[WebHobbit]

Am I alone here when I say that I NEVER could stand blue guns and would never wanna own one?

I know people who really don't care what the finish is. I could never understand that.

To me blue is just so much harder to maintain it just isn't worth the hassle. I mean most people advocate "keeping a thin layer of oil on blued steel". That just seems nasty to have to keep a gun "wet" all the time. Especially on something kept for defense.

I also hate the way the drag line looks on a blued revolver. And many of my favorite cleaning agents would take the blue stuff right OFF.

I notice you don't see too many blued revolvers in shops anymore so I guess "most" people prefer stainless as well?

[priv8ter]

Maybe it's because I am still relatively young, and new to revolvers, but I don't have much issue with blue guns. I have heard that they are more likely to show holster wear, but I guess that doesn't bother me...makes a gun look used...well loved.

I kind of think that the GP-100's look nice blued. My SP-101 is stainless because it's the only finish it comes in.

My only issue are the really shiny nickle plated guns...just not my style...

[denfoote]

I have but one "stainless" revolver. It is not quite stainless since it is an "Ultra Lite" and the frame is an aluminium alloy. My next one is gunna be blued!!!

[HSMITH]

Just the opposite here, I like blue guns and hate stainless. Nickle to me is hideous. I have never had any trouble maintaining the blued finish on any gun, and I take blue guns into some NASTY environments.

All that ^^^ said, my main HD/carry gun is full hard chrome w/stainless small parts just to eliminate the chance of rusting with minimal care and hard use.

[WebHobbit]

I'll have to check S&W's site again but I think a whole lot of blued guns were discontinued. Not that ya can't still buy used.

edit: Just browsed through all of the .357s in the catalog & the only non-stainless were the alloy framed guns.

[tetchaje1]

IMO, there is nothing quite like a beautiful deep blue on a gun. I used to like stainless guns more, but over time I have come to appreciate how beautiful well-done bluing can be... :)

http://image1ex.villagephotos.com/pubimage.asp?id_=2230421

[MoNsTeR]

I agree. I typically prefer the look of stainless, though really nice bluing is quite pretty. But that's a moot point as I'm a rust paranoiac and will never buy a carbon steel gun if stainless is offered. From a purely practical perspective, I see stainless as being empirically superior.

[WebHobbit]

I agree. There are some really pretty blue guns. I'm just afraid they will rust!

[tetchaje1]

Being from Utah I don't worry about rust too much. It is so dry here that even my sweat evaporates very quickly from any of my guns. For example, I have a blued SIG 239 that I use for daily carry here in the Utah hot summers and the only thing on it that has rusted have been the cheap factory grip screws. SIG bluing is notoriously weak and I have been pleasantly surprised with my little 239. The rest of the gun gets a wipe down a couple of times a week with a silicon cloth and nothing more (except for when I am cleaning it after a shoot).


If I was living in Georgia, I might be more concerned... ;)

[aerod1]

I love the looks of a blue gun over a stainless. A good looking blue gun is simply fanastic!
Jim Hall

[Delmar]

Is this a real arguement? For Pete's sake-next thing you know, we'll all be forced to use aluminum baseball bats!:D

[10-Ring]

I have a few stainless guns, but prefer the blue...especially the older examples that when cleaned up were just gorgeous!
Lately, I have seen some stainless guns that were absolutely UGLY.
To each his own!

[WebHobbit]

No arguments here folks. :) Just aexpressing an opinion and wondering how many others felt that way or the other.

[Smoke]

Oh ****. Another instance where I'm unbeleiveably undecided.

Shotguns must be blue! .... although I like them with some shiny silver parts.

Rifles must be blue!.... but my Kimber 84M with the stainless fluted barrel is gorgeous.

Revolvers must be blue! ....but that stainless Vaquero is kinda neat.

Pistols (semi-autos) must be blue!....but my Kimer is two toned, my 2 Para's are stainless, my Colt is Nickel.:banghead:

:scrutiny:

I guess I have always liked the traditional blued gun. They are pretty, especially with wood stocks/grips. But the practical side of me has selected a lot of stainless offerings over the years since maintenance is not as critical.

