Any ID on this 52 Frame Weight? Who else turning plum?

[PatriotX]

Hi folks,

Acquired this 52-2 recently, and it came shod with the barrel weight seen in pics.

I don’t see any markings on it. Any idea who made this variety of weight?

Also, as one can see in pics, the slide is starting to plum up a bit. I’ve had a couple of Dan Wesson revolvers that went full plum. Is this common with this vintage of 52-2?

Thanks!

 

[PatriotX]

Bump for input

 

[505Gibbs]

I've never seen a weight for the 52 looking like that one! It's not factory for sure!!

 

[Mercury]

Some H&K P7's had slides that turned a plum color. IIRC, the cause was that the blueing salts or the temperature of the blueing solution caused them to eventually turn a plum color. While not ideal, I don't think there is anything to worry about or much to be done about it.

I'm not an expert on 52-2's so I cannot say how prevalent this is.

 

[Miami_JBT]

Rugers are known for turning plum. In fact, some people specifically hunt down plum colored Rugers.

 

[PatriotX]

Some H&K P7's had slides that turned a plum color. IIRC, the cause was that the blueing salts or the temperature of the blueing solution caused them to eventually turn a plum color. While not ideal, I don't think there is anything to worry about or much to be done about it.

I'm not an expert on 52-2's so I cannot say how prevalent this is.

Neat. I heard a similar tale in the Dan Wesson circles when I used to shoot a SuperMag.

Rugers are known for turning plum. In fact, some people specifically hunt down plum colored Rugers.

The color is not unattractive, just not one I’ve seen on a Smith before.

Since this is likely a process issue, I wonder if there’s an affected serial range?


I’ll keep poking around on that frame weight.

 

[madmikeb]

My 52-2 was one of the last ones made and it is turning plum.

 

[Sevens]

How “last ones” is your 52-2? Asking because I also have one of the last ones (TZT00xx) and it is not exhibiting any signs of the plum color.

As to the OP’s pistol, I have seen that aftermarket weight before on used 52’s but I don’t know who made it. And it has been my experience that YES, your 52 is in the range of 52’s that have gone or are apt to go plum.

 

[madmikeb]

Mine is a TDA, which is not listed in the SCSW 4th edition. I think I purchased it around 1990 and that fits with the prefixes that are listed in the SCSW. Given the limited production of these guns that puts it towards the end of production.

 

[Engine49guy]

Have a 29-3 from January 88 that has a plum colored barrel and cylinder but not the frame.
I have heard the plum color happens when using blueing salts beyond a certain point.

 

[stansdds]

The Model 39-2 that I owned in the late 80's had a distinctly plum tinted slide. My current Model 439 has a slight plum tint to it's blued finish.

 

[Rick H.]

I don't think there is any real rhyme or reason for bluing to turn to a plum color. Some do and some don't. I have had several S&W products that turned plum colored over time and in many instances it looked quite nice. I found several slides on older Smith's that turned plum color. I really like the plum color slide in Madmikeb's post above. Wish mine looked as nice.

Rick H