Can a Model 317 be refinished?

[Moon]

I picked up a used M317 the other day.
The finish around the grip has corrosion. There are scattered freckles of finish flaking off all over the gun.
Can these aluminum guns be refinished by S&W? Maybe somewhere else?

 

[s&wchad]

I'm pretty sure S&W won't refinish them.

 

[Hapworth]

Anodized finish, yes? It's not unheard of to re-anodize, but there are significant caveats to re-doing it because anodizing bonds with the aluminum and to redo it the old anodizing has to be blasted off, which takes metal with it and can affect dimensions.

I agree with s&wchad that S&W won't do it, and a place that will needs to have an excellent reputation working specifically with firearms. It'll significantly increase what you paid for the firearm while likely adding nothing to its monetary value, if not diminishing it.

What's your intention with the gun? If it's going to be a worker, I'd clean it, maintain it and leave things be. If you want easy added protection, Cerakote or something similar. But it's uncommon that it's worth re-anodizing a firearm, I think.

 

[Moon]

The gun will be used as a shooter.
I can live with the speckles but there is one area that has active corrosion.
I don't know much about refinishing so I am open to any refinish that protects the gun.

 

[gwpercle]

The "finish" on my silver air-lite appears to be some sort of thin "silver paint " ...
I don't know if I would call it much of a finish . It isn't anodizing that's for sure !
One silver 317 after being submerged for weeks in Flood Waters and saoked in Ed's Red Gun Solvent ... lost a few patches of that "finish".
I would be tempted (if the gun is silver ) to clean off the corrosion and give those areas a Clear Coat of spray on ...
Rust-Oleum makes a good clear coat and automotive paints have many clear coats that are quite tough ... Just clear coat the exterior parts .

A thin spray on clear coat can be easy to apply , not too expensive and easy to redo if it wears off .
The automotive clear coats can be very durable ... Do you know anyone in the Paint & Body shop buisness ... that would be an easy job if you did the masking ... he could hit it with the paint spray gun .
Gary

 

[s&wchad]

Aluminum can't rust, but it will oxidize. The oxidation can only go so deep, because it acts to protect the metal underneath. You could gently clean the surface with a soft cloth and some CLP and then wax it, but it's really not necessary.

 

[Moon]

Good news.
Just got off the phone with Big Blue.
Person on the phone said the CAN refinish it.
Label on the way to me. Yay!
Bad news was 6-8 MONTH turnaround. Booooo.

 

[CAJUNLAWYER]

870 refinish
I'll send you my left over Rustoleum if you want to go the black route

 

[murphydog]

Good news.
Just got off the phone with Big Blue.
Person on the phone said the CAN refinish it.
Label on the way to me. Yay!
Bad news was 6-8 MONTH turnaround. Booooo.

I recently had a blue steel gun factory refinished. They quoted 6-9 months but it was back in 3. Under promise and over deliver.

 

[HardToHandle]

I have a 317 that was worn out, with significant patches of the original S&W paint-like finish missing.

After evaluating the options, I used the $20 Brownells Alumahyde. It is slow-cure epoxy in a half dozen colors. My 317 got the Stainless color, which looks similar to the original.

 

[cgt4570]

Great info! My wife, unbeknownst to me, left one of my 317 targets under her car seat for who knows how long, and it now has some finish issues.
I was considering Cerakote, but Alumahyde stainless sounds much better.

 

[.38SuperMan]

Pretty much anyone that Cerakotes can do it. The finish on my wife’s 317 was pretty rough and she had it Cerakoted. May not be your taste but she’s an artist and I personally like the look. When the finish on my 317 deteriorates I’ll probably have it refinished too. Not sure if the color though.

I had a couple of issues with the company that did hers and cans recommend them but I’m sure you can find someone.