"Hi I'm Smoke...."

"HI SMOKE" (in unison)

"...and I'm a gun neglector"

I guess I like them both. Blue looks nice, but so does stainless. Stainless is more forgiving for not cleaning as often and for fixing minor scuffs. Blue will last fine when cared for properly and for occasional shooters.

Would y'all please stop making me try to pick, one gun, caliber, finish, rifle, shotgun, etc.:)

[The Silver Bullet 1719]

For the most part I perfer stainless, but if its a revolver (with exception of the S&W 686) I want it blued, its just so purdy. :D

[Delmar]

A lot of it depends upon the skill put into making the product, as I have seen ugly blue, stainless, nickel and so on. I have also beheld wonderous examples of each, and they can all be beautiful in their way. A finish is like a picture frame-it's not there to be admired, but to direct your eyes to the subject at hand.

[Pappy John]

Ahhhh...deep blued steel and fine wood grips. Stainless and rubber are just tacky in comparison.....and don't get me started on plastic.:barf:

[WebHobbit]

Funny you should mention wood grips! I LOVE the way they look but I have seen several CRACK on carry guns.

Really sucks when you pay big bucks for wood grips and then they crack 6 months later! I'm guessing this is caused by carrying in varying temperatures?

So for me it's stainless revolvers with black rubber grips!

;)

Not too traditional I know.

[Delmar]

Wood is going to crack based on the wrong cut, wrong cure, wrong fit. Plastic survives better, but a different character altogether

[WebHobbit]

Hmmmm...I dunno about that. My buddy had some very nice and fairly expensive Hogue wood grips on his carry gun that cracked after a while and I doubt they were cut wrong or anything.

[Delmar]

Carried a 1911A1 for over 20 years with wood grips hand fitted and never an issue. Hogue is not going to hand fit grips unless on special order, and they have to allow for some slop in the production of the pistol

[WebHobbit]

I see. So paying 50+ for grips "off the shelf" is rather pointless than, eh?

[Delmar]

It depends on how well they fit, how the grain runs through the grip, etc. Fitting grips on a 1911 is far easier as they are going on a flat surface with no significant curves.
Over tightening the screw can cause problems, as can the locating stud.
There are those who have owned Hogue grips and have used them for a long time without problems. But nothing comes off the assembly line perfect every single time. I happen to like Hogue's product because on average, they have a good product at a good price. Have a set myself on a stainless chief's special and they have done pretty well for the 3 years I've had them on it.

[popbang]

I really like blued guns. They seem to have character as the get used. Now for grips nothing beats Buffalo Horn for nice looks in my book.

[Serpico]

My carry guns...the 442 and p7 are hard chromed for ease of care...they also look bigger when you point them at someone...but my safe queens, like my vintage hi-power, stay a gorgeous blue....for me it depends on the application....

[Blueduck]

Now I'm not saying blued gun with wood grips can withstand anything like a Glock 17 but...

A good blueing job like the older S/W's have seem to hold up better against rust than say the "ruff" blue guns like Sigs or the watered down paint Ruger calls "blueing":evil:

I'd also note while my two blued 19's do in fact have the cylinder line and little spot at the muzzel you see most used revolvers with, BUT thats it, and I carry both of them in Kydex holsters.. My satin stainless 65 on the other hand shows every scratch, bump, and contact point it's ever had. I'm not the only one to notice this I think it was C.R. Sam or WESHOOT 2 who went into detail of the hardness of various steels and why this happened (and why they prefered blue guns).

On grips I've gone through several pairs of (off the rack) Stock S/W, Eagle and Ahernds wood grips and never ever had a pair crack. I do however have a stash of Pach's and Uncle Mikes that don't work properly anymore due to the "nut?" that recieves the grip screw coming loose. Also have a pair of rubber Houges that leave at least 1/3" of backstrap sticking out of my 65 so fit is an issue regardless of material used.

