Smith model 28 barrel rust pitted.. Refinish gun? Cut barrel? Leave as-is?

[Catpop]

Imho, I would never cut a smith. I would be happy to own it as it is and shoot it daily. But then again I have never been one for show except in mechanical soundness and accuracy!
I would leave it as is and enjoy shooting it.

 

[joed]

I've had a few guns refinished. Collectors value? Who the hell cares about collectors? Ever dealt with one? If it has a finger print they won't pay top dollar. Do you have the original box and everything that came in it? Probably not so don't worry about collectors.

That said, in all cases it was my gun and my decision. Never regretted refurbishing. Some I've sold for some good money too even when I told the seller it was refinished.

In this case I would look around for a new barrel, you may find one. Then and only then I'd have it refinished if I couldn't find one.

Don't know why in this country people make a big deal about refurbishing a gun. In Europe people routinely have the factory redo their guns.

 

[1KPerDay]

I have a 28 in good shape. Personally I'd cut it right in front of the "highway patrolman."

And convert it to .45 Colt just to really bother the purists.

 

[CraigC]

Spending good money to shorten a sight radius on a shooter makes no sense at all. Spend money to devalue a revolver?

Yet people do it all the time. Just got off the phone with my gunsmith who is almost finished devaluing my 6½" Ruger .44Mag into a 4 5/8" .500JRH, before being sent off to another guy who will just scratch the whole thing up.

 

[420Stainless]

And convert it to .45 Colt just to really bother the purists.

That is a good one. Helped me smile after a tough day.

 

[StrawHat]

I converted a 28-2 to handle the 45 ACP. Even stamped the barrel with the cartridge designation.

It is a good shooting revolver.

Kevin

 

[sarge83]

If you don't care about the collectors value or plan on selling it in the future then simply have it refinished and enjoy shooting it. Even if you refinish it professionally unless you just drag the gun behind a lawn mower it is still going to go up in value, may be not as much as an unrefinished piece.

Consider though if you go to sell in current condition, the buyer is going to want $ off for the damage on the barrel. If they demand $ off for it being refinished what's the difference?

 

[StrawHat]

Look on the S&W fora, often there are barrels for sale. I swapped a 6" one for a 4" I needed.

Kevin

 

[4v50 Gary]

I'd reblue it.

 

[Mr.Revolverguy]

I would refinish with this guy http://www.foglesgunsmithing.com/ I know alot of people sent him stuff after the katrina flood all rust pitted and he did an outstanding job. Having my granfathers Ruger Standard passed down to me from 1968 pitted just did not sit well with me. So I let this guy reblue and it looks better than brand new to me. He has pictures on his site of before and afters.

To reblue it with this guy and what you paid for it is less than what it is worth in my opinion.

 

[Waveski]

I took a look at Fogle's. The work done on some of the pitted items is quite impressive. Is that your Ruger Standard in the before and after shots?

 

[Cowhide Cliff]

In my opinion you would be better off buying another one and selling it if you can't live with the pitting. Dollar wise you will most likely come out the best and have the most value for the money.

There is no way you're going to fix that gun right without having more in it than it's worth. Right now you could sell it and get your money back so sell it and buy another one in acceptable condition to you.

 

[Cowhide Cliff]

In my opinion you would be better off buying another one and selling it if you can't live with the pitting. Dollar wise you will most likely come out the best and have the most value for the money.

There is no way you're going to fix that gun right without having more in it than it's worth. Right now you could sell it and get your money back so sell it and buy another one in acceptable condition to you.

 

[elano]

YALL ARE AWESOME!!!!!!!

I don't care about collector value or anything, I would be happy breaking even if I did ever sell it. I spoke with a local gunsmith who specializes in refinishing. He said it's not that bad and he can fix it with cold blue after he polishes and blends the barrel. Just $40-$50 is what he said. I just want to fondle and shoot the gun without my eye immediately catchint the crappy part. I figure I can always have the gun refinished or rebarreled later. Should have it back within a few weeks and I will post up some pictures!!!

45 colt and 45 acp? That's cool!!! I never knew that was possible!

 

[AABEN]

I posted a thread in 2010 but it has since been archived.

To the point, I paid about $330 for this smith model 28 about 5 years ago. The blemished barrel bothers me some. I believe it sat too long in a leather holster. The inside riffling of the barrel is just fine, only the outside has rust. Anyway I would like to do something to fix it but something that will increase the value not loose money. The affected area is the last 2" of the barrel. I've considered having the whole gun re-blued for about $250, having the barrel cut down, or maybe finding someone who can fix it. A gun store salesman told me not to do anything because he thinks it's worth more as is. That sounds strange to me. Anyway what do yall think? Here are pics.

Why not send it to S&W to have it re-blued ?? That would make one very nice gun then

 

[elano]

Smith & wesson reblue costs $250 for standard reblue and $300 for high polish blue. I may do that in the future, let's see what the gun smith is able to do with it since he already has it.

 

[Mr.Revolverguy]

I took a look at Fogle's. The work done on some of the pitted items is quite impressive. Is that your Ruger Standard in the before and after shots?

Yes that is my ruger standard.

 

[elano]

Update I got the gun back. I must say I am happy with what I got for $50. He used brownells cold blue and polished out the pits..

 

[mhblaw]

Nicely done!

 

[witchhunter]

My buddy inherited his from his dad, who carried it for many years as a California Highway Patrol officer. He sent it back to S&W, they finished it in rich blue like a model 27. It is beautiful! It looks new. Me, it wouldn't have bothered me at all knowing that my dad carried it like that.

 

[elano]

Mblahw thank you!!

Witchhunter, I completely agree. Holster wear and white edges looks great on most any gun to me. This one was more like neglect than wear though. It just bugged me for years. It's still not perfect by any means, but with some use and holster wear it ought to only look better and better from here. If. I spent $300 letting smith polish and reblue it, I would have a hard time taking it out of the safe.

 

[ArchAngelCD]

I would have left it as is but since it was bothering you I think that was $50 well spent. You gunsmith did a fine job for the price... Now shoot it lol...

 

[bannockburn]

elano

I agree; very nice work indeed by your gunsmith and all for just for $50!

 

[tallpaul]

Nice job and good solution!
Good for you!

 

[Shaq]

I wouldn't re-blue the whole gun. The rest of the finish looks great & re-blueing means removing too much good finish. And the Mod. 28 has a dull finish anyway. I might touch-up-blue the affected area. The pre-lock Smiths with the FP on the hammer are nice. I'll bet the action is really nice, too.