High polish bright blue on my 19-2

[heavyduty13]

Hey guys, I have a Smith and Wesson model 19-2 357 combat magnum in a bright blue polished finish and according to the serial number it was built in 1963. Is this a common finish for a Smith and Wesson 19-2? When I first saw it, it kinda looked stainless, but it is definitely blued. Thank you!

 

[CajunBass]

It appears you have a nice gun, but there is too much reflection for me to tell much of anything about it. S&W did have a bright, shiny blue during that time period.

Here's my 15-2 from 1966. It's seen some action I believe, and has a few "battle scars" but maybe it will give you an idea.



I really like those diamond target stocks.

 

[earlthegoat2]

A bright shiny blue was normal for the era.

 

[bannockburn]

Very shiny! I remember seeing that bright blue on Model 27s as well.

 

[AZAndy]

They sure don't make them like that anymore. Your revolver was clearly lovingly cared for over the last almost sixty years. I've never set a gun aside as too nice to shoot, but that one would give me pause.

 

[Jonesy814]

I have see photos of some S&W revolvers from that era that I had at first thought were nickel plated only to discover they were blued

 

[jdavis123]

S&W used a charcoal blue process called Carbonia blue which produced a deep shiny finish that resembles blue/black chrome. I believe that this process continued into the late 70s or early 80’s until the EPA forced them to use a different process. Pristine examples of carbonia blue guns are highly prized by collectors for their beauty and durability.

 

[DM~]

No question about it, the old S&W's had the deepest blue/black finish, it just looks best of all handgun finishes, to me!



DM

 

[Old Dog]

The finish on the new S&W "Classic" series revolvers doesn't even begin to compare to the old bluing … or the nickel.
.

 

[ACES&8S]

Love that revolver, a beauty for sure.
I have never seen a finish like that on a model 19.
I collect S&W revolvers, well including Colt & Dan Wesson.
I have a love for BLUE or matt just never kept any other finish other than that except to trade for
an old blue from 1985 on back.
I have the 19 in 3-4-5 but have never found a 2 in decent shape.
If I ever ran across one like that it would be here for good.
Beauty for sure.