M29-2 question for the pros

[poprivit]

I've got a nickel 6.5 bbl Model 29-2 made somewhere between 1978 & 1979. Internals are just about perfect. Drag line is very faint. Kicker is that it was stored poorly and the nickel finish is peppered. Metal is fine just the finish is bad. What would you do with it?

 

[Doc44]

You have three options as I see it, namely, clean up the 44 Magnum with Flitz and (1) shoot it (2) sell it (3) have it refinished in nickel or bright blue and enjoy it.

Bill

 

[lihpster]

Polish it with Flitz or Mothers and shoot the snot out of it.

 

[310Pilot]

You have two options:

1) Leave it as is, but keep it oiled, waxed or otherwise preserved to prevent further rusting or,

2) gr8 it to a professional refinisher, such as Fords, to have it re-nickeled. Either way, you now have a shooter grade 29, it has no significant collectable value any more.

BTW, 29s of that vintage shipped with goncalo alves target stocks, rather than the magnas it is pictured with.9

 

[WH1]

Send it to Ford's for a great refinishing.

 

[6string]

Polishing with Flitz and keeping it oiled would be my choice if I wanted to keep it and shoot it.
If I wanted a higher condition 29-2, I would sell that one and add the several hundreds of dollars a refinish would cost and buy the nicer gun.

What I personally would NOT do is send it to Ford's. In your first photo there appears to be a dent in the cylinder. Possibly there are other marks elsewhere? So, that means a lot of metal prep work to get it ready for a new finish. In the case of Ford's, that means lots of ham-fisted buffing wheel work and the subsquent rounding of edges, dishing of screw holes, elimination of most flat surfaces, and the unsightly ruining of the sideplate to frame fit that is a hallmark of their overpriced work.
To a lot of "pros", as you call them, the result is an uglier gun that screams "Bubba was here, and he made a small fortune!", despite the shine.
Why spend hundreds of dollars for that?

Obviously, others feel differently. You can always try using the "search" function here on the forum, look at some refinishes, read the comments, and ultimately be your own judge.

 

[mchom]

I agree with the majority of comments. Just polish it and you may be surprised how much better it looks. I have read alarming stories here about Fords. I did use them in early 2013 to re-nickel a Heavy Duty. I believe this was in their "Better" days. They did a decent refinish (At that time) but...it is not a true restoration. Really not even close...

 

[stansdds]

Sadly, yours is not in a condition that would interest a collector and target stocks were standard on the Model 29, not the magna stocks pictured on yours. Refinishing it is going to cost a whole lot and when done, you will have far more money invested that it is worth. You can polish it gently with Flitz and a soft, cotton cloth, then apply wax (100% carnuba, Johnson's Paste Floor Wax, or Renaissance Wax) or oil it, then enjoy it as a shooter.

 

[cgt4570]

Big 45 Frontier Metal Cleaner | Remove Rust from Gun Bluing and Clean Dirty Gun Bores Easy!

This is a course metal wool that's softer than nickel or blue but harder than rust. Use it with lots of oil (I like Kroil) and very light pressure to remove anything you can 'feel' above the surface.
You can also use bronze wool (check with a magnet!). It's less aggressive.
Then use flannel and Flitze to make the discoloration much less noticeable.
Good luck!

 

[loc n load]

For reasons already assigned in previous posts, I would leave it as is, or clean it to the best of my ability, and then shoot it and enjoy it. I have A twin to your's, have owned it since the mid 80's and have carried it afield and shot it a lot.

 

[jglsprings]

I love a project…

I'd send it to Fords for some magic. I don't mind spending $$$ to restore. It's my hobby

 

[Dave.357]

If you want a safe queen buy one.
The one you have will be a great shooter but no mater
How much money you put in to it ,a original safe queen
will always bring more money.

 

[22hipower]

I'll offer another option. I have a 25-5 that looked the same way, the flitz effort helped but still left a lot to be desired. In my case the gun was originally blue with a poor nickel refinish. I've never been happy with guns I've had refinished so decided to make this one an engraving project. Progress is slow, removing the nickel is phase one and there aren't that many folks who do that work. It is at a shop, recommended here, having the nickel removed now and the engraving design is in the planning stage with the engraver. Probably a lot less expensive to sell yours and buy one you like, but you might consider the engraving option. At some point, likely not soon, I'll be back with the 25-5 with some scratches and a fresh French Grey finish. Good luck.

Jeff
SWCA #1457

 

[Laketime]

Polishing with Flitz and keeping it oiled would be my choice if I wanted to keep it and shoot it.
If I wanted a higher condition 29-2, I would sell that one and add the several hundreds of dollars a refinish would cost and buy the nicer gun.

What I personally would NOT do is send it to Ford's. In your first photo there appears to be a dent in the cylinder. Possibly there are other marks elsewhere? So, that means a lot of metal prep work to get it ready for a new finish. In the case of Ford's, that means lots of ham-fisted buffing wheel work and the subsquent rounding of edges, dishing of screw holes, elimination of most flat surfaces, and the unsightly ruining of the sideplate to frame fit that is a hallmark of their overpriced work.
To a lot of "pros", as you call them, the result is an uglier gun that screams "Bubba was here, and he made a small fortune!", despite the shine.
Why spend hundreds of dollars for that?

Obviously, others feel differently. You can always try using the "search" function here on the forum, look at some refinishes, read the comments, and ultimately be your own judge.

I've seen several pictures of Fords work right here.What are you talking about.

 

[STCM(SW)]

Looks on guns are like woman, how they look does not make them preform any better.......

 

[dsk]

In addition to the pitted finish it appears the case coloring on the hammer and trigger has worn off leaving the parts a grey patina.

 

[Inland7-45]

I have a 29-2 from the mid 60s that I got at a low price because the finish was damaged due to careless storage. There was no deep pitting but the finish was ruined. This was in the late 70s. I sent the gun back to the factory for a re nickel. It came out great. A refinish made sense because the damage to the original finish was extensive in as to how much of the finish was damaged.

I this case I would say try to clean up the finish first.

 

[raljr1]

I've seen several pictures of Fords work right here.What are you talking about.

6string seems to have an axe to grind with Ford's. He bashes them every time their name comes up.

I have not worked with them, so I cannot speak to their quality of work directly, but the photos I've seen of guns refinished by them look very good.

 

[chief38]

First I'd give it a Flitzing. If it was then acceptable to me, then that would be it. If not, then I would have to refinish it. Regardless of what some say - I don't care fer ugly guns. It this were a collectors item, then I'd think differently - but it is just a production piece in need of lipstick. If mechanically good (as you state) then after a quality refinish it would last a lifetime or two if properly cared for. IMHO even if it were refinished it would bring far more than if it were left in the present condition.

 

[Dave.357]

Price the refinish at a quality
Shop it may help you decide.
There is not a lot of shops
That do nickel.