When my mother stopped by today, and dropped off a gun that was handed down to her when my grandfather passed a couple years ago. She said it was the first revolver he had ever bought, and she wanted my youngest son to have it when he got old enough. Didn't think anything of the case until I opened it to find a Colt Official Police. It isn't pristine, has a fair amount of blueing wear around the muzzle and on the front sight, as well as, on the cylinder. Am no appraiser but would estimate around 75-80%. Lock-up and timing seem to be in good order. From the serial# 6859XX it appears to be a 1943 date of manufacture, has a 5" barrel, and is chambered in .38 Special. Colt grips are in fair shape for the year, and had a slight patina around the grip pin. Doesn't appear to have any accumulation of rust. Will try to post a picture soon, am wondering how much a refinishing job on it might cost. Any input on the firearm would be greatly appreciated.

Very nice! I'll look forward to your photos.

Since there's probably no place that can duplicate the look of the original blueing I'd leave it alone.

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Lynnie, Professional Pest

Its your gun and you can do what you want with it but in my opinion refinishing would wipe out its family history. I would clean it and shoot it and treasure it the way it is and when the time is right pass it down to your son. Just my 2 cents!!

Sounds like it's already in pretty good shape, so get one of
those display boxes, and do it up with a letter of provenance.
It'll look great displayed, and you'll think of your grandfather every
time you look at it. That's tribute, right there. JMO, TACC1.

Novalty, I must say I have to agree with Joni_Lynn, 65kaiser and TACC1. It is of course your call, but there's just something special about having something that's been handed down in the family. To refinish it would take away from its family history.

A refinish job will cost:

present value at good/v.good - $350 ish.

After refinish, because you remove the original & are left with 0% - $125 ish.

A cost from lost value - $200 ish.

Refinishing by a reputable firm (not 'Bubba's Backdoor Enterprises') $300 ish.

Total cost would be about $500, ample to buy a new gun if that is what it will take to make you happy.

The kicker, Grampa's gun with the character & charm will be lost to your son (the true owner, you only hold it in trust) forever - how much is that worth?

Do you suppose Gramps is watching?

Jim

Edit:
P.S. no extra charge for the guilt trip.

Thanks for the info and suggestions. Two things I believe is that firearms are heirloom, so I don't sell of passed down guns, and secondly I don't care for blued handguns. But the former takes precedence over the latter, and will leave it as is, hopefully my son will like it in the original condition. Here are a few pics, as promised.

I'll be the one that disagrees - I say have it refinished.

To me, the gun dosen't just show wear, it shows neglect. There is way too much rust, spotting & light pitting to just say honest wear.

I'd get hold of Doug Turnbull and get it restored in honor of your grandfather. I'd still shoot it even after that but I think it deserves to have its dignity back.

I'm sure I'll get beat up for saying it but that is my opinion.

Appears that your Grandfather used the revolver.
A good cleaning plus touch-up cold blue on the wear spots.
Not to burst any bubbles, but weapons are made to use, not o be used as an object of art.

If it was given to me, it would definitely be turned over to someone who knows bluing (Ford's, Turnbull, or Chicoine) and have the gun re-finished, and I would not have a guilt trip about doing so.

My grandfather was a farmer and I have no doubt this was a woods gun as well. He wasn't known for taking the best care of his possessions. I love to be able to take it out and shoot this piece again in his memory.

That's not wear,
That's family history.

It's your sons.
If he wants it refinished in 15 years that's up to him.

AFS

I fell I must disagree with part of your statement. IMHO, they are both. I've got two old school service revolvers (Colt Police Positive Special and S&W Model 10 and both from the 60's). FAR superior to anything currently out there and both works of art and shooters.

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The Last Standing Knight

I'd probably leave it as is just a little clean up.Because,If I did have it done up it would be a full engraved custom.To me there is no restoration.
No middle ground.
All or nothing.

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Dum vivo cano

I agree with those that say leave it alone. Clean it good with some 0000 steel wool or use brass wool as others prefer. Oil where necessary and then put on a coat of Renaissance wax.

That is the gun as it was left by your grandfather and has no effect on how it shoots. Those are the signs of age and character of this particular firearm and removal of them turns it into a different gun. IMHO.

It would be like having your grandfather leave you a model A and trading it in for a Toyota. Just not the same.

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James Redfield
LM #497

I would be inclined to refinish it, due to the neglect. Many here dislike the idea of refinishing, as it destroys collector value - yet that is already destroyed in this case. All that is left is sentiment.

Would you paint an old pickup truck, or drive it 'ugly'?

Please feel free to do as you wish. [My view is a minority one, I know.]

Best wishes,

Dyson

It's just a gun no matter who owned it. I agree with the post above, if it was a truck I'd have it repainted.

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- Change it back -

novalty, I apologize if my comment on the condition of your grandads gun offended you. That wasn't my intention at all. I think it is a fantastic piece of family history and would be proud of it. There's a lot to be proud of in the worn tools of an honest, hard-working man like your grandfather. Whatever you and your boys decide to do with the gun I hope you enjoy the daylights out of it for generations to come! Best regards, Duke426

At this point I am going to just focus on getting it cleaned, then have a gunsmith look at it to make sure it is still mechanically fine, and hopefully get it out to put some rounds through it now and then. My son will have plenty of time to decide about the finish--he just turned 1.

While I agree its family history it still looks like if he doesnt do something the area around the muzzle will start to rust.

so it might not be such a bad idea to atleast look into having the bluing repaired around just the front of the barrel somehow and of course have the mechanicals checked out and lubed first before firing it to prevent doing any damage to the internals from lack of lubrication.

actually on that particular topic how does the rifling and the inside of the cylinders look?

Kavinsky, I worked some more on cleaning it up tonight. A significant build up of dirt/crude in the screw slots. Shined a light down the barrel and the rifling looked fine to me. The lands seemed prominent and the grooves were clean. Your indication of the exposure to rust is what prompted me to ask about refinishing, I am fine with keeping it in condition in keepsake, but I don't want to jeopardize the firearm further. After cleaning tonight I sprayed all of the gun down with Rem Oil, wiped off excess. Then rubbed down the exterior with silicone cloth "Rusty Rag."

so it was an often carried gun but never really fired?

and was their any buildup of sorts in the cylinders?

other than that if it checks out and you can keep it oiled up it should be fine after a gunsmith has gone through it and relubed the internals which probably havent seen lubricant since it left the factory in 43'