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S&W 460 & 500 mag owners-finish question

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February 25, 2026, 12:36 AM
armored
S&W 460 & 500 mag owners-finish question
Several years ago I bought a Custom Shop 460 mag direct from S&W with a pro discount. I waited several months before the gun showed up. It was brand new.

I shot if a few times and then put it back in the safe. I never really examined it, it shoots just fine.

The other day I took it out so I could look it over. Two things struck me about the finish. One is the squared off barrel where it meets the rounded frame. It looks like S&W went through a parts bin, and like dressing a Barbie doll, cobbled up parts to fit together. No attempt to blend parts so they look matched.
The other thing that bothered me is the finish of the right side plate. The stainless Finnish is different than the frame finish, the side plate stands out.

Does anybody else that owns one of these see the same Finnish difference on theirs?
February 27, 2026, 02:50 PM
cee_Kamp
I've sold both of these. But I still have photos.
The shorty was a standard production model, the long barrel was from the Performance Center.
I don't recall ever noticing any visual finish differences between the revolver and the side plate.
The photos aren't the best quality, from long ago.
Have you called Smith & Wesson CS?

IMG_20190405_101633832 by cee_Kamp 32ACP, on Flickr

IMG_20190405_101643169 by cee_Kamp 32ACP, on Flickr

IMG_20190405_101705659 by cee_Kamp 32ACP, on Flickr

Beauty & the Beast 002 by cee_Kamp 32ACP, on Flickr

S&W 500 006 by cee_Kamp 32ACP, on Flickr



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USPSA Chief Range Officer
February 27, 2026, 06:36 PM
armored
Thanks for the reply.
My revolver has a different shaped barrel but the end that attaches to the frame has the same squared feature that meets up with the round frame. I wish they could have attempted to blend the two.
The side plate on mine is not horrible but I wish S&W had tried a bit harder to match the parts.
I did not contact S&W because its really not that big of deal. It just bothers me and I wondered if any other owners felt the same or even noticed the cosmetic issues.
I have no problem with the performance of the gun.