How would you refinish a stainless steel revolver?

[45 acp]

I picked up a S&W model 63 and would like to have refinished. Mostly superficial scratches. Previous owner etched his initials on the side plate. Any suggestions

 

[appraiser]

If I had a grinder that I could put a buffing wheel on and use some compound/polish I'd try that.

As for removing the damage from the side plate, depending on how deep it was I would use a very fine wet sandpaper and work to 2000 grit then polish it.

The problem is, that IIRC that is a satin finish and anything you do is going to make it more like the finish of say a model 60


View: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=QtBmVR9FiO4

 

[snax]

Take it to one of the smiths on here and have it bead blasted.

 

[MadatMarek]

This typically is expensive and or time consuming with very unfavorable results. As a service to the group I will be happy to dispose of the firearm for you and you can search for one in better condition

 

[50wt]

I picked up a S&W model 63 and would like to have refinished. Mostly superficial scratches. Previous owner etched his initials on the side plate. Any suggestions

Etched with an engraving tool or a screwdriver tip ?

If the scoring is too deep for some paper and a Scotchbrite pad , see if Pullman can do some micro welding on it.

 

[nstassel]

That used to be how the police marked evidence.

 

[Rick O'Shea]

Run it the way it is,.. cause the juice is not worth the squeeze,.. and consider it a glove box gun.

 

[Wickedcoolname]

I go through various weight of steel wool until the scratches are gone and then finish with Mom's mag wheel polish.
You can get old SS guns to shine like chrome.

 

[additionalmc]

you could replace the side plate, I just looked on ebay, there's a few of them for around $30

 

[DW357]

Everytime I sent my stainless Dan Wesson revolvers for custom work back to DW, their smith would use scotch brite pads (gray color or any fine pads) along with a “hairy wheel” to remove scratches and give the gun a new brushed stainless look

 

[one-eyed Jack]

Change your name to match the initials on the side plate? Jack.

 

[whatluck]

Do you know how to polish? If this is your first time I wouldn't risk it. To get a really clean finish you'll have to disassemble , revolvers are tricky, kinda like watches, you need very exact fit screwdrivers and some other tools. I would keep it just like that and put In a cheapo holster and stash somewhere.

 

[not new guy]

you could replace the side plate, I just looked on ebay, there's a few of them for around $30

I think they typically require some level of hand fitting, and if it was a take off you might not ever get it to fit. I had a Colt DS that the previous owner complete removed the bluing from the side plate (only). Ended up sending the whole gun out to be refinished.

 

[Steve600]

Do you know how to polish? If this is your first time I wouldn't risk it. To get a really clean finish you'll have to disassemble , revolvers are tricky, kinda like watches, you need very exact fit screwdrivers and some other tools. I would keep it just like that and put In a cheapo holster and stash somewhere.

If you think a revolver is kind of tricky like a watch, you are sadly mistaken. Any moron can disassemble a revolver…. It’s not rocket science. Even if you get stuck, youtube will offer tons of assembly videos to guide you.

 

[Stee]

buy some Flitz and a good washcloth and rub it up

 

[mac1911]

I picked up a S&W model 63 and would like to have refinished. Mostly superficial scratches. Previous owner etched his initials on the side plate. Any suggestions

Send it to turnbull

 

[greencobra]

a little late i am, but...i had 2 revolvers bead blasted by a local smith. one was new, the only one east of the mississippi and i lusted for it. when i got the thing, it looked like shit. sent it off and it came back looking like how it should have left the factory. the 2nd one was another revolver i owned for 30 years, it was used when i bought it. it looked f***ing tired, beat, scratched up. another trip to the bead blaster...same smith. came back looking new also. it's been several years and i haven't the heart to turn the cylinder and put a drag line on it. it's in semi retirement. someday i'll shoot it. bead blasted locally is a cheaper alternative than sending it out to a boutique smith/shop for a top dollar spa treatment.

 

[tuna]

I've done some amatuer gunsmithing, and I can recommend a dremel tool and the medium grit grinding wheel will remove those scratches easy peasy.


You can see some of my work if you google "Bubba Gunsmith" (I use a fake name in the business)

 

[ware]

send it out for hard chroming