Revolver Restoration

[skeptiq]

I have a S&W that I inherited from my father after he passed. It has not been very well taken care of (pitting, surface rust, etc)...

So, here are my questions:

1) Is it possible for this gun to NOT repairable to firing condition?

2) How much would it cost (approximate) to take it to a 'smith and have then restore / repair?

Here is a pic, although it isn't the greatest...

 

[rcmodel]

S&W Performance Center will High Bright Polish re-nickel it good as possible for $225.

They would do a bead blast nickel finish for $180. That might be a better option if there is a lot of pitting.

Additional repairs as needed would be extra.

rcmodel

 

[skeptiq]

Thank you very much for your response. I am just afraid of investing money in it and not be able to fire it. Is it possible this could be unserviceable???

I'll try to get a better pic up tonight.

Thanks,
Ben

 

[Schofield3]

Just from the picture above, I would say it could be restored. Restored to firing condition? Sure, but how much shooting are you wanting to do with this pistol? Might be better off restoring the finish and function of this pistol and looking into another for a range gun….

 

[skeptiq]

Thanks... I think you are right, no shooting for this guy... I'll just restore and display in shadow box since it was my fathers.

Thanks for the input guys!
Ben

 

[MrBorland]

Ben -

Without trying to put words in Shofield's mouth (or, maybe on his keyboard), I didn't get the impression he was suggesting that it only be refinished and kept only as a display piece, never to be shot again. My take on his reply, though maybe overinterpreted, was that it likely wouldn't take much to get it refinished as well as get it to the point, functionally, where you can safely shoot it once in a while for hoots. But if you're also looking for something to put lead downrange with on a regular basis, a newer gun may be better suited.

RCModel's suggestion of sending it to S&W seems a good one in that it'd get refinished and put in working order at the same time - and by the original manufacturer.

 

[skeptiq]

MrBorland,

I didn't interpret the comment that way. I just kind of came to the realization that this gun has way more sentimental value and if S&W can restore it (even to working order), I think I would like to have it in a display case kind of like a tribute of sorts. Thanks for looking out though...

I have been a member of many message boards, and I have to say the folks on here are top notch!

Ben

 

[Brian Williams]

You might also try Ford's Refinishing.

 

[Old Fuff]

Judging from the picture I think you have a S&W model 1903 Hand Ejector, chambered in .32 S&W long. It also appears to have a set of pearl or ivory stocks.

Most of the damage is cosmetic, and if you apply Mother's Mag Wheel Polish along with some elbow grease a lot of it might go away. At least I would suggest that you try this first. The nickel can be stripped, and the revolver replated if you wish - and yes, I would contact Ford's as suggested by Brian.

Cosmetics have absolutely no effect on the way it shoots, and regardless if you have the nickel finish fixed or not, there is no good reason you can't shoot it once and awhile if you want to.

 

[Schofield3]

Without trying to put words in Shofield's mouth (or, maybe on his keyboard), I didn't get the impression he was suggesting that it only be refinished and kept only as a display piece, never to be shot again.

MrBorland you are correct, I think shooting the pistol on occasion would be just fine, - skeptiq it looks like you’re taking the right approach and wanting to preserve your father’s firearm and as MrBorland and I said it should be fine to shoot here and there but ultimately you’ll be better served using another pistol for everyday range use and such

 

[7.62X25mm]

As an "antique" and sentimental keepsake, it makes the most sense to just clean it up and leave it as is.

Once it's "refinished" or "refurbished" all the character and signifcance is gone. In the antique business these character features are called "patina" and add to the value of a piece.

This gun has a LOT of character! 100 yrs or more of character. As you keep this gun over the years, you'll grow fond of each ding, pit, spot. If you "refinish" you lose all the sentimental features.

Clean it up, oil it, stop the deterioration. You don't want to shoot it -- not seriously shoot it. It's a nice old gun with nice character. Leave it like that.

Your dad might most appreciate leaving it as he left it.

