How to blot out white banner on S&W Shield

[zaitcev]

Posting this in "General" discussion in case revolver guys can lend their expertise too.

I have a Shield 45 with a banner on the slide that's painted white from the factory. I wish to remove the white paint without damaging the finish. Does anyone know of a specific concoction that works on S&W paint?

Thanks in advance.

I'm attaching a photograph of the banner for clarity.

 

[JTHunter]

You might try taking either an old toothbrush or a nylon bristle brush and put a drop or 2 of acetone on a couple of letters and gently scrub it with the brush.

 

[Spug]

I'd try the acetone as JT recommends, but would certainly take the slide off first just in case it wasn't safe with the plastic. Acetone is less toxic as solvents go i think. The most unsafe thing about it seems to be that fumes will pool on the floor if you spill it, and of course it is highly flammable. Since I have a gas water heater I keep my jug of acetone outside and will decant it into something smaller if I need to bring my work inside. Probably overly cautious but you never know.

If that slide has the "melonite" nitride treatment it is really tough stuff, though I've never personally put acetone on it I doubt it would be affected.

 

[toivo]

You might look into ways to paint over it -- Cerakote or something like it. Definitely not the cheapest option, but possibly the safest for the overall finish.

 

[Rubone]

Funny, I had to get my Shield out and look at it, can't say I've ever even noticed it,before, maybe when I first got it about 5 years ago and that shield goes lots of places with me.

 

[chicharrones]

Every time you finish a range session, wipe off the burned powder residue from the muzzle end of the slide and rub it into the white lettering. Eventually the white will be so stained it will match the remainder of the gun.

 

[Mizar]

One more vote for acetone - it will not damage the finish.

 

[chicharrones]

In my experience, acetone won't damage bluing but it will likely damage anything that might resemble paint or plastic.

 

[Ethan Verity]

Acetone will take it off, if anything will. But, that paint is imbedded in laser-etched lettering texture. It may be very difficult to clean the white out completely.

 

[derek45]

I figured it was lazer etched, and never bothered

 

[American_Fusilier]

I'd paint over it with black nail polish.

 

[The Night Rider]

 

[Styx]

Ignore it gets my vote. I've owned 6 Shields of different caliber and guns, and I never noticed it. Not sure why it's worth the trouble to remove on an ugly utilitarian conceal carry pistol. I can understand the argument about the looks of the lock on a beautiful S&W steel revolvers. Worrying about how a dime a dozen, ugly, inexpensive, polymer frame tool that's going to spend it's life concealed in a holster looks seems like more trouble than it's worth.

 

[Pat Riot]

View attachment 1155942

Thanks.

Amazon has it:
Genuine US Black Out Emblem REFINISHER https://a.co/d/8xa2nFn

 

[Scrod314]

You can try scrubbing with non-acetone nail polish remover. Then hit it a few times with Aluma-black or that other Birchwood-Casey gun black stuff? Might take a few times to get it almost black from dark navy blue. I saw great results on an M and P Sport 2 AR-15 someone did.

 

[buck460XVR]

Ignore it gets my vote. Not sure why it's worth the trouble to remove on an ugly utilitarian conceal carry pistol.

^^^My thoughts exactly.

 

[toivo]

Then hit it a few times with Aluma-black or that other Birchwood-Casey gun black stuff?

That slide is steel. Aluma-black is meant for aluminum. I'd use a cold-bluing product that's meant for steel.

 

[edwardware]

I have a Shield 45 with a banner on the slide that's painted white from the factory. I wish to remove the white paint

Settle for covering it. Use a Sharpie. You'll be done in less time than it took to type this.

 

[derek45]

That slide is steel. Aluma-black is meant for aluminum. I'd use a cold-bluing product that's meant for steel.

M&P slides are stainless steel

 

[kwb377]

M&P slides are stainless steel

And it's still not aluminum.

 

[red rick]

This might work , it took the white line off of the rear sight on my 686 ( not happy about it ) . I sprayed a black out on the rear sight because the white outline was messing my sight picture up . When I went to clean the gun with some Hoppes #9 the white outline came off .

 

[Doc Samson]

Not sure why it's worth the trouble to remove on an ugly utilitarian conceal carry pistol. I can understand the argument about the looks of the lock on a beautiful S&W steel revolvers. Worrying about how a dime a dozen, ugly, inexpensive, polymer frame tool that's going to spend it's life concealed in a holster looks seems like more trouble than it's worth.

Eh, likely just for "customization" purposes...

I "filled" much of the etching on my Shield and my Ruger AR with colors just 'cause. Does anyone care but me? Nope, but I like it and that's all that matters.

 

[1KPerDay]

Black crayon. Rub it in, wipe off the extra with a rag

 

[Steven_Seagull]

I would use a file, that would do the trick. Lots of elbow grease and spit.

 

[JTHunter]

I would use a file, that would do the trick. Lots of elbow grease and spit.

Using a file means that you are structurally damaging a gun. Somebody might think you are trying to obliterate the serial number as well.