Best option for refinishing a Smith & Wesson?

[K Frame]

My S&W Model 19 is in kind of sad shape. The finish is very worn and it's developed some rust issues over the years.

Considering having it refinished, but not sure what, and who.

Any suggestions on a new finish/refinisher?

[MillCreek]

My next door neighbor, the gunsmith, is a fan of Cerakote for handguns.

[Ben]

I'm a big fan of Cerakote too, but I think I would default to something closer to the original blueing on something like the 19. Just for, I guess nostalgia. Though whatever Ruger used on my LCR looks "classic revolver" and seems to hold up better than blueing. I think they call it PVD.

[BobR]

I would send it to Ford's and get an original type rebluing done.

https://fordsguns.com/pricing


bob

[T.O.M.]

Been a few years back...close to 20...but a buddy shipped his Model 15 back to Smith for a tune-up, new springs, and refinishing.  Came back beautiful.

[Boomhauer]

Been a few years back...close to 20...but a buddy shipped his Model 15 back to Smith for a tune-up, new springs, and refinishing.  Came back beautiful.

My experience with S&W smith services was them taking me for a ride on parts and labor then the gun still had the issue I sent it in for. I traded it in disgust to a gun shop a couple hours from my house

[cordex]

S&W messed up on a parts order.  I called in and made sure I was ordering the right parts but they sent the wrong ones … twice.  Ended up returning everything and sending the gun to them to fix. It came back working properly. No refinishing though.

[K Frame]

Been a few years back...close to 20...but a buddy shipped his Model 15 back to Smith for a tune-up, new springs, and refinishing.  Came back beautiful.

I've talked to Smith. They're generally not interested in working on guns this old. This is a 19-2 from around 1961.