What’s wrong with the finish of this Taurus 85UL?

Tauruses are not typically known for fine craftsmanship or attention to detail. I would say it is probably just a inconsistent job of whatever they use to get the matte finish on their stainless stuff.

It looks like someone did a bead-blast job and the aluminum frame didn't hold up. Notice the cylinder, it's probably steel.

It looks to be sintered iron. It is what it is.

IMHO someone has removed the original coating and now the naked aluminium alloy is starting to oxidize.

I also "love" the boogered up cylinder release screw. The frame looks like what we used to call "underfill" in the forging industry - the raw stock (the "mult") was not quite big enough to fill out the die, and when the scale and excess material was removed from the forging, that's what the surface looked like.

It certainly doesn't look like a 'NIB' revolver to me. But then, maybe Bubba works for Taurus

It looks to be bead blasted-poorly. Also has the wrong grips on it, along with the boogered screw. I like the Taurus 85's, but you couldn't give me that one.

hope you meant ,as new, and not new. I'd leave that one alone unless you can get it for near nothing. Someone has been tooling on it and who knows what else they thought they were doing right. Check the trigger and make sure it doesn't have a shade tree filing job done on it.

Bubba refinished it.

So sad, too bad!

rc

IMHO someone has removed the original coating and now the naked aluminium alloy is starting to oxidize.

Agreed !

I think I'm wrong about the bead-blast. I just noticed the turn-ring on the cylinder. If they did the frame they would more than likely do the cylinder too.

The hammer/cyl & trigger are steel & if they did the affect of the material they used to blast with will have different/lesser affect than on the alloy frame, thus looking different .

I do see rounded edges & corners on the steel parts , blasted or recontoured ???

IMHO someone has removed the original coating and now the naked aluminium alloy is starting to oxidize.

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Perhaps, but they also blasted the cylinder which is stainless steel. I've been carrying MINE in my sweaty pocket off and on in coastal south Texas for 16 years, even slipped and fell a few times getting it salty wet, cleaned up after I got home and cleaned the fish, and it looks just fine. Someone has screwed it up. The Pachmayr Compac looking grip and the boogered cylinder latch screw tell me someone, probably an idiot, owned it.

Here's mine, only picture I have of it with my nickel Taurus 4" 66. There is a little boogering at the "Taurus Ultralite" below the cylinder where the gunsmith I had dovetail and install my black front sight had it in a vice, but you can see the paint in the lettering. Yours has been bead, sand, something blasted off, no black lettering. Your cylinder also looks more of a matte finish than mine telling me maybe it was also blasted. It didn't pit, but the aluminum alloy couldn't take the treatment. Might be able to buff it out, not sure.

I hope you can tell something from the pic since it's been downsized.

That is completely normal for a Taurus revolver. It's their new "POS" finish. It involves soaking the gun in salt water before shipping it.

Uh? Sarcasm or serious Taurus hater? Hard to tell.

Figure this thread to turn into yet ANOTHER irrational hate thread if it hasn't already.

One word for it.

PATHETIC.

MCgunner said:

Uh? Sarcasm or serious Taurus hater? Hard to tell.

Figure this thread to turn into yet ANOTHER irrational hate thread if it hasn't already.

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Well, what is there to like?
Maybe the price?
Is that all?

The gun is merely manifesting its own merit.
It either passes or fails. I would put this in the FAIL category.
If you happen to like that look, good for you. I certainly would not be proud to call that my gun!

Uh? Sarcasm or serious Taurus hater? Hard to tell.

Figure this thread to turn into yet ANOTHER irrational hate thread if it hasn't already.

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It's only irrational if a person's dislike for the company is based on internet posts and not first hand experience. Mine is based on the later, so I feel it is rational. You are right though, there are a lot of bashers out there who are just paroting what they have heard. Hence my jokes I post. I no longer go on rants, unless someone asks for details, because there are enough ranters out there.

I'm glad you've had good experiences with Taurus guns and like yours!

For me it's been 4 out of 4 bad revolvers (shot them myself but were owned by close friends). That's 100% bad experiences for me. It sounds like your experience has been the opposite though, so that's great!

