refinish used S&W model 10?

[PzGren]

I just sponsored my son to get a S&W M10 RB from Buds. Service was fast and the gun checks out mechanically. There are no bad scratches but holster wear and the grips are worn.

I have redone one of the M19s in the picture. Did it years ago and used all the pictured guns a bit. No complete rebluing job, just rustblued the barrel and cylinder over. That M19 had also lots of bluing wear.

Can you guess which one it is?

 

[jad0110]

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.

I agree. If you reblue your Model 10, you'll have more money in it than you would have put into a pristine Model 10. So if you are going to go that route, might as well go hog wild and have the Rolls Royce of bluing jobs done on it by Ford's.

Personally, unless there is no finish remaining I don't mess with them. One of my carry guns is a 19-2 from 1966 and it has plenty of holster wear and a rather nice patina to the finish. Since it's already worn, I don't fret a bit over adding more wear to it.

 

[forindooruseonly]

Can you guess which one it is?

If I saw them in person I could tell you which one it is. Big difference between a lo-res photo and seeing one with your own eyes. Of course, I'll never see them so it's a moot point.

I understand buying something, then later down the road deciding "hey, i really like how this gun shoots, but I wish it looked better. I'll have it reblued!" That makes some sense. Buying a beater with the specific purpose of reblueing it - like the OP asked - does not make sense at all.

 

[PzGren]

If I saw them in person I could tell you which one it is. Big difference between a lo-res photo and seeing one with your own eyes. Of course, I'll never see them so it's a moot point.

I understand buying something, then later down the road deciding "hey, i really like how this gun shoots, but I wish it looked better. I'll have it reblued!" That makes some sense. Buying a beater with the specific purpose of reblueing it - like the OP asked - does not make sense at all.

I don't want to go through the trouble of taking better photos, at which I anyway am not too successful, but I cannot tell where the M19 has been reblued and I play with S&W revovlers for a long time. I remember paying $70 for used M&Ps and I am familiar with the look of a factory original blue gun. A rustbluing job is labour intensive but inexpensive.

Here is another "low res" photo of a gun that I completely refinished with rustbluing at the cost of $4 in materials plus a few hours of work. The photo was taken after more than a dozne range outings. Rust bluing is apllied in several layers and each has to wear individually. It is hard to get the exact same color, though.

 

[PzGren]

Here is the one that my son got. He just cleaned it up a little and put some FGC grips on that he got from me. It doesn't need much work to look good but is in need of some action work, it is stiff.

 

[roaddog28]

Another option for refinishing is Duracoat. A person can go to their website and order a do it yourself kit for around $30. I am going to get a kit for my well worn model 36 with pitting from rust spots. To me shipping a revolver to S&W for refinishing is costly unless the revolver is a rare one. Model 10s are not rare.
Go luck,
Howard

 

[Brian Williams]

It doesn't need much work to look good but is in need of some action work, it is stiff.

Action job, do it yourself, dry fire about 5000 times and shoot it a bunch,same thing.

 

[Fremmer]

Maybe buying a like new model would be about the same cost of gun + reblue.

Any good suggestions for websites that sell nice used revolvers?

 

[PzGren]

Action job, do it yourself, dry fire about 5000 times and shoot it a bunch,same thing.

Like everybody else, I got my own recipe. It is a little different ...

 

[Hondo 60]

To the OP:

It's your gun, do as you wish.

If it were mine? S&W wants something like $200 - $250 for re-bluing.
(I can't find it now, but IIRC that was the price)
I wouldn't spend that much, if you shoot it, it'll only get nicked up again.
I have a nice 10-5 & thought of re-bluing as well.
But I'd either be afraid to fire it, or get seriously ticked off the first time I put a mark on it.