Sam Casey
Member
Is it correct to assume that a stainless S&W that is highly polished is not likely to be an original factory finish?
Highly Polished Stainless???
- Thread starter Sam Casey
- Start date
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Very safe bet!!
ColbyBruce
Member
There is such an option available through the factory. I have a S&W 65-5 that is real shiny, though I am unsure if it came that way and do not have the box handy. On the right in the photo.
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There were a few (very few) first issue stainless guns that were polished. 99% are those polished by owners.
ColbyBruce
Member
My S&W 64 is my second shiniest stainless S&W; not quite as bright as the 65-5 but close.
BigBill
Absent Comrade
My first polished stainless revolver is a ruger vaquero in 45LC w/7 1/2" barrel. It's as pretty as a pumpkin. Discontinued of course.
when Colt offered their ultimate stainless people really took to it back in the day.Smith &Wesson went so far as to void a warranty if someone polished up their own Smith.Reason was the factory thought that polishing would harm the passivication process.Smith soon realized that the steel would always self passivate once it has been done initially ,so polishing would not affect it.The factory then offered a highly polished 629 full lug and a 686.in mirror polished stainless.This info I learned at Lew Horton's gun shop by a factory rep in Framingham.
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In my experience, yes. I'm no metallurgist, just a gun lover that's polished quite a few guns over the years. Never once had an issue. I've read elsewhere that stainless does self-passivate (not sure if that's the correct term) and since I've never seen rust on a polished area, it must be true. BTW, if climate is part of the equation, my experience came during 40 years in Colorado and 1 year in AZ.
I have discovered rusted stainless under grips, however. 99% of the time it's with rubber grips. That's always been surface rust, and I've never had any pitting. I guess I've always caught it in time.
Allen-frame
Member
bananaman
Member
I like shiny stainless revolvers, and have no problem buying 1 in most cases. I have a couple of satin stainless guns, and there is no bling. Myself I would only polish by hand. Don't plan on putting 1 on a buffing wheel, but that is me. Bob
6ForSure
Member
I've personally polished a few stainless Smiths to a mirror finish including an aluminum frame. In my experience I've never seen any corrosion at all. Even after being carried they never showed any signs of corrosion.
Tom_R
Member
If you polish them too much, you can't shoot +p.
At least that's what I read on the internet��
I like cleaning up them up and polishing them a bit.
This 629-1 was scratched up and dull.
It's not perfect, which is totally fine, but it cleaned up really nice.
At least that's what I read on the internet��
I like cleaning up them up and polishing them a bit.
This 629-1 was scratched up and dull.
It's not perfect, which is totally fine, but it cleaned up really nice.
6ForSure
Member
If you polish them too much, you can't shoot +p.
At least that's what I read on the internet��
I like cleaning up them up and polishing them a bit.
This 629-1 was scratched up and dull.
It's not perfect, which is totally fine, but it cleaned up really nice.
Very true, any Smith polished to a mirror finish should never ever under any circumstance fire +P
rburg
Member
Go back and read your SCSW, I don't care which edition. Just read what they have to say about the early M60s. You know, the first stainless guns. Those were the ones with the 409,000 and 410,000 serials. Guess how many of those were polished.
amazingflapjack
US Veteran
I've had a couple that were factory polished, and said so on the end tag. One was a 686 no dash.
6ForSure
Member
I wasn't serious, I thought I was clear. I've polished many SS Smiths
