Michaelm45
New member
Beautiful revolvers and pictures, as always.
Can you tell me what you used to strip the urethane finish off.
Thanks.
Can you tell me what you used to strip the urethane finish off.
Thanks.
S&W 19 w/2.5" barrel - guns like this just ain't made anymore... lots of pics
- Thread starter ZWolfgang
- Start date
KleanStrip Premium Stripper - a spray can. No smell. Works pretty well, but the urethane finish is very thick and needs some real elbow grease. The result is worth the work, though. Now I have a nice, smooth, natural-looking oil finish. I used the stripper twice, then went at them with 220, 400, the 600 grit sandpaper. Ended with several coats of hand rubbed teak oil finish. Here's another pair that I refinished the same way:
Michaelm45
New member
ZWolfgang, Thank you.
I'll give it a try.
A 686 on black leather with exotic grips!!! OhYa we're talkin REAL gun porn.
We should start a special section for ZWolfgangs photos.
I'll start with the Gun Porn forum. Any others?
I'll give it a try.
A 686 on black leather with exotic grips!!! OhYa we're talkin REAL gun porn.
We should start a special section for ZWolfgangs photos.
I'll start with the Gun Porn forum. Any others?
riverkeeper
New member
ZWolf ...Do you have any pix of..
the 27-2 3 1/2" you mentioned on another thread.
My all-time favorite handgun.
If you can manage without too much difficulty -- what is your photo setup like...lights and camera. Some of the finest I've ever seen. I know that it is, like everthing else, your craftmanship, experience and patience.
the 27-2 3 1/2" you mentioned on another thread.
My all-time favorite handgun.
If you can manage without too much difficulty -- what is your photo setup like...lights and camera. Some of the finest I've ever seen. I know that it is, like everthing else, your craftmanship, experience and patience.
Not only do these Ahrends grips look cool, they feel amazing in the hand! I don't like setting one of these guns down, they feel so good to hold! (I guess that's called "fondling" - something I find myself doing a LOT of... probably makes my girlfriend envious!)
I just picked up my M27-2 3.5" last night. Spend a couple of hours totally stripping it, cleaning, lubricating, polishing, reassembling. Came out very nice. I will post some pics in the coming days. Also got a NIB Colt Detective Special - last version with shrouded ejector rod... fantastic little 6-shot just the size and weight of a 5-shot J-frame! Will do some pics when I get some cool grips for it.
I've used widely varying set-ups for my gun pics over the last few years. Some outdoors, some in the camera room with soft boxes, but most recently, on places like my desk, gun workbench, dining room table, etc. using available table and floor lamps and window lighting and small reflectors to create highlights on different parts of the gun.
Camera is currently a Canon 20D with 17 to 85 zoom lens. Always on a heavy tripod with electronic cable release. Usually ISO 200, f/11, about 1 sec. exposure or so, custom color balance. I spend a lot of time cleaning the set and the gun and positioning everything (lights, gun, camera) to get the look I want. What makes it easy for me is that I've been earning my living with a camera for decades.... so over the years I've developed a lot of skills, knowledge, tips, and tricks. And I've been working with digital image editing on Macintosh computers (in Photoshop) for about 12 years.
The green felt photos were taken on my workbench in my gunroom where there is a torchiere floor lamp in the corner and a north facing window. Some (like the 2.5" Model 19) are done at night, so they were lit by the torchiere floor lamp and a small desk lamp aimed toward the ceiling... which illuminates the upper walls and ceiling to the left of the gun... others (like the 2.5" 686+) were taken during the day, so in addition to the floor and desk lamp light, there is also the additional north window light coming in behind and to the left of the guns - making for a mixed light situation (cool north skylight mixed with warm incandescent light from the torchiere). Lots of fun to play with all of this stuff.
I just picked up my M27-2 3.5" last night. Spend a couple of hours totally stripping it, cleaning, lubricating, polishing, reassembling. Came out very nice. I will post some pics in the coming days. Also got a NIB Colt Detective Special - last version with shrouded ejector rod... fantastic little 6-shot just the size and weight of a 5-shot J-frame! Will do some pics when I get some cool grips for it.
I've used widely varying set-ups for my gun pics over the last few years. Some outdoors, some in the camera room with soft boxes, but most recently, on places like my desk, gun workbench, dining room table, etc. using available table and floor lamps and window lighting and small reflectors to create highlights on different parts of the gun.
