Blue guns- never could stand 'em.

[Blueduck]

Now I'm not saying blued gun with wood grips can withstand anything like a Glock 17 but...

A good blueing job like the older S/W's have seem to hold up better against rust than say the "ruff" blue guns like Sigs or the watered down paint Ruger calls "blueing"

I'd also note while my two blued 19's do in fact have the cylinder line and little spot at the muzzel you see most used revolvers with, BUT thats it, and I carry both of them in Kydex holsters.. My satin stainless 65 on the other hand shows every scratch, bump, and contact point it's ever had. I'm not the only one to notice this I think it was C.R. Sam or WESHOOT 2 who went into detail of the hardness of various steels and why this happened (and why they prefered blue guns).

On grips I've gone through several pairs of (off the rack) Stock S/W, Eagle and Ahernds wood grips and never ever had a pair crack. I do however have a stash of Pach's and Uncle Mikes that don't work properly anymore due to the "nut?" that recieves the grip screw coming loose. Also have a pair of rubber Houges that leave at least 1/3" of backstrap sticking out of my 65 so fit is an issue regardless of material used.

My factory plastic S/W auto grips are nice because they are thinner than wood grips can be but show more wear in 3 weeks than most wood grips would show in 3 years. My CCW wood grips don't "grab" my jacket every time I bend over like sticky synthetic grips. The slogon "Wood for show rubber for go" is proven wrong everytime Jerry Miculek one of the best revolver shooters ever hits the firingline with his prefered wood grips.

Nothing wrong with stainless and synthetic of course just pointing out blued and wood have their points...

 

[WonderNine]

I like stainless alot, but the biggest thing I dislike about stainless guns is the extra weight compared to carbon steel.

I prefer hard chrome finish over everything else as you get the benefits of stainless steel, with the lighter weight and extra strength of carbon steel.

Nickel? Yeccchh!

 

[gold_cup]

I think that there is nothing finer than a well blued firearm.

The old Colt Royal Blue Python or the job that Smith and Wesson did on the old model 27s with their checkered topstraps.

I never liked nickle, too shiny for me. Stainless is just nice to carry for the little extra corosion resitance.

 

[Gerald McDonald]

High polished blue for me thank you. Never had a pair of wood grips crack. Stainless is okay for a rough condition carry gun such as hiking or what I use when surf fishing (under the waders) but for everyday carry I prefer blue.
Gerald

 

[ElmoH]

Personaly, I like both, My favorite handgun that I own is a blued 5.5in 45colt Ruger Blackhawk fitted with a stainless steel bisley grip frame.

 

[ftw46]

I have a 20 year old S&W model 37 that still has deep beautiful blue and no rust. That is remarkable because I carried this gun stuck in the front of my pants, next to bare skin, with a barami Hipgrip holding it in place. This was during 100 degree Georgia summers.

I have also carried blued rifles and pistols all during the hunting seasons in all kinds of weather with no problems.

I believe the only reason a blued gun will rust is if it is put up damp. I wipe mine down every night with gun oil which has been CLP for years.

I do own a stainless revolver and would probably buy another as they are so readily available everywhere but do not let the worry of rust prevent you from owning a blued gun.

Also keep in mind that stainless will also rust if neglected, just not as easily!

 

[WebHobbit]

ElmoH - me and you have got to photograph that gun (and the rest of 'em) and get some pics online!

 

[ElmoH]

Roger that little buddy.

 

[Mike Irwin]

Me, I can't stand stainless steel or nickle-plated guns.

Shiny & silver just doesn't have any character, any soul.

 

[Mannlicher]

You might not be alone, but you are certainly in small company. Kind of silly if you ask me; a rant about gun finishes.

 

[WonderNine]

Kind of silly if you ask me; a rant about gun finishes.

This is a gun discussion board

 

[Neal Bloom]

Got a few revolvers and pistols but only one is stainless and that is the SP101. Sure wish they made it in blue. Some like em blue, some like em stainless.

