[rjoy]

I was going through my gun cabinet/safe trying to get things in order for a move out of state when I pulled my Smith Model 41 out of the shelf to find to my utter dismay, that the bluing had literally leached off the barrel onto the spongy foam stuff that they put in the gun safes for cushioning. I couldn't believe what had happened. (see pictures). From looking at the barrel, it appears that this is not traditional bluing but some other sort of finish on the barrel. Anyway, does anyone have a suggestion as to a fix for this short of sending it off to Smith to have it refinished? Any thoughts on this would be greatly appreciated.

Bob

[Wildfire]

Hey there:
That may not be bluing.
I'm not sure on that model but some guns were painted . Baking laquer is the type of paint used.

This may not be the case with yours. Not sure. You could try a spot and see if a cold blue will stick to it, if not the baking laquer will work.

The foam may have messed with it. I paint signs and foam will eat the paint off. But usually not after it is cured. There must have been some glue or something on that foam. And that is likely what took the finish.

[rjoy]

Wildfire:

I think you have hit it right on the head. It looks like some kind of coating on the barrel instead of a blued finish. I also believe you are right when you say there must have been something on the foam that ate the finish off, although I don't know what it could have been. I am not familiar with baking lacquer. Where would I get that and can it be used to make a successful spot repair to this barrel? I am just sick over this. Thanks for your input.

Bob

[Claude Clay]

S&W needs to see it. send them pic's and keep at them till they send you a prepaid shipper. the 41 is their pride, they have done annuals on mine long after the free period ran out(about 16 years ago); including shipping. give them a call, good luck
ps....what was on the foam before the 41 was placed there?

[Wildfire]

Hey there:
Brownells sells Baking laquer. You can get it in gloss black or matt.
You may have to strip the slide down to do it right.
Not sure on that. But anyway. Follow directions and it will work. Ya have to use Ma's oven to cure the paint.
Oil will not hurt it once it is done.
The frame may be Aluminum. So watch the temps. Don't go ove 350 degrees.
That would change the metal. Stay below that.
Good luck........

[Robert Hairless]

I'll echo Claude Clay's advice about calling Smith & Wesson for help before you doing anything else. I'm impressed with its support even in situations that aren't its fault.

[Jim Watson]

A painted M41?
Eww, mine is blued.

Contact S&W. I am sure they will redo it. Looks like the damage is confined to the barrel and if they don't mind you sending just that, it will keep shipping costs down.

I think I'd get some of the rust inhibitor impregnated paper like S&W used to line their boxes with for the gun case and ditch the foam rubber.

[mainmech48]

FWIW, some open cell foams will react chemically with common petroleum based solvents, oils and preservative greases. This can cause the sort of problem you describe.

I had something similar happen to a repro BP revolver that I stored in a foam lined hardcase. The bluing was etched and foam particles were stuck to the metal. Fortunately, it wasn't an expensive piece and some elbow grease and cold blue took care of it well enough.

Since then I don't store any of my weapons with any metal surface in direct contact with foam. If I don't have the original box, I put it into a Bore Sock before placing it in the safe or case.

[Wildfire]

Hey there;
I looked up your gun. It has a steel frame and slide. And is blued.
The paint will not be what you want.
These came out in 1957 and they claim they are high quailty target pistols.
They also seem to hold a good value.
Good luck with getting it redone.

[rjoy]

Thanks to all of you that replied to my post. It does seem prudent to take it to the horses mouth and give S & W a call to see what they think I should do. I really don't want a cobbed up job or homemade looking repair. The pistol is too precious to me to do that. Thanks again.

Bob

[Dudley]

I have a S&W 22A and the other day I went out and shot it. Everything was fine, when we got back, I cleaned the barrel and chamber the way I always have. Once I was done I always spray Rem Oil on the gun to give it a protective coat before I place it back in the save. When I started to wipe off the excess the finish came off. Not a little, but right down to bare metal the entire length and all over the barrel. But only the barrel. I called S&W and they have issued a call ticket for me to send it back to them. I was told that this was the first time he every had anyone call about this. Well now there is two..... Thanks Dudley I hope they make it good for both of us.

[rcmodel]

Unless S&W just recently started painting Model 41's, which I very much doubt, it is blued.
And the foam took off the bluing through some chemical reaction.

rcmodel