Removing or reducing unsightly laser engraving.

[Allen-frame]

Here is a model 625-7 that the original owner sent back to Smith & Wesson for
the special laser engraving they once offered.

Hoo boy. Is this poop ugly.

I have had this gun for some time now and I cringe every time I see it.

So, here now I am going to do something about it.

I will start with a glass bead blast over the entire surface.
Then see how it looks.
Maybe the engraving will be muted enough to tolerate.
Maybe I will need to wire wheel the whole thing and /or crocus cloth
the engraved surfaces to eliminate it all together.
Either way I am beginning the process here and now.

I want it gone.

Wish me luck. I'm going to need it.


Allen


August 19th. 2012.

I have scrubbed the laser engraving and bead blasted it to within an inch of its life.

Looks better.

A. F.

 

[Chrisj357]

The laser engraving

Good Luck, it has to be an improvement no matter what happenes

 

[kritter]

yep, thats a beadblast job, should come off rather easy, they don't normally go very deep..

 

[Garland]

That reminds me of a classy car with a bunch of stick-on chrome trim and oversized wheels. Hard to believe someone paid extra to have that done.

 

[jughed440]

I can't blame you one bit...that "engraving" is not good for the eyes.
Somewhere under that gaudiness is a beautiful revolver.

good luck!!!!!

 

[Badquaker]

It's purdy... in a girly kinda way.

Did you buy it from Ru Paul?

 

[Nanook 450]

I used to have a set of blue grips that would have really set her off...

 

[nipster]

I'm not a fan of engraving. At all. On any gun.

This is about the worst of all. I dont have any suggestions for you, hopefully the bead blasting will work good enough. Something else you might be able to polish the hell out of it, if you dont mind a shiny gun.

 

[team sidewinder]

Well it is different and a one of a kind gun alright. Not something I would want either but I am sure the original owner though it was so cool and probably cost some big $$.

 

[Allen-frame]

Progress report and photos added to the original post.

Allen Frame

 

[Broker50]

Don't know why I'm always the odd man out, while I didn't care much for the engraving, I do think it looked better before the heavy bead blast. If it were mine, I'd be bound to polish it at least a little now.

 

[PA Guns & Ammo]

I can still see the engraving. Might as well polish the gun to get out what you can. The engraving style was nice but not enough engraving on the gun that makes it look bad. I would make that my beater/carry gun.

James

 

[BUFF]

A great improvement.

I greatly admire Allen-Frame's habit to jump onto something he doesn't care for and to wrestle it into something better. Sometimes takes some guts, these aren't cheap guns, but he makes them turn out pretty well.

 

[gumpys]

Well done there Allen, I would have just polished that one up real nice and that ugly laser etching would have been gone, lol. World of differance there, nice job.

Eric

 

[Florida Guy]

Must have been an April Fool joke

 

[suckersrus]

Great topic!

I have a 640 with laser engraving that I like OK. I had it put on so I could get my name on it since I plan to never get rid of the gun.

But I can understand someone getting their hands on it after I'm gone and wanting it smooth again.


I know you can crank up the pressure on the bead blaster and take it off, along with the factory stamping, but the result is rather rough.


I think it looks great after your work. Even if the slightest images remain, that makes it more interesting.

 

[rotty]

It reminds me of some guys who get some small and ugly tattoos that don't go well with each other and look dissociated and out of place.

I think you have done good.

I like engraved guns but they need to be well done. My grandfather had a very nicely engraved revolver that I saw only a couple of times when I was a child. But then he lived in a different country and then I moved countries even farther so no hope to get any of his guns.

 

[oberon]

Well... Don't stop now. You ain't done yet.

 

[TAROMAN]

I have removed laser etching by block sanding.
Start out with #600 and go up in steps to #2000.
After that its gone for good.

 

[Allen-frame]

I can still see the engraving. Might as well polish the gun to get out what you can. The engraving style was nice but not enough engraving on the gun that makes it look bad. I would make that my beater/carry gun.

The problem with this one being a 'beater' is the fact that only 150
were produced.
It is reassembled now and functions perfectly and goes back into the
group with the others.

And yes, it was a April fools joke.

I bought it from a guy in Alaska a few years back before the prices on any
short N frame went nuts.

Good luck

Allen Frame