My factory plastic S/W auto grips are nice because they are thinner than wood grips can be but show more wear in 3 weeks than most wood grips would show in 3 years. My CCW wood grips don't "grab" my jacket every time I bend over like sticky synthetic grips. The slogon "Wood for show rubber for go" is proven wrong everytime Jerry Miculek one of the best revolver shooters ever hits the firingline with his prefered wood grips.

Nothing wrong with stainless and synthetic of course just pointing out blued and wood have their points...

[WonderNine]

I like stainless alot, but the biggest thing I dislike about stainless guns is the extra weight compared to carbon steel.

I prefer hard chrome finish over everything else as you get the benefits of stainless steel, with the lighter weight and extra strength of carbon steel.

Nickel? Yeccchh!

[gold_cup]

I think that there is nothing finer than a well blued firearm.

The old Colt Royal Blue Python or the job that Smith and Wesson did on the old model 27s with their checkered topstraps.

I never liked nickle, too shiny for me. Stainless is just nice to carry for the little extra corosion resitance.

[Gerald McDonald]

High polished blue for me thank you. Never had a pair of wood grips crack. Stainless is okay for a rough condition carry gun such as hiking or what I use when surf fishing (under the waders) but for everyday carry I prefer blue.
Gerald

[ElmoH]

Personaly, I like both, My favorite handgun that I own is a blued 5.5in 45colt Ruger Blackhawk fitted with a stainless steel bisley grip frame.

[ftw46]

I have a 20 year old S&W model 37 that still has deep beautiful blue and no rust. That is remarkable because I carried this gun stuck in the front of my pants, next to bare skin, with a barami Hipgrip holding it in place. This was during 100 degree Georgia summers.

I have also carried blued rifles and pistols all during the hunting seasons in all kinds of weather with no problems.

I believe the only reason a blued gun will rust is if it is put up damp. I wipe mine down every night with gun oil which has been CLP for years.

I do own a stainless revolver and would probably buy another as they are so readily available everywhere but do not let the worry of rust prevent you from owning a blued gun.

Also keep in mind that stainless will also rust if neglected, just not as easily!

[WebHobbit]

ElmoH - me and you have got to photograph that gun (and the rest of 'em) and get some pics online!

:)

[ElmoH]

Roger that little buddy.

[Mike Irwin]

Me, I can't stand stainless steel or nickle-plated guns.

Shiny & silver just doesn't have any character, any soul.

[Mannlicher]

You might not be alone, but you are certainly in small company. Kind of silly if you ask me; a rant about gun finishes.

[WonderNine]

Kind of silly if you ask me; a rant about gun finishes.

This is a gun discussion board :rolleyes:

[Neal Bloom]

Got a few revolvers and pistols but only one is stainless and that is the SP101. Sure wish they made it in blue. Some like em blue, some like em stainless.

[Frenchy]

Although my duty gun is a 686, all of the rest of my Smiths are blued. There is a little more effort involved in keeping them nice, but it's worth it.

[Ala Dan]

Greeting's Web-

I dearly LOVE factory blued, quality handgun's. As a matter
of fact, I much perfer them to stainless steel handguns any
day! And the way I see it, nickel plated handguns are for
Sunday (daylight hours ONLY) carry.

Best Wishes,
Ala Dan, N.R.A. Life Member

[Mike Irwin]

"Kind of silly if you ask me; a rant about gun finishes."

You're absolutely right. We shoudl be ranting about things like...

Which is better, 9mm or .45?

Pachmayer or Hogue rubber grips?

Smith or Colt?

This IS a gun discussion board, after all...

[DCR]

Blue for me. Must be how I was raised - fond childhood memories of spinning and buffing barrels, parts and screws, getting just the right mix of salts in the tanks, getting them to just the right temperature, dunking them for just the right length of time, pulling and setting, then putting them all together in a fine piece of walnut I'd spent hours sanding, whiskering, staining and sealing, and admiring the finished piece.

It makes you respect the hard work and talent of those who made the great ones. I don't think you get that kind of appreciation of the efforts from stainless and rubber.

Dad's way was and is my way; doesn't make it right - just my opinion.

[Zorro]

Blued S&W AND Rugers are WAY! smoother trigger pulls than any stainless steel gun yet made.

