Blue guns- never could stand 'em.

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WebHobbit

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Am I alone here when I say that I NEVER could stand blue guns and would never wanna own one?

I know people who really don't care what the finish is. I could never understand that.

To me blue is just so much harder to maintain it just isn't worth the hassle. I mean most people advocate "keeping a thin layer of oil on blued steel". That just seems nasty to have to keep a gun "wet" all the time. Especially on something kept for defense.

I also hate the way the drag line looks on a blued revolver. And many of my favorite cleaning agents would take the blue stuff right OFF.

I notice you don't see too many blued revolvers in shops anymore so I guess "most" people prefer stainless as well?
 
I don't know...

Maybe it's because I am still relatively young, and new to revolvers, but I don't have much issue with blue guns. I have heard that they are more likely to show holster wear, but I guess that doesn't bother me...makes a gun look used...well loved.

I kind of think that the GP-100's look nice blued. My SP-101 is stainless because it's the only finish it comes in.

My only issue are the really shiny nickle plated guns...just not my style...
 
Just the opposite here, I like blue guns and hate stainless. Nickle to me is hideous. I have never had any trouble maintaining the blued finish on any gun, and I take blue guns into some NASTY environments.

All that ^^^ said, my main HD/carry gun is full hard chrome w/stainless small parts just to eliminate the chance of rusting with minimal care and hard use.
 
I'll have to check S&W's site again but I think a whole lot of blued guns were discontinued. Not that ya can't still buy used.

edit: Just browsed through all of the .357s in the catalog & the only non-stainless were the alloy framed guns.
 
IMO, there is nothing quite like a beautiful deep blue on a gun. I used to like stainless guns more, but over time I have come to appreciate how beautiful well-done bluing can be... :)

pubimage.asp
 
I agree. I typically prefer the look of stainless, though really nice bluing is quite pretty. But that's a moot point as I'm a rust paranoiac and will never buy a carbon steel gun if stainless is offered. From a purely practical perspective, I see stainless as being empirically superior.
 
Being from Utah I don't worry about rust too much. It is so dry here that even my sweat evaporates very quickly from any of my guns. For example, I have a blued SIG 239 that I use for daily carry here in the Utah hot summers and the only thing on it that has rusted have been the cheap factory grip screws. SIG bluing is notoriously weak and I have been pleasantly surprised with my little 239. The rest of the gun gets a wipe down a couple of times a week with a silicon cloth and nothing more (except for when I am cleaning it after a shoot).


If I was living in Georgia, I might be more concerned... ;)
 
Is this a real arguement? For Pete's sake-next thing you know, we'll all be forced to use aluminum baseball bats!:D
 
I have a few stainless guns, but prefer the blue...especially the older examples that when cleaned up were just gorgeous!
Lately, I have seen some stainless guns that were absolutely UGLY.
To each his own!
 
Oh ****. Another instance where I'm unbeleiveably undecided.

Shotguns must be blue! .... although I like them with some shiny silver parts.

Rifles must be blue!.... but my Kimber 84M with the stainless fluted barrel is gorgeous.

Revolvers must be blue! ....but that stainless Vaquero is kinda neat.

Pistols (semi-autos) must be blue!....but my Kimer is two toned, my 2 Para's are stainless, my Colt is Nickel.:banghead:

:scrutiny:

I guess I have always liked the traditional blued gun. They are pretty, especially with wood stocks/grips. But the practical side of me has selected a lot of stainless offerings over the years since maintenance is not as critical.

"Hi I'm Smoke...."

"HI SMOKE" (in unison)

"...and I'm a gun neglector"

I guess I like them both. Blue looks nice, but so does stainless. Stainless is more forgiving for not cleaning as often and for fixing minor scuffs. Blue will last fine when cared for properly and for occasional shooters.

Would y'all please stop making me try to pick, one gun, caliber, finish, rifle, shotgun, etc.:)
 
For the most part I perfer stainless, but if its a revolver (with exception of the S&W 686) I want it blued, its just so purdy. :D
 
A lot of it depends upon the skill put into making the product, as I have seen ugly blue, stainless, nickel and so on. I have also beheld wonderous examples of each, and they can all be beautiful in their way. A finish is like a picture frame-it's not there to be admired, but to direct your eyes to the subject at hand.
 
Funny you should mention wood grips! I LOVE the way they look but I have seen several CRACK on carry guns.

Really sucks when you pay big bucks for wood grips and then they crack 6 months later! I'm guessing this is caused by carrying in varying temperatures?

So for me it's stainless revolvers with black rubber grips!

;)

Not too traditional I know.
 
Wood is going to crack based on the wrong cut, wrong cure, wrong fit. Plastic survives better, but a different character altogether
 
Hmmmm...I dunno about that. My buddy had some very nice and fairly expensive Hogue wood grips on his carry gun that cracked after a while and I doubt they were cut wrong or anything.
 
Carried a 1911A1 for over 20 years with wood grips hand fitted and never an issue. Hogue is not going to hand fit grips unless on special order, and they have to allow for some slop in the production of the pistol
 
It depends on how well they fit, how the grain runs through the grip, etc. Fitting grips on a 1911 is far easier as they are going on a flat surface with no significant curves.
Over tightening the screw can cause problems, as can the locating stud.
There are those who have owned Hogue grips and have used them for a long time without problems. But nothing comes off the assembly line perfect every single time. I happen to like Hogue's product because on average, they have a good product at a good price. Have a set myself on a stainless chief's special and they have done pretty well for the 3 years I've had them on it.
 
I really like blued guns. They seem to have character as the get used. Now for grips nothing beats Buffalo Horn for nice looks in my book.
 
My carry guns...the 442 and p7 are hard chromed for ease of care...they also look bigger when you point them at someone...but my safe queens, like my vintage hi-power, stay a gorgeous blue....for me it depends on the application....
 
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