It's true of any product. I love my Chevy and have had no problems with it. Others will swear that all Chevies are garbage.

You know the real shame to me is that I really love the look and feel of Taurus guns. I just don't trust them though based on my experiences.

Well, what is there to like?
Maybe the price?
Is that all?

The gun is merely manifesting its own merit.
It either passes or fails. I would put this in the FAIL category.
If you happen to like that look, good for you. I certainly would not be proud to call that my gun!

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The gun was abused. Someone bead blasted aluminum and knocked he coating off it. MY two guns and a 3" 66 blued I own are fantastic, better than any Smith I've owned in ACCURACY. One has an AS GOOD trigger as my three Smiths and the other, the little 85SSUL, is the best out of the box trigger I've ever felt. It's one of my carries. My only gripe was the shiny site (stainless). I liked the gun so much I had a black sight dove tailed to it. Maybe the guy that owned the OP's gun didn't like the shiny sight, either, and tried to bead blast to a matte finish? Who knows, but he screwed it up and it ain't the gun's fault.

Now, if you insist my Taurus revolvers are crap, I invite you to our range for some pepper poppers. I cleaned all the Smith and Wesson's clocks there last match I shot with my 4" 66 in the revolver category. It will shoot 1" groups at 25 yards off the bench with a 140 Speer in magnum brass or a .38 Wadcutter.

All I'm going to say on the brand subject. Current Smith and Wesson's are crap. I'll buy Taurus WAY before considering a Smith for a lot more, Hillary hole and all. My Smiths have all been older. I won't buy a new one. I will buy a new Taurus.

Ignacio49 said:

This 85UL is for sale in my country (not the U.S.).

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Interesting that it has US import markings on it.

Regardless of experience with Tuarus handguns,that really doesn't come into relevance here. It's obvious that this revolver has been tooled with by someone after the fact of manufacturer's production and did so poorly. If you can get it for under $100, say maybe $75, I'd grab it and do some smithing before considering it safe. Check trigger for filing, and springs,maybe replace them. Check the clocking and for solid cylinder lock when the hammer is cocked. Whenever the previous owner did that to the gun he made it near worthless. Imagine if someone took a newer car and used a wire brush to remove old paint,then used a brush on paint to re-due it. Don't be the sucker that pays mint retail for that gun. As new is a joke and anyone who would list it as such obviously cannot be trusted.

MCgunner said:

....better than any Smith I've owned....as my three Smiths....Current Smith and Wesson's are crap....

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I find it amusing that you feel compelled to compare it to Smith & Wesson guns, as I interpret from your post that S&W's are THE STANDARD by which other guns are rated!

Regardless of experience with Taurus handguns,that really doesn't come into relevance here. It's obvious that this revolver has been tooled with by someone after the fact of manufacturer's production and did so poorly.

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This is true. Thus I shall refrain from any further Taurus jokes.

All I'm going to say on the brand subject. Current Smith and Wesson's are crap. I'll buy Taurus WAY before considering a Smith for a lot more, Hillary hole and all. My Smiths have all been older. I won't buy a new one. I will buy a new Taurus.

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Just like I said, it's true of any brand. All of my Smiths are newer, and they have all been great, except for the price. Nice shooting by the way.

I apologize for posting the joke, as it clearly has steared this thread on the path to oblivion.

Until next time MC. I enjoy reading your posts as I typically agree with everything you say, but I know we'll go around again on the merits of Taurus QC. Enjoy your Tauri all, and good shooting. I'll stick with my Rugers and Smiths.

You know the one thing I didn't and I never hear anyone note is that while my experiences have been 100% bad, and yours MC sound like they have all been 100% good, we are both talking about a very very limited sample size when compared to how many Taurus guns are out there. I think we are on the oposite extreme ends of the bell curve. Hmmmm, lets buy a 1000 Taurus guns and a 1000 Smiths and 1000 Rugers and perform a statistical review!!!! If only we had the time and money..... The market would be a better place for all. Oh well. Until next time.

OP, the bottom line is..... Don't buy that gun! It has been mistreated!

It's a taurus...What did you expect? And yes. I am a taurus hater. If I want junk I'll go to a wrecking yard.