Suggestions for cleaning up nicks and scratches?

[jwinker]

I have inherited a S&W revolver that is in excellent shape, except for a few minor spots along the barrel and a fine line around the cylinder. Has anyone had any success with some sort of polishing product that could help me improve the finish? I have quite a bit of experience with this kind of stuff for auto finishes, and I imagine there's a similar product out there for gun finishes. I have no idea what it is or where to get it, though.

Any suggestions?

[Jeff Bergquist]

Is the revolver blued or stainless? I'm guessing blued since you mentioned the line around the cylinder which is very commonly seen on blued revolvers. There are many products available at places such as Sportsman's Warehouse or Cabela's for touching up the bluing on guns.

One thing to bear in mind is that if your revolver is an antique or collectible you can actually lower the value by refinishing, so find out for sure what you have before doing anything to it.

[DeanC]

The fine line around the cylinder is a badge of honor. You can buff it out, but as soon as you shoot it again, the line will return.

For stainless guns, Simichrome is a great product. Not very aggressive and takes some elbow grease, but it does make 'em shine.

[jwinker]

It is an older (1960s era?) S&W .44 Magnum, blued finish. The gun is more of a sentimental piece than a collector piece - for me at least. Inherited it from Dad about a year ago when us kids split up his gun collection as he gets on in age. Simply put, its appearance and longevity is more important to me than market value.

The spots along the barrel are so small that I really doubt buffing them out would increase or decrease the value very much at all. There are about 5 spots, each about the size of a sharpie tip that just aren't as shiny as the rest of the barrel. Looking at it quickly, they're not noticable at all. Get it in the right light and you see where the finish is different. They almost look like a small bit of a fingerprint, but it won't wipe out. The line around the cylinder is actually a scratch in the finish and if it doesn't get fixed so be it.

[cobb]

Anything you try on a blued gun will remove the bluing.

Now if you plan to re blue, then you could use a polish or some of the pads that body shops use to polish and finish a surface.

[David]

If my dad gave me a gun with some holster wear or scratches in it, I think that sentiment would keep me from refinishing it. Not saying you should do that; just pointing out another point of view.

Good luck with your project! Sounds like a nice old gun.

[1911fan]

FIRST ,,,,,, just try some 0000 steel wool with a little gun oil. just lightly buff it. any of the polishes will have abrasive in them, which will remove blue, steel wool will not remove any metal, as the gun is harder than the wool, but it will scour away any corrosion or oxidation safely away without damaging what's left behind....