Some helpful Bubba in the distant past decided my new-to-me, otherwise excellent Heavy Duty needed its lettering filled with gold. Both sides of the barrel, S&W logo, all of it including the serial number on the butt (S 73,313). I'm not a fan, I want it to look like Smith left it at the factory. What's the best way to get rid of this stuff without harming the bluing?
Removing gold filled lettering
- Thread starter Fullmetaljacket
- Start date
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Lacquer thinner. Just be careful not to get it on the grips. Finger nail polish remover is basically the same stuff.
I've used hoppies 9 and a bronze brush with great success. Looks like it came from the factory.
StakeOut
US Veteran
Use Acetone.
The practice of filling in the lettering and numbers with different colors of paint was popular some decades ago.
Had had some with yellow and others with red.
The practice of filling in the lettering and numbers with different colors of paint was popular some decades ago.
Had had some with yellow and others with red.
Many things including acetone will work, but I've used Hoppes No 9 and a toothbrush to remove gold filling. I once bought a mint condition 3" Model 36 listed as refinished. After taking Hoppes No 9 and a toothbrush to the gold filing, I found the gun was 100% original other than the gold paint someone had filling the lettering in with.
OP
Thanks for the replies. Tried lacquer thinner, no effect. Hoppes and a very stiff toothbrush seem to be getting it done but it's a process. Whatever the filling was it's tough and doesn't want to leave.
Many folks in the Glock world see the need to perpetuate the practice.
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Got a good deal few years ago on a Colt SAA NRA Centennial (4.75" barrel) with the gold fill lettering on the left side of the barrel. Didn't really try to get rid of it, but with normal shooting and cleaning w/Hoppes, it is nearly gone now.
