Polished stainless to a mirror finish?

[zachomega]

Has anybody ever done this?

What was your process? Would you do it again? Downsides?

I have a spare Ruger mark iii competition target (the slab side barrel) that is now worth a lot less with the mark iv being introduced. I was thinking maybe I would polish it?

I figured by hand would take a while but also prevent any sort of machine assisted slip ups.

I have some rubbing compound and polish I might try.

Kind of rambling. But I have seen mirror finished pistols and have always thought it looked cool.

-Zach
P.s. If you have done this, pictures please!

[zachomega]

Started polishing the barrel's side. Stopped when I noticed that the edges were starting to round over. I should have guessed. Oh well. No harm no foul. Too much work anyway.

-Zach

[K31]

Mothers mag polish and a micro fiber rag. Take your time. You can use a dremel tool with a buffing pad but more care must be taken.

[abner13]

Stainless guns are finished after final machining with a process called passivation. Functions like anodizing does for aluminum in that it keeps it from oxidizing. Polishing removes this protective finish.

https://www.cartech.com/en/alloy-tec...ss-steel-parts

[theduke]

I once sanded a Keltec P11 slide to a near mirror finish, I also purposely rounded the edges. It looked pretty good and it didnt rust on me. I eventually got the slide hard chromed.

[MARINE DIVISION TWO]

Had my S&W 686 polished professionally in the 1980s,came out beautiful,cleaned up even easier after shooting also had trigger work and jeweled the hammer trigger at that time cost me $ 175.Well worth it looked almost like nickel !

[stainless]

Had my S&W 686 polished professionally in the 1980s,came out beautiful,cleaned up even easier after shooting also had trigger work and jeweled the hammer trigger at that time cost me $ 175.Well worth it looked almost like nickel !

Most of the stainless bar stock of that era used by S&W (and other US gun makers) was made by Carpenter Technology.

[abner13]

Most of the stainless bar stock of that era used by S&W (and other US gun makers) was made by Carpenter Technology.

Most is probably 416L or 420.

[MARINE DIVISION TWO]

Bar stock mentioned above,I believe it was better quality ? never an issue of brown staining and the SS still has the lustre of years ago and we do shoot an average 500 rounds a year and carry for hunting so its not a safe queen although some would box it and put it away !

[brian]

Stainless guns are finished after final machining with a process called passivation. Functions like anodizing does for aluminum in that it keeps it from oxidizing. Polishing removes this protective finish.

negative.
the passivization process is to remove any free iron the stainless may have come in contact with..I.E work benches and forming equipment during the production phase.
stainless does not oxidize(this pertains just to the current discussion regarding 400series ss used in firearms) like alum. once polished stainless will stay polished with no requirements for an another coating. it will not tarnish, fade or otherwise lose it's shine unless exposed to abrasion or environmental conditions that are harsh to ss. the 10% and above chromium contents in stainlesses forms a self passivizing oxide on the surface, that repairs its self...short of iron introduced from outside sources...like scrapping a piece of carbon steel across it....or polishing/grinding with clothes/wheels that were used on carbon steel.