Side Plate Fitting

[44 MAGNUM SHOOTER]

Hi everyone,

I'm thinking of sending my 629-3 back to S&W to have a new sideplate fitted because the one on it now has a bad deep scratch that can be buffed out. The revolver was polished up with Mothers Mag Polish to the point you can comb your hair in it. My question is can they leave the fitted one the standard stainless color after fitting it or do they need to refinished the whole thing? I would like to get it back and just polish it up myself or at least ask them to do it without the expense of a total gun refinish.

 

[robotoid]

I've been lead to understand sideplate fitting is very expensive, you may want to call S&W and ask the $$$ before, it may not be cost effective.

 

[Maxw]

Fitting

Side plate fitting is done with the side plate swadged onto the frame & then machined to the frame, then finished.

 

[44 MAGNUM SHOOTER]

I've been lead to understand sideplate fitting is very expensive, you may want to call S&W and ask the $$$ before, it may not be cost effective.

I called them and was quoted 169.00 including shipping. Not too bad but not great

 

[dfariswheel]

Before replacing the side plate, ask if they can polish the scratch out.
You'd be surprised what they can do no matter how bad it looks.

 

[44 MAGNUM SHOOTER]

Before replacing the side plate, ask if they can polish the scratch out.
You'd be surprised what they can do no matter how bad it looks.

Just took the plate off and lighly sanded it with 1000 grit wet sandpaper then polished. they're almost completely gone now !! WOO HOO. I will ask s&w if I can just send the sideplate to be refinished then I can polish it back up to make it as good as new.

 

[tac803]

Just took the plate off and lighly sanded it with 1000 grit wet sandpaper then polished. they're almost completely gone now !! WOO HOO. I will ask s&w if I can just send the sideplate to be refinished then I can polish it back up to make it as good as new.

If it's from a 629, how are they going to refinish a stainless steel sideplate?

 

[HEADKNOCKER]

Sounds to me like your now ready for the various scotch brite pads to blend the brushed finish back in..
Good Luck!!
Gary/Hk

 

[Gun 4 Fun]

Sounds to me like your now ready for the various scotch brite pads to blend the brushed finish back in..
Good Luck!!
Gary/Hk

+1

 

[JudgeColt]

Since you have altered the original factory finish, I cannot imagine that Smith would duplicate your altered finish. Anyway, the side plate is always finished in place, otherwise the edges would be rounded off.

If you have removed the scratch, why can't you just polish it just the way you did the rest of the gun? The great thing about stainless is that there is no "finish," merely texture of polishing bare metal. Now that you have chosen to alter the "finish" texture, you can certainly do the same to the area that formerly had the scratch.

 

[44 MAGNUM SHOOTER]

Since you have altered the original factory finish, I cannot imagine that Smith would duplicate your altered finish. Anyway, the side plate is always finished in place, otherwise the edges would be rounded off.

If you have removed the scratch, why can't you just polish it just the way you did the rest of the gun? The great thing about stainless is that there is no "finish," merely texture of polishing bare metal. Now that you have chosen to alter the "finish" texture, you can certainly do the same to the area that formerly had the scratch.

I managed to work it for a while and now you can hardly see it. I'm happy now.