Ursoboostd
Member
What he said.
Hoppes #9 will damage the Governor!
- Thread starter Stainz
- Start date
What he said.
Bullzaye
US Veteran
I don't know for a fact or from personal experience...but according to a poster on another thread, S&W will not refinish a 442 or 642 under warranty because the finish was damaged by an ammoniated solvent, because the manual specifically states not to do so. They will refinish it on your dime, including shipping costs.
Tim
one eye joe
US Veteran
Pisgah, you ain't as tuff as your gun. I GARUNTEEEE drinkin' Hoppe's #9 will ruin your day, son..........
kbm6893
Member
That must be new because they refinished mine twice about 4-5 years ago. Free of charge all the way.
M2MikeGolf
US Veteran
Well then, S&W is just setting itself up for disaster if all that is true as I would guess that few know that Hoppe's contains "ammoniated solvents", or that it can damage the finish on all S&W models. It's been around for as long as most models of S&Ws (and many others) since the early part of the 20th Century. And I'm not "dismissing" models of S&Ws, but I am certainly calling into question a finish that is damaged by one of the very best solvents on the market. I've tried dozens of military grade and civilian solvents on just about any type of finish you can name, Hoppe's is hand's down the very best. If the Governor (or any other model for that matter) can't handle the best solvent around, then here's my version of the Governor; a seventy-five year old Sauer drilling; 16gax16gax8mm Mauser. Good for just about anything you might ever want to shoot from rats to elephants and guess what; it just loves Hoppe's!
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one eye joe
US Veteran
I've SOAKED blued and stainless Colts and S&Ws in Hoppe's #9 for days at a time w/o any problems. I have been doing this for decades. The "warning" not to use Hoppe's #9 on ANY S&W firearm is unwarranted. DO NOT use it on a nickel finish, it WILL ruin it.....
OP
Stainz
Member
I believe the broad brush vs touchup brush scenario I alluded to earlier is key here. Clearly, Hoppes #9 won't damage blued CS or uncoated SS firearms - history, yours, mine, and many others, has proven that. I'll continue it's use on my blued and uncoated SS firearms, but endeavor to use something 'safer' on my coated alloy and Melonite finished firearms. I certainly wouldn't want a sticky/gooey finish to detract some future archaeologist's 'WTH were they thinking?' remarks when he digs up my Governor...
Would the fellow who offered to drink his Hoppes #9 please contact the 'Darwin Awards Review Committee' before doing so? The entries for this year's awards have been slow...
Stainz
PS Perhaps the 'ammoniated solvents' were causal in my 625MG's (A 625-6 & -7 in .45 Colt.) barrel 'laser etching' fading... they predate the instruction manual caution. Will S&W re-etch them?
Would the fellow who offered to drink his Hoppes #9 please contact the 'Darwin Awards Review Committee' before doing so? The entries for this year's awards have been slow...
Stainz
PS Perhaps the 'ammoniated solvents' were causal in my 625MG's (A 625-6 & -7 in .45 Colt.) barrel 'laser etching' fading... they predate the instruction manual caution. Will S&W re-etch them?
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one eye joe
US Veteran
Stainz, I doubt that the Hoppe's had a part in obliterating the laser etching on your MG. The etching is VERY easily removed by the abrasion of normal wiping down over time. S&W WILL re-etch your MG for a fee........
Bullzaye
US Veteran
Your finish was damaged by Hoppes, or some other ammoniated solvent?
Yeah, as I'd said...this was second hand info from another poster. Not sure if he got bad info, or what. It may be true that S&W has and/or still will refinish 442/642s.
I just bought a used 642, and I guess I will avoid using Hoppes, just to be safe. Hopefully. I'll never discover firsthand what S&W's policy truly is on refinishing these.
Tim
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