Beginner's Collection

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Rubicon1851

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I'm pretty new here and just trying to soak up as much as I can from you'se that have been around the block once or twice.... here's my beginner's collection. After seeing a few of the polished steel pieces...I couldn't resist de-bluing; I'm thinking that over time and with regular use, proper cleaning and polishing, a beautiful and "natural" patina will result. I will be attempting Mike's grip modifications (for the Pietta Colt's) and only hope they turn out well. Diamondwhip did a helluva job. Hope I figured out how to post the pic..
 

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I really do like the stainless look with the brass frames. I wouldnt necessarily call that a beginners collection since you seemed to put a lot of tlc into those pistols, very nice!
 
With the right care and oil you'd be amazed at how long it takes to develop a patina. They'll darken and "grey" a little over the next few years but unless you neglect them then steel wool them back you can expect them to stay shiney for the majority of your lifetime.

I've got plain, unfinished tool projects I've made for my machine and wood working shops and the ones in the metal area still look pretty much the same as they did from when they first were finished. When I look at things I made last year and compare them to things I made 20 years ago they don't look any different thanks to being in an oily environment and thus being protected from corrosion.

Which brings up a point. The only "patina" they'll get, aside from handling scuffs. is going to be as the result of corrosion. Or rusting if you'd rather call a spade a spade. Because of what they are they will see some holster time and rain in all likelyhood. And that can often mean some beginnings of corrosion. The followup oiling and cleaning you do will halt that corrosion and result in the areas looking a little more blackish. But if you don't let them get wet for long or ignore them for years at a time then they may well never darken up to any noticable degree.
 
Patina is just another word for years of abuse. :D
Seriously though as mentioned if you clean and polish it all the time it won't change much in your life time. You could bury it in your back yard for a couple of years then dig it up and clean and polish it and it would look like some idiot took a wire wheel to it.
I have a reproduction 1873 SAA .45 Colt with a factory "antique" finish and it doesn't look anything like my original 1849 Pocket Colt in terms of colour.

I will include some pictures to illustrate my comments... the grips on the Pocket Colt are aftermarket but look better than the homemade grips that came with it.

New45Colt004.jpg

1849PocketColt004.jpg
 
Thanks guys... appreciate the feedback. I'm thinking I can live just fine with this polished-look for the rest of my days.
 
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