Model A Coupe

Seen in front of the courthouse, while I was on the way to drop off warrants for the Judge to sign.

New sheath for an old knife

For a friend, who wanted to be able to carry this thrower made by Bermego.

Badge holder

Made a new badge holder. It has a spring steel clip on the back to clip to my belt, like my issued badge holder. But it can also be run on a ball-chain as a necklace-style. And it's a nice brown, rather than that painted black that so much police gear is, these days.

I wore it today, and definitely like it better than either my issued badge holder, or the recent necklace holder I last made.

Wilson Combat Custom-Tune Spring Kit, S&W J Frame

So, I got a spring kit and rebound slide spring tool in the mail yesterday, courtesy of my dad. I put a 13 pound trigger return spring in my 638, and my wife's model 60 got a lighter hammer spring and a 14 pound trigger return spring. Her gun has a bobbed hammer, so I wanted her to have the lighter hammer spring, so that it was a all-around smoother pull for her. My 638 got the 13 pound trigger spring, and while not earth-shattering, there is a noticeable difference in the smoothness of the double action trigger. The rebound slide spring tool worked like gangbusters on the model 60, but the little post on the 638 that holds the spring in place is beefier than on the steel-frame gun. As ubiquitous as the airweights are in the pockets of CCW-ers  across the US, I think it may be time for Brownell's ro re-examine the demensions of their tool a bit. If the widened the notch a fraction, it would have worked with both guns with ease. As it stands, I had to go back to the old Miculek pen-trick to get the spring back in place on my 638.

Ah, well. Thems the breaks!

Done

And, yeah, pop, the Miculek pen trick made it easy! (If you're lost, read comments in my " Rabbit Hole" post, a few back.

The pics don't accurately reflect what the finish is like. It came out about like a polished stainless finish. Not a true mirror polish, but close.

I've bubba'd up stuff in the past, but not this one. Looking at it in a display case, I would have a hard time telling it wasn't a factory finish. I mean, disassemble the gun, and it becomes more apparent, but from casual handling, you wouldn't know it.

I'm pleased!

Reflections

As in, a finish so bright, you can see them!

1000 grit

It's slow going, but there is noticeable progress!

Fell Down a Rabbit Hole...

Yeah....

Refinishing a S&W Airweight

So while I was cleaning my 638, I was kind of in a huff about how bad the finish looked. I half-heartedly swiped at the side-plate with a copper bore brush, and it scraped off the finish. So then I removed the side plate...

And scrubbed it with a bore brush...

And got it to a nice matte finish.

I looked around on the S&W forums, and stripping the aluminum Airweights with 2000 grit wet-and dry sandpaper, then polishing with Mother's Aluminum polish seems very doable.

How bad of a job is it to strip a J-frame down to the frame?

And if I can't get it back together, will you be able to help me, Pops?

I really want to refinish this gun...

I like J-Frames.

That is all.