 

[Frenchy]

Although my duty gun is a 686, all of the rest of my Smiths are blued. There is a little more effort involved in keeping them nice, but it's worth it.

 

[Ala Dan]

Greeting's Web-

I dearly LOVE factory blued, quality handgun's. As a matter
of fact, I much perfer them to stainless steel handguns any
day! And the way I see it, nickel plated handguns are for
Sunday (daylight hours ONLY) carry.

Best Wishes,
Ala Dan, N.R.A. Life Member

 

[Mike Irwin]

"Kind of silly if you ask me; a rant about gun finishes."

You're absolutely right. We shoudl be ranting about things like...

Which is better, 9mm or .45?

Pachmayer or Hogue rubber grips?

Smith or Colt?

This IS a gun discussion board, after all...

 

[DCR]

Blue for me. Must be how I was raised - fond childhood memories of spinning and buffing barrels, parts and screws, getting just the right mix of salts in the tanks, getting them to just the right temperature, dunking them for just the right length of time, pulling and setting, then putting them all together in a fine piece of walnut I'd spent hours sanding, whiskering, staining and sealing, and admiring the finished piece.

It makes you respect the hard work and talent of those who made the great ones. I don't think you get that kind of appreciation of the efforts from stainless and rubber.

Dad's way was and is my way; doesn't make it right - just my opinion.

 

[Zorro]

Blued S&W AND Rugers are WAY! smoother trigger pulls than any stainless steel gun yet made.

SS Guns for sloppy cleaners!

 

[Guy B. Meredith]

Well, I absolutely am impressed with a beautiful deep blue job I have seen on some revolvers, but would have to buy one only for a show piece. I destroy even the finest blue job just looking at it.

If I had the choice based on appearance without worry about wear, blue would win out every time.

 

[valnar]

I don't like blue mainly because of the rust & care factor. However, having all stainless guns is quite boring too, especially when you want a darker finish (although not necessarily blue).

Despite the fact this is a revolver forum, I've had excellent results with those aftermarket industrial strength finishes on my SIG pistols. I bought them blue, but sent it to Arizona Response Systems to get them coated with Metacol III. I now have a beautiful satin-black finish with no upkeep worries.

-Robert

 

[Edward429451]

I got nothing against stainless guns. I just like blued guns better. Cleaning them & keeping them wiped down is no big deal.

Stainless guns get the cylinder line too. Just less pronounced. I never had wood grips crack on me, maybe you all are over tightening the grip screw??

 

[MR.G]

I prefer stainless because it is easier to maintain. Minor wear and scratches can be buffed away. A little Flitz and a rag can make a stainless gun look berrer than new.

 

[Braz]

I just got my 1st stainless gun,

And for all the reasons stated above, but I'd rather have a deep richly blued revolver. Bluing or case coloring has character, even with wear. But stainless materials could be aluminum or plastic unless they're polished. And I never liked the looks of parade guns (no offense meant, SP). But it looks like stainless is the future.

 

[mr e man]

I dont like stainless in either auto's or revo's . They reflect light, and in a tight spot I may not want to be spotted... Of course, if I get a boat gun for the boat I dont own , I will think that one over...

Stay safe...

 

[Poohgyrr]

I like my revolvers (S&W, of course) blued with wood grips. If stainless, it needs to be a satin or bead blast type finish.

My Hi Powers (is there any other kind of Auto?) should be blued or park'd.

And wood grips shouldn't crack if properly made and not abused.

(Ducking behind cover now.)

 

[tex_n_cal]

I am flexible about it, I have blued & stainless, and pay more attention to the gun than what finish has been applied. Never had a gun rust so I guess my maintenance is okay.

I had a nickeled M29 some years ago, but found it tended to scratch easily (and show every scratch). Don't think I'd go for nickel now, unless there was a really good reason to buy the particular piece.