SS Guns for sloppy cleaners! ;)

[Guy B. Meredith]

Well, I absolutely am impressed with a beautiful deep blue job I have seen on some revolvers, but would have to buy one only for a show piece. I destroy even the finest blue job just looking at it.

If I had the choice based on appearance without worry about wear, blue would win out every time.

[valnar]

I don't like blue mainly because of the rust & care factor. However, having all stainless guns is quite boring too, especially when you want a darker finish (although not necessarily blue).

Despite the fact this is a revolver forum, I've had excellent results with those aftermarket industrial strength finishes on my SIG pistols. I bought them blue, but sent it to Arizona Response Systems (http://www.arizonaresponsesystems.com) to get them coated with Metacol III. I now have a beautiful satin-black finish with no upkeep worries.

-Robert

[Edward429451]

I got nothing against stainless guns. I just like blued guns better. Cleaning them & keeping them wiped down is no big deal.

Stainless guns get the cylinder line too. Just less pronounced. I never had wood grips crack on me, maybe you all are over tightening the grip screw??

[MR.G]

I prefer stainless because it is easier to maintain. Minor wear and scratches can be buffed away. A little Flitz and a rag can make a stainless gun look berrer than new.

[Braz]

I just got my 1st stainless gun,

And for all the reasons stated above, but I'd rather have a deep richly blued revolver. Bluing or case coloring has character, even with wear. But stainless materials could be aluminum or plastic unless they're polished. And I never liked the looks of parade guns (no offense meant, SP). But it looks like stainless is the future.

[mr e man]

I dont like stainless in either auto's or revo's . They reflect light, and in a tight spot I may not want to be spotted... Of course, if I get a boat gun for the boat I dont own , I will think that one over...

Stay safe...

[Poohgyrr]

I like my revolvers (S&W, of course) blued with wood grips. If stainless, it needs to be a satin or bead blast type finish.

My Hi Powers (is there any other kind of Auto?) should be blued or park'd.

And wood grips shouldn't crack if properly made and not abused.

(Ducking behind cover now.) :neener:

[tex_n_cal]

I am flexible about it, I have blued & stainless, and pay more attention to the gun than what finish has been applied. Never had a gun rust so I guess my maintenance is okay.

I had a nickeled M29 some years ago, but found it tended to scratch easily (and show every scratch). Don't think I'd go for nickel now, unless there was a really good reason to buy the particular piece.

[PaladinX13]

I like the look of blue but get neurotic about every visible scratch.

[Old Fuff]

WebHobbit:

Any gun finish, but in particular blue, can be protected with a coating of good quality car wax (not polish). You don't have to go around with a "oily" gun.

[Boats]

I have had blued pistols. I had a blue revolver way back. I have had blue rifles. I have parkerized shotguns and pistols. I live in Oregon, and now I'll only have stainless or teflon/NP3 coated carbon steel firearms, except in a lever gun. Blueing is nice, but it's a hassle for a working gun compared to the ease of caring for a matte or bead blasted stainless one or one with a proprietary finish.

My next pistol is going to be an XD, my latest foray into plastic, but I am getting one with a stainless slide that I am going to have Roguarded. As long as I want to fire lead reloads, my revolvers will be stainless so that I can use any solvent or impregnated cloth I'd like without regard to the finish.

I do know what people mean though about blueing. I had a Royal blue Python pass through my hands once. It was mesmerizing.

Dang, now I am going to have to get a blued GP-100, have it master blued by someone who knows what they are doing, and put a tulipwood smooth monogrip on it for contrast. You people make me spend money my wife doesn't want me to have.

