thoughts on polishing a revolver patriot polishing

[TheLazonator]

So ive been contemplating having my 686 polished, what are your opinions? i think its beautiful but im pretty sure it will be a finger print magnet. Any other downsides im not thinking about?
Patriot Gun Polishing — Firearms Insider

 

[DixieRanger]

What ever makes you happy...

Sent from my SM-G960U using Tapatalk

 

[Lonestar57]

It's your gun and your taste that matters, but I personally don't like polished stainless steel. And I'm especially not a fan of any non-factory polishing. There seems to be a lot of love for polished stainless steel these days and a lot of factory original claimed fakes, but to me if that happens the gun value has decreased. Take care.

 

[desmobob]

I would just be super-selective about who I chose to do it. I recently watched some factory tour type videos and I think it was in the S&W tour where the guide mentioned that the workers who did the polishing had to have a minimum of something like 15 or 20 years of experience in the shop to qualify for a position polishing handguns. It requires a high degree of skill and much experience. I might have the numbers wrong, but you get my drift...

 

[lppd4]

I prefer the factory finish or even a soft bead blasted look, but to each his own

 

[Hasbeen1945]

I prefer the factory finish or even a soft bead blasted look, but to each his own

I like the factory finish. Unfortunately some of mine have a few scuffs and scratches . When they reach a certain stage, they get polished.
I’ve used a scotch brite pad to duplicate the SS finish on Ruger mark 2 pistols.

 

[DGNY]

Once again, I will diverge from the most popular view. Sometimes polishing really dresses up a smaller revolver, in my estimation. For example, a polished 2” M 60, looks righteous to me. Ditto, my lightly polished M 60–4 with stags.

On the other hand, I would never touch my 6 1/2” 629DX, as simply too much shiny real estate. And, while I enjoy my nickel M 586 4”, frankly for me it is a bit too much brightness (except for looking, rather than using due to the inevitable smudges.)

 

[Abbynormal]

I polished my M686-6" back in the mid 80's. I used a buffing wheel and polishing compound on the curvy areas. It looked like nickle and has been said before, was easy to clean.

Sold it after a year for more than I paid for it, but not enuf for the time I invested polishing it.

 

[mtgianni]

On the plus side, if your shaving mirror breaks you have a ready substitute. Other than that no I wouldn't but it's your gun.

 

[mchom]

Once, many years ago...while under the influence of some madness. I thought it would be a good idea to send in my LNIB Blued 29-2 to robar and get the durable NP3 finish applied. Needless to say I have since repented for my sins. I regretted my decision to do this. It is your gun but since you are seeking opinions about possible downsides...Take some time to think it over. You may later on desire factory original finishes.

 

[tlawler]

Too blingy for me, but in agreement with others, I say to each his own. Patriot does some stunning work, if you’re into that sort of thing. A few years ago there was a model 1006 on Florida gun trader that the owner had sent to Patriot and had their high polish job done on it. It was super shiny and blemishless, to be sure. The owner was asking somewhere in the range of $2K for it, if I remember correctly. His thought was that the $500 polish job added $800-$1000 to the value. I’m just glad he did that to a fairly common third gen 10mm and not one of the rarer versions.

 

[A10]

Your gun your call. For me, if I'm looking at a polished gun on the secondary market, I always wonder what kind of abuse the seller was trying to hide. But that's probably just me......

 

[Narragansett]

If a nice example, it devalues it, but to each his own. I know
I would not buy it if for sale

 

[two-bit cowboy]

With steady hands, good eyes, patience and time I believe anyone could do their own polishing.

I used Mother's Mag Polish on my 640-1 Pro -- my daily carry. It was gorgeous. Seven years in and out of the holster several times a day has taken its toll in a few places. It's still nice looking, but I'm not going to redo it. The shine did nothing for how it performs.

Since I polished the Centennial I've picked up Model 60s from the first run of 39 and the first production run that have the factory bright polished finish. They've made me appreciate a factory job and show the contrast to the subsequent satin finish with aplomb. Thanks to them I'll stick to the factory finish in the future. There's something about "authenticity" that sits well.

