Model 642 Issues

[Sassi]

The cylinder of the model 642 is stainless steel. However it seems that the cylinder has some kind of coating over it. If this is the case how can you polish the cylinder?

The frame is aluminum, but has a paint finish of some kind on it. How do you touch up this paint finish when the gun gets scratched, or holster wear rubs some of it of? Is there a touch up kit out there for these mentioned issues?

 

[sixgunner455]

The cylinder should have no coating on it. If you want to polish it, there are any number of compounds and methods available.

The clearcoat finish on the frame, at least on mine, doesn't seem very durable. I have no finish left on the backstrap, for example, and wear-throughs on the rest of it.

The only sure way to keep it looking pristine is to give it a nice, light coat of oil, carefully put it in your safe, and leave it there except to take it out and admire it.

OTOH, if you intend to carry it and shoot it, then accept it's going to get wear on it, because it's a tool. Tools that are used don't look new. They shouldn't look neglected or abused, but they don't stay new-looking very long.

 

[9mmepiphany]

I've been carrying a 642 for 20+ years as a BUG and I haven't had any peeling of the clear coat on the frame, but I have seen it on other 642s. It is just a clear coat over the bare aluminum. It can't be touched up. It can either be stripped off and left bare or it can be stripped and re-applied.

The cylinder has no coating on the bare stainless steel. You can polish it with any number of metal polishes you'd like.

The best looking 642 I've ever seen had been plated with Cera-plate on the stainless parts and matching Cera- coat on the aluminum...I think it was done by CCR

 

[Diggers]

There is a 642 thread you can go to with ALL your questions.

 

[Sassi]

Yes there is a 642 thread you can go to with ALL your questions....the problem is you do not always get answers there. The THR Staff told me "There is nothing that says you need to post your question in that thread. Simply create a new thread with your specific 642 questions." I appreciate the answers given here. I am going to clean and polish the cylinder as I do on other stainless revolvers. I am very disappointed in the coating on the 642's frame. It is too soft. I am beginning to wish that I had have bought a 442 instead of the 642. I am going to look into cera coat, and try and learn more about CCR. Thanks for the information.

 

[bhk]

I put Johnsons Paste Wax on my frame every few months and the clearcoat finish is still almost perfect after several years of use. It is 99.98% perfect. It has the slightest wear at the edges of the rear sight. So slight you wouldn't notice it unless I pointed it out to you. Quite honestly, most blued guns would have showed more wear by this point. The wax works great. It has to wear away before the finish can wear at all.

 

[Dogguy]

There is no coating on the stainless cylinder of the 642, it's bare stainless steel. You can polish it if you wish, no problem. The frame is clear coated and, to my knowledge, it cannot be touched up. If the wear on the frame is really bothersome, you may be able to have it nickel or otherwise plated by one of the various specialty gun refinishers.

My 642 has a lot of wear from use in a horsehide pocket holster--little worn areas on the cylinder and down to the bare aluminum along the frame edges. It doesn't affect the function so I don't worry about it.

 

[aHFo3]

I am beginning to wish that I had have bought a 442 instead of the 642.

My 442's finish is no more durable than the 642. My 442 has lots of wear on the corners and high spots. Plus the cylinder is very discolored and the cylinder release is prone to rust. That being said, I'm totally fine with it. The gun lives in a pocket holster in my pocket, and it functions perfectly. I rather like the fact that it looks well used because it is!

 

[Jim K]

Sixgunner has it right. If you are so concerned about a gun being polished and shining, buy it, leave it in the box and don't ever shoot it. It will stay nice looking and your heirs can thank your spirit for keeping it nice so THEY can blast away with it.

Jim

 

[Photoman]

There is some type of finish on the cylinder. You can see where it's coming off on this 642. I have read of owners stripping and polishing 642's. Check on the S&W Forum for more info.

 

[sixgunner455]

Photoman - that's not a finish per se, but it is the finish - the bead-blasted surface of the cylinder. It is getting polished spots on it from carry/wear/the holster. I wish my camera was working. I'd show y'all a picture of mine.

The cylinder looks freckled with those polished spots, like a red head who's spent way too much time in the sun. The spots touch. I carry it in a horsehide pocket holster most of the time, and I will probably eventually polish the few remaining bead-blasted areas to match the leather polished surface. It's been interesting to watch this process over the past seven years or so that I've been daily carrying this gun.

 

[Brian Williams]

I just shoot mine and I don't care if the finish is worn. Mine still looks decent.
The Clear coat is best replaced by S&W or some sort of recoat like Cere-coat

 

[Sassi]

Photoman thanks for posting that picture. My 642 looks a lot like what is in your picture.

 

[9mmepiphany]

If that is what your cylinder looks like, it really isn't a finish coming off. As sixgunner455 posted, it is just the bead blasted finish being polished.

You can either polish the whole thing or just re-blast it with beads

 

[BADUNAME37]

I look at minor scratches, dings, imperfections as beauty marks on my guns and on my car and truck.

When something is brand-new, we sometimes have an idea that we will keep it like brand new, the problem is not everyone treats my vehicles like brand new, so they open their car door into mine, not thinking a thing about it.

Also, I live where the winters are real long - lots of salt takes its toll on vehicles around here, even when you do your best to take care of them.

So, rather than go crazy refinishing and buying all new, I just accept the fact that nothing lasts forever and those marks, in my opinion are part of what gives the guns character! Watch a program like the Antique Road Show. People are looking for natural wear marks to verify that it is indeed an old antique~