imperfect side plate seam

[yardboy]

I have two or three older p/r smiths in my collection and it appears
a previous owner has opened them up. The seam where the side
plate meets the frame looks a little scratched or jammed. Does it
affected the value of a revolver to have this imperfection? Can this
be polished out or improved? The revolvers function perfectly. A good
gunsmith told me the factory installed the side plate with a hammer
strike and this blemish could simply be a tool mark. Your thoughts
would be appreciated.

 

[yardboy]

your thoughts would be appreciated

 

[NE450No2]

yardboy

Pictures would help.

I have seen a bunch of S&W's new in the box where the sideplate seam is not "perfect" by a long shot.

Also I have a couple of S&W's that have been shot a lot in competition and I have removed the sideplates to clean them many times with no change in the "seam".

 

[handejector]

Pics of what you mean would help a lot.

 

[VM]

Close-up / detailed pictures would be helpful in answering your question.

 

[JSR III]

Unfortunately, there are folks out there that do not know how to remove a sideplate or stocks without making marks. It is possible that someone inexperienced removed the sideplate using the "pry" off method or it is also possible that someone tried to force fit a replacement sideplate with a sledge hammer. These pieces were hand fit in the factory and then the guns were finished. This is why on many older S&W's there is barely a visible line.

As mentioned, pictures would help...

 

[gjamison]

i have taken one side plate off and i will never do it again. i removed it wrong and had a hell of a time getting back on correctly. if i need something
done again i will send it to someone that knows...

 

[M28]

I have some P&R N-frames that I am fairly certain are NIB, most notably some 520's, with side plate seams which are less than stellar.

Brian~

 

[yardboy]

thanks for the comments friends.