:evil:

[Checkman]

I am not a fan of nickel - yuch. But having said that I owned a Colt Lawman MKIII for many years with a brushed nickel finish. It was an amazing finish that only got shiney where there was wear. That brushed nickel didn't show scratches nor did it flake - simply incredible. I traded it for a very nice Model 28 with a good matte blue finish. Ironically that Model 28 is now at a local gunshop where a polymer coat is being applied to it - for endurance and resistance to corrosion. I like a blued revolver with nice wood grips, but SS is the future. I gave in and purchased a S&W 686P a few months ago for that very reason. Still own severl blued wheel guns though.:D

[Blueduck]

Love it when 13 month old threads are resurreccted and I gotta go back to see what I had to say on the subject ;)

Opinion has not changed..this time:scrutiny:

[one45auto]

When I was a younger man I, too, felt that blued guns were unsightly yet I now own two - a Colt Police Positive and a Smith&Wesson Model 36. They're as handsome a pair of revolvers as you'll find anywhere, and I wouldn't part with them for the world.

Now, as far as caring for them goes, I've never had any trouble whatsoever. Put simply, rust is a direct result of neglect rather than a defect in materials. Like all my guns they're thoroughly cleaned after each trip to the range and periodically wiped down with WD-40, more so in the summer. Also, about once every six months I'll run a lightly oiled patch through the barrel and cylinder. (I apply the same care and maintenance to my rifles.)

One final note. On the subject of grips, I recommend Uncle Mike's boot grips because the difference, both aesthetically and practically speaking, is enormous. The grip fills your palm, giving you better command and making the piece far easier - not to mention more comfortable, to shoot. Besides, the black on blue looks very stylish indeed.

[Plinkerton]

I like stainless more overall. I don't mind blued guns, but I think only snubs look great blued. Guns with longer barrels, when they are blued, look strange to me.

[BluesBear]

Checkman, your Colt was probably Electroless Nickle. Quite durable. A much tougher finish than regular bright nickle.

Let's only hope that we can keep this resurrected thread as civil now as it was a year ago.

[Majic]

I love blued steel and fine wood. It's not a hard or tiring job to give the firearm a quick wipe down to preserve the bluing.

[Tamara]

I feel like I just caught someone drinking from the finger bowl... :uhoh:


;)

[The Rabbi]

Anyone who could aesthetically prefer stainless steel and plastic over blued and wood has the soul of a Philistine. If you want the other for practical reasons (better wear, carry, etc) OK, but thats just a compromise for the situation.

[Blueduck]

Not sure if it's being a Philistine or the fact that we are well into a generation of shooters who consider stainless firearms to be traditional or even "classic":eek:

[BryanP]

Overall if I had to pick I'd say I prefer blue, but it just depends on my mood. I have revolvers in both blued and stainless finish, wood grips and rubber. For pure practicality you can't beat stainless steel with rubber grips, but wood and blue just have a particular beauty all their own.

[HogRider]

Stainless might be easier to take care of, but nothing beats the beauty and elegance of a nicely blued gun!



http://members.cox.net/wbhogrider2003/Images/Python02.jpg

[Plinkerton]

Damn HogRider. That's NICE.:eek:

[Marshall]

A polished, deeply blued gun with wood is like a blonde gal with a deep golden tan, you just don't get any better! :D

[SouthpawShootr]

I prefer blued revolvers. I like autos much better in stainless. The fact that you see fewer blued guns is a cost cutting measure as well as the popularity of stainless steel. A good high gloss blue is much more difficult to obtain that a dull stainless. There's nothing quite as nice as a S&W revolver with a high luster blue finish (the recent manufactured ones have left alot to be desired).

[magsnubby]

Ummm....blue steel and walnut.....My current wheelgun count runs 7 s/s, 6 bluesteel. Anyway.....blue steel and walnut always makes me drool. And HogRider....Beautiful Colt.

[WebHobbit]

Tell me this aint pretty:

http://webhobbit.net/pics/ngunpix/sp101.jpg

Or especially this:

http://webhobbit.net/pics/ngunpix/44ruger.jpg

More here:

http://webhobbit.net/gallery.html

[Tamara]

Tell me this aint pretty...

An SP101? Well, I guess they have their use... I mean, Ray Charles needs a revolver, too, right? :uhoh:



:D

[BluesBear]

There's a considerable difference between Pretty and Beautiful.
Of course Beauty IS in the Eyes of the Beerholder. :neener:

The shortage of blued guns does not reflect on their popularity as much as it indicates the indoctrination of the consumers by the manufacturers.
SMith & Wesson has decided that blued steel is not cost effective and that stainless is the way to go. Since they only make stainless the comsumer either buys it or does without. It's the old law of supply and demand. The makers have the supply so they can demand whatever they want. If S&W makes a limited run of blued guns they know they can have each and every one sold before they ever forge the frames.