 

[AveragEd]

If a nice example, it devalues it, but to each his own. I know I would not buy it if for sale.

I'm with Pete. If I wanted something that looked like a 1950s car bumper I would buy an older car.

Here's an example of what polishing a popular but no longer made S&W revolver can cost you in terms of resale value. I was able to buy this otherwise like-new no-dash Model 67 with no stocks for a whopping $300 because it was polished. My gunsmith charged me $115 to restore the brushed finish but I think I'm still in it for good money. The lighting when I took these photos wasn't the best; parts of the gun look "frosty" but they aren't.

Ed

 

[RetCapt]

On DA revolvers, given my LE and PPC experience, I am solely into practicality. So no interest in high polish.

SA differs. I was raised with 'B' westerns and singing cowboys at the Saturday matinee and on TV. Their preference was nickel with (faux) stag grips. That has stuck with me. To this day, I still think the most beautiful handgun is a nickel (or now bright stainless) SA revolver with stag grips.

I have a stainless Ruger Blackhawk .357 that I bought used, but as far as I know, never fired. I used Mother's Mag polish and did all the work by hand, no buffing wheel. It took a lot of time and rags, but came out perfectly. I then added a set of faux stag grips. Put me right back at the Saturday matinee.

From the first time I fired that Blackhawk I found it was capable of very tight groups. A friend of mine did an action job on it, which worked miracles on giving me a smooth, light, controllable trigger pull.

Having this show biz appearance revolver that groups so well gives me the advantage of a sleeper when shooting with friends, at least the first time out. Between that first exposure, then letting them shoot the Blackhawk themselves, demonstrates that bling is no barrier to functional excellence.

For me then, it is a different courses/different horses situation.

 

[tlawler]

On DA revolvers, given my LE and PPC experience, I am solely into practicality. So no interest in high polish.

SA differs. I was raised with 'B' westerns and singing cowboys at the Saturday matinee and on TV. Their preference was nickel with (faux) stag grips. That has stuck with me. To this day, I still think the most beautiful handgun is a nickel (or now bright stainless) SA revolver with stag grips.

I have a stainless Ruger Blackhawk .357 that I bought used, but as far as I know, never fired. I used Mother's Mag polish and did all the work by hand, no buffing wheel. It took a lot of time and rags, but came out perfectly. I then added a set of faux stag grips. Put me right back at the Saturday matinee.

From the first time I fired that Blackhawk I found it was capable of very tight groups. A friend of mine did an action job on it, which worked miracles on giving me a smooth, light, controllable trigger pull.

Having this show biz appearance revolver that groups so well gives me the advantage of a sleeper when shooting with friends, at least the first time out. Between that first exposure, then letting them shoot the Blackhawk themselves, demonstrates that bling is no barrier to functional excellence.

For me then, it is a different courses/different horses situation.

Need pictures

 

[ken158]

A polished stainless gun (686) will decrease the value so if you require a fingerprint magnet, just buy the same gun (586) in nickel.

 

[RetCapt]

Polished stainless steek

Need pictures

Agree, and would like to post. Unfortunately the system here thus far has defied my efforts. When I first came on board, after asking, I found some instructions on how to post thumb nail photos. But even that failed soon after.

The 'photo hosting' approach I have read of here makes no sense to me, but I know nothing of that concept.

I am spoiled by FB, where attaching a photo is simple and rapid.

I have more to do with my time than learn a cumbersome system that on other venues is so simple, so I know that it is possible.

 

[DixieRanger]

For RetCap...
Ur post struck a note with me as to shiney. As a lifelong cowboy, got to play for real with SASS. A life member #21460 with handle Dixie Ranger. Old El Paso Rig (Bowie when 12) & revolvers in .45 Colt w/Eagle grips. Big boys & their toys! View attachment 626657

Sent from my SM-G960U using Tapatalk