1948 Smith & Wesson K-22 Custom Restoration completed

[Hammer It]

Hello
I recently Picked up a Post War K-22 Third series revolver. They had the soft Matte finish Bluing which I am not a fan of. I found it was deadly accurate and wanted a Custom Finish Look, so sent it off To Ford's refinishing in Florida for their Master Re-bluing Job. In the mean time while it was getting a Face Lift I refinished the Original Non Relieved target diamond Over sized grip's, and Located an original Factory Gold Bead front sight for it. The revolver returned today, and Later this week I Hope to have the sight blade installed by my Local Gun Smith. Here is some before and after Pictures of my Newest Project. Regards, Hammer It.

"BEFORE REFINISHING"



"GRIP'S RESTORED"



"ORIGINAL GOLD BEAD NON INSTALLED SIGHT"




"AFTER IT WAS REFINISHED"

[VUPDblue]

what a beauty...

[Wildalaska]

It looks nice but I am inwardly cringing about the modification of a collector piece

WildpuristAlaska

PS by my using the term looking nice, please do not construe that as an endorsement of Fords

[Casimer]

That looks to be a very nice rebluing - nice work on the stocks as well.

I have a few of the Masterpiece revolvers and have no objection to refinishing as part of a restoration. Same goes for bead sites, new triggers and so forth. But I don't buy mine NIB, they see active use.

[Hammer It]

Hello
I appreciate the Kinds words. I dont know if this model could be considered a collectors Piece, since they made a Gazillion of them during that time span, but to me the bluing they used Looked Horrid in that time frame and I made what I wanted for my self, with no remorse Feelings. I read When they first Opened the S&W Plant to Public sales after the War it was their reason for finishing all their revolver's with this A Faster Matte style bluing. It just does not appeal to my Liking, so I made what I felt it should have been. I will shoot this Piece often as well. No Safe queens in my House.. Hammer It

[Brian Williams]

I Like it, Have you installed the front bead yet?

[Hammer It]

Hello Brian
No. I hope to get around to it this week. Regards, Hammer It

[absolute0]

Geez, it that the best you could do?

Absolutely gorgeous!

[Hammer It]

Geez, it that the best you could do?

Hello
No, I have the Nickel Brother as well.. HammerIt

[Jim Preston]

I'm a sucker for a six-inch K-frame...

...and those are some of the most beautiful ones around.

[Hammer It]

Hello
I Love my K-22's and have a Pile of them. They are cheaper than dirt to enjoy as ammo has risen to stupid levels lately on center fire weapons. I reload for all my center fire handguns and rifles but even reloading supplies has risen over 38 % in the past year. It is like paying a sin tax because we enjoy shooting lately.. Hammer It

[deadin]

Out of curiosity, what did Ford charge for the restoration?

[PzGren]

Really neat looking.

Unfortunately I only have one K22 and it's my shooter. Any restoration would probably make it end up more in the safe than in the range bag.

I should probably get another one.

[Hammer It]

Out of curiosity, what did Ford charge for the restoration?

Hello Dean
Their standard Charge for Master Bluing a handgun is $230.00 Plus shipping back. Here is a Link to thir Price List and Options offered. This is about the 4th one they have done for me, and it Opens a new Highway for Picking up Tight action well carried revolvers, at a Much Lower price and making them into a desireable Piece. I find their work Flawless and they Leave a revolver and it letter's crisp and Unaltered Looking.Here is what this revolver Looked Like before they did it, as you can see they greatly Improve the Eye appeal to any revolver they refinish. Regards, Hammer It.

http://fordsguns.com/index2-1.htm

[Hammer It]

Unfortunately I only have one K22 and it's my shooter. Any restoration would probably make it end up more in the safe than in the range bag.

I should probably get another one.

Hello
Why ? I shoot all the Ones I have refinished and they clean back up Like brand new when done. No safe queens in my House they all get shot and Often.. Hammer It

[fisherman66]

Pass me a napkin. I need to wipe the drool off my keyboard.

[PzGren]

I am glad to hear that you have no safe queens , either. I hate the pictures of collections on some boards, when people show off pristine guns without the turning line .

What a waste of a perfect gun to keep it in the safe! If I want to refinish mine, I'll do so regardless of collector value. The guns are mine, bought and paid for, and if I want to get rid of any, my two sons are always standing by.

This is surely not mainstream thinking but I am a shooter that has accumulated guns, not a collector of showpieces.

