my "new" old Colt Diamondback. To re-blue or no?

1) put the dremel down and never ever pick it back up


2) if you are going to carry it, i would leave it as is, its only going to get more scuffed up later on


3) i wouldnt try to reblue it yourself. the various cold blues on the market are purely cosmetic and will rub off fairly quickly if you do carry it.

I'd want to ascertain functioning and accuracy before even considering a re-finish.

Remember that $325 is before any replacement parts are counted should they be necessary.

Are you the kinda guy that once you re-finish will feel it needs to have factory grips? If so, there's that.

Me? Considerations worked out, I'd re-finish it and still shoot/carry it.

Maybe you've seen some custom versions that tripped your trigger - then this is a great one to customize-engrave-port or bob.

I would leave it as is until it's ready to retire. I have a tendency to worry about every little scuff or scratch on a refinished gun.

You didn't state what you paid for the gun but I'd take that figure, add in the $325 plus shipping and repair contingency, then see what you could buy another gun in the same condition for. It's been my experience that you will be hard pressed to get even a dime out of any refinishing expense should you decide to sell the gun.

To add my 2 cents... 2.5" Diamondbacks are nice finds and somewhat less common than the other Diamondbacks. Their value will remain quite high and no doubt increase, as they aren't making any more of them. They are pricing well North of $1,000 right now, with LNIB and NIB models in the $2,000. - $3,500.

(http://www.gunbroker.com/Auction/ViewItem.aspx?Item=316536976)

If you do refinish, I would definitely have it done by Colt. While refinishing does diminish market value, a Colt refinish will be as correct as you can get. I personally prefer the Colt walnut service grips to what's on there now. Just because you will carry it, you can still make it look great and take pride in a fine Colt classic.

Here is mine that I have stashed away.

I would let Colt refinish it and pay what it costs to get factory grips.

jimbombo said:

Here's where you get to hate me! It was a freebie. Guy I was trading for another revolver, threw this one in on the trade! !!

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Now you are cooking with gas! For free that sucker would be on the next UPS truck to Colt!

Congrats, I'm green with envy

I think this is one of those scenarios where a Colt refinish will in fact not diminish the value given its current condition.

Were one to set this pistol as-is on a table and another which Colt had refinished next to it - I'm fairly certain that the Colt finished pistol would go for more.

Then there's the fact that for you - the only money you'll have into it is the finish and grips.

Who gives a toss whether another person down the road says "Too bad it's a re-blue - that hurts the value" as they'll have never known it was in such sorry shape beforehand.

This one looks like a toad. Re-blue and dig the aging of the finish over the years rather than continue on with a pistol lookin' like it was carried in a holster made of nails.

Another way to look at it is get it blued if only to protect it given all the to-the-bone scratches currently in it.

I don't know that Colt does a better job than Ford's

perhaps you should sell it to me

because I LOVE Diamondbacks

and I would give you a nice profit

and it a good home

1) put the dremel down and never ever pick it back up

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+1!

Now that I've focused on the hammer ding I'm having second thoughts. I'm moving back to just enjoy shooting it. Or sell it to Guillermo since he just upped my finders fee

Btw

I LOVE my DB snub

I wouldn't refinish it

Just shoot and carry, it is one of, if not the finest snub revolvers ever produced.

Shoots like a 4 inch target gun, carries like a detective special


The Ford's master polish and carry is 275

jimbombo

If it were me, I would want to see if Colt could bring it back somewhat more in line with what it looked like when it left the factory.

It's going to take more than sanding and polishing to fix that. Most likely some welding. I would contact Colt's customer service and ask.

I'm not fond of reblues, but this is one where a factory job will only help. If you're looking at collector value, stick with Colt. Most Colt collectors won't touch a non-Colt reblue, no matter how good it is.

If you have it reblued and you carry it, it will start to wear and will get beat up from every day use. I would give it a good scrubbing and try to wear it out shooting it. Either way you go, you have a Snake and thats something to be proud of.



There are no gun problems that can't be made worse with a Drimmel tool.

Send it to Colt.It will come back looking like a million bucks.They only reason why anybody would think it was re-blued cause it looks so good!You do this and you well never sell it.

While refinishing does diminish market value, a Colt refinish will be as correct as you can get.

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Right now, genuine Diamondbacks are running upwards of $1,000. If you have it reblued, you are paying $335 to turn a thousand dollar gun into an eight hundred dollar gun.

genuine Diamondbacks are running upwards of $1,000

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not in that kind of shape and being a post 1980 model.