S&W with rust

[Den60]

My Mom has my grandfather's old S&W 10-5 .38 Special. It has some significant rust on the exterior of the cylinder and along the top of the frame. There is also some rust to a much lesser degree in both lower corners of the frame at the cylinder cavity. I am looking for recommendations of someone in the San Diego area that can remove the rust and re-blue it. I do understand that there will be some pitting in the two areas were the rust is the worst so I don't expect "like new" when finished. Being it was my grandfather's gun I expect my Mom would like to get it restored. Have no idea what the value of this is, from the serial number it appears to be manufactured in or around 1970. My Mom has only shot it a couple of times and I don't think my grandfather shot it a lot.

[WMG]

Well , I'd look for someone to do that electronic rust removal ..... that seems to work wonders. Even if no one local does it , I'd shop online.
Until that time , I'd Kroil oil it/let soak/light brush/repeat/re-oil

[Pofoo]

Well , I'd look for someone to do that electronic rust removal ..... that seems to work wonders. Even if no one local does it , I'd shop online.
Until that time , I'd Kroil oil it/let soak/light brush/repeat/re-oil

Agree. Also check youtube for diy. Pretty easy.
Also, IMPORTANT, do not use any chemical rust removers. They will take off the bluing also.

[Den60]

Agree. Also check youtube for diy. Pretty easy.
Also, IMPORTANT, do not use any chemical rust removers. They will take off the bluing also.

I looked online and I think the rust is a bit too deep for steel wool and oil to fix.

[kendog4570]

Removing that rust by electrolysis will leave significant pitting. In order to remove that it must be polished out and then re blued. It may be deep enough in that one spot to have a little pitting remain after polishing, only can really tell after inspection. You will lose some of the original lines, but not too much.
If you care to ship it to me I can take care of that for you.
0-1 FFL, licensed and insured.
Let me know if I can help.

[xsefan]

Get oil on it! Stop it from growing! Polish and sand it out.
Then slow rust blue it.

[MosinVirus]

I would take it apart completely.

See if there is rust elsewhere.

Then I would actually use a product that removes rust (it will also remove bluing. I use EVAPORUST.

Before doing anything, you should check if S&W can refinish it for you. Or go to other places that do bluing. They may just do everything for you instead of you having to take care of rust yourself

[SVT-40]

Actually if you take some oil, and a old nickle and use the edge of the nickle to rub the area of the rust, most of the rust will come off... Then you can see what the actual damage is.

You cannot damage the gun further by this method, and the nickle is soft enough to not harm the undamaged blue beside the areas of rust.

Just take your time, and wipe off the dirty oil as you go, and replace with a few drops of clean oil.

You will be amazed at just how good the revolver will look when you are done.

[damngato]

Actually if you take some oil, and a old nickle and use the edge of the nickle to rub the area of the rust, most of the rust will come off... Then you can see what the actual damage is.

You cannot damage the gun further by this method, and the nickle is soft enough to not harm the undamaged blue beside the areas of rust.

Just take your time, and wipe off the dirty oil as you go, and replace with a few drops of clean oil.

You will be amazed at just how good the revolver will look when you are done.

Wow, interesting method. Thanks for sharing. Hope it works for the OP

[God Bless America]

You can probably get a used cylinder fitted for the cost of a reblue. Keep the original. Use bronze wool and oil on the lighter rust.

[Full Clip]

OP, whatever you do, please post pics of outcome.
And good luck!