28-2 polished Re-blue

[Model29-26.5]

I had posted about this 28–2 before.
Someone had a polish and re-blue to make it look like a 27.
Notice the site tang. It also has a white outline.
I looked under the grips and it did not say “RB” which to my knowledge means it was a factory reblue??
However, whoever did the red blue did a really great job, at least to my eyes.
I’m wondering who might have done this other than the factory?
I know Turnbull has a great reputation and so does Ford.
If I call Smith and Turnbull and Ford.. typically would they have a record of the serial number if it was one of them that did it?
Not a collector piece by any means , but an oddball that I really like.
I did have to put a shim in it for a little end shake that it had, but that took care of it nicely.
I’ll be taking it to the range again later this month. I haven’t shot this one in a while.

 

[Beemer-mark]

I've had a Mod 28 no dash I bought 20 or more years ago. Had been refinished (painted?0 when I bought it. Numbers and SN were crisp but it looked horrible. I got tired of looking at it and I had a local gunsmith reblue it and it looks more like the 27. Original - no, great to shoot and not be embarrassed at the local range - yes. Rebluing is all about the time and expertise in polishing.

 

[Retired W4]

If the plan was to make it look like a 27 they failed. The rear sight leaf is the standard N frame piece, not from a 28. Now that you fixed the end shake I say have fun and shoot it, as planned.

 

[Model29-26.5]

If the plan was to make it look like a 27 they failed. The rear sight leaf is the standard N frame piece, not from a 28. Now that you fixed the end shake I say have fun and shoot it, as planned.

Well, yeah. It was never gonna be a 27 because of the checkering anyway, but the polished finish came out really nicely.. I just wonder who did it

 

[stansdds]

Unless there is something truly unique done to the firearm, some sort of trademark stamp or initials, it's nearly impossible to determine when and where a firearm was refinished.

 

[Jim Watson]

I think there used to be more local shops doing fair to good or better bluing.
The guy who did mine was good to very good.

 

[Alk8944]

The more common re-finish mark applied by S&W is R-S in a cartouche. This signifies re-finish standard, which is blue.

 

[Beemer-mark]

Well, yeah. It was never gonna be a 27 because of the checkering anyway, but the polished finish came out really nicely.. I just wonder who did it

As my previous post a semi-local gunsmith did the reblueing. Charged $175. Small shop, old timer. Nothing really special about reblueing a gun. You need to have someone with experience in buffing and polishing. After that anyone can do the blueing, no special skill in that. So for your gun anybody could have done it.

 

[D1911]

I sent this old "S" prefix 28-2 back to the factory a bunch of years ago for a complete make-over. The gun belonged to a Deputy Sherrif and had been rode hard and put away wet. It was refinished somewhere in its past and the S&W stamp on the side plate was almost buffed out (The factory was able to re-stamp it!). I sent a NOS target trigger/hammer with it, and they also replaced the hand, cylinder stop, and all the springs. Had 'em put red ramp white outline sights on it and other than the checkered top strap, could pass for a 27. It now wears the Coke conversion grips in the last pic that Curt Harlow made for me. It's a neat piece.

 

[Model29-26.5]

Those look fabulous.
Great polish and blue and fabulous job by Curt.
Top notch craftsmanship all around.

 

[Model29-26.5]

As my previous post a semi-local gunsmith did the reblueing. Charged $175. Small shop, old timer. Nothing really special about reblueing a gun. You need to have someone with experience in buffing and polishing. After that anyone can do the blueing, no special skill in that. So for your gun anybody could have done it.

I feel the urge to try it on a real beater. Lots of practice on carbon steel pipes, flat surfaces, odd shapes etc first.
There is a local guy close to me in TN.. Scottie’s Gun Works.
I will pay him a visit next month.
Get some pointers and practice a lot before I make any attempts.