[Hammer It]

am glad to hear that you have no safe queens , either. I hate the pictures of collections on some boards, when people show off pristine guns without the turning line

Hello PZGren
I also get the turn Lines on the cylinder, But if you keep after them each and every time you shoot them, by applying Pre-Lim a wonderful product derived in England it takes the turn Line right out without Huring the Nickel or Bluing. Here is a Link to the United States dealer that distributes it. His name is Dennis and he is a great guy that will ship the product right to your front Door. I always follow up with some of their Wax as well, and this keeps the turn Lines more Faint and finger prints off the gun. Regards, Hammer It

http://www.restorationproduct.com/index.html

[PzGren]

Hammer It,

I am way too thrifty ( to avoid the word cheap ) to buy specialty products, I am using car wax to treat the guns before shooting. It makes cleaning easier, too.
I have gotten great results refinishing revolvers with rust blueing, it is a very time consuming, tedious work but the results are pretty good. To me this is as much hobby time as reloading and shooting.

The pride of a gun redone by myself is priceless!

[stratmanchaz]

sweet guns, reall beautiful.

[Shaun]

nothing to do with a K22 but more with blued guns in general. I shot some hot 180 grain .44 magnums out of my M29, and theres some heat discoloration on the cylinder, is there a product or process by which i can remove this safely? thanks

[Wildalaska]

What a waste of a perfect gun to keep it in the safe! If I want to refinish mine, I'll do so regardless of collector value.

*cringes*

WildandwillleaveitatthatAlaska

[BillCA]

Hammer It,

First off, that's a beauty! I'm old fashioned and I love the looks of the K-Frame revolvers with a polished blue finish.

Ford's does excellent work, don't they? Their work always appears to be well worth the money spent.

Wild - I hear ya, bro, but it's his gun and he made the decision for purely aesthetic reasons to satisfy himself. Kind of like people adding do-dads to AR's. Besides, I'm a sucker for the polished blue look.

[Hammer It]

I shot some hot 180 grain .44 magnums out of my M29, and theres some heat discoloration on the cylinder, is there a product or process by which i can remove this safely?

Hello Saun
Through extensive trial and error, I have found the Only Product that will completely removes this Heat discoloring is Pre-Lim. It is by far the best to use, no matter what you have been told or tried. I have a Laundry List of Local products suggested that have harmed Bluing such as Flitz, MAAS Cream, Mother's Mag wheel Polish, SIMI CHROME, and On and On. They all have a special Purpose on Stainless or Nickel hand Guns but are No Good for Blued guns. If it is Blued I would Highly suggest using this Pre-Lim Cream and apply it sparingly as it works better with small amounts. They sell a small sample can that will get you Hooked as well in this Link. This cream will also Lift Micro Rust Not detectible to the Naked eye and will show Orange in color on the Polishing rag. I like to keep my Gun's nice and Looking new, so Thrifty or Cheap if you call it that is not an Option with me. Life is Way Too Short , to Have Ugly Guns or ones messed up by using a cheaper Product Not Intended for certain application's.. Regards, Hammer It


http://www.restorationproduct.com/mainproducts.html

[Hammer It]

Wild - I hear ya, bro, but it's his gun and he made the decision for purely aesthetic reasons to satisfy himself

Hello Bill
Exactly.. I have found that Most claiming to want a Bare Bones unaltered Look are either Dead serious collectors or one's that do Not want to pay the Price for a better Looking gun. This revolver sure was No Museum Piece to start with, so I made a decission to make it what I want, Not the Purists, that seem to think Patina I think that is what They call Long Aged RUST to me, can say Hey, Look at my original Gun, to have Most snicker as they walk away feeling it would make a better door stop than a collectible. I am not selling it, and I did not buy it to see it appreciate in value, as I said Earlier they Made a Gazillion of them if I wanted one for collectors reasons this one did not fit the Bill, In It's Time Honored Patina State. Fact of the matter is, I rarely sell any I take this Much time to make Personal like I did this One, so when I drop dead my Heirs can argue what it is worth to the next Phase of S&W revolver Lovers.. I do have some that are Collectibles and I would Not consider refinishing. One that is a Tad Bit Older than this One is my 1936 Issue K-22 Outdoorsman. This is factory and almost Mint. Now, to some they would Place it in a dark Safe and Not touch it. I am not that way and it has had Hundreds of rounds through it since I bought it, and still Looks great with no signs of wear. I enjoy mine, and shoot them all. Hammer It.