Speaking of Turnbull's as "Model 29 (etc.)" did, I too visited Turnbull's---and got an education. I wasn't all that happy at the outcome, but I done got edumacated!!
The Boss Lady and I are at a gun show at the Nashville Fairgrounds. She's there because there's also Antique Show in another building across the way---and I'm going to that with her---if I know what's good for me!!
Here's a .44 H.E. 4th Target in "Satin Blue"-----the funky finish. It is SLATHERED with oil!! A little voice screamed out RED ALERT---RED ALERT!! I asked the man if he had anything I could use to wipe the oil off, and surprisingly enough, he produced a roll of paper towels. I start wiping----at the wrong end! The Boss Lady is getting antsy, and say's "C'mon!! Let's GO!!" We went! I took the gun along with me because I needed one, the price was only $800, and what I'd wiped off so far was as new. The end of Chapter One is the cylinder has a turn line reminiscent of the Grand Canyon!!
I call Turnbull's when we get home. "Can you refinish a cylinder to match the rest of the gun?" "Yes."
We have a race coming up at Watkins Glen, and Turnbull's digs are 50 miles down the road. Race practice is over, and we're headed for Turnbull's.
We arrive, and tell the tale we got on the phone----Yes, we can do the deed to match. "Who told you THAT?!!" (I don't know.) "Well I'm in charge of the bluing, and I'm telling you we can't!!" I stay cool, and he calms down---and proceeds: "Bluing is a living thing. It reacts to its environment. Now we can reblue this cylinder and it will look like it did when it was new---50 years ago; but it won't look like the gun looks now!" He starts up again, and says, "We can do that cylinder fifty times, altering the several variables every time, and we MIGHT get a match twice-----how do you like those odds?!!" I allowed as how I didn't much care for them, and we headed back to the track---sadder but wiser.
I sent the whole gun back to the factory, who refinished the whole gun in Bright Blue----that in accord with the wishes of the fellow I was selling it to---for $1000. In addition to having it refinished thus, he asked me to ask S&W to omit any/all factory service/refinish markings. I told him I'd ask, but was pretty sure they wouldn't comply.
The end of this tale goes like so: They complied with my request-----with no comment/discussion/chit-chat of any kind----and he sold the gun as an original for $4000!!! So---should you happen upon a .44 H.E. 4th Target in Bright Blue that looks too good to be true, it's too good to be true!!
All this was 20 some odd years ago. I don't know what would happen today, but know that if it looks too good to be true, it could very well be just exactly THAT!!
And I ended up with another .44, that was sure enough original---but it took a while!
Ralph Tremaine
