I have a 1958 Smith and Wesson 44 magnum. It is Nickel, and has a 4" barrel. it is basically wortless as a collector piece because it has been Re Nickel ed(badly), and it has a Gold hammer and trigger. I put a blued Cylinder on it, and the Ejector rod turns the same Way as the newer Smiths, not like one made in 1958 should. Fortunately, It is a real shooter. I lapped the barrel, Choke boring it( What did I have to Lose?) and getting the rough places and constrictions out of it. The fellow who put he new cylinder in knows his stuff, and it is timed right. I love this gun. But that is the problem.
The nickel is bad in a place or two, and I really want the later model Interchangeable front sight. I like to shoot wax bluets at targets thrown in the air. Because wax has virtually no recoil, the sights are basally useless at distances past thirty feet. I have made firm decision to always carry a 4" or 5" 44 mag. I farm a little, I am a pistol instructor, I hunt and Trap all the time. Basically, all my guns look like they have been dragged Deon a dirt road behind a speedy pick up truck. Should I have the e gun refinished, and if so , with what? Second, is it worth it to get front sight changed over to the interchangeable blade Ike on my 629-4. Or , should i just have a nice refinish done, and keep it for a Barbecue / sunday go to meeting gun? maybe get a 4" or 5" 629 classic that is stainless and already has the interchangeable sight? Who would do the work? As I say, it is just a shooter now, but a really good shooter.
