least the Smith is easy to reverse.

 

[shawn mccarver]

At the end of the day, Smith & Wesson is simply not going to return a pistol that does not have all of its original safety features.

The revolver equivalent of this would have been if the owner removed the side plate, took out the hammer block, then sent it back for refinish, and when returned, Smith & Wesson had installed a brand new hammer block.

There is no doubt that the presence or absence of a magazine disconnect is a controversial matter. That said, from the company standpoint, there is simply no controversy about how that pistol should leave the factory when it has been returned for maintenance of any kind, including a refinish.

 

[GaryS]

If you had told them you didn't want the magazine disconnect restored they would have refused the job. They, not you determine what the potential liability is for letting what they consider an improperly modified firearm leave the factory.

 

[Redcoat3340]

I've got a 59 that needs refinishing. I guess it ain't go'in to the PC now.

Anyone have any suggestions as to who does a good job, in reasonable time, at a fair price?

 

[KurtC]

They have to remove the sights in order to refinish the pistol. That would be a dead give away that the magazine disconnect plunger was missing.

 

[Trooper224]

No company is going to return a product with a disabled safety device. The mind boggles that this is even an expectation.

 

[rosewood]

The billing and shipping was the shipping department, not the gunsmiths. The gunsmiths did excellent work. Yes, S&W needs to have better staff in shipping.

As for the safety, I can totally see that happening. Likely the person that did the disassembly didn't do the bead blast. He stripped the gun, put all the parts in a bag or box or something while waiting, then when it came back from the blast, he reassembled. And it may be they have a standard small parts bag they install. When it came back, he reassembled and if new kit, he put everything in. If using same parts, noticed the mag disconnect was missing, so he put a new one in. I can totally see that happening. It was no disrespect to you. It really isn't hard taking it out yourself now. Drift rear site out, left to right, dump out the spring and plunger, drift site back in place.

Rosewood

 

[rosewood]

I've got a 59 that needs refinishing. I guess it ain't go'in to the PC now.

Anyone have any suggestions as to who does a good job, in reasonable time, at a fair price?

There are a couple of guys on this forum that do refinish work. Don't know there names off the top of my head. Someone else will chime in.

Rosewood

 

[rosewood]

As for a bead blast on stainless. I have less than the $175 in my total setup to do it myself (not counting my existing air compressor). Bought the blast cabinet from HF and the media from McMaster Carr. Have done several slides and a couple stainless frames.

Rosewood

 

[armorer951]

Glad you got it back safe and sound. I'm afraid we're stuck with these kinds of scenarios and reports until the company commits to fully funding and professionally staffing their repair/service facilities. My fear is that if this current situation prevails, shooters will begin to look elsewhere when considering a new firearm.

The good news about stainless steel is that it is a piece of cake to re-hab without the risk of shipping. and without all the aggravation and expense. Disassembly, soaking, cleaning and re-finishing is not a chore, and can be done without expensive tools and equipment.

Here's an old 5906 that was born March 6, 1992. A victim of an abusive PD and it's environment, it looked horrible when I got it. Heavy oxidation on the sights and under the grip, covered in horrible scratches and dings, full of gummy lubricants and shooting debris.

A couple of hours of hand labor, a silica shower, and approx $50 in replacement parts, including new grips, and voila, it's good as new.


Carter

 

[Michaelp57]

4006

With how good yours turned out, it seems worth it to do this with my 4006tsw, despite the time frame issue. Luckily my 4006tsw only ever sees range duty, so wait time won't matter much. It would just be cool to see it looking brand new.

 

[toddcfii]

Glad you got it back safe and sound. I'm afraid we're stuck with these kinds of scenarios and reports until the company commits to fully funding and professionally staffing their repair/service facilities. My fear is that if this current situation prevails, shooters will begin to look elsewhere when considering a new firearm.

The good news about stainless steel is that it is a piece of cake to re-hab without the risk of shipping. and without all the aggravation and expense. Disassembly, soaking, cleaning and re-finishing is not a chore, and can be done without expensive tools and equipment.

Here's an old 5906 that was born March 6, 1992. A victim of an abusive PD and it's environment, it looked horrible when I got it. Heavy oxidation on the sights and under the grip, covered in horrible scratches and dings, full of gummy lubricants and shooting debris.

A couple of hours of hand labor, a silica shower, and approx $50 in replacement parts, including new grips, and voila, it's good as new.


Carter

What is a silica shower?

 

[rosewood]

I think he means a bead blast with the proper blast media. Probably a slang term for "sand blast".

Rosewood

 

[scoobysnacker]

For those who do their own bead blasting, is there anything special you do regarding the engraving (serials, model and logo etc)? Or is that not really affected when you blast?

 

[armorer951]

The "silica shower" is just glass bead or sandblasting. I used to use a 60 mesh silica for blasting. it gives a slightly heavier texture when compared to the factory finish....which makes it just a bit more resistant to scratches.

The silica particles have a "rounded" profile similar to glass beads, but silica is much more affordable. "Black Beauty" or "Black Diamond" is much more aggressive, and has very sharp edges on the individual particles. Also, very inexpensive, compared to beads.

Glass beading, when done carefully and at the correct pressure, is not as hard on corners and markings in the gun surface, compared to machine buffing. Buffing is really an art form, and is much more difficult (and dangerous) than blasting.

If you try blasting, be sure to protect your eyes, and use an approved respirator or mask. Dust from the process is very dangerous to your lungs, as you can imagine.....so please be sure to use the proper equipment.



Carter

 

[fiasconva]

That’s all that matters in the end right?

I agree 100%. The results speak for themselves.

 

[rosewood]

For those who do their own bead blasting, is there anything special you do regarding the engraving (serials, model and logo etc)? Or is that not really affected when you blast?

If is rollmarked, it doesn't hurt it. If it is lasered on, then it will remove it. Something to consider before you blast. I want to blast my 4013tsw, but the writing is lasered on and the finish looks different, so I have left it alone. I did knock off the warning note on the side of my 1006 when I blasted it.

Rosewood