I realise that Ruger's blueing isn't the best but they can still manage to produce a decent example and still price it less than their identical stainless models.

Since we have become a society of impatient people, stainless tools will continue to be popular with people who are too "busy" to take the extra 5 minutes to properly maintain them. After all thats why they make run flat tires for those people who are too "busy" to stop and change a tire.

[Plinkerton]

Since we have become a society of impatient people, stainless tools will continue to be popular with people who are too "busy" to take the extra 5 minutes to properly maintain them. After all thats why they make run flat tires for those people who are too "busy" to stop and change a tire.

While I agree with you in general about people being to busy, I actually LIKE stainless better!

If the only difference is looks, I would rather have the "look" that can take more abuse, whatever it may be, and not start to rust, or deteriorate in any other way, if I can't get to it right away, for whatever circumstances.

I may not be to busy to take 5 minutes extra, I may just not be able to do it.

Those are some nice stainless guns though.

[Majic]

Beauty is in the eye of the beholder and no doubt you treasure your collection, but personally I think each one of your handguns would look better in blue steel with finely grained wood stocks.
I do own some SS revolvers, but only because the model was never offered in blue steel. I also own one SS model that was offered in blued steel, but only because I got it at a rediculously low price and for years have offered it as a trade on a blued model.
One of the very first things I do to any revolver I aquire is to rid it of the rubber grips if so equiped. I have quite a collection of rubber grips in a bag collecting dust in the closet.

[Tamara]

The shortage of blued guns does not reflect on their popularity as much as it indicates the indoctrination of the consumers by the manufacturers. SMith & Wesson has decided that blued steel is not cost effective and that stainless is the way to go.

I thought that, too, but I am given to understand that in all instances where blued and stainless variants of the same gun existed, sales of the stainless model trounced the blued gun. This is certainly borne out by my (admittedly limited) experience.

Sadly, there's just more visigoths in this world than us cranky old-fashioned revolver aficionados would like to admit.

Heck, I hear tell that there's some folks that even like... full underlugs. :uhoh:

[JohnBT]

I only have one stainless gun. Do you know why I bought a stainless Kimber Gold Match? Because I didn't like the quality of the blue on the ones I looked at.

I frequently regret that I didn't buy the blue one anyway. Heck, somedays I regret I didn't buy a Royal Blue Python instead. ;)

To each their own I guess. And stainless will rust.

John

[Plinkerton]

Heck, I hear tell that there's some folks that even like... full underlugs. :uhoh:

I like full underlugs! :D But ONLY on barrels 4" and under. Anything longer than that, and it starts to look strange. Except for that damn nice Colt in the picture above.

[DesertRat]

Well... I'm just the other way around. I have a STRONG dislike of stainless, nickle or chrome revolvers. True, bluing does not hold up great to hard use; however, there's just something about a nicely worn and patinaed revolver, especially the single actions.

[SouthpawShootr]

Nothing warms my heart like a beautiful, richly polished blue job. Sure stainless is great for knock around carry, but, in my view, no stainless finish can touch even the most mediocre blue job S&W has ever put out as far as aesthetic appeal is concerned.

BTW, I like a good, aged nickel finish also.

[JohnKSa]

I love blued guns with wood furniture.

But my strong sense of aesthetics combined with the fact that I actually shoot my guns keeps me from buying a lot of blued/wood guns.

Sure a blued gun with wood furniture looks great--WHEN IT'S NEW--or when it's been babied for its entire existence! Unfortunately after some real world use, they tend to look like crap.

I buy stainless and synthetics when they're available.

[joab]

There is nothing more beautiful in the gun world than a deeply blued revolver with walnut stocks, except maybe a slightly worn case hardened frame against royal blue with ivory or stag grips.
But I can't afford that and don't have the time or inclination to baby anything so I settle for SS in most of my guns.

