Blued vs. Stainless revolver values

While there are valuable stainless guns around,there are more valuable/collectable blued guns out there because older guns were blued carbon steel, and not made of stainless. Bluing can be much prettier and lustrous, and is more difficult to maintain in pristine condition, so it is of greater value to many. Stainless is seen as being utilitarian and modern, so is generally a bit less desirable to the collector types, from what I understand.

What MIL-DOT said. Although, there are certain stainless guns that have become valuable in their own right. The S&W Model 66, particularly the no dash guns, comes to mind.

A nickel gun in good condition will draw a small premium over blue in most cases.

MIL-DOT said:

While there are valuable stainless guns around,there are more valuable/collectable blued guns out there because older guns were blued carbon steel, and not made of stainless. Bluing can be much prettier and lustrous, and is more difficult to maintain in pristine condition, so it is of greater value to many. Stainless is seen as being utilitarian and modern, so is generally a bit less desirable to the collector types, from what I understand.

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Given choice when buying used I will take "stain resistant" EVERY time, but unlike some I do not count number of pins in the frame. I do not mind non-pinned barrels, locks, MIM parts either. I prefer S&Ws because I can fix them myself with spare parts which are readily available.

It depends on what it is specifically but blued guns tend to carry higher values. With nickel carrying a premium over that. Stainless guns, for the most part, are more common and pedestrian but there are always exceptions. As always, condition is a big factor but something like a well worn Colt New Service Target will almost always be worth more than a minty late model 686.

Many factors involved. Is a mid-80's model 19 with fair bluing that is not P&R worth more than a stainless model 66 no-dash P&R in good condition? I would say no. Date of manufacture, condition of finish, P&R, grip condition all play a part. To blanket statement of bluing is worth more than stainless, I disagree.

Date of manufacture, condition of finish, P&R, grip condition all play a part. To blanket statement of bluing is worth more than stainless, I disagree.

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Obviously a blued gun in poor condition will typically be worth less than a minty stainless gun. Obviously some stainless guns will be worth more than some blued guns. I don't think anybody made such a blanket statement.

Value, just like beauty, is in the eye of the beholder.

But in general, I agree with MIL-DOT in post #2.

Looking on gunbroker, prices asked for mint 19's and 66's are just about equal, no bids, but equal asking prices. Now, both models that do have bids are about the same when the 19 is blued vs nickel, which will draw a premium.
My point was all things being equal (model year, P&R, finish condition, function condition, grip condition etc) I don't see a premium for blued over stainless. Same can be said for other models like my 64 in stainless vs the model 10 in blue...no appreciable difference in selling price at same condition. I have blued, nickel and stainless revolvers, so I have all dogs in the fight.

Try & keep all the nicks/scratches /blemishes off a hi polished SS gun .

It can`t be done , that`s why 99% of SS guns are a brushed/satin finish .

& can be touched up with a brush/pad that`ll match the grain !

"In general terms", and especially "in terms of collectibility", it is utterly irrelevant, unless you are comparing otherwise-identical firearms. It's like asking whether certain percentages of rag content are more desirable than others in philately...

GP100man said:

Try & keep all the nicks/scratches /blemishes off a hi polished SS gun .

It can`t be done

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I have factory bright King Cobra shooters that still look like new.

FWIW, right now stainless Pythons are commanding a premium over blued guns.