Bought an ugly duckling :)

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J

Jbabbler

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I decided to stop by Ed's this morning on my way to work because they were having a huge end of the year sale. I didn't expect much but was surprised at the cool used guns they dug up to sell. According to the manager they just bought a ton of guns from the local Police Department so they had everything from Police trade-in Glock 22's for $280 to duct taped Lorcins and Brycos and everything in between.

I was just browsing around and a snubbie 357 caught my eye. It looked pathetic and had a $65 price tag hanging on it. Not an ounce of bluing left on her and the grips were in rough shape as well. I decided to pick her up and see how she felt. I was surprised that there was no rust or pitting on her at all. The bluing was all gone but the metal itself is in great shape under there. I was shocked that the gun operated so smooth and the trigger just glided back in DA mode. The SA trigger was crisp and the cylinder revolved very smoothly and with no more slop than the new revolvers. Lockup was crisp on every cylinder and the firing pin looked perfect. I launched an ink pen into the 10' ceiling when I tested it. The hammer drops clean and resets when the trigger is released. The barrel rifling looks really clean and still has sharp edges as well.

I am not sure what I have planned for her but for the price I couldn't leave her sitting there in the case. Now I know many of you may look at this and say "toss it in the trash" but I think i am really going to enjoy partially restoring her to an acceptable level and then adding her to the carry rotation one day.

What can you guys tell me about her? I want to see what grips will fit and what things to look for on her before I even consider shooting her.

Any idea of the specific model number? How can I get her date of birth?




By the way, I took these with my Blackberry so I apologize for the quality. Believe it or not, that's not rust on the frame. I'm not really sure what it is but it's black and rather tacky and comes off with a rag and alcohol.



Ok... here she is in all her glory... $65 out the door.





Don't laugh too hard.....





Please....









Seriously, she's sensitive......






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I could be wrong but that looks like a Rossi Braztech model.

I have heard good things about those guns and own an Interarms Rossi myself that has been a very good gun so far, though, lock up is a bit loose. Doesn't spit lead or nothing though.

Way I see it, you got a gun you can carry and abuse and not sweat it. Then again, most folks don't know that there are some very fine Rossis out there. Trying to convince them is another ball game altogether though.

I'm pretty sure just about all Rossi grips are interchangeable with each other. Don't quote me on it, but I think this is the case.
 
Is that the Rossi??? I always thought they were nicer than the Taurus's (or is it Taurii??? and apparently they follow the mantra "if you can't beat 'em, buy 'em"). Sure it's .357 and not .38 Special?
 
Indeed it is a Rossi, good eye. It says "Rossi" on the side. "Made in Brazil by Taurus" above the trigger guard and "BrazTech Miami, FL" above the trigger. I am calling BrazTech now to see if they can give me a date of manufacture and a line on some new grips.

The barrel has .357 Magnum stamped on the right side.
 
Ok, just got off the phone with BrazTech. The gun was manufactured in 2000 and is a Model 46102.
 
Man, I wish I could find a deal like that! I personally would glass bead it and then blue it for a matte finish and and a new set of grips. Not saying that you should but since I have a glassbead cabinet and hot blue set-up it wouldn't cost me anything(very little) to do.
 
Ok, just got off the phone with BrazTech. The gun was manufactured in 2000 and is a Model 46102.
Click to expand...

So, how soon will you have a range report for us?...lol

Seriously though, I love Rossi's. I think many of them are put together better than Taurus'. In my experience the best ones were the Interarms stainless models. Many of those function like swiss watches. My father in law moved boxes and boxes of the 971 .357 during the 90's. They were always good functioning guns.

I found it funny that many of them are as nice as Smiths, even though someone will get mad at me for saying so. They even came in a blue box back in the day. Gotta love that.:)
 
I've never shot one, but have handled quite a few of them. Been a long time, though. The older Rossi's were quite nice. Don't know what they're like now that Taurus has bought them out. I've always found Taurus guns functional, but that's about it.
 
Ok.. It was made in 2000... I'd love to know what the heck happened between then and now to get it looking like that :D

It's gotta have one heck of a story!
 
Yeah... maybe I don't want to know what that is all over it
Click to expand...

"Relic" finish....lol

If you decide not to keep it, I'll gladly pay you what you have into it. I have a whole bunch of .357 brass I'm not using currently.:)
 
From Rossi's web site:

Rossi Revolver Lifetime Repair Policy

Without extending our normal warranty, we will repair, free of charge, any firearm manufactured or distributed by BrazTech International L.C. The terms, conditions and limitations of this unique lifetime repair policy will be contained on the card accompanying each firearm. Additional copies of this card, explaining our lifetime repair policy are available at our office.


Interesting.
 
Bead blast it and have it dura-coated.

Those are the kind of deals I look for ! (presuming mechanical integrity)

Keep us posted.
 
Ok, I just ordered a new set of grips for $12 from Braztech. They told me to send the old pair in and they'd ship me another pair for free as well. Pretty good service.

I also see where Fist holsters has the Rossi 461/462 on their gun list so holsters shouldnt be a problem. Excellent...
 
Where is Ed's located at? I'm thinking of the one in Vass, NC, but I see you live in the Atlanta area.

You could ask Braztech if they'd refinish it for you under the lifetime warranty, or if not, how much they'd charge.

I wouldn't put a lot of money into it. Part of the attraction is how little you paid for it. Some kind of refinishing is in order, if only to keep it from deteriorating further. I'm not sure how much a good, basic blue job runs, but maybe others can chime in. Obviously, sending it into Ford's for a high polish bluing is overkill. Just something basic that will hold up and keep the gun from rusting.

Awesome find BTW. Happy shooting.
 
Frank, I picked up a Charter Arms in about the same condition. I have a thread in the gunsmithing section somewhere... but bottom line is... I paid $11 for a Perma-Blu kit from Cabelas and refinished the gun. It now looks like "new"....

Love snubbies!
 
Frank, I picked up a Charter Arms in about the same condition. I have a thread in the gunsmithing section somewhere... but bottom line is... I paid $11 for a Perma-Blu kit from Cabelas and refinished the gun. It now looks like "new"....

Love snubbies!
Click to expand...

Would love to see that thread. Found it. Thanks!
 
I spent about 3 hours on her this evening. I stripped every single part off of and out of the gun. There was some gunk inside the gun but it cleaned out nicely. The springs were in good shape and the parts shined up nicely with some 00 steel wool. I striped the frame with a Scotchbright pad and followed up with a polishing wheel on the Dremel. I really need to bead blast her but for now a simple rub down with some Super Blue will have to do. There was some minor pitting on the barrel and slide. It looks like it was sitting in a holster as the pitting is in a stripe and they match.

These are some quick pictures I snapped after I got her back together. She is very smooth and the polishing I did tonight really made a difference as well. The bluing actually looks completely black to the naked eye but the flash probably shows the true color.

The new grips will make a huge difference and I'll probably bead blast her in a few weeks and hot blue her.

rossi1.gif

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