refinish used S&W model 10?

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Fremmer

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How about the idea of buying one of the used model 10s from buds for $269 and have it refinished or reblued? Might be a fun project to really customize it the way i want it....
 
Well, if you want to have $500 tied up in a $269 gun, go ahead. I'd rather spend the money on an action job or some ammo. At the end of the day, it will be a reblued police trade-in and still not worth a lot, especially when you can get a great looking original finish one for less than the cost of the trade-in + reblue job. Probably a LNIB example.
 
I agree, it's a lot of money to sink into a Model 10 but if you really want a good looking M10 i would send it back to S&W and have them do the re-bluing. IMO that's really not modifying the gun when the original factory does the bluing over.

I have a really rough Colt Detective Special that I'm thinking of having redone by the Colt factory. I'm still not sure I want to spend the money although it is a Colt and they are no longer being produced.
 
l bought a Mod 19 off AA awhile back for a song. l sent it back to S&W to have some work done. While there they refinished it in their matte blue. l love the way it came out. l bought it to SHOOT..Not live in a safe. Collectors have their standards. l have mine. Some prefer to keep original. Like cars, l prefer my guns not look like junkers. There are exceptions. lf l found an original Colt Walker l would leave 'AS-IS'
 
Its your gun, not a priceless collectable. If it increases your shooting pleasure, just do it. A PD trade in M10 is not a rare collectible or an investment gun.

I got one of the 3-inch M10 from Buds and find myself pondering the same decision.
 
Forindooruseonly, sums it up very well, one must not forget the base weapons value when deciding on cosmetic work. The minute you get a refinished gun back and start using it you start to ugly it up again. Money spent on smoothing up the internals is money well spent.
 
When they had the 3" Md 10's I simply ordered two and kept the better one. It had very little wear and was very smooth. Sold the more worn one to my dealer who sent it to S&W to have nickeled.
 
As I live in California, it is getting harder to find used model 10 revolvers. I lucked out and found a local LEO. Who had bought a 3" trade in. When his dept (CDCR) went to semi autos he sold it to me. I am thinking about having S&W go through it and rework and reblue it. Or it may just keep it the way it is, decisions, decisions, decisions.
 
Last edited:
forindooruseonly said:
Well, if you want to have $500 tied up in a $269 gun, go ahead. I'd rather spend the money on an action job or some ammo. At the end of the day, it will be a reblued police trade-in and still not worth a lot, especially when you can get a great looking original finish one for less than the cost of the trade-in + reblue job. Probably a LNIB example.
Click to expand...
We have a winner!
 
When I was in the music business, old guitars with patina were a desirable thing. Not as much so in guns, I'm noticing.

Rebluing might be ok, as long as your personality ISN'T prone to visually ressurrecting every old firearm you buy. Even if you don't look at guns as an investment, nothing can take the fun out of a hobby like pouring money down the drain.
 
I just did a buddys' Model 10 a few months back in OD green Cerakote. It turned out really nice. The only other thing that was necessary was to replace his cylinder stop with a new oversized one.
 
No doubt I'm in the minority here but....

Couple of years ago I bought a Smith Model 15. Trade in from an Armed Security Company. It shot great but wasn't the nicest thing to look at. The wife decided that she needed a new house gun and the Model 15 was going to be it.

Not everybody likes the way a beat up gun looks. Orginally it was just a range toy for me and I was personally unsure about spending money on it but after she decided she wanted it.... That sealed the deal, because you can't have your woman showing off her "new" (beat all to hell) revolver.....

I sent it off, had the action gone over, chambers champered for easier reloads and had it refinshed by PARKERIZING it. Cheap easy to care for and durable. Don't look too bad either.

DSC00938.jpg

Yea I'm into this Model 15 for a bit of $$$.... Maybe more than it's worth but the way I look at it - She loves it and it's a great revolver. Really she has a custom gun at a bargin price, since the orginal price was so low......

If refinishing that Model 10 is going to make you love it more, then go for it.
Will
 
I'm not one of those people who worries about what a particular gun will be worth on the used market after I'm done with it, whether it's a matter of practicality or collectibility. What concerns me is what it's worth to ME! Financially, I just try to get what I want without paying too much. If what you want is a beautifully polished blue model 10, you're better off buying a nice one to begin with. It would be much different if it was something like a 1950 Target .44Spl for $269 but we're talking about the most prolific S&W in existence. Although, I must say, a bright reblue by Ford's will look a lot better than any new gun S&W has put out in a very long time! Which lends a little merit to your venture. Bear that in mind, S&W is not the last word on refinishing.
 
The one I currently have is in really nice condition. That said, I want to get a 2" or 3" barreled K Frame that is already really rough cosmetically and have it parkerized. Just like rklessdriver's M15. Though I'd like a nice fixed sights 10 or 13 for the project.
 
If you want something pretty to look at then buy something pretty. You're buying a $270 police return. It is what it is. Keep it that way and enjoy shooting it. It's often nice to have a user that you don't need to fret over for appearance and handle with white cotton gloves all the time.
 
I have no problem having a gun refinished and have done so many times. I will only let the factory refinish mine though as I've seen how bad some of the shoe makers do.

Like someone else said, they won't own junk, neither will I. The next revolver I have refinished is going to be hard chromed or nickel. I gave up on the blue finish a few years ago.
 
I haven't logged on and posted on here for quite a while, but I have to throw my 2 cents in. I had a holster worn 15-3 that I took to Robar and had NP-3ed inside and out. Like others have posted it cost more than I could ever get back out of it, more than I paid for it, in fact. But it was worth every penny in my opinion. The NP3 on the internals smoothed out the already smooth trigger even more. And the finish is beautiful as well as practically indestructible. It's now my wife's nightstand gun. So far it has had a couple thousand rounds through it with no appreciable wear on the finish. For a user or carry gun, if you don't mind spending the money you get a great deal, and as a plus the people at Robar are really good to deal with.
 
You have to decide if you want go, show, or both.Personally, I'd just look around for a nice Model-19, but it's your money.
 
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