Ruger.22 - What is it and what is wrong with it?

Website · Post by **mtmetzger** » Tue Mar 13, 2012 12:00 am

This has been in my dad's gun cabinet for at least 25 years. I stumbled upon it yesterday and decided I would bring it home and give it some love. It's filthy dirty inside so I know a goon cleaning is in order.

What is it? I'm assuming it's a Mark I, but doesn't say so anywhere

What's up with the finish? It's doesnt look like dry rusting. Looks like it might have been cleaned with something inappropriate or maybe just tarnished from storage. Any suggestions on cleaning it up? I kinda like the petina on it, so I may leave it alone.

Post by **Wyldman** » Tue Mar 13, 2012 1:42 am

No slide lock, no mention of MK anything on the rollstamp on the side of the receiver, 9 round silver based magazine, & black plastic grips with a black eagle surrounded by silver in the logo would usually indicate a Ruger Standard Semi-Auto pistol, later to become known as a MK I .22. The grips, if original, would likely date it sometime after 1968. Mark II 10 rd magazines will fit and function just fine in this pistol. I have one just like it, except mine has the older wooden grips and the serial number places it in 1957 production.

As to what's wrong with it, it looks like someone tried to refinish it using a cold blue kit that, with age will turn an ugly brown, almost rust-like surface. Cranky is going to be able to tell more about that than I am, I'd suggest letting him have a look at it.

http://www.youtube.com/user/ssracer02 · Post by **ssracer** » Tue Mar 13, 2012 1:50 am

Nice classic piece

Post by **SNL** » Tue Mar 13, 2012 2:49 am

Cool heirloom you picked up there

Post by **Next** » Tue Mar 13, 2012 8:09 am

Looks weird, but does look like a cold blue job gone bad. If it still shoots good who cares what it looks like.

Post by **Dustin** » Tue Mar 13, 2012 8:14 am

Might cold blueing try oiling it. It might turn dark again.

Website · Post by **mtmetzger** » Tue Mar 13, 2012 9:38 am

Thanks for the input! I may try a few things on the finish and see what happens. Has anyone ever re-blued a gun? I've seen the kits at walmart. Would that be a "cold blue"? I guess this would be a good one to do a little experimenting on since I doubt I can make it look any worse!

SNL wrote:Cool heirloom you picked up there

Thanks. I'm not planning on keeping it, just cleaning it up a little and I'll give it back to my dad. He rarely has time / money for shooting, but getting this thing back up and going for him may get him out there more often. I also snatched up an old 10/22 while I was there. It was prestine compared to this one, but still needed a good clean / lube. I knocked that out last night and I'll take it to the range today to see how it does.

Post by **Dustin** » Tue Mar 13, 2012 11:19 am

There are also methods of cold bluing, which do not require heated solutions. Commercial products are widely sold in small bottles for cold bluing firearms, and these products are primarily used by individual gun owners for implementing small touch-ups to a gun's finish, to prevent a small scratch from becoming a major source of rust on a gun over time. At least one of the cold bluing solutions contains selenium dioxide, to accomplish the bluing. Cold bluing is not particularly resistant to holster wear, nor does it provide a large degree of rust resistance. It does, however, often provide an adequate cosmetic touch-up of a gun's finish when applied and additionally oiled on a regular basis, however, rust bluing small areas will often match and blend better and wear better than any cold bluing process.

So that is kits you see at wal mart. I have used it on a gun before. It works well if you keep it oiled.

Post by **Dave1965** » Wed Mar 14, 2012 8:35 am

Why not just pay cranky to blue it?

Website · Post by **mtmetzger** » Wed Mar 14, 2012 1:37 pm

I could. It would probably be a great fathers day gift to have it redone for him.

Post by **guncrank1** » Thu Mar 22, 2012 5:08 pm

Cold blues are three part solutions
A copper sulfate false plate and a acid that oxidizes the copper
And a binder to hold in suppesion or something like that.

They are designed to hide scratches.
They are marketed as rebluing

They do the first well and the second depends on the technique of application.

You want to try go right ahead.
Anything you do short of removing marking , Can be undone

Post by **guncrank1** » Thu Mar 22, 2012 5:13 pm

Yes that is a cold blue reblue not FUBARed , just looks not so good.

Post by **Hartlage** » Thu Mar 22, 2012 5:53 pm

I would clean it thoroughly, put a light coating of oil on it, and put it back in the cabinet as is.

Nice piece.

Website · Post by **mtmetzger** » Thu Mar 22, 2012 10:06 pm

Hartlage wrote:I would clean it thoroughly, put a light coating of oil on it, and put it back in the cabinet as is.

Nice piece.

That's exactly what I did. Turns out my pops bought this from his brother about 35 years ago and he has been wanting to get it back ever since! I think my dad is going to go ahead and sell it back to him.

Post by **kyswede** » Thu Mar 22, 2012 10:38 pm

By the way, I believe that is a Model RST4. I bought a RST6 (6" bbl.) back in 1977 new for $78 out the door. Wish I had never sold it.

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