Re-blue - or not . . . (v2.0)

[Guardian-FS]

I say if you're going to use it like it was when it was a new gun then refinish it so it can withstand it. If youre going to treat it like an old gun and just hang on to it then keep it looking old.

IMO if someone feels unsure about having something refinished then I tell them "Don't." Things like this can be RE-finished but can't be UN-Finished.

 

[canoecanoe]

I say if you're going to use it like it was when it was a new gun then refinish it so it can withstand it. If youre going to treat it like an old gun and just hang on to it then keep it looking old.

IMO if someone feels unsure about having something refinished then I tell them "Don't." Things like this can be RE-finished but can't be UN-Finished.

I am rolling back to leaving it as is and preserving the history and personal story. If you need something "pretty" buy it. Leave this one to tell it's own story. when it comes to refinishing, what is done cannot be undone.

 

[Deleted member 38641]

We all have our opinions of what you should do with your fine revolver. Only you can really answer that. I will submit what I know which is much inline with what others are saying. I have an opinion of my own as well. I revert back to the purpose of the Factory Bluing to begin with and that sir, is to protect the metal itself so it will last longer. The original intent of the Slow, Controlled, Rusting process is to protect the metal and not to make it look pretty. Looking pretty was the byproduct of the process, lol.

You have to decide, as others have mentioned. Which is more important to you, "Purist" Collector Value, or keeping in as an heirloom in the family for another 100 years or so. I tend to lean on the, protecting it for another 100 years rather than "Current" Collector values.

There was a time, not too long ago when a restored gun was worth more than a complete Patina original. Times change like the wind and IMO, you will surely be able to at least, recover the cost of the restoration in the event that you decide to sell it later. Please be sure it is done by a professional though.

 

[teearr]

Pro's and Con's on both sides. I was once told that if I am having trouble making a decision that has two choices I should flip a coin. Just say "Heads" is refinish and "Tails" is leave as is.

When you flip the coin and then lift your hand to see what came up just judge your first feelings when you see the result. If you feel pleased with the result then go with it, if you are not happy with result then take the other option.

Good luck.

 

[MuleShoe]

I had my fathers old smith 32 hand ejected nickel revolver refinished 2 years back the nickel was coming off in spots. It came back looking like new. I'll never sell it but it would have brought 250 as was and I've had several $500 offers now. I spent $100 on having it redone. It will be passed on to a grandson .

 

[SchmittZoid]

Man that's a hard one.

Yours still has some finish left. To re-blue it will destroy it's collectors value. It has honest wear.

Mine was damaged from water+ash=lye leaking into a firearms safe. I re-blued it. I'm planning on color case hardening the trigger and hammer too.

I say no.

I would love to see how it came out. Could you post a photo or two?

Wow, that one's Finish is...Well...Pretty GNARLY!

Gnarly, that's the best description I've seen to date . . . ! We need to start a new thread.

Gnarly Gun Porn. I think this would hold the lead for a functioning gun for quite a while. Thanks for the advice. Still trying to decide what to do.

I am 50/50 on the sentimentality of this one - a real coin toss.

 

[SchmittZoid]

Sometimes a gun that has been abused should be refinished. But as Mikey stated, don’t ever expect to recoup the money spent to refinish the gun. I had a rifle of mine refinished because a family member allowed the gun, that has great sentimental value, to nearly rust away. I had little choice but to restore the rifle. I do not regret the restoration, and I am proud to have that rifle.

Sometimes a gun should not be refinished because of what the gun is, and who owned the gun before you. I believe your Colt falls into this category. The serial number can be documented back to roughly 1892, when there were around 10,000 produced in that year. Just how many of those 10,000 do you believe have survived the 123 years? To have survived that long the gun should be allowed to show the age, the history and yes, even the abuse. Plus, you dad owned this gun since before you were born, and owned it in the condition as it is now.

SchmittZoid, because of the documentation you have on the gun, because the gun can be considered a survivor, and because your dad owned the gun before you, and owned it in its present condition, I would not have the gun refinished. If you decide to sell it, let the next owner alter the appearance of the Colt, but you shouldn’t. Hey, just my opinion.

JWC,

Yea, that is kind of the fence that I am on. I am not worried about "value" and all. I am thinking more along the lines of what should I do to "to right" by the gun.

In the preservation field, many old cars, buildings, artwork, etc. are heavily "restored" to help reflect their original condition. In coin collecting, you can put an old coin that has been dipped (too shiny/chemically non-abrasively cleaned) in some folded old newspaper to begin the tarnish/patina process anew. In other circles, preservation means simply stopping the decay.

If this were a really rare series, i think I would want to help get it back closer to its original undamaged condition. Sometimes refinished/replacement grips are all it takes to help do that for a gun. This one, the grips are fine like they are. I was looking for an idea on how to optimize its character without drawing attention to the damage or making it look fake. Again, the value considerations are not all that important. It is more a restoration / preservation mentality on my part.

GS

 

[SchmittZoid]

And then I was thinking, who knows if all that corrosion and stuff didn't happen in the line of service? This was after all a military issue piece, right?

 

[JWC]

If you decide to refinish, contact Colt, and see if they will do the work. If you decide not to use Colt, Ford's does an absolutely stunning refinish job. If value is not the issue, and if you can't get past the obviously flawed finish, then heck, refinish it, show it off, and enjoy it. I have a Smith that was refinished in nickel, and it was not a particularly good refinish job. But I really enjoy that model. I put some nice grips on it and it has become my carry piece at M&Gs and Swap Meets. I don't mind putting it in a holster, because the finish is flawed. Not worth much of anything, but it is one of my favorite Smiths.

Good luck fence sitting. I am sure you will make the decision that is correct for what you want. After all, it is your Colt!

 

[MuleShoe]

Has oil on it. Fords refinished this one.