What media for factory bead blast finish?

[Wee Hooker]

Does anybody have insight into what media (type and grit) the S&W factory uses to get their bead blast finish as seen on many of their new pro series revolvers??
I used to do allot of bead blast finishing (on eye glass frames) years ago so am not foreign to the process.
Once in a while I get the urge to try to duplicate it on a older /polished revolver.


Doh! a search showed nothing until I posted this and like topics showed up at teh bottom of the page. All set.

 

[torizus]

I also would be interested in knowing the type or composition of their media. Particularly if it is a proprietary mix in which case we will never know.

 

[bigwheelzip]

Says on their website: Glass Bead Finish.

Precision Gunsmithing | Smith & Wesson

 

[terrancemc]

Glass Beads

The beads are 270 grit. Brownells sells them. I have been using them over 20 years and they match the factory bead blast finish.

 

[skjos]

A thread you may want to check out:

http://smith-wessonforum.com/smith-...7421-glass-bead-media-testing-5906-frame.html