So to make a long story short, this is a S&W 5903 that I bought. I wanted cheaper guns to practice on and build gunsmith skills with.

This gun had been a melt job on the frame (maybe unintentionally) and had been polished. I really wanted to take some years off this frame and make it look somewhat new again.

I started by skimming the two sides flat to get rid of the unevenness. There were low spots at all the pin holes and engravings. I also re-milled all the radii around the trigger guard, and re-chamfered the spot above the trigger guard. I really think this made the gun look cleaner and almost new again.

Since I also lost the S&W logo, model, and serial number, I had to engrave those trying to match the original. I have a picture of each original engraving and recreated the original logo in CAD but bigger and without the trade mark stamp. I should have done the same for model and serial number but like the slightly more modern style of engraving for those.

A small operation but still, there was a nick in the frame near the beaver tail just below the frame rail, so I cut a chamfer on those edges on both sides to clean that up as well. I also cut the front of the dust cover on an angle to match the angle on the frame and the serrations. Another small detail but I think it looks nice.

Then it was Cerakoted in Sig Dark Gray and the sides were sanded lightly to achieve the brushed look.

I hope you enjoy. Feel free to critique anything you see. I think I will be Cerakoting the controls black, but may also try and give them the brushes look. I have a lot of slide work coming also.


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This message has been edited. Last edited by: policetruck,

You are very talented. Looks good. Thanks for sharing.

I'm not normally a fan of Cerakote, but I've gotta say, that looks fantastic! Great work! I'm looking forward to seeing the complete finished product!

That looks great! Thank you for sharing!

Excellent work!

It looks great! Thanks for sharing with us.

That looks amazing. It's like your going for a S&W Equinox look. I've always like the look and I'd like to see what you'll do to the slide.

I like the "Equinox" style/color frame. Very cool.

Wow. That looks great.

saw this on the Gram this afternoon,


great work, looks lovely

Thanks Lyman, I must have been using the right hashtags on Instagram. I’ve gotten really crappy engagement and a few posts removed (even months old).

The frame looks great! Can't wait to see the finished product. Those 3rd gen Smiths are great shooters with a great trigger. Thanks for sharing.

Nice work! Thanks for posting.

Jerry

Looks abso great sir! Did you have to do any special paperwork in order to remove and re-engrave the serial number?

Nice work.

GeoJelly, just being honest here, I did not. I know it's illegal to alter the serial number but I read that as changing the numbers/letters in the serial number. I've only made the same serial number more clearly legible and deeper than what was there. A normal, law abiding, person would think that's a good thing, I'm not so sure about a government agency.

You're not a fed are you?

One restorer said his procedure was to polish until the markings, including serial number, were faint but still visible, then deepen them and resume sanding. He said he sometimes had to do it more than once. That meant the gun always showed a serial number and that it and other markings were the same in style and location when done.

Thanks Jim! Still just a strange and sad consideration when there’s no intent to subvert or break the law.

policetruck, et al, Thanks for the info. Only asking out of curiosity. No attempt at all to be an outhouse lawyer! . Just a poor OLD farmboy being curious. I’ve got a 5906 & a 659 & have never found a nice condition 5903.

I like it very much. Please post again with completed version. ....... drill sgt.