I recently acquired a C series pre model 10. It has a green grey parkerized finish on it and all edges are sharp on its frame and lettering. It appears not to be refinished but I'm not familiar with a parkerized finish being offered other than military models. Has anyone seen this finish on an older Smith?
Parkerized Pre Model 10 snubby
- Thread starter MDARMS
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ronnie gore
Member
if it does not have any military markings, someone parkerized it them selfs or had someone do it, I have parkerized many old s&w that had no finish left. great finish but makes it just a shooter.
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It sounds to be an aftermarket finish, as blue and nickel were factory standard. Perhaps the previous owner just liked the appearance and had it done on a relatively new gun.
usnrigger
Member
we need photos.... Color on park can sometime give age of finish.
USNRigger
USNRigger
DWalt
Member
There are at least three different types of Parkerizing, and the finish color can range from a darker gray to near-black depending on the formulation. Sometimes older Parkerized guns will show a greenish cast. Parkerizing is a relatively simple process and can be done at home.
opoefc
US Veteran
True Parkerizing is a patented and copyrighted process. Similar DIY dull finishes abound and can be a variety of colors. S&W started Parkerizing some early Victory models and ran into the fact that it was a patented process that they had to pay a royalty to use, so they switched to their own dull finish they call by various names, "Sand Blast Blue", "Black Magic", "Midnight Black, " etc. I'm not aware of any S&W military contracts during the time the C series K frames were coming out, that specified Parkerizing, however any arsenal could have refinished a gun with the dull finish. Ed.
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DWalt
Member
"...own dull finish they call by various names, "Sand Blast Blue", "Black Magic" etc."
Those are actually hot blued finishes used prior to the phosphate finish, and after Carbonia bluing. The S&W proprietary wartime version of Parkerizing was apparently called "Military Midnight Black." Or so the factory letters say.
Those are actually hot blued finishes used prior to the phosphate finish, and after Carbonia bluing. The S&W proprietary wartime version of Parkerizing was apparently called "Military Midnight Black." Or so the factory letters say.
Thanks for all the input. Tried to get good pics but color clarity was poor. I was hoping it was factory because of the sharpness of the frame's edges and lettering. Still tempted to get a letter but since you all feel its probably just a shooter don't think it would be worth it. Would it add to the value regardless??
DWalt
Member
Unless the letter reveals some unlikely unusual information (such as that it was originally given a phosphate finish), I'd say it's not worthwhile to letter it. But it's your money.
mkk41
US Veteran
Pics and any markings would help. I have seen many S&W Victory's , pre-10s' , and 10's (as well as Colt's) in Navy armories that had been cut down to approx. 2in barrel length for issue to aircrewmen.
kwill1911
Member
As pointed out previously, factory letters are not consistent on terminology. All the following terms appear in factory letters for Victory Model revolvers:
"black magic finish"
"mid-night black finish"
"military midnight black finish"
"rough parkerized military finish"
To the OP: in the early 1950s there were some pre Model 10 revolvers shipped to the USMC without any martial markings. The original finish was blue but it could have been refurbished. The most likely explanation is that it is a civilian gun that has been parkerized but some pictures and the serial number would help us close in on the answer.
Regards,
Kevin Williams
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MD, try this:
http://smith-wessonforum.com/forum-office/78728-posting-photos-forum.html
Happy Thanksgiving!
http://smith-wessonforum.com/forum-office/78728-posting-photos-forum.html
Happy Thanksgiving!
hotrod150
Member
The quick & dirty way pto post photos is to reply, then click advanced. Then scroll down to manage attachments, click browse and find the hotos on your compyter that you want to post. Click select, click upload. The photos will show up on your post as thumbnails, which are small but can be clicked on to enlarge.
No photobucket etc required.
No photobucket etc required.
I tried this way and it wouldn't acknowledge the photo file said it was invalid??
If you have a couple good pictures, send them to me, and I'll post them for you.
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Mike Priwer
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Mike Priwer
Here are two pictures of this revolver.
Mike Priwer
Mike Priwer
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I will jump right out on a limb and be the first after the pictures to say that I think that finish is after-market. I stand ready to be corrected. Those with other views, feel free to jump in. . . .
It certainly looks that way. It is a C-series gun with the correct fish-hook hammer,
so it should be a late 1940's gun.
Mike Priwer
so it should be a late 1940's gun.
Mike Priwer
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