Refinish old .38

[WERBELLIK]

I picked up a S&W hand ejector on gunbroker. SN 245xxx it has about 10% on the original nickel finish left, no pitts , action nice and tight , barrel and cylinders are excellent. It shoots like a champ. (interesting square butt checkered walnut grips with brass s&w logos. Never seen those before)
I wanted to have it re-nickeled to protect it .
Who does the best job for the money?
WERB

 

[Old Fuff]

Well if it's a .38 Special Model 1905 Hand Ejector the serial number (245,xxx) would put its birth date somewhere just before World War One. The 4th Change variant that you have started out in 1915 at around serial number 241,704. Heat treated cylinders didn't come along until the early 1920's at number 316,648 so be careful what you shoot in it. The style of stocks you mentioned with the gold trademark medalions were used from about 1910 through about 1919 or 20.

I would recommend Ford's refinishing service (I'll look up a link later) who does nice work on older classics, but don't expect the job to be inexpensive. These days stripping the remaining nickel and hand polishing cost's money.

Link to Ford's:

http://www.fordsguns.com/index1.htm