Opinions on refinishing/S&W Factory

[RSVP2RIP]

I have a S&W 1905 Hand Ejector 4th change in 38 Spec. The gun is a 4 in. barrel, square butt in nickel. I understand this is a rarity? It is easily the most accurate 38 I own, only the sights are VERY hard to use. It's about 80% finish. Would it be worth it to have S&W refurbish it or is it too valuble to refinish? I don't want to be a destroyer of history.

 

[The Lone Haranguer]

Eighty percent finish? Were it mine I would leave that alone. The sights are probably hard to see because they were nickel plated along with the rest of the gun. You can use paint or nail polish to put contrasting color(s) on the sights.

 

[Oro]

The nickel guns are more scarce than blue, but not entirely "rare." 80% finish on a M&P is well below having any real collector interest in it, whether blue or nickel. Also, you should remove the grips (original, I presume), and verify the s/n inside them matches, and look on the grip frame to verify it was original nickel (it will be stamped B or N on the grip frame, usually on the left) and not a later refinish.

Without good pictures, it's hard to say more.

 

[ArchAngelCD]

If you decide to have it refinished by S&W you will be hard pressed to figure out if it was refinished or not. S&W completely strips the revolver down and then applies the correct finish as it was done the first time. In reality it's not actually "refinished" since it's being done by the original manufacturer it same way it was done when new. (I know it's a stretch but think about it)