Factory refinished pre-27

[Mblhopo]

Looking at my pre-27 ser# S-129595 [I think 1954] The bluing looks like a new gun. I think maybe a factory refinish, but the only stampings on the gun is a B on the left grip frame and on the inside of the ejector rod shroud...How does the factory stamp guns that have been sent in for a factory refinish and do they ever change the way they stamp them over the years....Thanks in advance...…………………………………….M*

 

[Art Doc]

Could be a star on the butt or a service date on left grip frame under stock panel like 6.75 meaning June of 1975.

 

[gmborkovic]

Hello Mr. hopo, what barrel length? Any goodies with it. Or a shooter/range
gun? I like pre-27.

 

[murphydog]

Photos would help here, but if the bluing looks like a new gun...maybe it is original?

The other stamping option for a factory refinish in this case would be the letters "R-Bi" (refinish, bright blue) in a rectangle, usually with a date stamp as Art mentioned above.

 

[Mblhopo]

If it were done somewhere besides the factory, like Fords refinishing would it have any stampings at all anywhere on the gun...……………………………….M*

 

[Mblhopo]

Hello Mr. hopo, what barrel length? Any goodies with it. Or a shooter/range
gun? I like pre-27.

3.5 barrel....no goodies

 

[murphydog]

If it were done somewhere besides the factory, like Fords refinishing would it have any stampings at all anywhere on the gun...……………………………….M*

You would have to ask Ford's, but I have not read anyone reporting they stamp their refinished guns.

 

[Mblhopo]

thought it looked to good for a gun that old. The bluing looks as good as my other Smiths that are some new in the box...……………………………………..M*

 

[22hipower]

You might want to look at this thread from a week or so ago. Pretty much the story you have except this one has the R-Bi and date of return to the factory stamps. Might want to look at the barrel comments in this post too and compare to the one you're looking at. Good luck.

http://smith-wessonforum.com/s-w-ha...-3-5-inch-refinish.html?579125=#post140289036

Jeff
SWCA #1457

 

[RKmesa]

If the 3.5"er has the original finish and it is in good shape - it would look better than the finish that the factory is currently turning out. The .357 Magnum factory finish of the 1950's was very nice and it holds up extremely well if treated the way it should be treated...

Here's one of mine with a factory original finish:





and a 6"er...

 

[beagleye]

Don't assume that if it looks too good, it can't be original. It could be. Some guns were just stored. "Inspect, don't reject!"

 

[Mrnurse]

Fords will not stamp the weapon.

 

[rct269]

Yes the factory marks guns returned for service.

Yes the marks have changed over the years.

You have no marks. If you suspect the absence of any markings is a mistake of some sort, you are in need of help from any and everybody---preferably a medical professional---better yet one who knows something about guns.

Given the mention of Fords as a possible refinisher of your gun, know that their "Master Blue" is noticeably superior to a factory finish---superior in the form of a higher polish---done entirely by hand. It is different in the form of a darker color. The bottom line is you can spot a Fords' Master Blue job across a good sized room.

Beyond that, count your blessings---and take the gun home with you----do it now!!

Ralph Tremaine

 

[hkcavalier]

Yes the factory marks guns returned for service.

Yes the marks have changed over the years.

You have no marks. If you suspect the absence of any markings is a mistake of some sort, you are in need of help from any and everybody---preferably a medical professional---better yet one who knows something about guns.

Given the mention of Fords as a possible refinisher of your gun, know that their "Master Blue" is noticeably superior to a factory finish---superior in the form of a higher polish---done entirely by hand. It is different in the form of a darker color. The bottom line is you can spot a Fords' Master Blue job across a good sized room.

Beyond that, count your blessings---and take the gun home with you----do it now!!

Ralph Tremaine

Yes! I believe that old phrase about a gift horse is apropos here.

 

[Nightowl]

There are some "tells" to look for if you suspect a reblue. These are the things I have learned here on the forum. One thing to look for is the end of the ejector rod. The factory fits this part and it is generally filed and an original will be in the white. A reblue will most often be blued. Look for rounded edges, especially lead into the stop notches and the stop notches, flutes of the cylinder, dishing of sideplate screws and especially the fit of the sideplate. Look for a rounded sideplate seam. Sometimes the whole gun just looks "soft", not like a new gun (hard to explain this one). Sometimes the hammer and trigger are reblued too, that is pretty much a dead giveaway. I have also seen a few guns that looked like they had pitting under the blue, so just look it over carefully. It may just be original.
Other folks probably have more and better things to look for and I hope they can add something here.

 

[Doc44]

A B stamped in the extractor rod shroud and on the lower left hand corner of the grip frame means the revolver was originally finished in bright blue. I have a couple of 1950 44 Targets and a very early 44 Magnum stamped exactly the same (none are refinished). Some revolvers look "new" after sixty plus years, yours may be one of them.

Bill

 

[ben_g1]

If it were done somewhere besides the factory, like Fords refinishing would it have any stampings at all anywhere on the gun...……………………………….M*

Fords does not stamp their re-finished guns. Fords finished guns are easy to spot as the polish is finer than the factory's.

I don't think S&W stamps guns they re-finish anymore. Not sure when they stopped, but I had one I sent them around 3 years ago and it was not stamped with any re-finish stamping as in the past.

Here's a Fords Master Blue job on a pre 29, not sure the depth of the high polish will show up in pictures (especially mine )

 

[Doc44]

I had a S&W engraved and refinished by S&W in 2003. No markings to indicate anything was done.

Bill