Rust on pocket carry 38 - options?

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brewer12345

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I have been pocket carrying a Taurus 85 for a few years. Today I noticed some rust on the cylinder (exterior), no doubt from being in my sweaty pocket and getting rubbed constantly. Should have bought the stainless version, but that ship has obviously sailed. I like this little revolver. What are my options? Obviously I could just ignore the rust, let it continue, and eventually demote this thing to a beater/truck gun. I imagine I could pick up a replacement ultralight Taurus or Smith in stainless for, what, $350 or so?

Another option is that my local shop does custom cerakoting. I could spend the hundred bucks and change to have them strip it and coat it. Would this allow pocket carry without rusting? I sort of wonder if Cerakote is that corrosion resistant.

Anything else I have not thought of?
 
You do realize pocket carry means inside a holster designed for such,correct? I assume you are in a humid climate if this is happening. Carry guns still have to be maintained, too. A quick external wipedown with <insert your favorite brand of gun oil here, as long as it's not WD40> , even once a week, will keep it from happening in the first place, or making it worse, in your case. You will have to keep re-oiling that spot form now on, or switch guns to a SS, (which BTW, the same is possible with) or Cerakote, though that is the last remedy I'd recommend.
 
Yes, this is in a DeSantis pocket tuk. I apparently missed that part of gun maintenance, but of course experience is a good teacher. I am in a dry climate (Colorado), so this is a combination of neglect and my sweat.
 
The blued cylinder on my S&W 442, carried in a leather IWB holster has rusted since day one. I wipe the gun down frequently and even oil the holster but I guess my ultra-corrosive sweat just eats away at it despite a dozen different products tried. I have thought about getting the cylinder Cera Koted but then I figured I might as well just get a stain-less 642 the next time they are on sale. I guess what I'm getting at is, buy a stainless gun if you don't rust want on a carry gun. I haven't been able to curb it yet. A horse hide holster is supposed to help too, that might be my next option to try.
 
I would consider Cerakote.

Check this video out:


I have Cerakote on one of my lever guns and I am very happy with it’s performance. I am getting ready to do an AR.
 
OP, I had the rust issue with my LC9S slide. I have since switched to carrying a Taurus 85 UL. This revolver has not shown any signs of corrosion after about 6 months of carrying it 16 to 18 hours per day every day. It's much lighter than the stainless version and still avoids the rust issues of a blued piece. I use a Bianchi IWB holster. I have never pocket carried though.
 
If there's quite a bit of rust and you're not that picky about perfect appearances...

You can sand it slowly and gently with super-fine sandpaper until all of the rust is gone. Afterwards, wherever the metal is bare or almost bare, just use some cold blue. The kind I used on my Single Six cost about $10 for a bottle and put a sort of mild blued finish on the metal.

The before and after pictures are both of poor quality. Sorry. The finish was originally in worse shape than you can see in the "before" picture. The end result looks better in person than you can tell in the "after" picture. The cold blue finish isn't nearly as nice as the original finish, but it's been 2-3 years and quite a few range trips, and the finish hasn't worn of, nor has the metal rusted anywhere.

Ruger Single Six Before

Ruger Single Six Before


Ruger Single Six 22lr after

Ruger Single Six 22lr after

 
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I've pocket carried blued guns in a DeSantis Nemesis in a humid climate for years. No problems.

I've been carrying daily for about 45 years. A carry gun is going to show some wear and tear. If you want it pristine don't carry it.
 
ontarget said:
OP, I had the rust issue with my LC9S slide. I have since switched to carrying a Taurus 85 UL. This revolver has not shown any signs of corrosion after about 6 months of carrying it 16 to 18 hours per day every day. It's much lighter than the stainless version and still avoids the rust issues of a blued piece. I use a Bianchi IWB holster. I have never pocket carried though.
Click to expand...
The UL won't rust easily since it's an aluminum frame. I carried one for 3 years in the pocket and while lint is always a concern with pocket guns that thing never rusted or showed signs of extreme wear
 
Like someone else mentioned, remove the rust with some brass wool. After that, just remember to oil regularly with a good rust inhibiting oil. The schedule will be different for every person and every gun. I like Eezox, CLP seems to be another common one.
 
brewer12345

I have found Flitz to work very well at removing surface rust without harming or removing the surrounding blued finish. It also leaves a protective coating which helps to keep the rust from coming back. If the rust continues to be a persistent problem I would suggest getting it hard chrome plated. Beretta reblued my Model 70S after I had a surface rust occurance with it. Needless to say the rust returned after it was refinished and I decided I wanted a finish that was longer lasting and very rust resistant. Had Ron Mahovsky of Metalife hard chrome plate it and it still looks like new nearly 40 years later!

Cqr6BsX.jpg
 
Just hit it with a brass brush till most of not all of the rust is, rub it with some oil ( hoppes, CLP and the like). And you’re done.
 
Spray with penetrating lubricant (I use P.B. Blaster), let sit 15 minutes; spray some also on #oooo wool, and rub semi-gently. You will feel the rust bits. Wipe it down well to remove any hint of rusty streaks, and keep it stored with a thin wipe down of ur favorite gun oil. Don’t forget inside the barrel and action. Here on the coast of N.E. Florida, a nicely blued gun and workings can go to hell just from the salt in the air inside the house, even in a safe!
A fine old collectable Safe Queen is not necessarily safe over time if not wiped down and re-oiled periodically. Do not forget any extras like spare magazines, either. Don’t be me, and learn the hard way. It involved an unused pristine mag to a fairly low-numbered original, boxed, and un-fired Sig Sauer
P210-6. I don’t want to talk about it.
 
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