Nickle is cool sometimes and chrome is an abomination, except in .38 super

[Cosmoline]

Stainless revolvers do seem to be "colder" in deep cold than blued. I don't know if this is just me or if it's actually happening, but the only stainless revolver I ever took afield in the winter was a Single Six. It got so cold in the holster I couldn't touch it without finger burn.

[Marshall]

I like both and can't stand the look of some stainless.

The new Anaconda's for example, yuk! Some of Smith's offering have the worst stainless finish I have seen. IMO nothing beats a gorgeous blued gun. However, there are some high polish guns in stainless, not nickle, that look extraordinary, the following is one example............

King Cobra (http://www.collectorsfirearms.com/c1335.htm)

[Plinkerton]

That's a nice polish. I think those grips are some of the ugliest I've ever seen though. I've always hated those...

[Dr.Rob]

Doesn't matter what they are made of you have to clean 'em right.

Carrying a a blued gun next to your skin/sweat will wear the bluing off of it. I think a 'real' carry piece should be parkerized, nickel or stainless to ease the wear on the finish, but they ALL need proper cleaning and maintenance. Even old pocket guns were commonly nickeled. An old Blue Colt with some honest holster wear is still awfully good looking.

Can't picture a stainless Colt Navy 36... something just wrong about that.

Glossy stainless looks cool, but it's hard to see the front sight sometimes.

Buffalo horn is tough stuff... and makes very good grips on old, and new six guns.

[VonFatman]

I don't have but one stainess gun...a Ruger Mk 2.

All my Smiths are blue or nickel.

I imagine I'll have a 629 some day, but I prefer the "blues".

The older guns seem to "fit 'n feel" better to me...just an opinion.

Bob

[Marshall]

That's a nice polish. I think those grips are some of the ugliest I've ever seen though. I've always hated those...

Yea, I nice set of Rosewoods would look real good! But those stock grips sure feel good!

[COK]

I like both types depending on the model of gun, but if I could only have one - a deep blue with wood grips does it for me.

[R.H. Lee]

I like blued guns. I've seen some 75-100 years old, still with good blueing on them. Probably modern blueing is even better. You really have to be negligent IMO to allow a blued gun to rust to any degree so as to actually pit the metal.

[torpid]

I have a "target grey" finish sp-101 that I really love the look of instead of bright stainless or dark blued.

Uh-oh, am I a pariah now?

[Poohgyrr]

It is hard to beat the beauty of a good blue finish, like the old Colt Royal Blue, or the deep bluing I've seen on some old Smith revolvers or on some Hi Powers.

And don't tell anyone, but all that careful wipedown we do on the bluing isn't really a chore - it is enjoyment and pride. ;)

This Detective Special looks much better in person and with the cherrywood Fitz grips I just put on:
http://img30.exs.cx/img30/866/DickSpec_lft.th.jpg (http://img30.exs.cx/my.php?loc=img30&image=DickSpec_lft.jpg)

[Magnum88C]

Given a choice, I'll pick the blued gun over the stainless, although I think part of this is because they're becoming scarcer. If I find a blued gun i like and have the money, I'll snatch it up. I happen to like the "holster wear" look of old blued wheelguns (and semi autos for that matter).

The biggest problem I have with stainless is the manufacturers have gotten lazy. I mean, how hard is it to get an even bead blast or "brushed" finish? Maybe part of the attraction of the blued guns is that people actually put some effort into a decent polish job before blueing.

[slick6]

I like both blued and stainless revolvers! However, I have never fired any of my blued revolvers, out of fear of damaging the bluing(Especially, on the front of the cylinder!)whenever attempting to clean off the firing residue! Since I'm a "Newbie" as a "Shooter" with no experiece with gun cleaning(After firing)I would really like to have someone experienced(At cleaning blued revolvers)explain how to clean off the front of the cylinder, without removing the bluing? And(If this is possible?)then, please specify, what cleaning products you recommend, to accomplish this feat? I do have a pretty "Blued"(1973 vintage)S&W M10-6 that I would love to shoot-but, I don't want to mess-up that pretty factory bluing?

