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S&W M&P Restoration Project

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  • Maverick44

    Youngest old man on TGT.
    Well fellas, it is finally done. I am extremely happy that I took plenty of pictures of the disassembly process, because the internals were a bit of a puzzle. The parts I got from Wolff did fit. I ended up going with a 14lb rebound spring (IIRC, factory was 18 lbs), and the new mainspring is a vastly different design than the original. The original is flat, the Wolff one is curved and has a groove in the spine.

    The Wolff mainspring is on top, the original is on the bottom.

    09aad368b6efeb6b25c7926c9e0c79db.jpg


    The trigger is MUCH nicer. The SA is crisp and light, and the double action is buttery smooth and lighter than I had expected. The hammer is also a bit lighter and smoother to cock.

    The finish came out really nice too. It's kind of more of a really dark grayish blue than a blackish blue, but it looks right on the gun. I'm still waiting on the grips, so it's still wearing those old Victory model grips.

    Overall, I'm happy.

    c1b2f1905cb884ee8af4e3beb95fdd33.jpg


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    DoubleDuty

    TGT Addict
    Feb 9, 2019
    3,681
    96
    DFW
    Well fellas, it is finally done. I am extremely happy that I took plenty of pictures of the disassembly process, because the internals were a bit of a puzzle. The parts I got from Wolff did fit. I ended up going with a 14lb rebound spring (IIRC, factory was 18 lbs), and the new mainspring is a vastly different design than the original. The original is flat, the Wolff one is curved and has a groove in the spine.

    The Wolff mainspring is on top, the original is on the bottom.

    View attachment 214977

    The trigger is MUCH nicer. The SA is crisp and light, and the double action is buttery smooth and lighter than I had expected. The hammer is also a bit lighter and smoother to cock.

    The finish came out really nice too. It's kind of more of a really dark grayish blue than a blackish blue, but it looks right on the gun. I'm still waiting on the grips, so it's still wearing those old Victory model grips.

    Overall, I'm happy.

    View attachment 214978

    View attachment 214980

    View attachment 214979

    View attachment 214981
    Looks so much better
     

    satx78247

    Member, Emeritus
    Emeritus - "Texas Proud"
    Jun 23, 2014
    8,479
    96
    78208
    Maverick44,

    Do you happen to KNOW what Colt, S&W and other US gunmakers did (in the days of rust-blued firearms) to get the firearms to come out BLACK or BLACK with a BLUISH tinge?

    Fwiw, IF it was mine, I would leave the Victory, WWII-style grips on it, as they suit the revolver, imVho, & look rather like a USNAG or USCG handgun of the period. BOTH groups issued .32-20 revolvers, due to the handgun shortage, early in WWII.
    (According to my grandfather, between 1939 & mid-1942, "government men" went from store to store buying EVERY sort of firearm that the stores had in stock & at RETAIL prices.)

    NICE JOB, imVho.

    yours, satx
     
    Last edited:

    Spcwolf

    Active Member
    Apr 16, 2013
    974
    76
    Conroe tx
    Maverick44,

    Do you happen to KNOW what Colt, S&W and other US gunmakers did (in the days of rust-blued firearms) to get the firearms to come out BLACK or BLACK with a BLUISH tinge?

    Fwiw, IF it was mine, I would leave the Victory, WWII-style grips on it, as they suit the revolver, imVho, & look rather like a USNAG or USCG handgun of the period. BOTH groups issued .32-20 revolvers, due to the handgun shortage, early in WWII.
    (According to my grandfather, between 1939 & mid-1942, "government men" went from store to store buying EVERY sort of firearm that the stores had in stock & at RETAIL prices.)

    NICE JOB, imVho.

    yours, satx


    From what I have researched, the process was essentially banned for altered to conform to environmental standards.
    It could probably be done outside the U.S. to get that color.

    The colt blueing is dark and shiny, it’s quite the eye catcher.
     

    satx78247

    Member, Emeritus
    Emeritus - "Texas Proud"
    Jun 23, 2014
    8,479
    96
    78208
    From what I have researched, the process was essentially banned for altered to conform to environmental standards.
    It could probably be done outside the U.S. to get that color.

    The colt blueing is dark and shiny, it’s quite the eye catcher.


    Spcwolf,

    YES, Colt's Blue IS.

    yours, satx
     

    Maverick44

    Youngest old man on TGT.
    I've never been able to replicate those classic colors. I'm not sure of the processes that Colt or S&W used back then. This is the second gun I've rust blued and both had a greyish patina to them. Considering the age of the gun, it doesn't look out of place.

    The first gun I rust blued was a Colt Army Special (precursor to the Official Police). It came out more grey than anything. I'm not sure if it's the steel they used back then, or if I'm just not doing enough rust bluing cycles to get it a pure blue/black. I'd like to try my hand at hot bluing, but it's not cheap to get set up.

    My grips still haven't shown up yet. I'm hoping they do sometime next week. The gun won't feel complete without them.
     

    satx78247

    Member, Emeritus
    Emeritus - "Texas Proud"
    Jun 23, 2014
    8,479
    96
    78208
    Thank you. She shoots pretty good too. 32-20 is such a pleasant little round to shoot, and dirt cheap to reload/cast for if you can keep from being heavy handed with the brass. Those necks are easy to crush.

    Maverick44,

    Fyi, I used to have a MATCHED set of .32-20 Winchester saddle carbine & a Pre-WWII S&W (that i bought from a Red River County Deputy Constable, when he retired.) and LIKED BOTH very much.
    (A lot of critters to about 60# fell to the carbine/revolver, with my homebrew CB, over a decade plus.)

    yours, satx
     

    Geezer

    Mostly Peaceful
    TGT Supporter
    Jul 23, 2019
    5,221
    96
    Silsbee, Texas
    Maverick44,

    Do you happen to KNOW what Colt, S&W and other US gunmakers did (in the days of rust-blued firearms) to get the firearms to come out BLACK or BLACK with a BLUISH tinge?

    Fwiw, IF it was mine, I would leave the Victory, WWII-style grips on it, as they suit the revolver, imVho, & look rather like a USNAG or USCG handgun of the period. BOTH groups issued .32-20 revolvers, due to the handgun shortage, early in WWII.
    (According to my grandfather, between 1939 & mid-1942, "government men" went from store to store buying EVERY sort of firearm that the stores had in stock & at RETAIL prices.)

    NICE JOB, imVho.

    yours, satx
    From what I have researched, the process was essentially banned for altered to conform to environmental standards.
    It could probably be done outside the U.S. to get that color.

    The colt blueing is dark and shiny, it’s quite the eye catcher.
    Ford's Refinishing can duplicate original S&W and Colt blue/black finishes.
     

    satx78247

    Member, Emeritus
    Emeritus - "Texas Proud"
    Jun 23, 2014
    8,479
    96
    78208
    Ford's Refinishing can duplicate original S&W and Colt blue/black finishes.

    Geezer,

    I don't have enough patience to wait SIX to NINE months to get back a handgun from Ford's, though they do good work.

    Until he was killed in a motorcycle accident, there was a GOOD refinisher in Arkansas who had about 3-5 week turnaround.

    Fwiw, I'm seriously considering setting up a re-bluing service down on the Texas coast.
    (There are FEW profitable businesses that can be started for <5000.oo.)

    yours, satx
     

    Geezer

    Mostly Peaceful
    TGT Supporter
    Jul 23, 2019
    5,221
    96
    Silsbee, Texas
    Geezer,

    I don't have enough patience to wait SIX to NINE months to get back a handgun from Ford's, though they do good work.

    Until he was killed in a motorcycle accident, there was a GOOD refinisher in Arkansas who had about 3-5 week turnaround.

    Fwiw, I'm seriously considering setting up a re-bluing service down on the Texas coast.
    (There are FEW profitable businesses that can be started for <5000.oo.)

    yours, satx
    I'm with you on the lack of patience. I have a Single Action Army Colt that I've wanted to send to Ford's for a long time. Every time I would get close to sending it, I'd back out.
    My buddy back in SC has sent many guns to Ford's and they always come back perfect. Their ability to restamp the letters and logos is amazing.
     
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