By request a write up on restoring a revolver.

[Hill536]

Well Semper Fi! Lots of effort and I see you saved the rollmarks, good job. One of my passions is to pick up orphan/disaster 1911’s and bring them back to serviceable pistols. I haven’t had to use 40 grit “yet” but creative use of a dremel, yes it does cost skin.

Interesting and good use of red dye on the flutes. Congrats!

 

[SparkyVolcano]

Smithsrevenge, exemplary work!

Do you reblue firearms? If so, what method do you use?

Thank you for sharing your beautiful work!

 

[lbdrummer3]

I like your 1,2, 3 points below. Most don't realize the value of 3. I've taken on projects to try to save them. Some are just too far gone but once in a while you get one like this.
Never thought cerakote was that difficult to remove either. Learned something there. Thanks for that.

hahaha actually The owner is a friend. He owns an auto shop. I did this for straight up labor to have him install a header back Borla Coursa exhaust on my car. I had already bought the exhaust So it cost him about $120 in time and labor.

Now historical restorations I charge $125 an hour. But things like this. I rarely charge anything. Because I get more than money out of it.

1. I get to rescue a gun that would otherwise be scrapped.
2. I get to put my name on it. Which as word of mouth goes, gets me a heck of a lot more business down the road.
3. I get experience and practice :-D

To me some things are worth more than money. And I truly enjoyed the restoration process and what I learned along the way :-D Like none of my blasting media will remove 6-8 layers of cerakote, so dont bother trying lol

The Ruger was $800. The $650 for the weapon through my FFL and a few hours labor to shine it up.

The AK, was $400, had to chrome plate it first and then buff the life out of it.

 

[MoBigAl]

Nice work and I appreciate your passion for saving a basket case.

But it's still a Taurus Judge.

 

[Taj]

I like gunsmithing too, but I also like getting paid for my efforts. I've spent much of my 40+ years as a gunsmith "fixing" other "gunsmith's" misguided or unskilled efforts. My shop did rust blue, color case and very often had to make parts from scratch, such as springs and ejectors for old double shotguns. Most of those customers never ask "how much" or "how long". It's often difficult to determine cost until a project is underway. Most of the customers I had understood the complexity of the undertaking and the hours absorbed to rust blue a set of double shotgun barrels or machining an ejector from bar stock. I really don't like working for free no matter how much I enjoy the work. Unfortunately folks that can do this kind of work are getting harder to find, but the customers that appreciate the skill and labor involved are becoming even more scarce.

 

[Smithsrevenge]

I like gunsmithing too, but I also like getting paid for my efforts. I've spent much of my 40+ years as a gunsmith "fixing" other "gunsmith's" misguided or unskilled efforts. My shop did rust blue, color case and very often had to make parts from scratch, such as springs and ejectors for old double shotguns. Most of those customers never ask "how much" or "how long". It's often difficult to determine cost until a project is underway. Most of the customers I had understood the complexity of the undertaking and the hours absorbed to rust blue a set of double shotgun barrels or machining an ejector from bar stock. I really don't like working for free no matter how much I enjoy the work. Unfortunately folks that can do this kind of work are getting harder to find, but the customers that appreciate the skill and labor involved are becoming even more scarce.

Most of my good customers are older guys. With SAA colts. 1911s, hi powers, Winchester 94s. Etc. They pay a premium. However. I got most of those customers by doing free work for their friends. The results spoke for themselves

I don't do much free work anymore. Except in rare cases. Young guys dad or gramps passes and his old gun is one day from death.....and they are broke...I'll do a resto pro bono.....or something extremely rare that I just can't let die haha