Today's Find...... a story of a negotiation.

[lamarw]

Adding to the list of steel and brass wool; soak in kroil, and use it with the wool to scrub it down after a couple of days of soaking. Then use some Brownells Oxpho-Blue in crème formula.

You could also remove all the rust and turn it to a "in the white" by soaking in 50% white vinegar and water. It takes less than an hour of soaking in the vinegar solution. You have to get all the rust removed and smoothly polished steel prior to rebluing the gun.

 

[Tyrod]

That gun is right up my alley. Depending on how deep the pits are and the condition of the bore, I'd attempt to restore it. If the pits are too deep, I could fill them in with copper then get it nickel plated. I've seen some pits filled in with micro tig welding. The hard part of welding is finding the proper filler material so that there's no contrast between the welded area vs the non welded area after bluing. Sometimes small slivers of frame material have to be shaved off the inside of the grip frame. Deep pits anywhere on the barrel should be of great concern. I've never had to restore a badly pitted barrel exterior. I purposely don't pick junkers with bad bores or badly pitted barrel exteriors. Too chicken! I have to test fire my restorations.

 

[Muley Gil]

These two, a M544 and a Colt Police Positive Special in .32-20, look like Hades but have excellent bores and chambers. Both are good shooters.

 

[Citiboy289]

I went to my favorite LGS this morning to pick up some .44 Special ammo to feed my Bulldog (Charter Arms....that is!). I did my customary walk about and saw what was left of the police "property room" that yielded the nickle 36 and Model 48 that I posted about a few days ago.

They still have several Ruger Police Service Six models that was apparently a dept issue gun years ago, a Colt Trooper, and an Official Police .32-20 that I had seen on Wednesday afternoon.

As I was about to leave, after talking to one of the clerks for a while, I looked behind the counter on a little workbench where they install night sights etc.

"What's that over there?"
"Oh....just some grips. "
"No. What is that revolver laying under the cloth.?"
"That one came out the property room caked in dried mud so badly you almost couldn't tell what it was. We have been cleaning the outside of it and haven't done it internally yet. It's not out for sale. It's a real mess!"
"May I see it?"

He handed me the revolver. It was obviously very dirty inside. But, it functioned perfectly and locked up like a bank vault.

"What'll ya take "as-is"?
" We not finished cleaning it. I dunno. I'll ask the boss."

We walked over to the manager who I've done business with many times.

They leaned toward each other and spoke in hushed tones for 10-15 seconds.

The clerk asked " What's your offer?"

Using my best poker face, I said "In this shape.....$200".

The manager chimed in "There's a judge from the area where wee got it that wants it to restore. I'm not sure if we can ...."

I played my ace in the hole and reached in my pocket pulling out the money clip that contained my "gun fund" and held it up for him to see. This simple silent act spoke louder than words................ "He's not here. Now is he?"

The manager & I locked eyes like two cowboys about to duel on a dusty street in an old western move. Who would blink first???

He stated simply "I understand. Who you do $300?"

I nodded affirmatively. We did the paperwork and I left with a 4" P&R Model 58 from circa 1968. Serial # S 329xxx






Best,
Charles

I love basket cases such a wonderful way to pass the time

 

[Citiboy289]

Could I live with it like that? I think that I would end up spending enough money that I could have bought a much better one. That said, I applaud your adoption of an orphan and your love of S&Ws.

hey I know the feeling I am retired but work Part time to feed this rescue need

 

[Dave T]

A functional N-frame S&W for $300 seems like a good buy to me. I sure haven't seen one for sale around here for that kind of price in a long, long time.

If I was a 41 Mag shooter I'd have jumped on it, then had it fine bead blasted and blued. That would yield a perfect shooter, IMO.

Dave

 

[Citiboy289]

Rust this will sound stupid but a picked up a civil war colt army 1860 at a local yard sale about 3 years ago
thing was so rusted the cylinder was frozen
A guy said Soak it in Molasses , hot water - in a sealed Tupperwear container it will eat the rust off
I gave it a try half bottle of molasses ( tupperwear shoe box size ) flled with hot water
sealed the top
2days later opened it There was a perfect outline of the rusty section on the piece in the top foam
Frozen pieces freed
seems like the molasses as it furments seeks bases of oxygen since the container is sealed it eats the oxygen from the rust

 

[Jim NNN]

Sometimes it's great to have a gun with lots of cosmetic wear because then you aren't hesitant to shoot the thing and knock around with it, like you're supposed to do. I have a model 15 from 1960 that has about 55% finish. I don't worry about it like I do with some of my other old guns.

Have fun with it.

 

[BUFF]

"I understand that not everyone likes the .41 magnum."

I love the .41 Magnum and the Model 58.

I'll be Richard and suggest that it is too far gone for my tastes. I can't imagine what you could refinish with to get rid of the rust.

If you polish it until the rust and roughness are gone, you'll have only a real rough J frame left!

 

[Jack Flash]

Very interesting thread!

I would probably shy away from it, thinking "If it's like that on the outside, what is it like inside?" I would worry that some internal parts need replacing and that they would be unavailable.

On the other hand, some people are more adventurous. How bad can it be inside, especially if the bore and chambers are good?

 

[moosedog]

If it was mine, I'd be refinishing the grips while it went back to S&W for a factory nickel job. I love the 41 Magnums.

 

[Triggernosis]

What are you going to do with it? customize?, restore?

He should sell it to the judge for a bargain price of $500.

 

[policerevolvercollector]

He should sell it to the judge for a bargain price of $500.

Actually, it had a $499.95 price tag on it. I suspect this was going to be the judge's price after they finished cleaning it.

Best,
Charles

 

[Raphael]

Love to negotiate, nice work!

 

[policerevolvercollector]

Sometimes it's great to have a gun with lots of cosmetic wear because then you aren't hesitant to shoot the thing and knock around with it, like you're supposed to do. I have a model 15 from 1960 that has about 55% finish. I don't worry about it like I do with some of my other old guns.

Have fun with it.

Exactly!!!

My downstairs gun is a Model 15-3 from the mid '70s that has bloodstains all over it. It shoots like a dream. I don't mean to be morbid. But, I think it had only been shot one time before I got it.

Best,
Charles

 

[SuperMan]

...just hope the Judge doesn't find out who "stole" his gun and you get a speeding ticket...I could see 5 years in the county lockup....

Even all cleaned up $4-500 is all anyone would ever give for it... But if the pits aren't too bad send it up to Mag-Na-Port... They could bead blast it and then matte hard chrome for an all-weather handgun...

Nice find...Bob

 

[Florida Guy]

Expensive door stop

 

[ladder13]

Charles is the rescue King.

 

[policerevolvercollector]

Expensive door stop

I've never had a reason to shoot a door to stop it. Point taken though. A .357 is probably enough gun for an average door even one that is on a rampage.

 

[RubenZ]

I'm curious to see the outcome of this one