Rusty M19-3 Restoration ?s

It pains me to look at a fine revolver that has been neglected to that extent, but it does still have a lot of service life left in it. If it was a treasured family heirloom, I would send it to S&W to be refinished. If it is just another working gun, I would blast it, K-Phos it and spray it with gun metal blue colored GunKote and bake it. Cheap and effective. Rusty rings in barrels bother me, so I would consider the previously mentioned options. Good luck, and whatever you do, post an "after" pic.
 
In a hundred years or so, they will be selling reproduction K frames with that antiqued, characterized finish, just like they do with clones of the Colt SAA now. You're ahead of the game.
 
If it were my project, I'd have the bore lapped, professionally parkerized and move on with life. If the pitting is not too deep, you might consider a satin nickel or hard chrome. But, that's just me! :cool:
 
Lots of good advice from posters on this 19. My take? Depends on the guts of the piece. If nothing is wrong with the mechanism (which I suspect is the case here) you have a solid shooter. New barrel, have a pro clean up the outside and put a modern protective coating on her. Then shoot the snot out of it!

If she just tired all over, we'll, it is a family heirloom and should be retired with the respect it deserves.

Rich
 
Glazer1972:

Welcome to the Forum. As noted, lots of good advice. Sorry, but I can't help but notice, lots of interest as well. I hope I'm not stepping on your toes here, but I feel compelled to state the obvious: if you have no emotional ties to the piece, and you lack the time/interest/skill to invest in it, why don't you consider selling it here on the Forum to someone who wants to take it on? Even in its current state, it's still worth some decent money. Certainly not enough to buy one in better condition, but certainly enough to get you started towards the purchase price. Or, you could use it to barter towards something else more to your needs/tastes. Again, my apologies if I'm out of line. I hope you find a viable solution.

Best of luck,

Dave
 
Those grips should clean up nicely, too. I would drop them in a small jar of acetone, use a toothbrush to scrub them when wet, and let them soak overnight. Let them dry out for a few days and then put some lemon oil on them. A light spray of satin polyurethane to finish, and they should look great.
 
I think I've changed my mind on the round butt conversion. I think I'm gonna keep it squared.

I am waiting on word from a smith and I got another one local I want to check with before deciding which way I'm gonna go with it.
 
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Three day diesel fuel soak.
000 and 0000 steel wool.
Tooth brushes, bore brushes and patches.
Lots of elbow grease.
B'laster brand penetrating oil.
Disassemble and check innards and clean innards good.
Possible Park finish some time in the future.
Shoot it a bunch.
 
Glazer1972: Welcome to forum. Great ideas by all! It appears to shoot well enough so it all depends on the emotion attached to it. My Father's 19 will be with me till I join him and then passed on in the family. If no emotion attached-- Good excuse to do a full custom make over " Barbecue " gun. Best of luck. Be Safe,
 
vipermd said:
Glazer1972: Welcome to forum. Great ideas by all! It appears to shoot well enough so it all depends on the emotion attached to it. My Father's 19 will be with me till I join him and then passed on in the family. If no emotion attached-- Good excuse to do a full custom make over " Barbecue " gun. Best of luck. Be Safe,
Click to expand...

Dad is still with us on this Earth. I have talked to him about it and he is ok with whatever I decide but did say that I shouldn't spend more than what another one would cost. He wasn't much help in that regard.

I also know that Even if I make some changes it will still be that same frame that spent all those years under the bar.
 
Because of the rust pitting, I would bead blast and them either blue it or use one of the new bake on finish's. That's after I totally disassembled it and made sure everything was kosher inside.
 
Welcome to the Forum. A like new version of your gun would go for at least 600 bucks, so you have a LOT of room to play with on that one!

So here is the most expensive option: new barrel, length of your choice, sent off to an engraver who could make all the pitting disappear, then off to Fords for their premier blueing job. Probably have 3-4 grand into it by the time you are done.....but man, what a looker you would have!
 
If it was my dads gun I would send it back to S&W to be re-blued. Costs a little but would be like new and last forever.
 
tlay said:
If it was my dads gun I would send it back to S&W to be re-blued. Costs a little but would be like new and last forever.
Click to expand...

WELLLLLLL, close. S&W no longer does 'bluing.' Their 'bluing' is now more gloss black. It's a EPA thing with the chemicals. I saw on another site where someone found a place in Indiana T & D Metal Works | Main that still does the 'real bluing' and Fords also still, last I heard, was doing the 'real thing.'

I was told this EPA thing is enforced, or not, by the States not the Feds. This TD METALWORKS, and Fords, can still do it but I don't know how much longer. Last gun I had S&W refinish turned out well but it was NOT blue, it was black.

Nickel and chrome plating is the same thing. There used to be chrome/nickel shops EVERYWHERE but EPA rules has shut most down so if you need any work done do it sooner, than later. Later may not be there, like everything else gun related that seems to be slowly vanishing.

Bob
 
That is sad about S/W bluing. lt does seem that Colt still does their Royal Blue.. David,my local gun guy, recently sent a Python Hunter back to Colt for rebluing in "Royal Blue". lt came back looking as new. Comparing it to David's 1978 4'' original Python they looked identical
 
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Still haven't heard back from the local guy. I was thinking if I could have it done local I would be a couple hundred ahead do to the overnight freight charges.
 
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