mmc, yea, me too. Never was much of a woodworker. I've done several of my stainless guns over the last several years, and never regretted investing in a blast cabinet and compressor. One of my Colts was carried every working day for several years, and every couple of years would start to look pretty ratty with holster wear, scrapes, scratches, etc.
I was never a fan of the "Battle worn" look and have refinished it more than once. The attached photo shows the old gun after one of it's refinishes.