Anyone have an Airweight frame refinished?

[stem]

The finish on mine is still in great shape, but it's a matter of time before it gets mucked up I'm sure. Has anyone sent in your snub for a new coating other than factory? Ceracoat, anodized, or other aluminum alloy coating? I wouldn't mind having the frame done in black. The questions I have is do they strip it or tape, and the cost of doing this mod. Post pics please if you have them.

 

[Sixgun100]

I had a Colt Cobra refinished in TR Gunkote. Has proven to be very durable. Only wear is at the cylinder notches. Here is the website of the Gunsmith:
Firearm Refinish and Restoration

 

[Mark IV]

It took a good 4-5 years of regular pocket carry (in pocket holster) before I started seeing significant wear in the clear coat on my Airweight. By then, I'd lucked into a good trade offer, and let it go.
That Gunkote is pretty good stuff. I had an AK years back that came that way, and the stuff was highly resilient, I'm a fan now. I think S&W should consider something better to protect the alloy frames than what they're using now.
And, I'm thinking if this is going to be done right, the pistol should be fully disassembled and stripped, just taping it off and applying a new finish is probably gonna be visibly half-azzed.
For what little most of these are worth, I think it's better to just deal with it, and consider it a tool with unavoidable,honest wear.

 

[stem]

That makes sense. I would want is disassembled. I guess the cost wouldn't be worth it. Any searches I did came up with guns that looked like they were dipped in it. I saw a picture of a chiefs special once with a blued steel frame and stainless barrel and cylinder. What a gorgeous gun that was.

 

[HeyJoe]

ive seen photos of airweight guns where all the finish was taken off and it was polished up...looked good

 

[JK-linux]

Being as Airweight 38's are just about the cheapest centerfire revolvers S&W makes these days, and can be had used a dime for a dozen it seems, yet still seem to hold a decent used value, I'd be inclined to leave it as is and wear it in. When the finish got to where it really bothered me at some point, I'd probably sell my used one for ~$100 less than I originally paid for it in used-but-practically-new condition, and buy another used-but-practically-new specimen. All told, essentially $100 for a refinish without the wait or shipping.

 

[91B40]

Airweight clearcoat "finish"

My 642 has been pocket carried for many years. A good bit of the clearcoat is gone. Still shoots as good as it ever did and is still just as tight as when it was new. Beauty is as beauty does.

 

[tarheelbball]

I don't have any that are ready to be refinished but when I do CCR is who I'll be using. On the SIGForum there are pics of their work and customer service is top notch. They also disassemble & reassemble your firearm. And also I am not affiliated with them.

Cummings Custom Refinishing

 

[snowman.45]

I had a 340Sc that I sold to a young officer. Turns out, he couldn't qualify with it and asked if I wanted to buy it back a year or two later. He must have carried it, even though he hadn't been able to qualify with it because the finish was a total mess. I stripped the remaining finish off by hand and then used KG Gunkote to refinish it in titanium, which matched the titanium cylinder rather well. The finish held up quite well.

 

[Tachyon_01]

I stripped mine down to the aluminum and then polished it.