Gold lettering on barrel?

[MarkHayden]

My recently acquired pre-Model 27 has gold-painted stampings on its barrel, the “Smith & Wesson” on the left side and “S&W 357 Magnum” on the right. Was this applied by the factory, or in somebody’s garage?

Thanks again the your input.

Mark

 

[SnidelyWhiplash]

That's usually done with a gold grease pencil to make the lettering stand out for photos or simply in an attempt to enhance its looks.

 

[GaryinOKC]

laquer pencil sold by brownells among other places.

 

[Birdhunter6]

Many people did that 40 years ago.

Solvent & an old tooth brush should bring it back to original.

 

[Retired W4]

Acetone should remove it without harming the blue, if you wish.

 

[gwpercle]

Acetone should remove it without harming the blue, if you wish.

The acetone and a tooth brush , a light scrubbing and it will all go away .
Finger Nail Polish Remover may also work if you don't have any Acetone on hand !

That fad and filling the letters with white paint was popular for awhile ... I never cared for the "look" ... but , to each ... his own !
Gary

 

[Bald1]

I just spent an hr cleaning that off a 2” 10-5. Nail polish remover, tooth brush, tooth picks and a pin. But be careful with pin that you don’t scratch finish under the gold. Also the stiffer the tooth brush the better. Mine did not clean up easily but it did clean up. Be careful and be patient. Also good lighting helps

 

[MarkHayden]

Thank you everyone for your suggestions. I’ll be that guy in the garage with some acetone and my wife’s toothbrush…

Mark

 

[Truckman]

I'm working on cleaning the paint out of two today - white paint in a Model 520 came out fairly easy, but the gold in a 29-2 is a little tougher......Ben

 

[DWalt]

Some applied white to the stampings to make them more visible in photographs. White marking pencils or crayons will work. As mentioned earlier, Acetone or MEK will remove the filling.

 

[Retired W4]

Nail polish remover contains acetone but the full strength stuff is much better

 

[Kinman]

I have an older friend that makes a habit of doing that to every Thompson Center barrel in his extensive collection. He likes doing it and it truly causes no harm and as has been mentioned is easily removed with acetone with zero harm to your finish, be wary though if there were some cold blue applied before hand it could effect that. As our eyes age with the rest of us, some like my friend like the way the gold makes the lettering stand out, thus making it a bit easier to make out what is written. He does have an extensive collection with multiple barrels in different lengths and caliber and so does have some merit for him.

 

[Alk8944]

I posted this in the "Yellow Filled Roll Stamps" thread on December, 30. This question seems to come up about once a week if you pay attention!:


"If the lettering fill is gold colored it is probably "Bonanza Gold", still sold by Forster, the reloading manufacturer. There is also "Bonanza Silver" from the same source. They consist of a clear lacquer with either silver of gold colored "Bronzing Powder. They are easy to apply or to remove and do no harm to the gun. These products have been available since at least the 1950s, and at one time were quite popular. To call filling of the roll-marks "vandalism" is, at best, silly! People fill the lettering on their guns for any of several reasons, all legitimate!

In addition to these two products There are also paint sticks available in many colors. The most frequently seen are white and red, although yellow, orange and other colors are available.

Besides filling the lettering "Bonanza Gold" can be used to fill the top half of the serrations of the Baughman type front sights. This creates an effect similar to having a square gold bead installed in the sight. This is quite durable and easily renewed if it wears off."
___________

 

[diyj98]

I purchased a 3" barreled 36 at an auction that was listed as refinished.
When it arrived it was the original finish but someone had filled in the lettering with gold. The gold came right off with Hoppe's 9 and a toothbrush.

 

[bdGreen]

I did this for the hands-on experience.
I don't have a problem with people doing that.

I kinda like it on the Glock, giving it that 'billboad' affect.

I do own one Smith and Wesson that was gold filled at the factory. It was a special order.

bdGreen

 

[stansdds]

It's actually great for a simple, relatively inexpensive, and completely reversible way to doll up a firearm. As mentioned, acetone will remove the gold material without harming the underlying blued finish.

 

[rck281]

Bonanza used to sell Gold and Silver paste that would be applied to the lettering. Takes a while to remove.

 

[2152hq]

Acetone while loosening and then allowing you to scrub the colored mtr'l out of the lettering,,using a plain regular toothbrush may bring you added problems.
Acetone disolves (melts) many plastics,,common toothbrushes being one of them.

Not all of them are effected in that way, but many are. Maybe it depends on where in China & likey from what exact plastic or nylon the brush gets mfg'rd of.

So scrubbing the surface with the acetone soaked toothbrush may start to lay down onto the metal a heavy coating of the plastic that the brush is made of.
That right over and even mixed with the colored product that is softened as well.

It can all be cleaned up of course with more acetone on just a clean cloth minus the further use of that particular toothbrush or any other that has the tendency to disolve in acetone.

But you might want to trial run any particular brush with some acetone first on a plain metal surface like a tin can top just to see if the plastic disolves onto it before attacking the firearms parts.

The M16 cleaning brushes commonly called and looking like a toothbrush are chemicaly resistant to acetone FWIW.

 

[rct269]

The factory did this on the low rent version of the 125th anniversary commemorative----filled in gold on the special stamping on the sideplate. I say "gold", whatever it was it came right off with Hoppes.

Like I said, it was on the low rent version. Now the high rent version, Class A engraved if I recall correctly, appeared to have been done with a machine----and done in a hurry!!

Yeah, I know---I should'a known better! I was younger then---and dumber!

Ralph Tremaine

 

[gwpercle]

Thank you everyone for your suggestions. I’ll be that guy in the garage with some acetone and my wife’s toothbrush…

Mark

Wash it real good ...
Slip it back in the toothbrush holder ...
And she will never know !

Only funning you ... better to use your own toothbrush !!!
Gary