I have an old Western Field (Montgomery Wards) 22 cal. pump action rifle that was my dads, circa 1930's. It's been left just like he left it -- scratched, no blue, pretty worn. It's "perfection."

 

[mnrivrat]

My 5th change S&W HE in .32 Long looks much worse than your gun ,and I shoot it on occasion without any problems.

Mine is also nickel plated and you can tell by the photo how much is gone - it works fine for me this way and has earned the wear and tear - I would also vote for clean and oil and have it checked by a smith to make sure it is safe to shoot - then have fun. The .32 S&W Long cartridge is not a high pressure load.

 

[Jim Watson]

Agreed, it is shootable.

I think it has already been Bubbaplated, the hammer and trigger look white and S&W does not plate the hammer and trigger.

Replating is not restoration. You might not want to pay for a real restoration, it would be many hundreds of bucks.

 

[woad_yurt]

An old & battered S&W?

No problem; they're the best kind! I shoot mine (below) regularly and it's a bit older than yours. Still shoots perfectly, though.

Clean the chambers and the barrel, then get the grips off of it and swirl it around in some kerosene. Last, dry it and lube it. It should be fine.

Do the revolver check sticky post, too.

Oh yeah, S&W won't work on your revolver. They said that if they stock parts for a gun, they'll work on it. It doesn't matter if it doesn't need parts, they won't touch it. I asked them about the one in the picture and they said "no, way too old."

 

[skeptiq]

The grips are pearl... Also, what is the purpose of kerosene? I have this Hoppes #9 cleaning solvent. Is that safe to use to try and clean it up?

Thanks for all the advice! Sounds like I may want to take it to a gunsmith first and see what they say about it and go from there.

Thanks again,
Ben

 

[Old Fuff]

The grips are pearl... Also, what is the purpose of kerosene? I have this Hoppes #9 cleaning solvent. Is that safe to use to try and clean it up?

Hoppes #9 is a bore solvent, designed to desolve lead, copper, amd nickel deposits in a barrel. It will also attack old nickel plated finishes.

Only use it to clean the inside of barrels and chambers.

After removing the pearl stocks, soak the revolver in a pan of kerosene. It will desolve dried goo left by old lubricants and soften rust. It won't hurt any plated finishes though.

 

[skeptiq]

Thanks for the info again. So, what can I use to get the rust off that won't damage the finish? I just checked out the revolver check thread, what a good source of info. I'll run down that list a little later.

Also, is there any way you can tell me which "change" my gun is? I can get any info off the handgun required for that, just let me know what you need. Estimated value for homeowners insurance?

Thanks,
Ben

 

[woad_yurt]

A good soak & swirl in kerosene will loosen up and get rid of the 90 years of oily, dusty crud and stuff that's collected inside of your gun. Even at today's prices, kerosene is way cheaper than made-for-gun cleaners and solvents. It harms nothing and cleans well. They even used to sell little bottles of kerosene as household cleaning fluid back when. Hoppe's will wreck any remaining finish.

Are the grips intact, without chips or cracks? If so, and if they're real S&W grips, they're worth more than the gun.

Do the revolver check in the sticky post and you'll know pretty much what you've got. That's what gunsmiths do (or should do) when they look at a gun for you anyway.

 

[CDH]

My .02 is that there are really only two choices to choose from.

1. If it's importance is mostly that of a sentimental curio, leave it alone and don't shoot it. Have it mounted in a glass covered display box with a neat lable that describes it's origin and then pass it on down to the kids when the time comes.

2. Send it back to Smith and Wesson (only!... no other custom shops) for restoration. They'll not only make it as pretty as it can be considering what they have to work with, but they can check the pistols's integrity and operation to make it perfectly useable again.
Even if you do that, it should still (in my mind, anyway) maintain it's value to you as a sentimental curio, but a shootable one as well.
This time around, take a bit better care of it than your dad did, and you can pass it down to one of your kids and add to it's provenance.

Personally, I'd choose option 2 in a heartbeat, at whatever the cost.

 

[woad_yurt]

But S&W won't do older guns. I tried with mine.