Geezer
Mama Tried
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Me and a good friend and forum member did some trading several months before I moved to Texas. Two guns that I got were a 2" S&W Model 64, and a very nice S&W Model 19-3. To pack the guns to move, I put them both in a plastic case that has the egg crate type foam in it.
After we got settled in, one day I decided to fondle some revolvers. When I got to the case that had these two guns and opened it, I got sick to my stomach. The cylinder of the 19-3 had bright red spots all over it. It didn't look like rust, too bright red. Nowhere else on the 19 had the spots, just the cylinder. The Model 64 was perfect. I went to work with all of the usual stuff, Flitz, bronze wool, Hoppes, I tried them all. I was able to remove the bright red spots but the damage was done. I was so upset that it never occurred to me to get a before picture. Here is a picture after I worked on it.
I didn't know what to do next. I thought about turning the gun into a beater .357. Nah, I already have some beater .357's. I didn't want to keep it and I knew that I couldn't sell it, no one would want it. So, I just put it away and tried to forget about it. But, I couldn't do that, either.
One day I called Ford's Refinishing and told them what I had. We decided that their high polish blue would be the closest match....but, it still wouldn't match. Oh well, it had to be an improvement so, I sent my cylinder to Florida. About 6 weeks later my cylinder came back to me. It looked beautiful. It almost looks wet in this picture.
Here is the completed gun.
It is not a perfect match but I can live with it. Ford's does amazing work. I have seen several complete guns that they have done for some friends. I have a couple of Colt single actions from the 1960's that have some honest wear. I have thought of sending them to Ford's but can't bring myself to do it.
Oh, and that plastic box that I had the revolvers in, it went to the dumpster.
After we got settled in, one day I decided to fondle some revolvers. When I got to the case that had these two guns and opened it, I got sick to my stomach. The cylinder of the 19-3 had bright red spots all over it. It didn't look like rust, too bright red. Nowhere else on the 19 had the spots, just the cylinder. The Model 64 was perfect. I went to work with all of the usual stuff, Flitz, bronze wool, Hoppes, I tried them all. I was able to remove the bright red spots but the damage was done. I was so upset that it never occurred to me to get a before picture. Here is a picture after I worked on it.
I didn't know what to do next. I thought about turning the gun into a beater .357. Nah, I already have some beater .357's. I didn't want to keep it and I knew that I couldn't sell it, no one would want it. So, I just put it away and tried to forget about it. But, I couldn't do that, either.
One day I called Ford's Refinishing and told them what I had. We decided that their high polish blue would be the closest match....but, it still wouldn't match. Oh well, it had to be an improvement so, I sent my cylinder to Florida. About 6 weeks later my cylinder came back to me. It looked beautiful. It almost looks wet in this picture.
Here is the completed gun.
It is not a perfect match but I can live with it. Ford's does amazing work. I have seen several complete guns that they have done for some friends. I have a couple of Colt single actions from the 1960's that have some honest wear. I have thought of sending them to Ford's but can't bring myself to do it.
Oh, and that plastic box that I had the revolvers in, it went to the dumpster.