Bluing or stainless? Why oh why must it torment me so!

F

Felix_the_Cat

CGN Regular
EE Expired
Rating - 0%
0   1   0
Location
Calgary,AB
Howdy there fellow GunNuts

Ive been eyeballing a nice Super Blackhawk at work for awhile now. Thing is, we only have them in the blued model, no stainless left. This pistol will be getting allot of rounds though it, and will see a fair bit of holster work as well. Will the bluing hold up to this abuse? or should I just wait for the stainless models to come back in?

I have never owned a Blued pistol, so I am at somewhat of a loss here, any imput would help.

Thanks!
 
Felix_the_Cat said:
Howdy there fellow GunNuts

Ive been eyeballing a nice Super Blackhawk at work for awhile now. Thing is, we only have them in the blued model, no stainless left. This pistol will be getting allot of rounds though it, and will see a fair bit of holster work as well. Will the bluing hold up to this abuse? or should I just wait for the stainless models to come back in?

I have never owned a Blued pistol, so I am at somewhat of a loss here, any imput would help.

Thanks!
Click to expand...
Wait for the stainless. Bluing is not a very durable finish (will definitely show wear marks if holstered) and does not do a good job of rust prevention (blued guns must be kept well-oiled all the time). If you want your gun looking brand new with minimal effort, stainless is definitely the way to go.
 
I actually prefer blued for the following reasons:

More Tactical - If you scratch it you can fix it yourself - doesn't look like crap after shooting it (covered in black) - Usually cheaper.

Don't get me wrong, I like the way stainless looks... but you scratch it and then it turns into "The gun with the scratch that is now an eye sore."

Don't torment yourself any longer... get the blued one.

~Cheers
 
Wear on the bluing will tend to come from the heat of shots combined with the holstering...that being said...I'm a sucker for a nicely blued gun :mrgreen:
 
I am another admirer of blued handguns...they look so good when they are nice and shiny and new. Then, once the bluing wears a little hear and there I feel they sometimes look even better...I guess it's the character they take on. :)

Stainless guns are nice too, I own a couple...but my heart has always been captured first and foremost by the blued steel of a fine sidearm.

As far as rust prevention goes...I've never had the slightest issue with rust on any blued gun - and I very seldom think to wipe them down with oil. It is very dry here in Alberta in general...maybe this is a contributing factor.

Jeff/1911.
 
S/S vs blue

A friend of mine is a physician and used to work for Corrections Canada, he carried a S&W Model 36 snub in a Bianchi Pistol pocket inside the pants holster. He used to practice a lot so the blueing showed some wear, I think it was from the sweat from his hand but the backstrap of the grip showed significant wear and corrosion, even though he would often clean it and wipe it down it. Although I prefer the look of blued guns, if it's going to get alot of holster work, I'd go with stainless.
 
take your pick! finish on the gun is a very personal thing..... 8)
myguns373.jpg


me i prefer the stainless,...or is it blue,... oh what the heck, some of each is good too..... :wink:

ruffbird.
 
I have had some issues with rust on blued guns. Without exception, it was matted bluing and while living in a basement suite. Just make sure it's nice and shiny and she should last :mrgreen:
 
I love the look of stainless, love the way stainless cleans up, and love the way stainless doesn't looks as "used" as a similar blued gun. The only downside is the extra cost associated with the stainless look but more often than not, I feel that the extra cost is worth it.
 
I had a blued gun once...made me decided to stick with stainless...

IMO blued gun needs too much care and doesn't look near as good as stainless.
 
Stainless is the way to go for a gun that you are planning to shoot a lot. Easier to clean and maintain. Minor imperfection from use can easily be polished off. Not so with a blue gun.
There is also concern over a blue gun that remain in storage - rust and tarnished finish. This does not happen with stainless. :mrgreen:
 
One of Each EH

As above, about twenty years ago my own solution to this dilemma was to have one of each with matched pistols. My two Standard Division IPSC pistols are one blued 1911A1 Springfield; one Stainless 1911A1 Colt. For Cowboy Action one blued Vaquero; one stainless Bisley Vacquero. The same with two Colt .357 Pythons; one Colt Royal Blue; one Colt high polished stainless.
They are my picks..
Dont worry about "honest wear and tear" on either finish.
Your upcoming estate sale and mine (date TBA) will put more nicks and scratches on them that your or my own use.! Been to any gun auctions lately? Watch how the items get "worked by the seemingly uncaring throng. Thud! Crash! oops!
NICKEL is another pick. S&W and Colt have made some of the nicest! Many times a "very shiny nickel finish pistol" willl go underprice to a blued one!
The saddest thing to read on CGN is of a pistol,rifle or shotgun that "hasnt been fired in living memory" eh! ENJOY!
 
If I had the option..I'd go with 'colour case hardened'....just beautiful...then stainless for practical reasons..and blued..love blued pistols..if it's done well...
 
Use and wear will definitely affect a blued gun. However I see the OP lives in Calgary, so I would say there is very little to fear from rust. NONE of my blued guns have picked up a speck of rust in our dry climate, and I am none too particular about maintenance. The occasional wipedown with an oily rag is all it takes. Unless you are worried about resalability, a blued finish is just fine. A bit of wear from use just adds character.
 
You must log in or register to reply here.
Back
Top Bottom