S&W Refinishing

[WCCPHD]

Just got two Model 27-2's back from Smith and Wesson today. One is a 3 1/2 inch "S" serial and the other is a 6 inch "N" serial. The older one had a lot of blue wear and the six inch had pitting and was in sad shape. I can't believe how they look now. Both look as good as the day they left the factory (the first time).

The guns were stripped, re-blued and some parts replaced on one, along with a new rear sight blade. The total cost for both, including shipping was $544.00

I know that many think it is a sacrilege to refinish a gun, but these are shooters and I never plan to sell them, so I wanted them to look as new. I have before photos of the 3 1/2 inch, but did not take photos of the 6 inch. I will try to take photos and figure out how to post later in the week.

It is interesting the older gun came out with a deeper and darker blue than the newer one, but both are beautiful.

 

[Green Frog]

This is indeed good news, WCCPHD. I have a 29-2 I have owned for over 30 years that has suffered some of the "slings and arrows of cruel fate" including a couple of very small patches of rust. My only concern now is whether I should send it as-is with the 8 3/8" barrel or return the 4" barrel it came with originally. Mine is an S-serial numbered example (from near the end of that series) so I now have higher hopes for the quality of the reblue, based on your report. Thanks for a very timely posting.

Froggie

 

[GM4spd]

Good to hear. Does anyone know if you can get an earlier/ say
4 screw gun refinished from blue to nickel? Pete

 

[STCM(SW)]

This thread is worthless with out Pic's!

 

[Snakeshift]

I have a 1950 K22 that I'd send to S&W in a heartbeat but alas, it's seven years too early and Smith won't do it .

 

[MSgt G]

Still waiting on pictures. I think he made up this story!

 

[mag318]

Smith & Wesson does beautiful restoration work, money well spent.

 

[WCCPHD]

Photos

Here are the first photos. Done with I Phone and very bad lighting. Will try for better ones later. Smudges are oil and/or lighting problems

 

[nipster]

Dont let the haters disuade you. They look great.

Would have been neat to see before and after pics (and a little higher quality)

 

[GM4spd]

They came out great but you need to attend FOTOSCHOOL 101 Pete

 

[WCCPHD]

Photos

I looked for the before photos for the 3 1/2 inch. Apparently I lost them when my outlook crashed last month. (I had e-mailed photos from the seller). Did not think about photos for the 6 inch prior to sending them to S&W. As said in the first post, the 3 1/2 inch had a great deal of blue worn off but no rust. The 6 inch looked like someone had been digging potatoes with it. Lot of blue missing, quite a bit of rust and rear sight blade broken off. It did not even come with grips, but for $200.00 I could not refuse.

I will try to do better on photos later. I do not have a good place to take pictures at night. Hopefully when I get the SLR out and try again during the day they will come out better.

 

[snubbyfan]

Those are beautiful, worth the money. Shoot and enjoy.

 

[kennyb]

just beautiful....S&W really did a fantastic job!i have a 3.5" pre-27 from july,54...my birth month/year....i must admit....i'm tempted

 

[WCCPHD]

Found before photos

I found two photos from before. They are not great quality, but it is all I have of the gun.

 

[Chippp]

Is that the Standard or High Polish refinish?
I recently spoke to CS about refinishing my Fathers old Duty gun, a 1969 19-3 and they recommended the standard. I would like to get as close as I can to the original finish

 

[rbmac52]

I've had excellent results with factory refinishes. I've sent four different guns back, all for change of finish (blue to nickel or nickel to blue) and the work was stunning. Your guns came out looking terrific. Nothing wrong with a refinish, in my book, if done properly.

 

[WCCPHD]

Is that the Standard or High Polish refinish?
I recently spoke to CS about refinishing my Fathers old Duty gun, a 1969 19-3 and they recommended the standard. I would like to get as close as I can to the original finish

It is the high polish refinish.

 

[ladder13]

Smith did a great job!

 

[DRYHEAT]

I'll second the vote for the S&W P.C. for re-finishing of "shooters". Both of these were rode hard and put up wet, but bought well. Since I think life is too short to shoot ugly guns I sent both back "HOME". Now they are even more fun to take to the range/field.

Here is the blue "before":

 

[inyomono]

GM4spd-

I had a blue Model 17 refinished in nickel by S&W. They did a GREAT
job and the nickel looks wonderful. Plus the price was most reasonable.

 

[BUFF]

Bill, you ever decide to let loose of that UHP gun, keep me in mind!

 

[loknload]

Nice restores,,,,very nice!

 

[vrichard]

I had these 57--nickled from blue.good job,bad pic.
Dick

 

[WCCPHD]

Better Photos as promised

I hope these are better. Had time to play with the SLR today. I realize they are not up to the usual forum standards, but its my first attempt.

The 6 inch gun was in much worse condition and had some pitting. When I was waxing the guns today I found some small places where they had to polish out the pits, but it still looks great. The 3 1/2 inch is absolutely perfect.

 

[Engine49guy]

The refinish looks great from where Im sitting !
Nothing wrong with factory refinishing a classic in poor cosmetic condition, Now, if we can just persuade S&W to shorten barrels and fire up the old grip machines...

 

[Federalis]

Add my name to the list of satisfied SW refininshing customers. I've had three done; 2 brushed stainless M686 and a M4586, and one bead blast blue older M10 HB. All looked awesome and returned the guns to "factory new"....

 

[texagun]

Wow!! You guys with these beautiful pictures of S&W's work has got me thinking about a couple of well-used guns in my safe. Thanks to all for the great photos.

 

[GM4spd]

GM4spd-

I had a blue Model 17 refinished in nickel by S&W. They did a GREAT
job and the nickel looks wonderful. Plus the price was most reasonable.

Thanks, I got some other info from another member and
yesterday,I sent this M53 to be nickeled,I am NOT a big
fan of refinishing but after receiving a factory letter that
my 4 screw 8-3/8" was NOT original and had been rebarreled,
I took the plunge. The other reason I did was because the
blue on the barrel and frame are NOT the same as can maybe
be seen in my picture,I decided to do this. The thing I find very
strange is looking at the inside of the recoil shield the gun shows very little wear indicating it had probably not been fired much(see 2nd pic)--I guess the owner JUST wanted a longer barrel--we gun people are a strange group for sure.I will be posting
some life size photos when it gets back, Pete

 

[2hawk]

I sent a pretty scarred up 581 in for a reblue and couldn't believe how nice it came back. S&W does seem to have the refinishing techniques down to a "t", and I hope they don't lose the person or persons working on that line. They are good!

 

[Art Doc]

They look great and if you are happy that's all that matters. But I am confused by your comment about them being shooters so you wanted them to look like new. Isn't that a bit of a contradiction?