S&W factory refinish of alloy third-gen frames?

[TTSH]

My "truck gun" is a bit different than the traditional definition of the 30-30 in the rack in the back widow.

My general carry gun is a 3913/14/NL.......in a 7+1 configuration.....if I'm headed to the cabin for a weekend or a week at the Outer Banks or a NE Ohio Bunch gathering... I might add a hi-cap and a couple or three mags. to my "bag of stuff".

Or out riding/doing chores with the RZR or 4-wheeler..... rather than wear/open carry a gun it might ride in a holster in the glove box or rear seat/bag on the Honda.

Now, wait just a minute there Bam. I thought a "truck gun" was: a) Supposed to have the total "used & abused" look... and... b) my understanding is that it's supposed to LIVE permanently in said truck.

No offense but it sounds like you are cheating here!

TTSH my cerakote 3G frames have a bit of a "bead blasted" look..... vs the smooth factory finish...

I wonder what happened to that black finished Model 1006 that I found in West Springfield recently. It had a sort of flat look to it. Someone must have liked that look enough to buy it.

That gun show 3rd Gen I found with the non-factory looking frame has a real soft-cornered "plastic-like" look to it... as if it were a thick plastic coating (which I'm 100% sure it wasn't). Folks here on the forum have described the normal look of a 3rd Gen bright aluminum frame as plastic looking... but this was mucho different. I really do suspect that it was a paint job of some sort... although it was certainly not what anyone would call a "bead-blasted" look.

 

[OlongJohnson]

There are few topics on which I'd quote James Yeager, but I'm pretty much on board with this one: "A criminal's favorite gun is the one you leave unattended in your vehicle."

I've come out of a restaurant after eating lunch and found the vehicle parked next to the one I was getting into, the same one that was there and intact when we pulled up and parked, with a broken window and the center console standing open. I have assumed the reason was a greater-than-guessing belief that the thief would find something noisy in the console.

 

[BruceB]

To get this a bit back on track --

I bought a 4566 from a forum member in 2011 that was a police trade-in that went to the PC for a re-sand blast refinish, as well as new night sights and grip.

This is a picture from the seller of the result.

 

[OlongJohnson]

You just won S&W Forum for the evening.

Interesting, the frame looks like it got "clear" anodizing, so it looks basically aluminum colored like metal with a little surface dulling. At least in that photo, it doesn't look like the opaque, white/grey color they all are the first time around.

Maybe the photo isn't showing the color very well. But personally, if I sent it back to them to get refinished, they led me to believe it would be like the original finish, and it came back looking like clear ano, I would be more than a little pizzed.

 

[gtoppcop]

I had my 4003 TSWs done by S&W some years ago. They did everything. They were police trade-ins and saw a lot of time in and out of a holster. They were ROUGH, but turned out very nice after their work.

I've since had other 3rd Gens done as well. They do a good job. It's like a heavy lacquer that is applied to the cleaned aluminium. They call is passivating. It's used in the aerospace industry as well.

 

[JohnHL]

Looks brand new, gtoppcopp!
Based on your pictures, I would say they can do the job.

BTW Is that an Ed Brown Competition Safety assembly on your 4003TSW?

John

 

[rwsmith]

I'll try to post.....

...a pic of my 5943, 9mm full size, SS slide and aluminum alloy frame. It has a smooth finish, doesn't discolor looks just a little different from the stainless. I enjoy it. Light enough to carry and heavy enough to be a good shooter. I haven't had any problems with the frame, there is a 'datch' (a light dent scratch) on part that is hardly noticeable.

 

[kenny brooks]

Well guess my Smith going to mother ship to get redone,,thought it over,, it's not worth much,but I be happy,,,these 3rd gens are the best,,

Sent from my C6530N using Tapatalk

 

[TTSH]

You just won S&W Forum for the evening.

Interesting, the frame looks like it got "clear" anodizing, so it looks basically aluminum colored like metal with a little surface dulling. At least in that photo, it doesn't look like the opaque, white/grey color they all are the first time around.

Maybe the photo isn't showing the color very well. But personally, if I sent it back to them to get refinished, they led me to believe it would be like the original finish, and it came back looking like clear ano, I would be more than a little pizzed.

Be careful now. You are looking at a stainless steel frame on the Model 4566... not an anodized aluminum frame. Big difference when it comes to the look and refinishing!

