Reblue a Triplelock?

[Onomea]

Here's a TL that I had restored by Gene Williams:

I was in too much of a hurry, tho, as it turned out to be originally a nickel finish:

I think if the condition is as poor as mine was, and you don't intend to try to recoup your restoration costs, have at it! The process itself, learning about the gun, and the restoration procedures, the choices that we make, is a lot of fun in itself. This project entertained me for a number of months, and I enjoy shooting the gun as well.

 

[The Virginian]

OMG!!!!!!!!!!!!!! That is an awesome restoration and I can't wait to send my guns to Mr. Williams next year!! In this case who cares about originality and collector value, that gun looks perfect!

 

[10-12]

Since the original finish is gone anyway--I would leave it as is if you like it, and restore the stocks (carefully). The other alternative would be to pull out all the stops and have someone like Ford's give it the full treatment. From what I have seen, they can do beautiful work.

+1

I am one of those who is loath to refinish any older S&W which might have a story attached to it regardless of how little finish remains. On the other hand, once the original finish is lost by the gun having been refinished then another refinish won't hurt a thing. If I owned that Triple Lock of yours I'd try to get it refinished to match the original as closely as possible.

Just my opinion.

Bill

 

[VonFatman]

I had a M&P 1905 4th Change that had been re-re blued by the time I got it. It looked horrible. I figured the gun's "value" issue was non-existent so what the heck, I sent it off to be re-blued.

It came back beautiful. BUT as others have remarked, the stampings washed and the edges were rounded a bit further. Additional re-blues DO downgrade the gun's stampings and sharp edges...it can't be helped.

No problem for a designated range gun/shooter.

However, I'm WAY upside down in a gun that I'm still not crazy about even after the re-blue.

If I had it to do over again, I'd have left it the way it was.

I think Mike is correct in his judgment regarding your question.

Just my .02

Oh, and I'm not dog'n the blueing work as it looks as nice as a re-re-re blue can. I'm just lamenting my choice to throw good money after bad on a gun I had no real reason to "upgrade".

Bob

 

[g17]

Originally posted by moosedog:
I have never seen a triple lock sell for $300 or $450 in any condition in the last decade, regardless of finish.
Whats the matter with the current bluing?

+1

 

[glypnir]

I like guns with character myself. I'm happy to let the "collectors" fight over the shiny unblemished ones. I don't have the personality to give those the care they probably deserve.

Or the personality to be really impressed by them.

I kind of like it that people who don't know better have been known to think that our RM is a "junky old pistol"

I enjoy all these refinishing discussions. They are not as acrimonious as some of the authenticity discussions get, and it's interesting to see the variations in taste.

I agree with all the comments about refinishing not being an economically viable proposition. My minor collecting efforts are not economically viable.

Being a damn liberal, I don't require everything to be blessed by the marketplace.

I'm just having fun.