What to do

[DCWilson]

Joe, thanks for the additional data. I happily concede that my suspicion circuits were dialed up to 11 today. I'm glad the gun is jake, and I reaffirm my original position that it's an OK shooter for the price and you didn't come up short on the deal.

 

[Engineer1911]

It's a shooter not collectible. Go to the range and shoot it!

 

[Garthe]

Face to face deal, it’s yours to keep.

Internet deal with bad pictures and 98% perfect claim, return for full refund.

 

[shouldazagged]

I'm not a purist. I'm obsessive-compulsive about some things, but not something like a blued trigger and hammer on a damn good general-purpose revolver for a fair price, bought from an honest man.

I've always bought guns to shoot, not to collect or resell for a profit.

I would shoot and enjoy that one, and pass it down to my son and his boys to enjoy it further.

 

[ater]

I will say you keep that lovely gun

 

[Waveski]

The blued appendages and the buffed look would be a deal killer for me. Honest wear I can abide ; spit , polish and plum blue , no.

However - you put that gun in your hand , looked it over and determined that you wanted it. You made a real time , good faith deal.

It's all about perspective. I'd say keep your gun.

 

[2152hq]

I't would be hard for me to keep the gun with the finish like that. Not that it has anything what so ever to do with how it shoots. It's just the looks of a buff and re-blue that would irk me.
I like an orig finish,, even at a well worn % much better than a buff and reblue job. Just my personal opinion though.

That said,,it's something you should have pick up on right off the bat.
In any other situation it would have been a $350 lesson learned,,and we have all had out share of them if we are honest with ourselves.

$350 is still not all that bad for the revolver as a shooter in nice mechanical condition, nice bore, ect.
But IF it's going to haunt you everytime you look at that reblued finish ,,,then take the gent up on that generous offer to refund your $$ on the pistol and go looking for another.

You owe that seller a big favor,,he really doesn't have to do this and most would not especially on a face to face deal.

A big lesson learned for you, but no money out of pocket in learning it this time if you want to get out from underneath that particular revolver.

 

[Chukar60]

Keep it and shoot it if that is what you got it for.
I have some very nice Smiths that I shoot sparingly and others that I shoot a lot because I really enjoy them.
I cant abide an ugly gun, but refinished or modest amounts of wear are not ugly to me.
Some folks get hung up on all that aesthetic stuff, but once I drop the hammer and the rounds find their way to the target the last thing on my mind is the finish.
I think the price is fine. From the standpoint of buying a shooter, where you gonna find a mechanically sound one for any cheaper that isn’t seriously finish compromised?

 

[El Biblioitecario]

I have no idea what you should do because I am not you.

If it were my weapon I would consider polishing the hammer and trigger bright with Flitz, (a project which should occupy countless hours of junk TV) and installing pimpy faux pearl or stag grips.

 

[Waveski]

Keep it and shoot it if that is what you got it for.

I think the price is fine. From the standpoint of buying a shooter, where you gonna find a mechanically sound one for any cheaper that isn’t seriously finish compromised?

They are out there. Pictured is a GB find of a few months back , all original inc. numbered grips , blotchy surface rust that cleaned up nicely , great case hardening colors ... $233. (or $277...?) Less that 3 bills. Best stock trigger I own.

 

[Grayfox]

Its your gun, do whatever you want.
As for me, I'm a man of my word. If I make a deal face to face with an examination of the item, I stick to it. Even if I discover I was wrong.
Decent gun at a decent price. Keep it and enjoy.

 

[Texas Star]

S&W surface hardens hammers and triggers and color casehardens them. I think Colt and Ruger harden these parts clear through.

A reblued gun presumably removes that surface hardening. The softer parts will wear faster.

I also cannot abide a blue finish that has turned plum color. I don't ever buy blued Rugers, as they so often turn colors.

I'd IMMEDIATELY accept the offer to return the gun.
Then, if you want a real world shooter, take that money and add what you must to buy a Model 64 stainless revolver.

 

[Frank46]

I have a Colt Trooper MKIII in 357 magnum and has a factory bbl and cylinder. The cylinder is plum colored and barrel is blue. Have seen a few trooper MKIII's with both the plum cylinder and blued cylinder. I believe that the plum color may be due to the alloys in the metal. Have a spare barrel and cylinder for this revolver and both are blued. Having said all that if you are not at all happy with it ask the seller to refund the money and return the revolver. If you are satisfied shoot it and enjoy. Frank

 

[Anothergrumpyoldman]

First I want to thank all for the comments on my post. I decided to return the revolver. I took it back 2 days ago. The seller was ok with it. I have bought other guns from him in the past. In the last six months I bought a WWII Colt Commando 38spl, and a 1981 Dan Wesson Model 14 .357 from him. The Dan Wesson is probably the most accurate revolver I own.
Before I returned the M&P, I removed the sideplate to check the innards. Glad I did. No lube was applied after it was reblued. It was bone dry inside. I lightly lubed it and the seller thanked me for doing it.

 

[Pondoro]

Wow. Someone else is gonna buy that gun for $350, thrilled with the price. Someone else will buy a rough model for $350 and then post here asking, "Should I refinish it?" Everyone will tell him, "NO!"

 

[Jaymo]

First I want to thank all for the comments on my post. I decided to return the revolver. I took it back 2 days ago. The seller was ok with it. I have bought other guns from him in the past. In the last six months I bought a WWII Colt Commando 38spl, and a 1981 Dan Wesson Model 14 .357 from him. The Dan Wesson is probably the most accurate revolver I own.
Before I returned the M&P, I removed the sideplate to check the innards. Glad I did. No lube was applied after it was reblued. It was bone dry inside. I lightly lubed it and the seller thanked me for doing it.

That Dan Wesson 14 is a great revolver.
I got one with the 2-3/8" barrel and combat grip, a few years back. Love it.

Personally, I would have kept the Smith and used it as a shooter, beater, HD, truck gun.
But, that's me.

 

[JohnRippert]

They are out there. Pictured is a GB find of a few months back , all original inc. numbered grips , blotchy surface rust that cleaned up nicely , great case hardening colors ... $233. (or $277...?) Less that 3 bills. Best stock trigger I own.

Deals like that are normally few and far between, unless you spend more time than I like to following GB. Maybe after I retire....


OP:

If you wanted a shooter, keep it. If you wanted a collector, send it back.