S&W "Black" Stainless Steel Finish Question

[meef]

I'm considering a Model 686 with this particular finish.

Question is - does anybody have any experience with its overall ability to stay looking good with reasonable use and care?

I think Smith only offered it for a short time and I was wondering if it was simply from lack of interest, or did it have problems... :confused:

[Bullet Bob]

They dropped it mostly because it cost a little more, and because the majority of their customers preferred the natural stainless finish, heathens that they were that had never worshipped at the blued altar.

I've never owned one, but several people on the smith-wessonforum.com have mentioned that they did not wear particularly well, being susceptible to scratches and other wear.

[meef]

Thanks Bob. :)

I ran over to the S&W forum (thanks for the suggestion) and did some quick research. They really don't have a high opinion of it there, do they. Midnight Black, it appears to have been called - and durable it apparently wasn't.

Think I'll pass. Many thanks.

[Jim Watson]

I have seen a few. New, they look great, a satin black unlike any conventional blue. But it wears about like blue and without the shading of a worn blue finish that gives it "character." It just looks worn through to dirty gray stainless.

[Pistol Toter]

I've got one of the 2700 and some odd of the 6" guns, there was some 1500 4" made. Mine is perfect not even a line on the cylinder and is a thing of unusual beauty. It's pretty but looks odd and has been lettered by Mr Jinks. I didn't buy it to shoot, just to admire as unusual and not to speculate on even though they do bring a bit of a premium. They do scratch easily and those that have been carried look terrible. Someday one of my heirs will find it and sell it to pawn shop for nothing but until then I'll enjoy looking at it. It would make a good gun as it is a S&W "L" frame made to digest .357's. P.T.

[MD_Willington]

They also did "Melonite", though it appears to be on the autos only...