S&W 581 - what to do?

What to do?

  • Leave it alone

    Votes: 13 52.0%

  • Re-blue it

    Votes: 5 20.0%

  • Cerakote

    Votes: 4 16.0%

  • Wood

    Votes: 10 40.0%

  • Rubber

    Votes: 4 16.0%

  • G10

    Votes: 5 20.0%
  • Total voters
    25
Oneofsix

Oneofsix

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So now that it has a new home, I'm wondering how much if any, work to put in to it.
Definitely needs a new set of grips, so secondary question is wood, rubber or G10?





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I think it be a really nice shooter. Cerakote, some new grips, and call it a day.
 
Average Joe said:
I think it be a really nice shooter. Cerakote, some new grips, and call it a day.
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Put up my own pix, instead of being lazy and using the PO'S

So, wood or G10? I'm leaning towards G10, something in black and green.
 
Wood
Shot it and then decide how far to take it.
Look at Ford's Custom Guns for finishes.

Ford's Custom Gun Refinishing | Crystal River, FL

Ford's Custom Plating offers custom gun refinishing services, including Chrome, Nickel, Hot Blue, 24K Gold Plating, and Laser Engraving of your firearm.
fordsguns.com fordsguns.com
 
Rather than Cerakote, I’d consider nitride/melonite. DP Customs did a slide for me and it looks great, very much a factory-like finish.

They don’t have anything other than slide refinishing on their site but can’t hurt to ask.
www.dpcustomworksllc.com

Melonite | DP Custom Works

Melonite is our most popular refinishing option. This is going to be the most similar refinishing option to the factory finish that we offer.
www.dpcustomworksllc.com www.dpcustomworksllc.com
 
After grips? Hell I like the old school Pachmayer rubber grips with the finger grooves.

You could take a cue tip with some cold blue and make it look a lot better. I’ve done that a time or two.

On something like that, I would be tempted to have it re-blued by a local guy or maybe send it to Smith if that failed.
 
ronn47 said:
Wood
Shot it and then decide how far to take it.
Look at Ford's Custom Guns for finishes.

Ford's Custom Gun Refinishing | Crystal River, FL

Ford's Custom Plating offers custom gun refinishing services, including Chrome, Nickel, Hot Blue, 24K Gold Plating, and Laser Engraving of your firearm.
fordsguns.com fordsguns.com
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Wood grips, I cannot stand G10. If you want to remain with rubber, I can send you the correct Hogue grip if you want, no charge.

Ford's does truly amazing work. But, let me tell you a bit of advice I got one time from a wise man. I was thinking of sending one of my Colt SAA's to Ford's and @BatteryOaksBilly told me, "Remember, it will look like that only one time. If you have it refinished, it will never look that way again." Billy has sent many guns to Ford's for refinishing. I never sent mine.
 
I would leave it alone. IIRC you got a good deal on it. Sending it out for a refinish pushes the cost into a not as good a deal territory in that you could have bought higher condition for the same money. As to grips it is 100% personal and subjective. I almost always prefer the look of wood but if I am being honest with myself most of the time rubbers feel better in the hand while shooting. I would shoot it before chucking the Pachs in a bin. Take up @Geezer 's offer and try out the Houges. If they don't fell right pass them down the line and then look for some wood grips.
 
This one was a hot mess that I picked up at a pawn shop for an awesome price. Refinish would not have made a difference. You can still see the pitting on the cylinder.

I consider this one a "working gun". It has a turn line on it now and it resides in my cash drawer at work.

I've got nicer ones. But I won't hesitate to "blaspheme" a rough one with cerakote and stash it in strategic location.

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I agree with SOTG, I would try some cold blue first. I've had some surprisingly good results, and a few so-so ones. You wouldn't be out much money, and all the other options are still open. Cleaning, surface prep, and temp are the keys.
 
Let’s us know how she shoots.
 
Of all the 681’s and 581’s I’ve owned and loved, I’ve only kept 1, a well used 581 from a Kentucky game warden. I’ve never even thought about a refinish, I probably wouldn’t want to shoot it then. It still sports the chipped up original wood grips. Enjoy it, they are great shooters with 158 grain slugs.
 
Eeyore said:
I purchased some 180gr Hornady XTP last night to work up a carry load.
Now if I could just catch the 230gr bowling pin projectiles in stock....
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Plain Jane 158’s will be dead on. All of mine were and that’s what they used at the factory to sight them in. They are very accurate. I’d have to say my favorite fighting revolver, nothing but meat and potatoes.
 
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