Restoration
- iron369
- KAC Member
- Posts: 5009
- Joined: Mon Feb 17, 2014 11:43 am
- Location: Valley Station
- Has liked: 72 times
- Been liked: 99 times
Restoration
I'm thinking of doing a restoration on a gun I recently acquired. It has family history, but not much real value. It is close to 100 years old and I really don't want to mess it up worse that it already has been by being neglected for many years. Because of that, I've been kicking around the idea of just having someone with more experience restoring metal to take a look at it. A google search turns up a ton of out of state restoration places, but I'd like to find someone local. Any suggestions would be great.
Using Tapatalk
-
- KAC Member
- Posts: 1453
- Joined: Thu Mar 08, 2012 8:19 pm
- Location: Louisville
- Has liked: 3 times
- Been liked: 17 times
Re: Restoration
I really like these old designs. If I remember correctly, Theodore Roosevelt carried one of these Evan as President. Worthwhile endeavor you are beginning. Best wishes.
I know not what the future holds, but I know Who holds the future.
Neither Welfare nor political office were intended to be a career path!
Neither Welfare nor political office were intended to be a career path!
- Wyldman
- KAC Member
- Posts: 6984
- Joined: Sat Mar 03, 2012 8:01 pm
- Location: Spring, TX
- Has liked: 0
- Been liked: 0
Re: Restoration
Have you considered talking to Colt directly about it? I'm pretty sure that they have a tune-up/resto shop not unlike S&W. That piece would look righteous if it were restored to the original Colt bluing.
Crush, kill, mangle, maim, destroy.
Crush, kill, mangle, maim, destroy.
IN GOD WE TRUST
"That boy's paradigm don't always add up to four nickels...."
"That boy's paradigm don't always add up to four nickels...."
- ssracer
- KAC Member
- Posts: 13804
- Joined: Sat Mar 03, 2012 8:24 pm
- Location: KY
- Has liked: 1 time
- Been liked: 61 times
- Contact:
-
- KAC Member
- Posts: 6387
- Joined: Sat Mar 03, 2012 8:48 pm
- Location: Metro Louisville
- Has liked: 3 times
- Been liked: 15 times
- Contact:
Re: Restoration
As to a local shop
There are none that I know that does a Colt re-blue. They use hot blue or rust blue of some sort.
I use a hot blue.
If you check my Facebook page , there is a 1903 that I re-blued.
There are none that I know that does a Colt re-blue. They use hot blue or rust blue of some sort.
I use a hot blue.
If you check my Facebook page , there is a 1903 that I re-blued.
- iron369
- KAC Member
- Posts: 5009
- Joined: Mon Feb 17, 2014 11:43 am
- Location: Valley Station
- Has liked: 72 times
- Been liked: 99 times
Re: Restoration
It really looks like this will be cost prohibitive. It would be different if it was a high dollar gun, but it looks like the restoration would cost significantly more than the value of the gun in pristine original condition. I may put this on the back burner for a while. Especially since it doesn't seem like anyone local does this kind of work. If rather have someone I can talk to face to face than to ship it off to someone I don't know.
Using Tapatalk
- Whootsinator
- Little Butthole
- Posts: 3128
- Joined: Sun Mar 04, 2012 2:04 am
- Location: Northern Kentucky
- Has liked: 0
- Been liked: 0
Re: Restoration
I bet Cranky, the poster immediately above you, costs less than shipping it off to Colt's custom shop. He is local and does hot blue finishing.
"I don't retreat; I kick ass in the other direction."
- Niceguy
- KAC Member
- Posts: 14228
- Joined: Thu Apr 05, 2012 2:57 pm
- Location: Smithfield Ky
- Has liked: 338 times
- Been liked: 92 times
Re: Restoration
Cranky's busy working on a sweet ass Mauser, leave him alone! hahaWhootsinator wrote:I bet Cranky, the poster immediately above you, costs less than shipping it off to Colt's custom shop. He is local and does hot blue finishing.
- kokopelli
- KAC Member
- Posts: 3611
- Joined: Sun Mar 04, 2012 4:14 pm
- Has liked: 1 time
- Been liked: 17 times
Re: Restoration
do it yourself- have fun and learn at the same time.
Soak in a rust remover, fine wet sand to get smoothed over, fill in pits if needed, and Gunkote finish. If no pits, or not too bad, Plum Brown or Super Blue from Birchwood Casey.
Soak in a rust remover, fine wet sand to get smoothed over, fill in pits if needed, and Gunkote finish. If no pits, or not too bad, Plum Brown or Super Blue from Birchwood Casey.
Re: Restoration
Fireclean should do wonders on the rust.
Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk
Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk
Kingdom Concealment
Matthew 23:12 - And whosoever shall exalt himself shall be humbled; and whosoever shall humble himself shall be exalted.
Matthew 23:12 - And whosoever shall exalt himself shall be humbled; and whosoever shall humble himself shall be exalted.
- RecoilSensitive
- KAC Member
- Posts: 3912
- Joined: Sun Mar 04, 2012 1:10 pm
- Location: Louisville
- Has liked: 1 time
- Been liked: 2 times
Re: Restoration
Text me tomorrow iron I have some rust penetrant that should help you get started.
"But now," he said, "take your money and a traveler's bag. And if you don't have a sword, sell your cloak and buy one" -Jesus (Luke 22:36 NLT)
-
- KAC Member
- Posts: 6387
- Joined: Sat Mar 03, 2012 8:48 pm
- Location: Metro Louisville
- Has liked: 3 times
- Been liked: 15 times
- Contact:
Re: Restoration
Yes of that I agreeFrailer wrote:I will warn you; if you detail strip them these things can be a sumbitch to reassemble.
Unless you have three hands, in which case it's merely difficult.
-
- KAC Member
- Posts: 1820
- Joined: Sat Mar 10, 2012 1:32 am
- Location: Saskatoon
- Has liked: 0
- Been liked: 12 times
Re: Restoration
I'd agree with that except start with something other than steel wool. Use a softer plastic/brass bristle brush or something like to get the rust out of the pits you'll probably find. When you do this, try to follow the "grain" and don't use a brush in a drill, hand only. Avoid sanding/buffing, you'll just lose the stamps and crisp lines of the flat areas on the pistol.Frailer wrote:I'd clean that with oil and 0000 steel wool and shoot it as is.
I'd guess there is pitting in the rust so a refinish won't eliminate them, my vote is retain as much of the original finish as possible and make sure its cleaned and safe to shoot.
Then enjoy it as is eve with a blemished finish. No refinish will increase its value, unless its just something you want to try and it suits your personal taste. I've never seen any refinish that closely duplicates that particular "blue" of that vintage of Colt.
My opinion only.