[aspen1964]

..I recently bought my first pre-war Colt (a 1903 Hammerless)..and while the chemical-bluing on post-war Colts is quite beautiful..that true-blue-shaded blue of the gas-oven-fired finish is really striking to see...which is why I am near deciding to buy a NIB Colt Official Police fromn the mid-late 30s in absolute mint condition!!!...hard to resist, even at a fairly high price...

[Eightball]

Colt=Colt=Awesome guns. I have yet to meet a blued Colt that I didn't like

[Old Fuff]

Over the centuries Colt has used a number of different methods to bule guns. The gas oven procees was used from just before World War One until about 1939 or 40 when the ovens were removed to make way for Parkerizing tanks. Following the war they weren't replaced because the process was too labor intensive.

The resulting finish is a satin blue-blue, rather then a high polish black-blue, and during the years it was used it was unique to Colt.

As time goes by some people are starting to notice there is a difference.

[Kenneth Lew]

I recently bought a 1932 Colt Commercial 38 super in 70% condition (what was presented as). I can tell you, I love the finish.