 

[GeoJelly]

Oh No!! My worst fears have been confirmed ... Per gtoppcop's photo - the rail was removed and not replaced. Hopefully, that was done per his request. I really like the work they did on the slide - the laser-etching looks worn down on mine and it looks great/like new in the photo. Nice photo BTW ...

For TTSH - this is "how the heck I would know" how a 3G aluminum frame looks after refinishing ...

 

[TTSH]

For TTSH - this is "how the heck I would know" how a 3G aluminum frame looks after refinishing ...

Yep! That's the first factory-refinished anodized aluminum frame I've ever seen, here or elsewhere! Looks damn good!

Interesting how the model number and serial number came out white. Too bad the replacement rivets are still black... but, for me, anything is better than the ugly black "mustache" rail.

 

[Big Shrek]

I'll admit it. It's entirely possible that I *do* need a "truck gun" and just don't know it?

But I still think corrosion-free plastic might make more sense.

I could bring that Taurus back from the dead...
it'd take a lotta work tho...
the other, no hope at all

 

[Big Shrek]

Well guess my Smith going to mother ship to get redone,,thought it over,, it's not worth much,but I be happy,,,these 3rd gens are the best,,

Sent from my C6530N using Tapatalk

Sometimes, you have a gun that shoots so sweet,
that it Deserves some tender loving refinishing...
which is why I polished out my Hi-Standard Model B
The original finish was gone, got it for cheap at a gun show...
had only test-fired for function once, when my Wifey screamed
and ran into the house, "GO OUT THERE AND SHOOT THAT SNAKE!!"
So, being a good hubby, picked up the gun I was cleaning, loaded,
and went outside & nailed the sucker while it was working its
way along a tree limb...it dropped, finished it with another shot.
Deeply impressed with its ability to hit moving targets,
spent more time at the range with it...
it simply hits wherever I aim, no muss, no fuss, no hiccups.
So it deserved to be beautiful again

 

[gtoppcop]

Gents,

Yes the rail was removed at my request. Back when I had them (I've since let them go ;-\), I had two: One was a dedicated rail gun and the other was for a slick dustcover.

If you send them a TSW, they'll take off the rail and refinish the frame and re-install (via rivets) the rail.

JohnHL: Yes, it's a Brown Safety. I have three extras if anybody wants them. Simply PM me and I'll make it happen, just as long as whoever gets them pays it forward to somebody else on the forum...

Take Care!

 

[GeoJelly]

Gents,

Yes the rail was removed at my request. Back when I had them (I've since let them go ;-\), I had two: One was a dedicated rail gun and the other was for a slick dustcover.

If you send them a TSW, they'll take off the rail and refinish the frame and re-install (via rivets) the rail.

JohnHL: Yes, it's a Brown Safety. I have three extras if anybody wants them. Simply PM me and I'll make it happen, just as long as whoever gets them pays it forward to somebody else on the forum...

Take Care!

gtoppcop - Good info and good news - Thanks! The refinished slide looks great - but I can't tell from your photos - do you think the lettering on the frame was diminished any by their refinishing? I wish they would offer just a refinish of the TSW slides ...

 

[OldLawman]

The areas around the junction of the mag button and the base of the trigger guard is a constant irritation for me, so all of my frames gets dehorned there. On my all-stainless guns (639, 4506) I bead blast the stainless frames. On my alloy frames (currently a 3954; had plenty of 3913s over the years), they were either hard electroless nickeled by Mahovsky's or Robars; or re-hardcoat anodized by Novak's (the 3954). Turned out just fine.

 

[~GARY~]

...ALLOY FRAME FINISH REMOVAL...

[...Hi People,
New kid on the block, with a Question.. Has anyone tried removing the anodized finish & polishing the raw aluminum frame, without adding any type of re-finish coating??FONT="Comic Sans MS"][/FONT]

 

[TTSH]

On my alloy frames (currently a 3954; had plenty of 3913s over the years), they were either hard electroless nickeled by Mahovsky's or Robars; or re-hardcoat anodized by Novak's (the 3954). Turned out just fine.

Which would you most likely choose right now if you were ready to do one again?

 

[OldLawman]

It is difficult to find someone to do a proper hardcoat anodize, so I would probably go with Mahovsky:
Nickel

Quick turnaround, very reasonable price, been doing it for a long time.

 

[GaryS]

I saw a 4013TSW listed for sale on another forum advertised as "Rare/One of a Kind" finished in Flat Dark Earth (FDE). From looking at it I would guess Cerakote or similar.

It looks nice, but I have to wonder what it might be hiding?