Advice on 18-3

[Deadringer6]

My wife just recently inherited a Combat Masterpiece model 18 -3 from her father. The gun hasn't been fired but a couple time but..
It's been in a safe for about 5O year and the bluing is fading off above the trigger on both sides
Should we have it re blue. A friend suggested to have it parkerizied. Not sure what to do.
Also can you give us a year it was made?
Serial Number is 5K27520

 

[Rob613]

Leave it how it is, shoot it and enjoy it.

Probably 1972.

 

[JP@AK]

5K27520 is from 1973. In 1973, the 5K numbers ran from 5K6617 to 5K73962.

I agree with Rob613; leave it be.

 

[22hipower]

Post some pictures, let's see how bad the blue loss really is. The advice from most of us, most of the time, is don't have it refinished. And definitely not parkerized.

Jeff
SWCA #1457

 

[ken158]

Keep it oiled and leave it alone. It didn't loose bluing by being in a safe and only fired a few times. I suspect it was in a leather holster.

 

[Grayfox]

Another vote for leave it alone and enjoy it.
The Model 18s are my favorite S&W revolvers. You're gonna love it!

 

[MajorD]

Agree leave it be to but this in financial perspective, the gun as is is worth let's say $750 for example.
Pay $400 for a first class refinish and it is now worth
$650
Refinishing is a zero added value game almost exclusively

 

[Bald1]

I agree it probably spent time in a holster. Carried or stored. Oil it up and shoot it.

 

[Deadringer6]

Thanks all of you for replying to my question.
I'll try to post some photos.

 

[CajunBass]

Oil it and shoot it. Enjoy it.

I suppose, somewhere along the line, Smith and Wesson made a bad Model 18. However, not only have I never seen one, I've never heard of one.

Not even on the internet.

 

[dobegrant]

Lube it and leave it as is.

 

[Bruceboy]

I believe what you are looking at is the heat treatment not bluing. The hammer and trigger on most are heat treated, not blued. Please don't try and remove it.

Al

 

[Jeffrey A. Cooper]

Agree with all the above, shoot it and you'll love it.

 

[Engine49guy]

When I read the original post I was also picturing blueing loss on the frame but by the time I got to the bottom am going...Is he talking about the case coloring on the trigger?

Btw the way you can tell about how much use your gun is to examine the recoil shield .

 

[Retired W4]

When I read the original post I was also picturing blueing loss on the frame but by the time I got to the bottom am going...Is he talking about the case coloring on the trigger?

Btw the way you can tell about how much use your gun is to examine the recoil shield .

Yep, and the ejector rod.

 

[H Richard]

I agree, leave it alone, but instead of oil, I recommend using Renaissance Wax. It will clean, polish, and protect the bluing. Will keep fingerprints off, and make it just Look Good.