Refurbishment of Smith and Wesson Model 41
how much would it cost to have a model 41 reblued and gone through.i ran across a 5 digit serial number 47xxx that some one stored in the basement in an old sock. It has light freckling or rust showing through blueing. I have not shot it yet but it should work. Plans are to use this 5.5 inch gun for Bullseye League. This means I will have to get it drilled to mount a rail on it. just wondering if all this work is worth putting into this gun or should I buy a new one already drilled and tapped. Thanks for the input. Pacmandaddy
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Treat the rust with brass wool and Kroil, soak it with Kroil overnight and use the BRASS wool to lightly remove the rust.. It may remove it to the point you could not tell
Also, bullseye guns get shot a lot, they will start showing signs of use after six months on the firing line, it is inevitible they get a ding or scrap here or there. Sweat, oil, powder residue, gunk, rain and blowing dust is all part of the deal. Expecting it to stay show room beautiful is a bit far fetched IMO.
When I bought my first Anschutz 1413 rifle NEW in 1981 I took a screwdriver and dinged the stock on purpose so at least I knew where the first mark came from.0 -
I say clean then shoot to see if she's worth doing a resto. If the 5 digit serial is something of a "collectors" and shoots like crap. Then I would send it off to Turnbulls for the full resto so she can live out her life in a safe.
If you're going to drill and do work I say why bother. Do the Brass/0000 wool and kroil/gun oil and lightly go over the "rust". If it's just surface rust it'll be nothing. That would be the extent of the resto for a mod. shooter.0 -
New 41's are going for over $1,000, if you can even find one. Considering the condition of yours with the freckling, you would be ahead of the game by having it D & T'ed. Not likely you would be losing much in the way of collectors value. 0 -
Most of the early model 41's will out shoot a post 1990 pistol . shoot the one you have You can also buy CLARK aftermarket barrels that come drilled and tapped. Leave pistol alone as to refinishing. Shiny Gun every one will know you are a new shooter . Vintage gun will make them[?][?][?][?] [}:)][;)] 0 -
There are 5.5" barrels listed regularly in SGN ant other sources. The original can be removed very quickly and a new one put on if you want to preserve the originality. The new ones may already be d&t'd. A new set of springs from Wolfe should put everything back in order. 0 -
In addition to the above:
They are $1200 new. S&W or Clark Custom Gun have barrels drilled and tapped. After cleaning off the rust as Bpost advises you can take some cold blue, heat the area with a hair dryer or heat gun, rub in the cold blue about 10 times and hit with heat gun after each, let sit for a few minutes then rinse with wet rag then oil. If the rust was deep it may show spotting, but as Perry says, if you shoot Bullseye the gun will get quite a bit of wear.
Good find, great gun. Best of luck
In regard to the post below mine: If the gun has slight freckled rust removed and is of no collector value (which this one is not)I have had very good luck with cold blue when properly applied. Many gunsmiths use this for small repair jobs. Should it be used for a complete re-blue job? NO. Will it "ruin" the gun? NO. If your going to re-blue the whole gun you may wish to consider Duracoat.0 -
Please don't use cold blue on it, it'll ruin it! 0 -
Can't beat an older Smith 41 IMO. I have three and love them all! After I read your post I just got my recent edition of Guns mag in the mail and there is a article on this very issue...to blue or not to blue on a rather valuable weapon. While yours is one of the older (and better IMO) ones, I don't think a five digit serial # makes it that valuable. If it was me, I would fix it up the way I wanted to, reblued and all, and use the heck out of it! I think you will be pleased. I have had a pro reblue a couple of my pistols over the years, included a badly pitted Smith of my grandfather, and been pleased with all of them. Good luck with whatever you do! [:)] 0 -
Thanks to all for the thoughts on what to do on this model 41. I was able to find some fine bronze wool at my local hardware store after calling all the big box stores in the 40 mile area around me.Must have wasted 3 hours on the phone when the nearest local hardware guy had it on the shelf. (another lesson relearned) With a can of Kroil and bronze wool it came up pretty good.i fired about twenty rounds just to see if it would function. It did so I sent it out to a local gunshop to have a rail put on. Am looking forward to getting it back so that i can put a red dot on it to shoot bullseye in January. Thanks again. Pacmandaddy 0 -
quote:Originally posted by Pacmandaddy
Thanks to all for the thoughts on what to do on this model 41. I was able to find some fine bronze wool at my local hardware store after calling all the big box stores in the 40 mile area around me.Must have wasted 3 hours on the phone when the nearest local hardware guy had it on the shelf. (another lesson relearned) With a can of Kroil and bronze wool it came up pretty good.i fired about twenty rounds just to see if it would function. It did so I sent it out to a local gunshop to have a rail put on. Am looking forward to getting it back so that i can put a red dot on it to shoot bullseye in January. Thanks again. Pacmandaddy
Get an Ultra Dot and never worry.0 -
Find some one to mentor you and make it a point to go to Camp Perry your state should have people going and 4 people can stay in a hut and visit the shops on commercial row.You will remember it for life. 0
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