S&W Model 15 - Corroded

[mustangace51]

I have a S&W Model 15 - 4" that I purchased in 1990 which was stolen in 1992. I was notified by local sheriff's office it was in property and available for return (now 2019).

The bluing is 95% missing and the revolver is seriously corroded and pitted. I sent it to Smith & Wesson and they returned it saying it could not be restored. Is there anyone available who can recommend restoration? It was a good shooter.

 

[Peak53]

Wow! Probably don't want to know how it spent it's last 28 years. Cerakote perhaps?

 

[BigBill]

I would sent it out, they can buff it, and either a black park or a nickel finish.

 

[Warren Sear]

I would leave it as-is and use it. No one is going to be able to make it pretty again.

 

[Arm]

Peak53 hit it right....Cerakote....heavy.

 

[lkabug]

Noting is going to make it a beauty queen.

 

[Oscar Zulu]

I have a Colt Woodsman that roughly the same thing happened to. Had a 600 dollar gun and hundred dollar magazine stolen. Got back a hundred dollar gun and a hundred dollar magazine. The Mexican National pot growers that wound up with it had worn all the finish off, worn the grip checkering smooth and let it rust. (No rust when I got it back from the Sheriff's Dept, but plenty of pits...). I've left it alone. Just too far gone.
Still a great shooter, though.

OZ

 

[steelslaver]

For what close to the cost to make it nice again you could probably by another model 15. By the time those shallow pits were sanded out any stampings would need reworked. I would have it bead blasted to blend the fine pits in, blue it and call it good, if the bore and chambers are still good. IT would probably come out a black matte. Beaded blast and hard chrome might work and make it an almost indestructible finish if the bead blast did blend it out. The stampings of course with bead blasting would be fuzzy.

 

[Green Frog]

Another possibility would be bead blast and matte nickel finish, especially one like Metalloy which is often mistaken for stainless and is virtually indestructible. In fact, I've never heard of a gun with that treatment showing any significant wear.

Froggie

 

[Pisgah]

I have an old Model 10 that looks as bad as your 15. I bought it, after an examination that revealed it to be butt-ugly but mechanically sound, for $100 from a neighbor years ago. Cleaned it up, oiled it well, and it has served faithfully as my truck/tackle box gun for years -- what represents for this gun it's "highest and best use", and is likely the same for yours.

 

[chief38]

I agree with some of the others in that it will never be a "purdy" gun again. I'd either make it a project gun and do the best you can at home, or just make it a "wall hanger".

I would first try and polish it up as best as you can. First off it would be sort of a challenge to see just how good you can improve it - you certainly can do no harm here. It would be a learning experience and might actually be a fun project. If it polishes up half way decently, then you can apply one of a few different "do-at-home" finishes (like Cerakote).

I certainly would not pay to have it professionally done - unless it is a sentimental piece, because I doubt paying lots of money is ever going to make it look great again. To pay $400, $500, $600 for a mediocre revolver as common as a M15 is crazy (again - unless it is sentimental to you)!

Please let us know what you decide and post pictures if you do decide to restore it. Good luck with it.

 

[stansdds]

First, welcome to the S&W Forums!

Second, your Model 15 has had a very hard life. With all that pitting and loss of finish, getting back to looking nice is going to be difficult and difficult equals expensive. As-is, it looks bad, but has quite a story to tell.

 

[VaTom]

For what close to the cost to make it nice again you could probably by another model 15. By the time those shallow pits were sanded out any stampings would need reworked. I would have it bead blasted to blend the fine pits in, blue it and call it good, if the bore and chambers are still good. IT would probably come out a black matte. Beaded blast and hard chrome might work and make it an almost indestructible finish if the bead blast did blend it out. The stampings of course with bead blasting would be fuzzy.

Don't know what my 1917 Commercial looked like before it was refinished but when you take off the grips you can see evidence of major pitting there. The revolver must have meant a great deal to someone in it's past to have it refinished. I bought it at an auction for a very low price - probably what the refinish cost. It shoots great - solid mechanically. It has the black matte finish and the stampings are a little fuzzy but a great piece.

 

[zonker5]

If it is mechanically sound I'd shoot it as it is, it has a lot of character.

 

[Rpg]

I have a 1917 that's in much worse condition cosmetically.

It shoots just fine and makes a no-nonsense knock about gun. No worries sticking it in a tool box or the bottom of a saddle bag.

I'd leave the M15 alone and shoot it.

In some ways, cosmetically challenged guns make the best using guns.

 

[mustangace51]

Thank you all for your recommendations. I think I may leave it as is and let the other shooters ask for the story "What happened?"

 

[jmace57]

I bought this one really cheap out of a sheriff's sale ($75). One of the filthiest guns I've ever seen. All the blue rubbed off (with sandpaper or steel wool).

I put cold blue on it. It is still the ugliest gun I own, but it has (after cleaning) the smoothest action of any gun I own.

Like others have suggested, I'd keep it like it is.

BEFORE

AFTER

 

[murphydog]

As stated above, if you are a handyman type person it would be a good learning experience with filing/polishing and a refinish (hard chrome would make the surface nearly un-damageable). If not, keep well oiled inside and out and enjoy.

 

[SW CQB 45]

I say clean it
Oil it
shoot it

let it turn brown

 

[Nick B]

That thing is toast . Buy a 5 dollar can of black Krylon and call it good .

 

[Model46]

I'll agree with most of the other posters and say "leave it alone and shoot it". You can use it as you see fit and never worry about it. I would, however, recommend a complete tear down and cleaning with particular attention paid to the internal parts.

 

[NavySCPO]

If you're handy, this would make a great project gun. It's fun work if you enjoy that sort of thing, and doesn't cost a lot of money doing the work yourself.

I found an old and badly neglected Colt 1903 Hammerless in 380 years ago, and did exactly that. It will never be a prom queen, and never have any value to anyone but me, but it's solid, shoots well, and it gave me a chance to try my hand at rust bluing.

 

[stansdds]

If you're handy, this would make a great project gun. It's fun work if you enjoy that sort of thing, and doesn't cost a lot of money doing the work yourself.

I found an old and badly neglected Colt 1903 Hammerless in 380 years ago, and did exactly that. It will never be a prom queen, and never have any value to anyone but me, but it's solid, shoots well, and it gave me a chance to try my hand at rust bluing.

That's quite the save!