How do you take your Dragoon? With mustard!!

[ShotgunDave]

I've been watching several member's refinishing posts, and it's got me to thinking. I really need to do something with my 3rd Model Dragoon. It's an older ASM pistol and it needs a little help.



It's not a bad shooter at all, it just needs a little help in the looks department.

At some point in it's life, the front sight became detached. It's been reinstalled by soldering it on. But in the process of soldering, the finish on the barrel was compromised. I will need to polish the solder off the barrel and refinish it.




Instead of rebluing it, which I think will look out of place, I'm going to artificially age the gun like J-Bar did with his ROA's. The bluing on this gun is sub-par at best, so I'm going to strip it and make it look old. I love the way J-Bar's ROAs came out and I'm going to try my best to duplicate what he did.

So I'm going to disassemble the pistol tonight and get it soaking in some white vinegar. Then tomorrow I'll start applying mustard. So if you'd care to follow along, I'll post pictures at each step and we'll see how it turns out together. Stay tuned....

 

[J-Bar]

Good luck with a courageous project! I’m eager to see your results.

 

[ShotgunDave]

Good luck with a courageous project! I’m eager to see your results.

Thanks J-Bar. I've been planning this since I saw your ROA's. It's about time I got busy!

 

[Jimkounter]

Watching with interest. The soaking in vinegar won't take long at all. A quick rub with steel wool and the finish will come straight off.

 

[ShotgunDave]

Sorry to keep you guys waiting. Been working on the Dragoon all morning. I took it all apart last night and degreased it. Put it in the vinegar bath this morning. This is where it is right now. It's just held together with a couple screws to get the full effect.
















So now it's going back apart and getting some mustard applied. We'll see how it goes!

One thing I see as a little stumbling block, the backstrap. I have always thought it was blued, but it appears to be blackened brass. It soaked in the vinegar for an hour and the blackening just laughed at it. I scrubbed with steel wool and all it did was polish it. I'll have to figure out something else to strip it.

 

[Jimkounter]

Blackened brass can often be cleaned up nicely with tomato ketchup. This could turn out to use every condiment in the kitchen!

 

[ShotgunDave]

Blackened brass can often be cleaned up nicely with tomato ketchup. This could turn out to use every condiment in the kitchen!

I'll try it!

I may have to cook a few hot dogs to go with this project. All these food items are making me hungry!

 

[expat_alaska]

Dave,

You took off a bit of the fancies on the right side of the wood!

Hot dogs with ketchup is not good.

Hot dogs with mustard is very good!

Wishing you the best with your project!

Regards,

Jim

 

[bannockburn]

ShotgunDave

So far with this refinishing process we've got vinegar, mustard, and ketchup. Any use for onions, relish, or chili, besides on the hot dogs?

Jim

Hot dogs with mustard is very good!

Hot dogs with mustard and ketchup are really, really good!

 

[ThomasT]

Hot dogs with ketchup is not good.

Yes they are. Now you made me want one.

So far with this refinishing process we've got vinegar, mustard, and ketchup. Any use for onions, relish, or chili, besides on the hot dogs?

You forgot Mayonaise. And Soy Sauce and Salsa. Are we gonna eat this gun or color it???

 

[expat_alaska]

ShotgunDave, so far with this refinishing process we've got vinegar, mustard, and ketchup. Any use for onions, relish, or chili, besides on the hot dogs?

You forgot Mayonaise. And Soy Sauce and Salsa. Are we gonna eat this gun or color it???

I gotta go eat dinner, but it ain't hot dogs! Fried chicken, mashed taters, gravy, and corn. Hot dogs are for my grandkids!

Jim

 

[4v50 Gary]

I would have left the frame and reblued just the barrel. Oh well. Good luck and keep us posted.

 

[ShotgunDave]

You guys crack me up! LOL! I have to agree though, catsup has no place on hot dogs!

I have gotten the pistol to the point that I really like it. I'm going to stop here for now, before I go overboard and then not like it. I think it looks just right.







Good eye Jim, I removed the brass eagles from the grips. They were a bit rough in the palm when shooting.

 

[drobs]

That is something alright.

 

[ShotgunDave]

I would have left the frame and reblued just the barrel. Oh well. Good luck and keep us posted.

Ordinarily I would have Gary. But in person, this gun needed help. Lots of corrosion on the frame that needed addressed.

 

[J-Bar]

Shotgun Dave;

I like it! Well done.

 

[ShotgunDave]

Shotgun Dave;

I like it! Well done.

Thank you Sir!

 

[bannockburn]

ShotgunDave

I like it too and if your satisfied with how it turned out that's all that matters!

 

[LonesomePigeon]

Looks good but maybe distress the grips a little bit. Hard to tell from the photos but it looks like the clear coat is still there. I would think a gun of that age would have most of it worn off.

 

[ShotgunDave]

Looks good but maybe distress the grips a little bit. Hard to tell from the photos but it looks like the clear coat is still there. I would think a gun of that age would have most of it worn off.

Yes Sir, you are absolutely correct. That is tomorrow's activity. Going to run to the store and get some Easy Off oven cleaner. Should take the clear right off.

 

[J-Bar]

Rubbing them on a brick wall works...

 

[Eyrie G. Dogg]

Lookin good, Shotgun.

 

[paul harm]

Catsup is for kids. Oh he!!, put some more mustard on it - go for the gusto. You can always do it over.