Thank you very much for the response and help from "gnmontey". I took the 29 back to where I bought and they were actually kinda stunned how they missed it, there was no hesitation on their part for a full refund or store credit and they were debating what to do with it now. So I got some cash back and picked up a Portuguese Verguiero mauser and now back on the hunt for another 29-2 6.5 inch.
Why is bluing different on barrel/cylinder than the frame on S&W?
- Thread starter Squiggy
- Start date
Lee Enfield
CGN Ultra frequent flyer
- Location
- Republic of Alberta
Reading your comments make me feel old. You guys all seem to be products of the CNC/ MIM generation where verything is exactly the same.
Late 1970s is when S&W switched from carbona bluing to salt bath bluing.
1. Take a strong light and look at any blued gun. You will probably be shocked.
2. On most revolvers from c.1900 thru the 1980s, barrels and cylinders are different material and hardening than the frame.
The .357 and .44 magnums were very definately manufactured from different materials and special heat treating.
It is very common that the bluing takes differently on varying materials and hardnesses.
This is very apparent on Colt and S&W revolvers during the 'teens and twenties, but more commonly known and illustrated on Winchester m.94 rifles of the turn of the century. Those "silver" receivers all started as blued.
3. On a m29-2, The final frame and barrel contouring was done with contoured felt wheels & belts by craftmen, there are variations... just like those notes on expensive knotty pine furniture and leather goods...
Late 1970s is when S&W switched from carbona bluing to salt bath bluing.
1. Take a strong light and look at any blued gun. You will probably be shocked.
2. On most revolvers from c.1900 thru the 1980s, barrels and cylinders are different material and hardening than the frame.
The .357 and .44 magnums were very definately manufactured from different materials and special heat treating.
It is very common that the bluing takes differently on varying materials and hardnesses.
This is very apparent on Colt and S&W revolvers during the 'teens and twenties, but more commonly known and illustrated on Winchester m.94 rifles of the turn of the century. Those "silver" receivers all started as blued.
3. On a m29-2, The final frame and barrel contouring was done with contoured felt wheels & belts by craftmen, there are variations... just like those notes on expensive knotty pine furniture and leather goods...
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The second set of pictures was taken at my kitchen table, light from the window. My other S&W don't have that issue, doesn't matter what light, the colour is the same through out the gun, only change is where there has been wear. The 29 has not come back up for sale, not sure what they did with it.
Looks to me like the cylinder and barrel got a really good polish job while the frame did not. I am convinced because you can see there are some spots missed near the frame on the barrel itself and the unpolished parts do appear to match up. But I'm no expert.
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Metal composition and finishing processing will create different results when bluing, oxiding, anodizing etc. Batch to batch tank chemistry drifts and the results differ. I've done a fair bit of this over the years and it really can be tricky to get perfect results.
Halger280HVMag
CGN Ultra frequent flyer
- Location
- B.C. XMU Local .454
I'll have to check when I get home.
Smith & Wesson built a number of two tone guns on special order.
Some blue cylinders and barrels.
and some with blued frames and lighter cylinders and barrels.
sometimes chromed.
UOTE=Squiggy;15191061]So I received my new to me model 29-2 6 inch today. I don't think the gun has ever been fired, there literally is no cylinder ring or any noticeable powder burn rings on cylinder but I did notice the bluing on barrel/cylinder don't match the frame. The barrel/cylinder is deep shiny bluing and the frame is a flat finish to the point it even looks kinda greyish. In normal room lighting it's not to noticeable but under my halogen shop light or in bright sun there is no mistaking it. I have seen that in couple of other smith guns so just wondering why this is. This is 1979 production.[/QUOTE]
Smith & Wesson built a number of two tone guns on special order.
Some blue cylinders and barrels.
and some with blued frames and lighter cylinders and barrels.
sometimes chromed.
UOTE=Squiggy;15191061]So I received my new to me model 29-2 6 inch today. I don't think the gun has ever been fired, there literally is no cylinder ring or any noticeable powder burn rings on cylinder but I did notice the bluing on barrel/cylinder don't match the frame. The barrel/cylinder is deep shiny bluing and the frame is a flat finish to the point it even looks kinda greyish. In normal room lighting it's not to noticeable but under my halogen shop light or in bright sun there is no mistaking it. I have seen that in couple of other smith guns so just wondering why this is. This is 1979 production.[/QUOTE]
