Subbie Score - Couldn't Pass It Up

You know how it goes.

Local guy listed a Smith snubbie.

Noticed it had a flat latch.

Some hooplehead had refin'ed it with Cerakote.

Someone tried removing it and gave up.

I learned to polish and spent about 8 hours taking it back to the nickle (without removing the nickle...that's a real trick).

Seller says he'll give me the original stocks, too.

1955 Chief's Special Lightweight

(rollmarks are crisp, that's the glare)

Thanks, it was a good learning piece.

My local gunsmith counseled me with every step.

Swapped the trigger return spring this evening, and it's a smooth operator now.

Might just keep it.

Thanks

Seller's giving me the original stocks, but not sure of their condition.

If they're too bad, I have a local guy how restores them.

And, let me just say this: DO NOT CERAKOTE A VINTAGE SNUB

Swamprat is THE MAN!

Thank you, gentlemen.

It's been a great learning project.

Today it's in my pocket.

Here ya go:

LIGHT, SLOW AND EASY

That's the rule. Do NOT get frustrated and in a hurry.

For the large flat areas and cylinder I used a buffing wheel on my bench grinder with RED rouge.

Light and easy a little at a time. EXTRA CARE ON THE ROLL MARKS

Then used a Dremel for hard to reach areas, again with red rouge.

It's SLOW going.

Final polish by hand with blue Flitz.

Two coats of Renaissance wax.

Did I say go "LIGHT, SLOW AND EASY"?

You're most welcome.

Heat seems to be a factor in getting the Cerakote to release.

So, if one is careful the red rouge has enough abrasive to cut, the wheel creates some heat, and the operator has to do everything slowly and gradually and resist the urge to lean into and get it off too quickly.

DBR, that is true.

However, if it had been done correctly it might have looked halfway decent, not right, but decent.

And the price would've probably been higher.