What say ye?

I’m considering sending this to Ford’s for their Master Blue.
I bought this Python sight unseen, based on my son’s description.
I wasn’t disappointed considering what I paid for it, and the action is buttery-smooth with the tightest lock-up of any revolver I own (or have ever owned).

Opinions on having this one refinished?

-Bill



Click Link for Large Image

"https://i.ibb.co/4tM8bxR/29-E91-A84-7-B84-41-D8-B066-0888-A8-F38689.jpg"

"https://i.ibb.co/6nTXrjs/84-AF87-DC-1188-4645-81-E2-0195-F1-FB4462.jpg"

“https://i.ibb.co/ZNxQv3H/5191-C348-72-F7-4-D78-B452-6-C7-B5-EF9-DA64.jpg"

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Veteran Paratrooper, '86-'90

If you want to enjoy the gun looking great by all means refinish it.Others will say leave it alone it has character,it tells a story.or it will kill value.But if your personal enjoyment is important to you that is all that matters and not what others who don't own it think.

You might consider hardchroming it, as I did with this 1958 Dick Special:





just stuck that Tyler T on there yesterday.

I had Fords do their Master Blue on this Three Fifty-Seven:



Herrett's Jordan Troopers.

I think if you trade or sell guns, and think you might with your recently acquired Python, refinishing does not make sense. Or, if you just value the original finish for its own sake.

But, if you want to personalize a gun to your liking, one that you intend to keep, have at it.

I've heard of Ford's reputation for their fine finishes and while I am certain that you would appreciate the outcome of the refinish, I would not send it for the refinish.

Without going into a laborious explanation, my reasoning simply is that it doesn't appear that your beautiful Python needs it. The finish put on by the factory is a very good one. Maybe not as good on the later ones say...., after the late 60's but, nonetheless it's a very, very good one.

Secondly, and maybe more importantly, is the fact that the action is described by you as tight and smooth as you have ever felt. Leave that alone. I am (reasonably) certain that this wonderful action won't be messed up, but..... why risk it? I have had a Colt action or two that have been returned from reputable smiths that were not the same. I had a really nice Trooper 38 spl from the mid 60's that looked like heck but the timing was perfect. When I got it back after a refinish, it was out of time. Took it to another smith who tried his best to return it to perfect timing. He couldn't. To say that I was disappointed is understating my chagrin. This was a recent few years ago, so Colt has been out of business of fixing the "old" actions for better part of, what, 40 years? No new parts and fewer and fewer gunsmiths with the expertise to repair the old actions make this (your desire to have the gun taken apart for refinish) a decision to be resisted unless there is something else that is needed for your wonderful revolver. It's finish as shown in this post seems just really fine to me.....
'course that's just my opinion......, I could be wrong.....

Please get rid of the rubber grips first.

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Made it, Ma! Top of the world!

I’d go for it if I owned it!

This is a good point. Both of mine above were tuned by Grant Cunningham after they were refinished. He's no longer revolversmithing, per his site, but I am pretty sure that there are a couple of guys he recommends for Colts.

I’d leave it as is. I don’t think anyone can match the quality of the original polish.

I don’t think I’d pay what Ford’s charges only to reduce the value of the gun. Looks fine as is.

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“What you got, ain’t new.”

It came with them... I would never store a Python with these, due to moisture getting trapped along the grip frame. (You can see what's left of the bluing after I removed the nearly-guaranteed oxidation, using 0000 bronze wool.)

I bought the correct era grips from a forum member, a while back.
Unfortunately(?), the grips are in far superior condition to the bluing.

-Bill

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Veteran Paratrooper, '86-'90

Looks fine to me as is.

I think you should have it reblued , it’s your gun , two of the most beautiful guns I own have been reblued a pre 27 redone by
Smith and a Colt SAA redone after being engraved . Beauty is in the eye of the beholder.

You do what you want, it is your gun. I would not refinish if it were mine. Another thing to think about is that Fords may be going downhill. Been seeing more unsatisfied customer reviews for their work in the last year or so.

Some folks can't see past a few scratches to appeciate the very careful work that goes into a first class original finish. Edges that are intended to be sharp are sharp. Curves that are carefully radiused are done so with care. The mating of metal parts should be absolutely seemless. Markings are sharp and clear.
So, a gun with a few blemishes that don't affect any of the above gets sent off for an expensive refinish. Some ham-fisted guy with one eye on the clock fires up the buffing wheel and removes those blemishes, scratches, or whatever, starting with his coarsest abrasive compound. Then repeats the process again and again with finer grades of abrasive. And, rounds off every sharp edge, dishes out screw holes, and makes the side plate to frame fit look like a worn bar of soap.
But, it sure is shiny!!

If a deep shiny blue is important enough to you that you're willing to accept, or at least risk, rounded-over sharp edges, dished screw holes, faded rollmarks, and a gaping sideplate seam, then Ford's is the company for you!

