S&W Model of 1905 M&P and Ford's Custom Gun Refinishing

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rswartsell

rswartsell

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Back in March I got an opportunity to help a non-gunnie co-worker who had come into possession of some old revolvers and wanted to dispose of them. Among these was an old war horse Smith and Wesson sporting 90 years of honest holster wear and faux pearl grips that had what looked to be a burn from the edge of a hot iron in the middle of one panel.

The revolver checkout went pretty well, lets say VERY well. No mechanical flaws at all and what an action! Sweeet butter! In June my elder son was graduating from UT Grad-school, so long story short I bought it and shipped it off to Horace and Larna Boothe the current proprietors of Ford's Custom Gun Refinishing in Florida. This in a presentation box is son's graduation present.

1924MampP-1.jpg
 
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Ford's has been around a long time, established by Larna's Dad I think. They have carried a great reputation for quality work for decades. If anyone has wondered how they are doing now, here's a good clue. I wish I could have done photo justice to the spectacular color of the case hardened hammer and trigger. I also wish I had taken a "before " picture. It was pretty ugly. Grips are Boone Trading Co. faux ivory.

P.S. It lettered to ship date Feb. 26, 1924 to Thomas-Ogilvie Hardware Co. Shreveport, LA.
 
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Welllll, that should be good enough to hold him until he can find something nicer in say 40 ro 50 years....:evil:

Very nice and a wonderful graduation gift.
 
I am so jealous,,,

I am so jealous,,,
When I exited grad school,,,
All I got was a t-shirt from my relatives.

Okay, I'm joking here,,,
I got a really nice Samsonite laptop case.

But I would rather have had a vintage & lettered S&W.

That was an outstanding and very unique gift,,,
I'm sure he will still have it in 50 years.

The only thing I can see that's amiss with it,,,
He might think it's too nice to shoot. :rolleyes:

Aarond

.
 
That is a great graduation gift. I know he will treasure for forever.
 
Well we talked about the "to shoot or not to shoot" thing. He is getting 2 boxes of 148 gr. wadcutters, 3 boxes of Buffalo Bore standard pressure LSWHP (100 practice and 60 "serious business"), a brass cleaning kit and a stern admonition against modern +P in the deal. Up to him after that. I belong to the tribe that shoots what they own. Whether that applies here or not isn't up to me.

BTW, this all came in a few bucks over a grand (gun, grips, refinish, box, ammunition, cleaning kit, shipping, all in). This is the least I could do for a son like him that didn't get anything much for high school and undergrad graduations and has consistently pulled A's since elementary school. One of my points is that I am not rich and don't have to be with a good eye toward opportunity and the help of Ford's. This is not an investment and wasn't done for the "collector grade" folks out there.

I do not doubt that it is a "family heirloom" and venerates the iconic M&P more than historically preserves it.
 
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WOW!! :eek:
Just WOW!! :what:

I got the HD photo's you emailed me, and all I can say is, WOW!!
They done Good!!



rc
 
WOW that is one beautiful looking revolver! I dare say that's one of the nicest refinishing jobs I have seen on here. Truly an awesome graduation present.
 
Sooo… you're not looking to adopt anyone anytime soon are you? I could go through another round of grad school.
Whaddaya say, dad?
 
Well, now that I'm approaching the age where the son's take care of the old man it might be wise to expand the "working class base". I assume you will hold out for a similar 38/44 Heavy Duty? Or are you Registered Magnum class? LOL
 
I have a 1928 dated S&W 1905 4th change, factory nickel, that needs re-nickeled. Mechanically smooth and buttery, just poorly stored, luckily no serious pitting, just flaked nickel. Been meaning to send it out and get it redone, and maybe lettered too. Since these pix were taken I've soaked it in ATF and gently scrubbed it with copper chore boy, and it looks better.

I think I know who needs to be working on it.

attachment.php

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Evan,

That is a truly cool M&P with that barrel. I believe it has awesome potential as a Ford's candidate! Looks like damn nice original grips? One significant bad chip? The "swamprat" in Texas can restore those too. He (Hugh Clark in Devers, Tex.) has done a few for me at about $75.00 per. PM me if you want contact info. He does great work, magic in some cases.

Randy
 
I hear only good things about Ford's and Swamprat.
Great sources for refinish and grip repair.

To the OP, that Smith's so shiny, it looks like nickel in the first pic.
 
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