Backplate Damage on Pre-29
- Thread starter rom141
- Start date
This^^...
Many people put a lot of index finger pressure onto the right side of the cylinder as they press the thumb piece to unlatch it. That makes the cylinder 'pop' open so to speak.
It also makes the center pin hole in the frame elongate as the center pin is pushed open and clear as the pressure is applied to the cylinder.
The elongation pushes a burr up. The mechanic peens it back down.
Then smooths the surface with a needle file or stone.
Looks like a pointed needle file used here. or something close to that.
If you look very carefully especially in the second pic you can see 3 or 4 remains of the punch/peen marks under the file marks. All on the left side of the hole where a burr or elongation would be.
All the file/scratch marks come in from the left side as that is the only way to get at the surface recess without touching the raised area around it.
JMO, but it is not wear, it is user-caused damage, and looks to be of no consequence. If everything works right, I would hit it with some touch-up blue and forget about it.
Mr. 215, you nailed it! good eye. Did Bubba hurt the gun?
I dont think so, but pls. dont touch any of my guns.
I dont think so, but pls. dont touch any of my guns.
Walter Rego
Member
I have to agree with Mr. Lowe, when the .44 Magnum wasn't even known as a "pre-29" yet it was S&W's premier revolver and I cannot imagine it leaving the factory like that. There was undoubtedly a lot of pride involved among the fitters and assemblers who worked on the line that made that model and no way would it have passed inspection. And I can't imagine the customer who received it not sending it back with a nasty note either.
Carefully stone out the Bubba scratches moving in the direction of the original machine marks as much as possible and touch up with Oxpho Blue paste from Brownells.
OP
rom141
US Veteran
Thanks to everyone for your observations and reply's. After reading all of these and looking even more carefully with better magnification, I am inclined to agree with K Harris & 2152hq. A lot of folks agree that this is human caused mechanical damage and subsequent repair attempt(s). The "peen" marks are obvious and the filing as well once you think of it that way.
So lots of advice on how to possibly repair or at least minimize this effect on my own, but I am wondering if anyone knows what a truly professional smith would do and if it is worth trying to get this remedied since the rest of the gun is VERY pristine.
So lots of advice on how to possibly repair or at least minimize this effect on my own, but I am wondering if anyone knows what a truly professional smith would do and if it is worth trying to get this remedied since the rest of the gun is VERY pristine.
I wouldn't trust it to anyone but myself. You'd be lucky to find someone to do it for you, it's takes time and time is money, more than you'd probably want to pay money to have fixed.
I am in the user caused damage corner a file or possibly a stone. As to "fixing" perhaps some careful dressing down with small folded pieces of fine sandpaper starting with say 180 grit up to 1500 might help. Really unless it hinders function I might leave it be...
It'll need to be sanded with a small sanding block to keep from wallowing the flat surfaces.
Even just cold bluing will keep it from standing out like a sore thumb.
Even just cold bluing will keep it from standing out like a sore thumb.
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