Does a simple S&W polish decrease value?

[Southern]

Have a great shooter Model 67 no dash from 1977 than is in good shape but was thinking of sending it in to S&W for a polish. Will doing so hurt it's value?

I'm asking because I know that refurbished guns can lose value, but I just want a polish.

 

[kennyb]

get a can of mothers mag polish or flitz and some elbow grease...it will polish right up and save you a lot of money..

 

[pistolairo]

If a polish job means fine tuning the trigger pull & release, Smith's come with a nice trigger already. I wouldn't pay extra for a trigger job thinking it will add $ value.

I think it would add value as a selling point, to help sell it and the value you would have shooting it. If the trigger pull is questionable and you paid less because of that, and you can't live with it the way it is you might get the money back you paid for the polish job, but I don't know what you paid for it.

I have a friend who is a trigger fanatic. He won't buy anything unless it has had trigger work done to it. He won't pay more for it either.

I on the other hand I like the factory trigger and won't pay extra for a trigger job either. I feel that some of the used pistols that have had trigger jobs have other concerns. I know that is not true with all fine revolvers out there.

Good Luck & I hope Your Concern Was with Trigger Jobs & Not Cleaning Your Pistol. That Would Be Another Subject.And I wouldn't have someone else polish my pistol! Later


Good Luck

 

[Art Doc]

How much is a 67 worth? Is this a rare gun? Are we talking thousands of dollars in value, here? Did you buy it as an investment?

I've never known anyone who sent a stainless gun back to S&W for polishing. With shipping I would guess you'll have $200-$300 invested in this. I polished my two stainless guns myself. All it cost was time and effort and I didn't see the M64 and M659 as rare collector pieces to be maintained in pristine condition or as valuable enough to spend several hundred dollars getting them polished by the factory.

 

[624 Fan]

I sent a 629 no dash in for polishing and it came back looking like new. If the polisher does not blur the stampings or sharp edges I can't see how anyone would even know it had been "refinished" so I don't see how it could effect the value. It's not so much a refinish (like a blued or nickeled gun would be) as just a refresh of the original finish.
I sent it back through my FFL and S&W charged me the wholesale refinish price and my FFL sent it for free, so I had about $60 in it total. Heck of a deal. If I wasn't in so good with my FFL he would have only charged $25-$30 to ship it considering they can use the US mail which is much cheaper than overnight Fedex or UPS.
If you polish it yourself and don't use the exact correct method/grit you will get it too shiny and it will stand out as non original and you will lose resale value.

 

[old bear]

Mothers Mag polish, and a old cotton T-shirt is all you need to polish your revolver.

The best way I have found is remove grips, using a small amount of Mothers gently start buffing your revolver. When your buffing rag turns black replace it with a clean rag.

Remember to start with a lite pressure, you can always take more off but you can't put it back on.

 

[Wee Hooker]

If the 67 had significant collectors value AND the polisher was overzealous so that lettering or edges got soft, then "YES" . Otherwise, "No"

Chances are your 67 is worth only $375+/- $50 anyway .
Additionally, the home Mothers mag polish remedy will work VERY well and minimize risk & cost if you take your time and skip the use of power tools.

 

[Southern]

OK, Mother's mag here I come.

Thanks for the replies

 

[rollin_hot]

OK, Mother's mag here I come.

Thanks for the replies

Something that I do is.....

I apply the Mothers while wearing a latex glove. I use my index finger in a circular motion. The polish does'nt have a chance to absorb into the latex and the abrasives have a chance of working better and in less time if you apply with a glove.

After I rub it in real good, to the point where the polish is literally black, I wipe the excess off and buff with a lint free cotton rag until no residue is transfering to the rag.

I repeat a few to several times depending on the gun.

If you use a rag to apply it, so much is wasted due to the polish absorbing into the rag intead of doing what its supposed to do on the gun.

One of my 629's after a few rubs.....




My Jovino after just one rub....

 

[stantheman86]

I don't concern myself with the cosmetic issues of a duty gun like a 67, but that's my opinion only. I've got plenty of PD trade-in stainless Smiths like 64's, etc. that are holster buffed, and scratched and I just leave them as is.

You won't hurt the value a bit, because a used 67 won't bring big dollars in any of our lifetimes, S&W made plenty of these. Some people even have old holster beat Model 10's parkerized and are able to re-sell them for a little more if the job is done right. There is no harm doing a little "refurb" on common guns.

 

[TDC]

As a long term collector I can see a problem with polishing, particularly with stainless pistols.

Much can be covered up cosmetically by polishing them and I expect some people will try to sell them as NIB or ANIB to the unaware. That will be especially true in the future with rare of high demand guns.

I believe polished firearms will be scrutinized much like repainted autos in the future. Buyers may wonder what potential abuse the repaint (or polishing) covers up and that could effect its value. It would for me....

My suggestion would be to take pictures of the gun before you polish. That is done with old autos to prove the new paint doesn't cover up any major damage or rust...

And remember, firearms that were considered uninspiring and noncollectable in the past (ie the Mod.58s and 28s) to name just two, are examples of how markets can change and you can find yourself with a very valuable firearm -- especially if it is pristine...

JMHO and 2c....