Rust bluing an Antique, markings diluted?

Ardent

Ardent

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Rust bluing is something I've used, but only on new pieces, and pieces without faint, antique markings/lettering. I'm considering refinishing my antique SAA in a restoration, and would rust blue the barrel and grip frame. I'm concerned however about the whether the fairly aggressive process would make markings like the lightly struck caliber mark on the barrel and the serial on the grip frame "lighten" as some of the surface of the metal was oxidized away on the process. Looking for people in the know, not conjecture, if you will. Cheers and thanks folks.
 
rust blue

Hello, I have been rust bluing for a number of years and don't see that you would have a problem with the acid solution destroying markings. My experiance has been that as long as you don't polish your markings out the bluing solution will make no difference to them. However I must agree with the other gentleman who cautioned you regarding value once you start polishing. Having said that ,,, it is your gun!
Bear in mind also, the rust blue will not be the correct finish for your Colt.
Good luck with your project.
 
"The [1st generation] Colt SAA has become more rare in any condition and the old idea that a refinished gun has little value is a complete distortion of the reality of the market place."
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I'm feeling quite happy with my decisions. I'm starting to just get a laugh out of sunray, always has something to say.

Rust blue's certainly no carbonia, but my gun's a legal antique shooter, and it will be refinished again too I'm sure. If you're never selling it, doesn't really matter what you want to do with it, and to me the finish is just the paint job. It gets redone, touched up, tended.

Good to hear, mostly concerned about the barrel scroll.
 
I wouldnt worry to much about refinishing a SAA colt and it looseing Value UNLESS its a US marked gun.
If its a gray motley lookin gun a refinish can make em look great!
Most of the ones up here are in 41 LC.
The one below in the picture is a pro refinish gun i bought in 41 LC every marking and patent date is clear and sharp. Frist SAA i ever bought and the best to! hooked me good on SAA Colts
I been offered $4500 for that colt and turned it down.

Now in the USA its Value would be down but up here not so much ;)



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I have to agree with "Sunray". My experience with antiques is that any refinishing will cut the value by one half and it only gets worse from there. You may now "think" that you will never sell it but that can change in aninstant. Why remove all of the antique finish?? Just a comment in support of Sunray's wisdom. Dave
 
I'm with Sunray and Dantforth on this. Its your gun at present, you are free to do as you wish. But it won't be your gun forever.
 
Well it depends on the Condition of your SAA as it is now.
Some guns can only be improved with work!
Heres a 1875 Remington clunker i bought with broken parts cylinder had holes in it bad pitting.
then i gave it a Rust blue (the kind that turns the metal a dark black colour)
installed a new cylinder and barrel trigger ect.
its a major over haul but some Antiques can be improved opon.
Its one of my favorite shooters now and functions like a new gun.
I have since put the old wood grips back on the gun tho.


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"...get a laugh out of sunray..." Gee, thanks. If you refinish an antique, it's collector value drops by at least half. Collectors don't want refinished pieces. Especially one in original, but safe shooting condition.
Dingus' Remington is a different matter. No collector value to start with. Hasn't now either, but certainly has value as a shooter.
 
sunray said:
"...get a laugh out of sunray..." Gee, thanks. If you refinish an antique, it's collector value drops by at least half. Collectors don't want refinished pieces. Especially one in original, but safe shooting condition.
Dingus' Remington is a different matter. No collector value to start with. Hasn't now either, but certainly has value as a shooter.
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Thats True! i dont really collect my guns to look at them all my guns are shooters.
I think you guys are right about Collectors! but most guys on CGN i know are more into shooters.
So the way i see it if a fellow wants his gun as a shooter and wants it to look nice and work good thats a compleatly diffrent thing to a Collectors gun bought as and investment or to Display.

Anyway i respect Collectors and i enjoy the shooting! so to each his own.:)
 
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