Sideplate Replacement

[amd6547]

I have a Model 15-3 which was reblued by a previous owner. It looks pretty good, but the S&W emblem on the sideplate was disfigured by overpolishing. No biggie, but I was thinking of replacing the sideplate...Are there any issues I should be aware of??
Any advice appreciated.

 

[Alk8944]

The biggest issue is the sideplate is fit to the frame before polishing and is not an interchangeable part. You think a washed-out logo is bad, that's nothing to the way a replaced sideplate that stands above the surrounding frame, has a different polish and is a different color will look!

If you really want it to look better then send it back to S&W for a re-blue and they will renew the rollmark at the same time if you ask them.

 

[dfariswheel]

S&W fitted side plates to the frame with special bolts, then polished the entire frame and side plate as one unit.

Side plates are not "drop in" they were hand fitted to minimize any gaps between the plate and frame joins.
Once fitted, a used plate will almost always have "issues" being fitted to another frame.

One problem is due to the polishing as one unit. A replacement plate will either fit below the frame, or above the frame, leaving a "step" one way or another that looks like crap.

As above, send the gun in to S&W for a re-stamp and refinish.
Home done side plate replacements usually look like crap.