Riomouse911
Member
All the neat threads about 3” J frame S&W revolvers piqued my interest, so I looked about for one that was in my price range. I saw a Bubbaed up 36-1 listed on GB that had the bluing polished off, so put in a rather low bid...and won.
The gun was a CAI re-import. The previous owner tried to buff out the CAI import mark on the frame under the cylinder. A bit of the markings were still visible, some of the S&W trademark was buffed down, there were some scratches on the barrel and some light swirl marks were pretty much everywhere in the steel.
When I held it at the receiving FFL the lockup was tight, there was no play in the cylinder and the trigger function was good in both DA snd SA.
Since this looked like a decent gun that merely had a kitchen table gunfinisher try to work on it, I had my gunsmith friend polish out the swirl marks and remove what he could of the remaining CAI marks. It was then rust blued and reassembled.
I think it turned out pretty good for an orphaned and semi-abused old gun. It certainly won’t pass as factory polishing and bluing, but considering what the old gun looked like when I got it I thought the results are pretty nice. (I’ll also be replacing the grips as these are a bit hashed.)
I’m hoping to get out and put some rounds through it soon, starting with 148 gr WC and ending with mid range .38 Spl. loads. (I’ll be avoiding +P loads in this gun.) When I get a chance I’ll post how it shoots for me.
Anyone else pull a gun back from the abyss of abuse and wind up with a good gun when you were done?
Stay safe.
The gun was a CAI re-import. The previous owner tried to buff out the CAI import mark on the frame under the cylinder. A bit of the markings were still visible, some of the S&W trademark was buffed down, there were some scratches on the barrel and some light swirl marks were pretty much everywhere in the steel.
When I held it at the receiving FFL the lockup was tight, there was no play in the cylinder and the trigger function was good in both DA snd SA.
Since this looked like a decent gun that merely had a kitchen table gunfinisher try to work on it, I had my gunsmith friend polish out the swirl marks and remove what he could of the remaining CAI marks. It was then rust blued and reassembled.
I think it turned out pretty good for an orphaned and semi-abused old gun. It certainly won’t pass as factory polishing and bluing, but considering what the old gun looked like when I got it I thought the results are pretty nice. (I’ll also be replacing the grips as these are a bit hashed.)
I’m hoping to get out and put some rounds through it soon, starting with 148 gr WC and ending with mid range .38 Spl. loads. (I’ll be avoiding +P loads in this gun.) When I get a chance I’ll post how it shoots for me.
Anyone else pull a gun back from the abyss of abuse and wind up with a good gun when you were done?
Stay safe.
.
