How can u tell if piece reblued?

[grayingghost]

Hope this is right place to ask this, I have a M1899 USN mkd. .38LC I have posted in the 1896-1961 forum. This piece looks as tho it just came out of the box. It's perfect, you'd think it gotta be reblued -but- the finely checkered walnut grips are just as perfect! All the markings are there, nothing 'buffed' out. I thought some looked a bit 'soft' but closely studdying pictures of other, even crunky examples; the markings seem equal. Is there any way to tell, other than marking clarity; is it had been reblued??

 

[murphydog]

If it went back to the factory, it would have a star stamped near the serial number indicating a rework, but not necessarily a refinish. Later guns would have an R-B or R-S with a date code under the stocks on the grip frame. Under a magnifying glass the stamping edges should be slightly raised if original. Swirl marks, differences in the finish between barrel/cylinder/frame, non-case hardened hammer and trigger? After all this, a skillful refinish would still be hard to detect...

 

[grayingghost]

There are stars with an I inside, one on the cyl. one under bbl. and one on frame under yoke, trigger and hammer georgeous case hard.

 

[shovelwrench]

Where are you in PA?

Usually the lettering(stampings) will give it away. As Murphydog pointed out, the lettering should be slightly raised. If you lay a ruler on the stampings the edge of the lettering should hold the ruler off of the peice.

 

[robertrwalsh]

Heat treating on smith cylinders is different than the rest of the gun. Many aftermarket gun bluers toss everything in together and the cylinder often comes out looking somewhat purple, even if the gun was cleaned and prepped very well. Also it the marks are unusually shallow or blury that is a pretty sure sign of over-buffing, or over-buffing necessary to take off heavy pitting or rust.

A really primo re-blue done by someone who is really good at it but not necessarily done by the factory can be very, very hard to tell.

 

[dpsix]

Some years ago at a Colt collector show, I passed the table of a highly regarded Colt authority who mentioned to an associate, "If it can fool me, it is original!" My guess is the expense of fooling even the experts is so high that it is only cost effective on higher value guns if fraud is intended.

 

[murphydog]

There are stars with an I inside, one on the cyl. one under bbl. and one on frame under yoke, trigger and hammer gorgeous case hard.

I would guess the I inside the star to be inspector's marks, either factory or military. I'm sure someone on the Forum has an 1899 or knows what the marks indicate. The case-hardened parts suggests it has not been refinished, as it takes a special process that only a few restoration services (and of course factories) can do properly.