What did my sweat do to the finish on my airweight?

westczek

Member
Joined
Dec 31, 2009
Messages
71
Reaction score
3
It has been really hot recently if you haven't noticed. I noticed the grip screw on my airweight j-frame was getting some rust, so I took it out and removed the rubber grip. Under the grip the was wormy pattern in the finish. I cleaned the gun and oiled it, but the wormy corrosion is permanent.

Westczek
 
Register to hide this ad
The finish on my 642 was kaput about two weeks after I started carrying it.

I view it just as I do nicks on a hammer; it's a tool and subject to signs of use.

Be safe.
 
BIG D,

I do view it the same way you do, a tool. I was a little surprised at how quickly the bizarre etching happened. It will be something I keep and eye on. I am using wood grips now.

Westczek
 
I noticed mine has what looks like white sweat stains on the side of the cylinder. I tried to clean it off but you can still see a small spot.
 
my 637, and 638 finish went to cr** in like 6 mo. my 442 however is doing great. i have heard many complaints about this same problem. to bad, such nice little carrys...
 
It has been really hot recently if you haven't noticed. I noticed the grip screw on my airweight j-frame was getting some rust, so I took it out and removed the rubber grip. Under the grip the was wormy pattern in the finish. I cleaned the gun and oiled it, but the wormy corrosion is permanent.

Westczek

Which model or finish do you have? I have a 442 with the blue finish and my grip screw also rusted a little around the head but I haven't noticed anything under the grips that won't wipe off with just a little Hoppe's solvent and the screw threads are fine.
 
russp1,

I have the 642, the light gray finish. Maybe the blue/black finish on the 442 is better.

Westczek
 
I do understand corrosion on bare steel, blued steel or even stainless, but didn't expect the coating on the airweights to be penetrated in quite this way. I've learned. Here is a picture of my 642 for everyone's viewing pleasure.

Westczek
 

Attachments

  • 642finish.jpg
    642finish.jpg
    51.1 KB · Views: 983
OMG, finally I'm not the only one with snail trails on the alloy finish. My original 637 had the same problem:

2011-05-18_19-02-30_387.jpg


2011-05-18_19-02-44_506.jpg


I always figured it must have been some kind of solvent that got into or under the clear coat finish. Whatever the finish is, it isn't very strong. I much prefer the 442's finish. I wish the 637 had an offer of the same like a 437.
 
On my 642 the finish started curdling shortly after I started carrying back 15-16 years ago. I sent it back to S&W once for a refinish which didn't hold up any better. Sweat got under the finish and severely corroded the left side of the frame. A while back I started trying to get the rest of the finish off of the alloy frame, because it seems to me the gray paint and clearcoat are worse than having no finish at all on the alloy. I believe the original issue 642 was just that; plain alloy on stainless steel and I wish S&W would just do that again.

But mine may not look like much but it will still do what it is supposed to do.
 
Sorry to hear you've got a finish problem. I wonder whether it
would have been a problem if you'd polished it with Ren. Wax first?
I hadn't considered doing that with the stocks off, do you think
it would have helped or maybe protected? Sweat is rough on stuff,
for sure. I've got one that I'm going to try it on. TACC1
 
Looks like typical Filiform Corrosion. Microscopic surface defects in the protective coating promote the formation, and threadlike propogation, of the corrosion under the coating.

If the aluminum was anodized rather than coated, it wouldnt be an issue.
 
I have had two stainless "J" frames with finish issues.
1. Model 638 with black marks on the frame under the grips.
a. contacted S&W Customer Service who had me send them
the weapon. Black marks turned out to be cracks.
Smith and Wesson replaced the weapon with a new one.

2. Model 642 with black pencil tip spots on the left frame.
a. contacted S&W Customer Service. weapon sent in. Weapon replaced with a new weapon. S&W would not advise me what the black spots were.
 
I picked up an Airweight Ti 332 on the cheap because the frame surface around the laminated grips had basically been destroyed by this sort of "worm corrosion". I have no idea what caused it and, as this is a daily carry piece, I don't much care. I do have another pristine 332 that I expect would do the same if I carried it. I won't.
 
Oh no! The Brady bunch infected us with gun worms.

I carried an original early 80s uncoated stainless, alloy Model 642 with rubber stocks for many years in a hip pocket as a second gun. It got wet either due to snow, rain,sweat, and even immersion in salt water a few times when I had to go into the water to rescue accident victims. I never had a problem with any type of corrosion as I took care of the gun. I replaced it with a 342 in the mid 90s and did not have any corrosion issues with that gun either. In a humid environment your gun might need daily attention.

I think part of the problem is that many people assume stainless or alloy guns do not need care. All guns need to be stripped down if wet and cleaned off and properly lubed. I foolishly didn't remove the wood stocks on a stainless Colt 1911 for a few days after getting soaked in a rain storm. I found the beginnings of rust under the stocks a few days later when I tore the gun down for cleaning. My theory is that wood is worse than rubber as it will absorb moisture if not heavily oiled where as rubber does not.

Regarding the early 642 mentioned above, S&W told me that it was discontinued because of the difference in finish between the stainless cylinder and the uncoated duller alloy frame. It is a great gun and I still shoot it on occasion. A few years later they brought out the satin nickel 442s that had the peeling finish. I bought one for my son and S&W destroyed it when they tried getting the old nickel finish off but that's a whole 'nother story.
 
My J-frame M60-7 gets carried against my bare skin in the summer when I wear a Polo, "Hawaiian" or T-shirt and I have not had any issues with the finish. It rides in a Kramer Horsehide Scabbard and most of the gun is in the holster, so only the grip area really touches my skin, but still no rust of any type after 25 years. I do own an Airweight, but have never really carried it much because I prefer the heavier stainless steel version for use with the Buffalo Bore +P ammo I carry. Just about the only time I will carry the M37 is when I have to wear a suit & tie and like the lighter weight. I stoke that with standard pressure BB ammo.

Chief38
 
Back
Top