Factory un-even blue-ing

[Thomasss]

Have any one seen or heard of un-even factory produced blueing?
A friend is selling a (K-38) S&W Model 15 Combat Masterpiece(not sure how old it really is) that
he says is 85 to 90% only because the blue-ing appears unusually light on the gun. It has a 8 3/8" barrel with adj. sights.
So the questions are: Could S&W have released a poorly blued gun?
Outside of a goof screwing up a reblue, what might cause blue-ing to be lighter
on a gun, like chemical reaction?
What is the gun really worth?

 

[edwardware]

While everyone slips occasionally, it seems likely that it's damage rather than a manufacturing error.

 

[AK Hunter]

Without seeing it with my own eyes I would guess it wasn't factory.

 

[Thomasss]

You may be right. I won't see the gun until tomorrow. So I was looking for general information on maybe what to look for when I see it then I could take pictures for follow up. I also would take a gander at the serial # too.
I guess a better question would be Blue Book of Values rates a Model 15, 8 3/8 inch and adj. sites at 85 to 90%
between $500 and $625. But with a screw-up bluing what is it really worth as just a shooter?

 

[edwardware]

I was looking for general information on maybe what to look for. . .

Signs of repolishing and rebluing for sure. Factory S&W polishing from those days was generally incredibly perfect, no smeared stamping, etc.

If it's a P&R gun, has the pin been removed by a gorilla with a misfit punch? Does the sideplate still fit like it grew there? Are the screw slots buggered, or buggered and then ground/polished/fixed?

But all that's aesthetic. If it runs, it sounds like a great shooter.

 

[Skylerbone]

If it was stored in leather, carried holstered, too many go rounds with Flitz or other polishes. Lots of possibilities. Heck I baby my revolvers but my Single-Six load gate has still turned a nice plum color while the rest of it is factory fresh.

I’d recommend taking along gunsmith screwdrivers and if it’s wearing the original grips get them off and have a look. If the wear on the grips is extensive, consider it a sign of that Smith’s general condition.

 

[NIGHTLORD40K]

Ya, Ive seen them with uneven or blotchy bluing, usually after exposure to chemicals or after being touched up.

In todays market, even a refinished 8" S&W Model Anything is easily worth $600.

 

[Riomouse911]

All of my older blued K frames have really nice finishes, as the guys said they came out of the factory as finely polished as any others out there.

I have had to send out to reblue a couple of them from years of holster use, or in the case of a Model 36 3” that I bought it was stripped bare of bluing by whoever owned it. It’s not perfect, but it’s much nicer looking than it was. You can see that it’s not factory smooth and shiny side by side with an untouched revolver but I’m happy that the gun will live on after it was rescued.



I’m also having a Model 57 touched up because it came with a patch of damaged bluing on the left side of the frame.

It could be that the gun was reblued or touched up. For me, if it shoots great I can live with a cosmetic blem or two. I will say from experience, be sure to check the whole barrel for bulges, sometimes guys loading soft-shooting target loads under power them and bullets could stick in the barrel. I bought a pristine 8 3/8” Model 14 that had a bulge just behind the front sight that the seller didn’t disclose, I was so dazzled by the condition I missed it, and it shot so poorly that I sent it off to get cut down to get rid of the bulge. Now I’m out an additional 400 bucks.

Look it over well, if it’s a shooter with a bit of retouching, then maybe it’ll be one that shines on the range more than it does on the shelf.

Stay safe.

 

[gotboostvr]

I'd bet it was a combination of holster wear and cold bluing touch up.

Not uncommon, and will produce results similar to what you're describing.

Not a deal breaker for me, but will adjust the price accordingly. If that's what the issue is, it's just cosmetic.

If it's been polished up, before cold bluing, with the resultant issues that can entail, that'd lower the value further for me.