I have inherited my Father and Grandfathers police revolvers. Oldest is nickel plated from mid 1920's and the other is blued and manufactured in 1949. I just had a conversation with the factory and was told that they don't work on anything older than 1959. Can anyone recommend a gunsmith? I would like to reblue the 1949 revolver and at least clean and polish the nickel 1920's revolver as well as check both for mechanical soundness. Thank you.
Refurbish/Restore
- Thread starter Joe Mac
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RGVshooter
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I've heard nothing but good things about Robar Firearm Finishes | Robar Guns
Inusuit
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To answer your question directly, Glenrock Blue in Glenrock WY has done amazing work on a couple of my S&W blued revolvers. The guns you describe are obviously family heirlooms. Were they mine, I would give some thought to cleaning them up, using Flitz Metal Polish or Mother's Mag Polish and a light hand to bring out the finish. Then a coat of Renaissance Wax or a Johnson's Paste Wax to protect the finish. Do this before you decide on a reblue or commercial polish of the nickel gun. I inherited a Colt Woodsman from my Dad. He carried it every day on the ranch for 50 years. It had cheap plastic grips. I replaced them with the correct checkered wood. Then it was not my Dad's gun anymore, and I put the plastic grips back on.
Whatever condition these guns are in, they probably earned it as your father and grandfather carried them. Just something to think about. Any competent local gunsmith should be able to function and safety check them for you.
Whatever condition these guns are in, they probably earned it as your father and grandfather carried them. Just something to think about. Any competent local gunsmith should be able to function and safety check them for you.
You've got a couple of pieces of family history there.
Those old guns earned any scratches and scrapes plumb honorable.
They would lose their history if you have them refinished. Clean them up, have them checked out if necessary, take them out and shoot them once in a while. Take your kids and grand kids along and share the experience and any stories you can tell about them and their former owners.
Those old guns earned any scratches and scrapes plumb honorable.
They would lose their history if you have them refinished. Clean them up, have them checked out if necessary, take them out and shoot them once in a while. Take your kids and grand kids along and share the experience and any stories you can tell about them and their former owners.
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I had my Grandfather's 1904 Winchester 22 LR single shot rifle reblued. Dumb, stupid, bad mistake and it can't be changed back to its used condition. Please don't refinish those revolvers, YOU WILL REGRET DOING IT ! !
I am curious as to why one would regret refinishing a family heirloom? Id like to know because I am thinking abut doing this to my fathers old .38.
A collector, I get. But something that wont be sold, just kept it seems harmless.
Arisin Wind
Member
It won't be the same afterwards. It won't look like your Dad's old .38 any more.
RGVshooter
Member
No, but it will last another generation to hand down. Speaking for myself, but I would really feel good if my offspring would love & cherish my firearms enough to refinish them for their kids to own some day instead of a neglected marred up "old gun".
jhnttrpp
Member
My grandfather was a carpenter. He built his first house at 15 his last one at 89. I have his pocket knife. The scales are marred and chipped and the largest blade has had the tip broken off and resharpened so many times it is round instead of pointed. If I replaced the blade and the scales it wouldn't be his knife any more. The places where his hands touched it day after day would be gone. He was born in 1898 and died in 1998. I can touch his hands any time I want. All I have to do is pick up his knife.
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Refinishing a family heirloom is a touchy subject. I inherited quite a few guns from my Dad and while most were in pretty descent shape there were two that had major problems. One of the rifles had a recurring rust problem that just kept getting worse and worse. I tried (several times) thoroughly cleaning it, cold bluing and keeping it well oiled - the rust was more persistent than I was and it kept coming back worse and worse each time. Since I would never think of selling it and I would like to hand it down, I finally had it re-blued. Now it is beautiful, has no more rust problem and is a pleasure to look at and shoot. It should last many many more years now!
The second gun had a stock that blew apart one day while Pheasant hunting. It shattered in 4 large pieces and many smaller ones and was simply beyond repair. After trying very diligently to find a NOS or gently used stock I was unable to. Finally I sent the gun off to a Stock Maker and he made a custom stock for it. Financially it was a poor move because the stock cost me more than the gun was worth however I was not even considering junking it. I bit the bullet and paid the man the money and now I have a perfectly serviceable Shotgun that is beautiful. It is still a sentimental inherited piece even though the stock is a new one - I had no real choice.
I am NOT sorry about refinishing either one and would do it all over again. So while many always like to keep a gun in the condition it was received in, others may not like looking at ugly damaged guns. The way I look at it, inherited guns are great to have with all original handling marks, dings, and some minor scratches but sometimes when a gun is over the line and it bothers a person every time they take it out, it might be time to refinish it. Since said gun is never going to be sold, the resale value is a moot point.
I see this as an individual decision that each person has to make and as long as it is not a highly valuable collectible or rare firearm I see no reason it should not be refinished if that is what the new owner wants. Just because your Dad's gun was re-blued does not negate the fact that it was still his gun and does not wipe out all the memories and history IMO.
The second gun had a stock that blew apart one day while Pheasant hunting. It shattered in 4 large pieces and many smaller ones and was simply beyond repair. After trying very diligently to find a NOS or gently used stock I was unable to. Finally I sent the gun off to a Stock Maker and he made a custom stock for it. Financially it was a poor move because the stock cost me more than the gun was worth however I was not even considering junking it. I bit the bullet and paid the man the money and now I have a perfectly serviceable Shotgun that is beautiful. It is still a sentimental inherited piece even though the stock is a new one - I had no real choice.