[Marshall]

Slick6,

Hoppes #9 will be fine on your blued guns. i've never had a problem with it on any of mine whether they are revolvers, pistols, rifles or shotguns.

[slick6]

Marshall:

When using Hoppes #9, what do you use to scrub the front of a blued cylinder, to apply this solvent(To avoid removing the bluing?)a patch-or? Thanks!

[JohnKSa]

However, I have never fired any of my blued revolvers, out of fear of damaging the bluingThis simultaneously explains why I will never own a blued revolver, and why there are blued revolvers in very good condition on the market.

[JohnBT]

You know, you can have them reblued if you wear the finish off. Blued guns have been sold in vast numbers for well over 100 years and there're plenty of nice ones around. Stainless guns OTOH are a fairly recent innovation as guns go.

Stainlesss...ho hum...and it isn't a finish and it will rust.

I was reading an article the other day that quoted a very well-known custom gun maker on what it takes to put a high blue finish on a gun like you'd find on a 1913 Colt revolver. He said it's all in the quality of the polish and you're talking $800 worth of labor at $20 an hour just for the hand polishing. No wonder the makers are pushing flashy stainless models on the public.

Just call me old fashioned. My idea of a decent finish is the Carbonia blue wire-brush finish on the Colt WWI repro. It's done in a gas furnace the way steel was finished in the old days. Otherwise, give me hardchrome. :)

John

[JohnKSa]

Nobody refinishes guns for free--I've HEARD that a really good bluing job might cost as much as $800. ;) And a refinished gun that is put to use will soon have worn finish again.

Sure, stainless isn't completely rust proof--but it is a LOT more rust proof than any blued finish I have encountered. I have had exactly one stainless gun rust--I fixed it for free in a few seconds with some steel wool and now it looks good as new...

If I bought guns to show them off or to put in cases, I'd have a lot more blued guns. I buy mine to shoot, carry and otherwise be used. Ain't gonna buy no guns where half the cost is an expensive and fragile finish...

[Majic]

Slick,
just use an old toothbrush to clean with Hoppes, or if there is a coating of lead then use a brass brush with the Hoppes. The brush isn't hard enough to harm the bluing.

[JohnBT]

Hey John, Mr. Bowen's quote in the article was $800 for just the polishing...the bluing was extra. :) But there's nothing like a properly finished gun.

I think about bluing the way I think about tires and wiper blades - maintenance items. The Carbonia finish from www.ronsgunshop.com is only $175 plus any required cleaning, polishing, disassembly, etc.

John...who owns a Kimber Stainless Gold Match & a Colt WWI repro & a hardchromed P-32.

[slick6]

Majic:

I was also, wondering about how the Break-Free bore cleaner might work, to clean off the front of a "Blued" cylinder(Without damaging the bluing)? I don't mean the Break-Free CLP-but rather, the stronger Break-Free bore cleaner(Since it says on the bottle, that it is milder than most gun solvents-yet, is similar to their normal, Break-Free CLP(But, is stronger, in the "C"(In the "CLP")? What do you think-and, how do you feel this would compare with the Hoppes #9? Thanks!

[Majic]

Most any gun cleaning solvent will work. Hoppes is usually referred to because it has traditionally been the standard of gun cleaners.
Bluing is a lot tougher than a lot of people give it credit. Just don't use a steel brush, which will scratch thru the bluing, or the lead removal cloths, which will also remove bluing and you will be fine.
While some people want their firearms to constantly look brand new, the fact remains more firearms are damaged from over zealous cleanings by owners than most anything else (no matter the finish or what it's constructed of).

[Poohgyrr]

Otay, a nonreflective stainless is more "practical" but it's ugly!! Here is a stainless J Frame that works well, and only its' owner could think of it as looking good. :rolleyes:

http://img49.exs.cx/img49/4618/M640-1.jpg

[Marshall]

Majic nailed it, I just use a toothbrush with the Hoppes #9 if I need something more than a patch.

[MICHAEL T]

BLUE! BLUE! BLUE! :cuss: