Update! Need work on a S&W Model 15-3 (not 65!)

[Shrike]

Hey Gunsmiths, my father is retireing from the Miami Dade PD some time this year and I have been able to aquire his first duty revolver! He sold many years ago and I was able to track it down. I think it is nickel plated or something, I havent seen it yet. I want to restore it to it's original blued finish and maybe a trigger job. I think it is a S&W model 65 (it is actually a 15-3). I want to send it to a gunsmith that is a known FALFILES member, and can perform the above work. I am in North Florida and would prefer someone close but i will take what i can get.
Thank you,
Mike
mikegalyon@yahoo.com

[W.E.G.]

I don't have any good suggestions right away.

You are looking at some serious coin to strip the nickel finish and re-blue to anything close to the original finish.

Maybe send it back to S&W?
They are qualified to do that sort of work.

I'm interested to know how you tracked it down.

If you have any leads on S&W Model 10, serial number D279229, I'd really like to have that one back. Last time I saw it was my last day on the street back in 1986. :(

[Shrike]

My dad sold it to a friend, who sold it to a friend, who sold it to a friend.... ya know.... the hardest part was finding their phone numbers.

[khays]

A model 65 is a K (medium) frame stainless steel .357 Magnum, without the barrel shroud. Made from 1972 to present. The model 65-1 was recalled after 1977 for modifications to the gas ring at the front of the cylinder. Very early model 65 revolvers had action parts made of stainless, and were subject to galling. Later model 65 had non-stainless action parts that were nickel plated to match the revolver finish.

No blued finish, ever.

The "standard" police issue version will have a 4 inch "heavy" barrel, a square butt, and the front and back straps will be smooth.

My recommendation is to send it back to S&W for any work it might need - they do excellent work, in my experience, and often will not charge for things that might, in a stretch, be considered "warranty work". Turn around has been good, recently, on the order of 3 or 4 weeks.

Kirk [former S&W N-Frame collector]

[CATM Larry]

If sending it back to Smith, make sure to mention it was your fathers service gun and he is retiring. They will probably give it a little extra TLC, they did to a friends gun, looked better than new! For a great touch (and many $$$) S&W can laser engrave almost anything you want on the sideplate. A close friend had his badge engraved on the sideplate of his 640 and the detail was almost unbelievable! If you can find a company that will laser etch a wood presentation case with his badge or department patch, that would add even more sentimental value for your father. Maybe the patch on the case with his badge on the gun? Very interesting if the $$$ are not an issue. Good luck and let us know how it turns out, with pics hopefully!

Larry

[Shrike]

OK, update!
This is actually a model 15-3 ! Can anyone tell me how this would have looked originally? blued, or steel? Right now it is nickel plated and super ugly. It is in 38 Special. I would post pics, but i am not a contributor any more (poor college student).

Thanks,
Mike

[khays]

Blued.

Send it back to S&W for restoration - they can duplicate the original finish.

I've got my Dad's service Model 28, and they made it new again.

Kirk

[jwaters]

I would send it back to S&W too, given especially the circumstances.

They should know how it came from the Factory.

You could pay and get a Factory letter from S&W for it at the same time too.

JW