Camera is currently a Canon 20D with 17 to 85 zoom lens. Always on a heavy tripod with electronic cable release. Usually ISO 200, f/11, about 1 sec. exposure or so, custom color balance. I spend a lot of time cleaning the set and the gun and positioning everything (lights, gun, camera) to get the look I want. What makes it easy for me is that I've been earning my living with a camera for decades.... so over the years I've developed a lot of skills, knowledge, tips, and tricks. And I've been working with digital image editing on Macintosh computers (in Photoshop) for about 12 years.
The green felt photos were taken on my workbench in my gunroom where there is a torchiere floor lamp in the corner and a north facing window. Some (like the 2.5" Model 19) are done at night, so they were lit by the torchiere floor lamp and a small desk lamp aimed toward the ceiling... which illuminates the upper walls and ceiling to the left of the gun... others (like the 2.5" 686+) were taken during the day, so in addition to the floor and desk lamp light, there is also the additional north window light coming in behind and to the left of the guns - making for a mixed light situation (cool north skylight mixed with warm incandescent light from the torchiere). Lots of fun to play with all of this stuff.
riverkeeper
New member
ZWolf wrote 'I've been earning my living ...
with a camera for decades'
That's what I thought because I did some pro photo work about 35 years ago.
Thank you for sharing your pictures, the info and the inspiraton.
Do you have a website you would share?
Those grips are really smooth. Even with your mod for the little finger, does the gun move around in your hands a little when using full 357 loads?
with a camera for decades'
That's what I thought because I did some pro photo work about 35 years ago.
Thank you for sharing your pictures, the info and the inspiraton.
Do you have a website you would share?
Those grips are really smooth. Even with your mod for the little finger, does the gun move around in your hands a little when using full 357 loads?
abelew... I think your pic is cool!
riverkeeper... the Ahrends finger groove grips are so perfectly handfilling and the grooves are moderately deep... the gun feels locked in place on the hand. My modification (removing the rounded bottom) has no effect whatsoever on the contact with the hand. I can't say enough about how wonderful these grips are. I just ordered a few more pair for some of my other guns.
riverkeeper... the Ahrends finger groove grips are so perfectly handfilling and the grooves are moderately deep... the gun feels locked in place on the hand. My modification (removing the rounded bottom) has no effect whatsoever on the contact with the hand. I can't say enough about how wonderful these grips are. I just ordered a few more pair for some of my other guns.
OutAtTheEdge
New member
Mine...
...is a 19-3, born in 1972. Picked it up about a year ago, in excellent mechanical condition with light, even holster wear, for $175. It gets carried around the woods a lot, where I always manage to get attacked by squirrels, 'possums, skunks and, on slow days, a pretty fair number of stumps. Haven't yet been able to work up a moderate/light cast .38 spl load for it that shoots better'n 3-4", but it purely loves stout 125 gr. JHPs.
Even with the factory stocks and some honest finish-wear, these things are just plain pretty, aren't they? Now, what I really need to go with it, is a 2" M50, Chief's Special Target...
OutAtTheEdge
...is a 19-3, born in 1972. Picked it up about a year ago, in excellent mechanical condition with light, even holster wear, for $175. It gets carried around the woods a lot, where I always manage to get attacked by squirrels, 'possums, skunks and, on slow days, a pretty fair number of stumps. Haven't yet been able to work up a moderate/light cast .38 spl load for it that shoots better'n 3-4", but it purely loves stout 125 gr. JHPs.
Even with the factory stocks and some honest finish-wear, these things are just plain pretty, aren't they? Now, what I really need to go with it, is a 2" M50, Chief's Special Target...
OutAtTheEdge
Too Far Gone
Inactive
I keep this one around although I really don't know why. I carried it briefly and found that the rear sight snagged everything badly. I sometimes go to "off the body carry" like a shoulder bag and then I carry a larger gun.
I just can't think of a good use for this but I can't bring myself to sell it. It was made in 1970 and I bought it at a show in 1989 for $175.
I just can't think of a good use for this but I can't bring myself to sell it. It was made in 1970 and I bought it at a show in 1989 for $175.
Too Far.. just because it isn't necessarily the best suited for concealed carry (due to the rear sight) doesn't mean it isn't great to have around for the pure pleasure of handling it or putting it in the home defense rotation once in a while. That's a nice piece and you got it for a great price! If you sold it, you would probably wind up missing it! 
riverkeeper
New member
Thanks for the picture..
it will be a pinup and for the great personal note -- been gone a while and just got back Monday.
it will be a pinup and for the great personal note -- been gone a while and just got back Monday.