Reblue 1981 6” Colt Python?

[jdlii]

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.

 

[2152hq]

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.

 

[ladder13]

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.

 

[bill-in-texas]

...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...

 

[moralem]

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.

 

[racoonbeast]

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

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.

 

[DWalt]

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?"

 

[Golddollar]

It looks great to me.

 

[chief38]

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.

 

[BB57]

...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...

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.

 

[mattallamerican]

i would leave it alone