How to Refinish an Old Revolver

Cover a table or work area with old newspaper and place the revolver on top. Put on rubber gloves and a face mask then spray an even layer of finish remover on the wood surfaces of the gun. Rub the scrub pad across the wood areas, peeling off the old finish from the revolver. Use a toothbrush on hard-to-reach areas or those too small for the scrub brush.

Turn a hairdryer on low and aim it around the tang and any other areas with gun oil stains. As the heat hits the revolver, it melts the oil residue. Gently wipe away the residue with a soft cloth. Repeat the process on all oiled areas of the gun.

Sand the wood areas of the gun with a sanding block. Wrap masking tape around the metal areas of the gun to keep the sanding block from hitting against the metal. Wipe the surface with a scrubbing pad and a soft cloth to remove any excess wood dust.

Rub a layer of grain filler onto the wood areas of the revolver. After the grain filler dries, wipe down the surface with the scrubbing pad. Move the pad against the grain to pull off the excess without removing the filler from the grain. Apply a coat of linseed oil to the wood areas with a soft cloth. Use three coats of oil, which soaks into the wood and restores its natural appearance.

Remove the masking tape and wipe down the metal with gun oil. The oil restores the shine of the metal and removes any debris on the outside of the gun. Apply a coat of gun blue cream, rubbing the cream onto the gun with a soft cloth. Rub the cream into the metal until it changes to the blue or black color you want.