I am NOT sorry about refinishing either one and would do it all over again. So while many always like to keep a gun in the condition it was received in, others may not like looking at ugly damaged guns. The way I look at it, inherited guns are great to have with all original handling marks, dings, and some minor scratches but sometimes when a gun is over the line and it bothers a person every time they take it out, it might be time to refinish it. Since said gun is never going to be sold, the resale value is a moot point.
I see this as an individual decision that each person has to make and as long as it is not a highly valuable collectible or rare firearm I see no reason it should not be refinished if that is what the new owner wants. Just because your Dad's gun was re-blued does not negate the fact that it was still his gun and does not wipe out all the memories and history IMO.
S.B.
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When viewed later you have a hard time bring back memories made when happening at the time. I vote like others, leave it as is, get it checked out clean it and shoot it occasionally with children and grand kids.
Steve
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I consider whatever condition a family heirloom may be in to be just as important as the item itself. It tells the story of who owned it.
If it was a well worn gun that achieved it's character through use, by a father/grandfather/etc, the last thing I would want to do is refinish it and strip away all that character. How am I going to remember and cherish dad's old hunting memories by looking at a 99.9% condition re-blue or re-nickel that looks like just came out of the glass case. I would rather look at a spot of blood pitting when dad had to finish off that monster whitetail, or the nick in the butt grip that occurred from some humorous anectdote of dad. Stuff like that, or if you don't know how the gun got that way, then imagining how it might have happened.
Now, some people just don't think like this or don't quite "get it". Everyone is different.
I also look at it like this, for vintage guns, you're not going to get a refinish that will match the era quality. That's a "why bother" for me. Honestly, the only time I view a refinish acceptable is when it's a duty gun and done for better rust protection. That's my personal opinion.
If it was a well worn gun that achieved it's character through use, by a father/grandfather/etc, the last thing I would want to do is refinish it and strip away all that character. How am I going to remember and cherish dad's old hunting memories by looking at a 99.9% condition re-blue or re-nickel that looks like just came out of the glass case. I would rather look at a spot of blood pitting when dad had to finish off that monster whitetail, or the nick in the butt grip that occurred from some humorous anectdote of dad. Stuff like that, or if you don't know how the gun got that way, then imagining how it might have happened.
Now, some people just don't think like this or don't quite "get it". Everyone is different.
I also look at it like this, for vintage guns, you're not going to get a refinish that will match the era quality. That's a "why bother" for me. Honestly, the only time I view a refinish acceptable is when it's a duty gun and done for better rust protection. That's my personal opinion.
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A good gunsmith will get a refinish that far exceeds the quality of original. Old guns were still made in a factory. Even back in the old days the guns did not get a 50 hour finish job. Don't know why everyone has this idea that everything made a long time ago was awesome and everything made now is junk. If you want good quality, you pay for it. If you want cheap, you get junk. Same today as it was 100 years ago. In the old days guns were made with a lot more hands on work. Now they are made by machines. In the old days an average gun also cost a month's pay. Today most of what Smith & Wesson makes will cost less than a weeks pay. Today there are still plenty of guns made with the same hands on work and attention to detail that you got 100 years ago. Most of them are actually much higher quality than the old ones. And they will cost you about a months pay just like 100 years ago.
refinish or not.....
there is a big difference in any family firearm heirloom whether "old" or even newer, (seen them either way) and has what some may call "character" or honest work wear or the ones that were neglected, abused, and almost near "junk"....nothing wrong with having NICE stuff, and if properly "restored" and redone, updated, repaired, whatever it takes to make it safe to use and have around to pass on in the family.......
Yes, a BIG difference in a "reblue" and a "restoration"also....l..
if any doubt,simply get it checked out ( safety check and fire and function) and just keep it wiped down, oiled .........we suggest using 'RIG" ( rust inhibiting grease) works on metal, wood and plastic.....a little on a sheepskin swatch and wipe 'er down.........
Just had an 1864 musket than was converted in 1865 by Allin to a .58 cal rimfire, untouched all these years and simply wiping it down, and it looks awesome...............
The choice is YOURS , not ours to make for you............
there is a big difference in any family firearm heirloom whether "old" or even newer, (seen them either way) and has what some may call "character" or honest work wear or the ones that were neglected, abused, and almost near "junk"....nothing wrong with having NICE stuff, and if properly "restored" and redone, updated, repaired, whatever it takes to make it safe to use and have around to pass on in the family.......
Yes, a BIG difference in a "reblue" and a "restoration"also....l..
if any doubt,simply get it checked out ( safety check and fire and function) and just keep it wiped down, oiled .........we suggest using 'RIG" ( rust inhibiting grease) works on metal, wood and plastic.....a little on a sheepskin swatch and wipe 'er down.........
Just had an 1864 musket than was converted in 1865 by Allin to a .58 cal rimfire, untouched all these years and simply wiping it down, and it looks awesome...............
The choice is YOURS , not ours to make for you............
I'm with Iggy...........
I have my Dad's 3 duty guns a 1930s Colt New Service .357, 1946 4" M&P .38 and an 1950s Detective Special......I had his M&P reblued for him after he retired.............looking back today wish I'd left it alone.... it was still a 90% gun showing 30 years of honest carry/wear.
Shoot them rarely; but holding the same worn grips my Dad did..... brings back lots of fond memories!
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crstrode
Member
I've got Grandpa's axe in my workshop. The bits were chipped and broken, so Dad replaced the head.
The axe handle was taped and broken so I replaced it a while ago.
Looks brand new now - Grandpa wouldn't recognize it.
The axe handle was taped and broken so I replaced it a while ago.
Looks brand new now - Grandpa wouldn't recognize it.
Grandpa would say thanks for fixing his worn out old axe.
Goodnews
Member
Have them 'checked out' by who?
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