Mod 27; To Refinish or Not

[minconrevo]

A 4-screw blue Mod 27 followed me home. It did not come with factory grips, box or anything else, just the revolver. Mechanically it is very sound and shoots just fine. I bought it as a use gun, not a collectible.

Back in the 70's it returned to Springfield for a factory bright reblue; it is so marked on the frame. The S&W logo on the sideplate is even, but a little weak after the reblue. The rest of the markings are crisp, just as they left the factory .

The factory blue finish has problems, which manifest themselves as dozens of tiny rust spots, which can be barely felt with a fingernail.

I see three options:
1-Ignore the pits, which my smith thinks will eventually get bigger under the blue. Cost = lots of oil.
2-Reblue, either local or at S&W. Will not know how bad the pits are until the blue come off. Cost = around $175 local for a skilled bright, about $240 for S&W.
3-Locally paint coat. My local smith is very skilled in painting and does and exceptional job. Cost = about $150 for paint job.

What do I want to do?

 

[Markcuda]

What do I want to do?

Do what will make you happy.
You are the one spending the money, not us.
This is me, I like nice looking guns, some things I can live with, some things I can't.
When ever I buy a Smith revolver, I do not ever intend to sell, trade, or what ever.
With that said, I do not care what I have to spend to get one of my gun/guns looking good to my satisfaction.
The way I see it, I will always own them.

 

[alwslate]

I bought it as a use gun, not a collectible, you said. With one reblue
already it will never be mint, collectible. Another refinish is just going to weaken the logo and other markings even more. You want a use gun-shooter, I vote for the oil option. I doubt you will live long enough
to see it develop any serious rust. Paint it? Sell it first.

 

[b3337]

Either a S&W reblue or oil and shoot as is.I'd oil and shoot myself.
As alwslate stated "I doubt you will live long enough to see it develop any serious rust. Paint it? Sell it first."

 

[Engineer1911]

Shoot as is

The appearance/finish of the S&W was good enough to buy. That means it is good enough to shoot as is. Another refinish is not going to increase the value.

Spend $200 on ammo or reloading components and go shoot the M27. Get over the pimples. Put more lipstick on an old lady, and you still have an old lady, not a young hottie. You paint cars, not guns.

 

[gjamison]

if you think you want to restore the gun thats cool, i would do it if it's going to make you happy. i would not send it to s&w, send it to Fords. i think they are one of the best in the country.

Ford's Guns - Custom Refinished Guns and Desert Eagle Sights!

 

[brucev]

Buy oil. Spend the money on ammo. JMHO. Sincerely. brucev.

 

[S.B.]

if you think you want to restore the gun thats cool, i would do it if it's going to make you happy. i would not send it to s&w, send it to Fords. i think they are one of the best in the country.

Ford's Guns - Custom Refinished Guns and Desert Eagle Sights!

I no longer use Ford's! Do a websearch and makeup your own mind on this? My opinion is: you've already stated why you bought this gun so, if your of the same mind, shoot it as is and forget changing it into something it will never be again(factory new)? But, in the end you'll have make that decision yourself.
Steve

 

[Dave T]

This may offend but your "smith" saying it will only get worse sounds like someone looking for a refinish job.

It's solid and you bought it to use, so my advise would be do so. Any money you put into it will drive up the total investment, probably beyond its actual market value.

As others have said, it's your gun, do what you want with it.

Dave

 

[Markcuda]

S.B. how comes you don't like Ford's?
Spill the beans

 

[Hunt200]

If you got the cash, get it done. Send it to S&W, have them re-roll the trademark and refinish it. Then post a picture here and everyone will drool over it. I say your gun, your money do as you like.

 

[Markcuda]

If Ford's does bad work, I don't see the evidence here.
Customer Testimonials

 

[gjamison]

I no longer use Ford's! Do a websearch and makeup your own mind on this?


Steve

i did a websearch. all i found was good things about fords. i have restored 6 s&w with fords and never ever a problem. i think the only time people have problem is when they get the bill...

 

[Sgt 127]

Try a little Flitz. Gently buff up the rust spots. Keep changing the cloth so you don't wind up scratching the finish with old iron oxide you have already loosened. You can get rid of quite a bit of rust that way. You are correct, its already had one refinish, you are not going to hurt its value with another reblue, but, really, dumping another $200-300 into the gun doesn't make sense.

Unless you want it to be new and pretty for YOU. Then, its easy to justify and, I couldn't argue against it.

 

[acl864]

......................

 

[buckeyeshooter1]

oil and use

 

[minconrevo]

I'll give the light touch of Flitz a whirl. The rust spots are tiny, maybe the size of 1/2 a grain of salt, but there are a number of them on the exterior bright blue. None in cylinder, barrel, topside checkering, under the grips or in the lockwork. I wonder if the cause for the original re-blue was a dose of rust. The rust went after that otherwise pristine bright blue only.

 

[Centenniel]

Keep it, shoot it, and love it as it is. Please DON'T paint it!

 

[WVfishguy]

Keep it, shoot it, and love it as it is. Please DON'T paint it!

Ditto.
A Model 27 is perhaps the most beautiful revolver. I'd pay to get it re-blued. Painting such a beauty is a disturbing thought.
Forget the "collector value," it's already been re-blued. Lots of guns are re-blued more than once.

My 27-2 - immaculate, but I would have no qualms about re-bluing it.

 

[MR. IHC]

i just sent my model 28 to s&w and they told me it would cost $190 plus shipping