While I await permission form the county judge to own this 17-6 which I picked up at auction, I decided to take some pictures at my FFL. The rust can now be attributed to the storing of this gun in a soft case. Ironic how the intent to keep this once beautiful 17-6 pristine by protecting it in a soft case, was ultimately reponsible for it's decline. May I enter in to evidence some photographs?

Nice sixgun, too bad about the abuse.

A long time ago I made sure all firearms are dry before they go into a gun case, if even for a few minutes. And made sure no moisture of any kind ever gets in one by other methods.

I have been lucky to have lived in dry climates as well.

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Have guns...will shoot'em.

I have the same gun and that's a shame! I have to admit, I've stored a gun or two for long periods in a fleece lined soft case but luckily they were stainless revolvers.

I'll bet with a good scrubbing and some Flitz you can get most of that off but there will still be some staining in the bluing where the rust was.

Good luck!

Fleece lined case would probably been less harmful than that foam lined case, which just wicks moisture.

Wasn't the lining. The case doesn't breathe. Condensation could not evaporate. Also depends on where the pistol was stored. Extreme changes in temperature and nothing will protect pistol. Pistol sock is better.

That'll clean up nicely... Good score!

I have a 10-5 that was the victim of "cheap vinyl case in basement" syndrome. There is permanent pitting but the gun is a shooter.

That's still a nice 17, I have seen far worse......



Not my Ruger, I offered $100 for it but no dice......



This WAS my 1895 Colt .38, looks like it was probably stored in a holster. I sold it, because I have no use for a .38 Long Colt revolver.

Carl3989, please post some pictures once you have had a chance to invest some time and TLC with the 17-6. I'm betting it will wind up looking better than one might think. I myself have stored blued steel revolvers in soft cases if they have been well oiled and wrapped in a silicone cloth. Of course it is stored in a climate controlled environment and checked routinely. Also, none of my pistol rugs have a plastic exterior.

I used to store my handguns and rifles in padded cases. I always sprayed the cases and the guns with silicone. I would be on six month to year long deployments and the silicone never let anything rust. Now I keep everything on racks in a safe and have no end of rust issues. I keep desiccant and a light bulb turned on to try and keep it all dry. I went back to spraying everything down with silicone and what a shocker, no more rust again. Stupid CLP…

It can happen quickly. At the range one nice sunny hot day a few years ago, a friend had a TC with several barrels in a black vinyl case which was lying in the sun. after about a half hour, he opened it up and the moisture was standing out on all the barrel surfaces. That was the last time he stored anything in a gun case.

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H Richard
SWCA1967 SWHF244

As soon as the judge gives me permission, it usally takes a week for him to rule.
There shouldn't be a problem because it's a 22lr, he seems to frown upon the larger calibers which he won't usually allow a permit holder to get.

Thanks for posting a photo of the guilty party. I once bought a C*** Woodsman Match Target for $50 because someone had put it away in a towel. No functional damage at all, but the cosmetics cannot be restored without finding C***'s original tooling, buying it, and making a new barrel, frame and slide. Oh, and a rear sight.

I would be very careful cleaning that thing up. I once rusted a set of blue handcuffs in one night on shore patrol, discovered it when I got back, and, if I remember correctly, took care of it the following morning. There was fine red rust, and, believe it or not, I removed it with crocus cloth and OIL, without damaging the bluing. Hard to believe, but it happened.

Good luck!

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Formerly Model520Fan

Brass wool, alcohol, toothbrush, compressed air and oxpho cold blue.

Looking at the pics, I'd bet that with the above mentioned tools, and perhaps a new sight blade (under $20) you can restore it to like-new.

The worst enemies of guns is long term storage are in a holster, gun case, or S&W presentation box. They all in one way or another get moisture in and in long term storage will damage a gun. I bought a S&W 29-2 with 6 inch barrel that had been stored in a S&W presentation case for a long time and the cylinder and frame had minor bluing loss. My Grandfather stored his Colt Police Positive 32-20 in a leather holster for nearly 30 years and when he died my Uncle had to have it totally redone because it was a rusted mess.

I agree with the others that a little elbow grease and using the methods mentioned earlier in the thread will make your Model 17 look a lot better.

Me too, and I'm looking forward to the "after" pictures when you get her finished.