Refinished the Model 65

[r1_addict]

So I posted a little story how I got this little guy for $250.00 last week. It was in fairly decent shape had did have 25 years worth of handling marks and a nasty ding in the rear of the handle crown.

I was going to high polish it but decided after filing and wet sanding all of the imperfections out to bead blast it. I am happy with the results.

 

[Jlduke]

Nice. I wish I knew how to do that to mine.

 

[shawn mccarver]

So I posted a little story how I got this little guy for $250.00 last week. It was in fairly decent shape had did have 25 years worth of handling marks and a nasty ding in the rear of the handle crown.

I was going to high polish it but decided after filing and wet sanding all of the imperfections out to bead blast it. I am happy with the results.

To my way of thinking, a high polish finish on S&W stainless guns is an abomination. It is ordinarily so poorly done after-market that it just looks ridiculous. It leaves most people saying, well discount that gun by $300 or so because it has zero percent original finish left and will have to go back to S&W for a refinish to either the original satin or a bead blast.

The original satin finish is nice, but I actually prefer the bead blast finish, and the pictures certainly seem to show a job well done. Good show!

 

[Alnamvet68]

Satin or bead blast on stainless steel says no to pimp my gun...I never really understood the attraction to highly polished bumper chrome like nickel finishes.

 

[S&W Fan]

Very nice, I too am a fan of satin/bead finished stainless guns. My dad bought a 686 when they first came out. After owning for a bit to get used to it he sent it off to one of his favorite smiths for some trigger work & a satin finish, proper look for a stainless gun. I know have it, gave it to my older son but he wanted me to have it back, some day he'll get it again.

Enjoy that 65.

 

[DHart]

r1... the bead blast finish looks awesome!

A good bead blasting makes for a beautiful, though relatively fragile, finish. I have tended to baby my bead blasted finishes a fair bit for this reason.

With stainless, I am a firm believer in the practicality of the brush-polished finish, which is so easy for anyone to touch up, if need be, on their own. A little scotch-brite pad action can pretty much clean up a brush-polished finish and make a very worn gun look like new again.

The high polished finishes are, unfortunately, not so easy to touch up, and the bead blast finishes tend to show wear fairly quickly and easily.

I do love the looks of a good bead blasted finish, though they pretty much require a complete re-bead blasting to touch up any scuffs, scrapes, and minor scratches. For someone with the capability of doing their own bead blasting, this shouldn't be much of a big deal. To others, it can be more costly and involve the services of a gunsmith to redo.

 

[Poohgyrr]

Good price and pistol that you have - whatever that finish is, it looks good!

 

[r1_addict]

Thanks for all of the positive feedback. I finished all of my six Colt 1911's like this. I simply love this look. It is fairly simple because I bought my own blast cabinet a couple of years ago. I have been coerced into doing a few for my friends as well. It took me longer to find the cylinder lock detent and spring that went flying across the garage upon disassembly .

 

[DAinTX]

Looks great!

 

[STCM(SW)]

The only hand gun that has that look is my 1911 Kimber Pro carry II.
The M64 does have a polished finish. not going to change it.
M500 has a dull finish, but who cares..
Yours looks great!

 

[Wee Hooker]

Very nice. While I do have a soft spot for blued steel, I also love the ability to take a stainless gun and make it look new again.
Would you share your bead blast details? Media, pressure etc?

 

[Alnamvet68]

Here's a bead blast job on a Colt.....

​

 

[C Islander]

I'm a huge 65 fan. It looks great!!

 

[r1_addict]

That is a good question. I set my blaster to about 60psi and my media is very fine. I am not sure what the grit size is as it was in my cabinet at the time.

 

[DHart]

Thanks for all of the positive feedback. I finished all of my six Colt 1911's like this. I simply love this look. It is fairly simple because I bought my own blast cabinet a couple of years ago. I have been coerced into doing a few for my friends as well. It took me longer to find the cylinder lock detent and spring that went flying across the garage upon disassembly .

Nice that you can bead blast your stuff as needed! That makes all the difference in the practicality of having guns with that finish.

I especially love the combination of bead blast with polished surfaces on guns. I asked John Harrison to do that for me on this Colt he customized for me

 

[Jebus35745]

That came out real nice, Larry

 

[Hapworth]

I know some people love high polish and that's fine -- subjective tastes and to each their own.

As for me, I love a quality bead blast.

Well done.

 

[kbm6893]

For me, revolvers look better with a shine. I always use Mothers on stainless revolvers. For some reason, semi autos don't look right to me with a high polish.