Search this forum. Look at the photos. Be your own judge. If you really can't see how many guns that company has ruined, then go for it!

Before I had it refinished, I would want to find out what kind of finish Ford's uses. My understanding is Colt's old Royal Blue finish, due to environmental/health reasons, is no more. If Ford's process can't duplicate it, I would hesitate. But that's just me.

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Common sense isn't so common.

I’ve only reblued one gun, a Model 10-8 that was heavily worn. It came out great and I’m not sorry I did it, but your Colt does not look anywhere near bad enough for me to even consider having it reblued. The gun would be gone for months and it would cost too much.

My 2 cents...I would not refinish this python. It looks gently used but not abused at least from what I can see.

What are the pictures supposed to be showing? I don’t really see much wrong with it. A little wear around the edges? I wouldn’t refinish that gun.

Thanks for the well thought-out replies, with good arguments both for and against.
I believe I’ll keep it the way I bought it. It’s a quality, shooter-grade revolver from a bygone era. And as is often said in these discussions, it’s only original once.

-Bill

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Veteran Paratrooper, '86-'90

It is your revolver, do with it as you wish. I have a pair of blued Pythons, neither are pristine, both have some finish wear. I would not consider having them refinished or restored. Original finish is original only once, a refinish, even the most accurate of refinishes, is not original and usually will not increase the value of the refinished piece and often it decreases its value.

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VCDL, GOA, NRA

Very nice looking Python, IMO. I would leave it as is, shoot it and love it!

I have a general question regarding whether or not any of the members have ever used Wyoming Armory ("WA") for refinishing? I have a client who is a master engraver and who stated that he uses WA exclusively for refinishing the firearms that he engraves.

There are plenty of orig finish pristine condition Pythons around.
If you want that look, pay the price for an orig finish gun.
Then safe-queen storage it and protect it and it's quite good investment as gun values go it seems.
Any collector will tell you that.

A refinished/reblued Python will be just that and I don't care who does the job, it won't stand side by side with an early Colt factory polish.

Polish is the key,,the actual blueing which will be a Hot Salt Blue is pretty much under control. But even that can be screwed up.

If it isn't or can't be (re)polished to factory standards of the era or better, if the original lettering and markings can't be saved or remarked to their original sharpness,,then don't bother thinking the gun is some sort of a Restoration.
It isn't.

It's another re-blued gun like so many others.
The difference will be in how shiny it is and how many rounded edges and blurred markings there are compared to an orig.

Then there's the color match to what Colt did.
Colt's 'Hot Salt Blue' was done at the time with DuLite Blueing Salts.
Just about everyone in the industry has used that since WW2.
Remington, Ruger, Winchester, etc.

It's the polish underneath that brings out the beauty of the finish.
Sure there are some ways to vary color, but that can only go so far.

Don't expect a real restoration from a simple polish/buff & blue job.
It ain't happening.
Shiny is not the only goal of polishing in firearms finishing.

That Python appears to be in quite nice shape.
A real beat up piece would be a candidate for a complete re-do.
I call them project guns.
JMO of course.

But it isn't mine, so in 'Merica you can still for the present time still do as you please.
..and that's one good thing.

Looks good to me. Not perfect, but if it were, would you shoot it?

That’s a real nice shooter, save the money.

Everyone has an opinion, you have the final say.

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Sure you did

...Even more good input!
And, I thank you.

I retrieved it from the safe, again. After slathering oil throughout, shoeless, I put the correct stocks back on and have regained appreciation for the ol' gal.
I guess she ain't so bad, after all.

-Bill

In Outdoor Light...

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Veteran Paratrooper, '86-'90

Good choice to leave it be…..the cost to refinish could go to a start up fund for an impeccable condition one. I want to refinish my diamondbacks so badly but don’t want to take the chance. Instead I enjoy them as they are at price points that made them accessible.

What he said. I don't care who does it, refinishing is going to soften the edges of everything to some degree or another. I would take a little honest bluing loss to that any day of the week.

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NRA Life Member

I have a second year production Colt 3-5-7. Finish on it is fairly good, but no longer like new. The thought of having it refinished is something that has never entered my mind, and never will. I have always considered that 3-5-7 as being the answer to the old question of "If you could have only one handgun, what would it be?"

It looks great to me.

I do not know if Colt is still offering a re-bluing service and if they do, is it the original Royal Bluing. If they are and do still offer the original Royal Bluing, you might consider having them do it.

The bluing loss near the muzzle and the edges of the cylinder are just honest holster wear.

It isnt pristine but it’s still in excellent condition. If you had it reblued it would both cost you a fair bit of money to have it done properly and it would still reduce the value of the revolver.

——


To be fair, I’m also biased. To me there are few things sadder in life than an unfired firearm kept in pristine condition in its original box in a gunsafe.

It’s anthropomorphizing a bit but imagine just existing without ever getting the chance to do what you were made to do.

i would leave it alone