Timber Wolf
Member
- Joined
- Nov 5, 2009
- Messages
- 256
- Reaction score
- 69
Clean, shoot, repeat. Keep it as-is and don't spend a dime on it. Keep it clean and well oiled to prevent further erosion.
Rusty M19-3 Restoration ?s
- Thread starter glazer1972
- Start date
texasjarhead
Member
- Joined
- Jan 28, 2008
- Messages
- 240
- Reaction score
- 121
Glazer- Bought a Model 19 at a gun show that had some rust (not as bad as your's), but previous owner had "inscribed" a number in the frame with a nail. I buffed out the number with steel wool,stripped remaining bluing off with muriatic acid, Parkerized, then did a DuraBake finish. The entire process took about 4 hours, and it turned out GREAT!The cost was about $50 for the Durabake and the Parkerizing solution. I've used both on other projects, so the cost was spread out over several guns.
OP
glazer1972
Member
Dad is telling me he would hate to see me spend as much as I would have to to get this redone. I don't have the patience and expertise to do it myself. What do you guys think it would be worth if I did decide to go ahead and sell it?
slowburninsteve
Member
Considering that used ones in decent condition are running $500 to $600 I would find a re-blueing company with a good reputation and have them buff out the surface rust, reblue it, clean the barrel real good with Hoppes, good patches, and then give it a good oiling with Break Free. Then I would shoot it and keep it clean and oiled afterwards. You have a family heirloom there than needs some TLC. Just my opinion.......
Steve
Steve
I would be interested in it. I'm looking for something I could put a little elbow grease into and do a do it yourself type of finish on. I hate to price other people's stuff, blue book says 60% value is $195.00 and doesnt give values for conditions below 60%. If you come up with a value and decide to sell let me know. Thanks! Ron [email protected]
texagun
Member
Sadly not much. It won't have the sentimental value to others that it would have to you. I've seen guns like that sitting on the gun show tables priced at $150 and less. Most didn't even function. I don't know if they ever sold or not. Your gun functions and shoots. If it were mine, I would keep it.
Last edited:
flagman1776
Member
What I would do is rub it down well & hard with Break Free or a good gun oil on patches. That will arrest the rusting. Then stand back & look at it. Attempting to refinish with cold blue is one way to go... or send it out for a proper refinish.
If it as mine, I'd see it I could live with the oiled down relic condition... it might not look so bad & probably shoot decent despite the bore. A rough bore might lead with lead ammo but jacketed shouldn't. Or the barrel could be gently lapped with compound. I'd consider it a candidate for fire lapping. As you can see, I'd avoid changing the barrel. Serves no point.
If it as mine, I'd see it I could live with the oiled down relic condition... it might not look so bad & probably shoot decent despite the bore. A rough bore might lead with lead ammo but jacketed shouldn't. Or the barrel could be gently lapped with compound. I'd consider it a candidate for fire lapping. As you can see, I'd avoid changing the barrel. Serves no point.
Cpo1944
Member
I actually really like it just the way it is .What character!!!
I'd bead blast it and then reblue or parkerize it. The grips can be cleaned with orange stripper and then use a spray shellac on them and the gun will look great. I've done a couple in the past and they always turned out nice, IMHO of course. 
Mickey D
Member
WWSPD?
What Would Saxon Pig Do?
What Would Saxon Pig Do?
Gunsnwater
Member
Those grips only need lemon oil to clean use a soft tooth brush in checkering. I like the kroil soak with bronz wool rub down, bore included. Leave kroil on it wipe down and oil. You have a perfect gun, like a 20 yr old truck, all use no worries. And to top it off you own the story. About the price, I would go $300.00 but I am a cheap *******.
- Joined
- Apr 4, 2006
- Messages
- 19,619
- Reaction score
- 31,123
If it belonged to me I would ship it off to S&W and let them restore it. From the Pic's you provided it looked pretty rusted indeed, however I did not notice any major pitting. The re-blue and a grip restoration should bring that family heirloom back to like new - and she does shoot! No need to hang it on the wall to continue to rust, and because you have nothing invested init so far, you will get a beautiful classic Smith for a fraction of what they are selling for now. My vote.......... DO IT!
Late to the game.
Many good suggestions here.
If it were mine, I'd consider Cerakote.
I always thought it was basically paint.
After seeing and handling a few, I'm now a convert.
Right now, I have a battered old M29 in refinish at S&W.
If I had a mulligan on that it would be Cerakoted already and back in action.
Many good suggestions here.
If it were mine, I'd consider Cerakote.
I always thought it was basically paint.
After seeing and handling a few, I'm now a convert.
Right now, I have a battered old M29 in refinish at S&W.
If I had a mulligan on that it would be Cerakoted already and back in action.
ron farmer
Member
Take it to the range and shoot that thing (after a few hours of Kroil, or something similar, steel wool and elbow grease).
Similar threads
