Ruger GP-100 redu

I recently traded for a Ruger GP-100 .357 mag that had been damaged by (reportedly) brake or carburator cleaner being splashed on it. Whatever the cause,it is in desperate need of a redu. At this point I haven't decided on the type of finish yet but my options are matte blue,high polish blue or a spray-on finish. While i can't verify it,I was told the gun was nearly new and had a very low round count. Here are the before pictures. I will up-date as this project progresses.

What a crime! Here's what mine looks like with the factory (what I'd call) high gloss blue: http://i306.photobucket.com/albums/nn268/RevDerb/Handguns/GP100VaqueroLCR008.jpg

RevDerb, I see your's has a red insert in the front sight where mine is solid metal. Did you swap out your sight or is that factory?

Ugh... thats a shame. I hope you got it for a decent price. I have seen similar things a few times. The culprit seems to have been those dessicant packs / water absorbers in the gunsafe. Whatever water those things collect is very nasty stuff. The container tips over somehow and the liquid inside it leaks and gets on the steel and if not caught early enough can pit the steel very deep. You have quite a job ahead of you. Did you check to make sure the bore is free from pitting / rust?

If it were mine I would sand blast , then glass bead blast, then go with a robar rogaurd type finish on the steel. It wont hide the pits but it may fill them in slightly.

It isn't pitted much,just is very unsightly. Any pits will become more evident after the remainder of the finish is removed. I would like to go back with high polish as was the original finish but may have to glass bead. The bore is in fine shape,damage is only on the surface. I traded a KP-90 in .45 acp for it.

I have used brake and carb cleaner on guns and not peeled the blue.
Maybe it was so degreased as to rust.

Now the grips would be a different matter.

Same here Jim. I've used such cleaners without any problems either but that's what the guy said did it. There is no rust,just missing blue.

I'll guarantee it wasn't brake cleaner. I keep a spray can in my pistol box and spray down blued revolvers while still at the range to make cleaning easy. Don't know about carb cleaner.

Brake cleaner shouldn't have done that....
That looks like a fine specimen for a nice bead blasted blue job... Kind of a satin... Not saying what you should do, it is your gun, but I like that look....

RevDerb, I see your's has a red insert in the front sight where mine is solid metal. Did you swap out your sight or is that factory?
I bought it previously owned and the guy that I bought it from installed it. I have the original as well.

Call Ruger Customer Service & ask , 1-603-865-2442

Agreed it was`nt plain brakekleen that stripped the blueing off.

Could he have soaked it in some form of brakekleen , carb kleen ??

It could have been a carburator cleaner called Chem-dip that we used years ago when rebuilding carburators. It came in a 1.75 gallon bucket with a parts basket for soaking parts. I KNOW that type of carb cleaner will damage bluing. Regardless of WHAT did it,the damage is done. I'm thinking bead blast matte blue with black rubber grips at this point.

Call Ruger Customer Service & ask Ask about what,GP100man? If you are referring to the front sight question,RevDerb has already answered that.

RevDerb, I see your's has a red insert in the front sight where mine is solid metal. Did you swap out your sight or is that factory?
The red sight insert is the stock sight on a super redhawk IIRC. It seems to be a pretty popular swap.

I had forgotten about this post until I received a private message about it. I no longer have this gun but I did glass bead it and hot blued it. Here is what it looked like when done.

Sweet. That's the way I would've gone on that one and it turned out looking strictly business.

The direct sunlight makes the color look lighter than it actually is.

Looks like you did a superb job jimmy ray, nice finish.