do you guys know if s&w refurbishes snub noses? I purchased a 642 38spl a few years ago that was a cops backup gun and its a little beat up. the greyish finish is rubbed off in some places and showing bare steel and has some scratches on it but for $200 I wasn't going to complain.
s&w 642 refurbish
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Bullseye
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1-800-331-0852 for S&W
I bet you could disassemble and bead blast it to look better. Til you ship and pay what they would charge, I imagine the cost would equal at least what a new one cost and maybe even more including the $200 you already have into it.
I bet you could disassemble and bead blast it to look better. Til you ship and pay what they would charge, I imagine the cost would equal at least what a new one cost and maybe even more including the $200 you already have into it.
oh wow I didn't think it would more than maybe $100-150. I thought about having a buddy take it apart and blast it but the steel isn't the smooth polished steel like we usually see its more a dull rough steel. ill give them a call I just wanted to see what you guys thought first. if its over $150 ill figure something out.
Bullseye
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Good luck with it. If it works good, you won't have to worry about putting the first scratch on it anyway.
I just thought that possibly bead blasting it might fill in the bright spots since I assume yours is already a matte stainless finish. It's easier to polish up a smooth stainless finish I suppose.
Bead blasting it will dull those spots. Just guessing. Lets see a picture of the issues.
Maybe it's not all that bad. I like fussing with my stuff to look better myself but there's only so much one can do.
I just thought that possibly bead blasting it might fill in the bright spots since I assume yours is already a matte stainless finish. It's easier to polish up a smooth stainless finish I suppose.
Bead blasting it will dull those spots. Just guessing. Lets see a picture of the issues.
Maybe it's not all that bad. I like fussing with my stuff to look better myself but there's only so much one can do.
The barrel and cylinder of a 642 are stainless steel. The frame is aluminum alloy.
If the bright spots are on the frame, it is probably where the anodizing has been worn off.
I'd contact S&W and see if they would refinish the gun and give an approximate cost.
If the bright spots are on the frame, it is probably where the anodizing has been worn off.
I'd contact S&W and see if they would refinish the gun and give an approximate cost.
Bullseye
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hmmmmm .... maybe a bead blast would be a bad idea?
I did not know this and here I am all suggestive and stuff. Yeah a call to S&W would be the best thing to do first.
WestKentucky
Member
Wow...want your money back?
By the way...where's the pictures?
By the way...where's the pictures?
There is no "greyish" finish on the 642...there is no grayish finish either.
The barrel, cylinder, ejection rod, and cylinder release are bare stainless steel.
The trigger is flash chromed.
The frame is aluminum alloy with a clear coat applied.
If there has been some rubbing/wear, it is either a polished bright spot on the stainless or the clear coat has been worn through. The clear coat can't be touched up, it has to be completely stripped off and reapplied.
I've seen some 642s that have had the stainless parts bead blasted and it is a pretty sharp looking combination.
You could also polish the barrel and cylinder to a high shine and Ceracoat the frame
Money back? I fell asleep last night after i posted and at work right now. ill post a pic when i get home later today. The guy was a buddy of mine and his dad was sick and he knew I liked the gun and said its mine for $250 with 50rds of gold dot and 100rds of target ammo, case and holster. I had $225 on me so he took it. The color coming off isn't a huge deal i just like my stuff looking nice.
Sorry about the Grey/Gray. i never could get those to strait/straight.
It definitely has a painted type silvery finish on mine. around the top of it where its rounded just above the grip its rubbed off and looks like bare aluminum and where the s&w logo is there is a gouge or scratch on it also showing aluminum and the metal on the front of the grip is oxidizing or something as it looks like acid is eating away at it changing the color. pics to come tonight.
The 442 has an anodized finish. Only the 642 is coated
Pictures as requested.
http://s1030.photobucket.com/user/martpjin2011/media/IMG_0974_zpswugbw4om.jpg.html
http://s1030.photobucket.com/user/martpjin2011/media/IMG_0975_zpsqca2d5tf.jpg.html
http://s1030.photobucket.com/user/martpjin2011/media/IMG_0977_zpsszjq3zda.jpg.html this one doesn't show it very well but its down to bare aluminum.
http://s1030.photobucket.com/user/martpjin2011/media/IMG_0974_zpswugbw4om.jpg.html
http://s1030.photobucket.com/user/martpjin2011/media/IMG_0975_zpsqca2d5tf.jpg.html
http://s1030.photobucket.com/user/martpjin2011/media/IMG_0977_zpsszjq3zda.jpg.html this one doesn't show it very well but its down to bare aluminum.
The backstrap is just wearing through the Clearcoat. That would require a complete strip and recoat.
The damage on the front corner of the frame looks more like corrosion/oxidation. You might be about to polish that out to a flat surface, but it looks pretty deep. You'd have to polish that whole flat area to maintain a even surface ...all the way back to the grip...and you'd likely lose all the engraving.
Consider a light cleanup and ceracoating the whole frame
The damage on the front corner of the frame looks more like corrosion/oxidation. You might be about to polish that out to a flat surface, but it looks pretty deep. You'd have to polish that whole flat area to maintain a even surface ...all the way back to the grip...and you'd likely lose all the engraving.
Consider a light cleanup and ceracoating the whole frame
if using a Blackhawk serpa holster do you guys think that's the cause. I still want to call smith and see if they can redo it. I'm kind of partial to that gun as its similar to what my dad who is no longer with us carried for work but his was a 357 with a hammer and wood grips. cant remember the model but he sold it when I was younger. just reminds me of him. I had his holster for it but somehow my mother got ahold of it wont give it up.
EMT40SW
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I would send it to S&W Preformance Center. Then have them do a trigger job, cut the cylinder for full moon clips like the 642 Pro, & refinish it.
BLU
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Ohihunter: My 642 started wearing it's finish off on the left side where my left thumb would ride. The appearance started to bother me, (I'm just funny that way about my guns). I contacted S&W and they said to send it in. They refinished the gun for me and except where the SN is on the grip, it looked brand new when I got it back. The Rep on the phone made it very clear... they'll only do this to a 442/642 once. Cost me shipping, nothing more and I think it looks great. Since I carry this gun quite a bit, I'm thinking ahead to the next refinish job at which time I'll consider either duracoat or cerakote. In your scenario, I'd call S&W... couldn't hurt. Hope this helps you out some.
Thanks.
I emailed them and they got back to me the next day and asked i email them all the information so they may generate a shipping label and send it to me and it will take 4 weeks for warranty work and 3 weeks if i need to pay for it. its my ccw gun so im a little reluctant but seeing how its winter i can hide my m&p fullsize a little better so ill get them the info.
i was a little freaked out cause i sent one to savage and the tracking # wasn't good so i had to keep emailing them asking if they got it or sent it back to me. nerve racking i tell ya.
earplug
Member
Use this opportunity to round off and blend the upper rear part of the frame that digs into the base of your thumb when you shoot. For some reason the frame on the 642 is slightly different from a 638 and it eats me. You might want to deburr the cylinder release too.
I blended the corners before my last refinish. Did a self spray and bake with black ceramic coating of the frame, this help me see the sights much better then the silver. Left the cylinder, side plate screws and cylinder release stainless.
I blended the corners before my last refinish. Did a self spray and bake with black ceramic coating of the frame, this help me see the sights much better then the silver. Left the cylinder, side plate screws and cylinder release stainless.
Triggernosis
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Did you spray/bake the barrel? What product did you use and how well has it held up?
earplug
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Wheeler Engineering Cerama-Coat. 12 years of daily carry.
DMK
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