s&w ?

Start with a full strip and polish it with some Flitz. If that doesn't bring it back to looking good you will need to resort to stronger methods. Anything from a buffing with a fine stainless wire wheel to restore the original "brushed" look to a full on buffing job with various abrasives leading to a mirror shine.

You could always send it back to s&w. Their performance center gunsmiths offer a tune up and finish job in the range of $175 - $250 if my memory serve me right.

Smith & Wesson would probably do it for a nominal cost. Being stainless steel, it should only need repolishing. Good polishing is harder than it looks.

Dude, based on the questions you're asking, either leave it alone or send it back to Smith. It's easy to get in over your head. Personally, I'd probably leave it alone.

^^^^
Really. Your dad's kit gun got the patina fair and square. Clean it, lube it, make sure it's in good mechanical order, but regarding the finish... consider leaving it be.

If you want a shiny gun, go buy one.

You'll thank me later.

I agree with wrs840, the gun should be left alone. It has character.

hard to guess without seeing it but I would probably leave it alone

My dad left his gun in this tool box in this truck for years now its dull. How can I bring the shine back its ss?

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For some reason, I feel compelled to ask you to make absolutely sure it's unloaded before you start anything. Beyond that, I agree with the posters that recommended Flitz. Maybe then some Mother's Mag wheel polish.

Be advised, re using flitz. I have read of instances where people screwed with the gun's tolerances. Specifically, one case where the shooter used flitz to get the carbon rings off stainless and he increased the cylinder to barrel gap so much it spit lead whenever he fired it.

I don't think so.

^^^^
I'm thinking he used something more than just Flitz for that.. Like Flitz and maybe Krocus cloth or something he shouldn't have..

Specifically, one case where the shooter used flitz to get the carbon rings off stainless and he increased the cylinder to barrel gap so much it spit lead whenever he fired it.

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somewhere between unlikely and impossible. My guess is that the revolver was out of time or he used something VERY aggressive, which Flitz isn't.

Mothers?

I'm surprised no one has mentioned Mothers Mag Polish, a soft cloth and a lot of elbow grease. No dis-assembly required to see if it will get you the shine you are looking for.

For the OP, you can find the polish at any chain auto parts store. The elbow grease is harder to come by these days ;-)

Mothers mag polish turned this boring 500 magnum into a gun that looks like nickel now.
Mothers mag wheel polish is sold as a paste and can be found just about anywhere car care products are sold.
Get yourself a bunch of soft clean cloths and have at it.
This gun was NOT taken apart other than the grips and the cylinder release.
NO tools were used, all was done by hand.
This was done when the 500 first came out and she still shines like new today.



Jeff (GUNKWAZY)

VERY aggressive, which Flitz isn't

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And you're all professional metallurgists? You shouldn't post unless you know what you're talking about.

Flitz most definitely has the capability to remove enough metal to alter tolerances. The case to which I alluded was where the shooter repeatedly used Flitz after every shooting in order to remove the carbon rings. After repeated cleanings, he had damaged his revolver.

It wasn't after just one application. But people tend to become compulsive with that stuff.

We get it.

In theory Flitz can increase the cylinder gap if done over and over and over rinse repeat.

So can ones fingertip.

Im still going with

somewhere between unlikely and impossible. My guess is that the revolver was out of time or he used something VERY aggressive, which Flitz isn't.

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and Im a professional metallurgist.

unemployed unfortunately

and joking about being a professional metalurgist.

Dear Lord

are we going to argue that a polishing compound changed the size of chambers of a revolver?

Yes it is possible. If you chuck a dremel tool with a tool and go at it like a madman. Of course in order to do that with pig urine and enough time.

A swimming pool is bigger if you pee in it too (if you do so at a greater rate than evaporation) Where the rubber hits the road, peeing in a pool does not fill it.

And BTW, how do you know what I do for a living and/or studied in school?


What has happened to the High Road recently?

I found this in my inbox..

I think it was addressed wrong...


Dear Guillermo,

Yes, we are going to argue about polishing compounds wearing away metals. You see, I got very bored of monitoring the "caliber wars" debate, the Taurus gun owners gave up on defending themselves, and I further improved Ruger's customer service. Therefore, this is what I have to occupy my time.

You really don't want me to P in your OOL. Trust me, your pool isn't big enough.

I know what you do for a living, I know when you're awake. I know if you've been bad or good, so be good for goodness sake. Yeah, I'm him.

And for what's happened to the high road? Well, it's no longer the high road. It's the place where uninformed people can spout off their opinion at will! It's where the Colt guys team up on the Glock guys! It's where people can argue about everything from "one in the pipe" to "you are stupid for buying that holster!"... It's where one person can take pride in telling his side (and you better take his advise or you're an idiot) 19,000 times!
It's where people should cooperate, but they argue!
That, my son, is what is happening to The High Road.

So turn off your computer, go outside and do something. Maybe you should go shoot!!

-God

...this kind of thing seems to happen every so often. It's a wave-node thing, I think.

Jim H.