Bluing wearing off on Beretta Stampede?

[ProtoformX]

I recently got a matched pair of Philadelphia Centenial Beretta Stampede's.

I'm on the CA 10 day wait to bring the first one home, but they let me shoot it at the range. I shot it, ran a bore snake through the bore, wiped most of the carbon off, and came back today (three days later) and the blueing on the handle is not blue and not shiny anymore.

Was this from fingerprint oils? Or hand sweat? Is it common for bluing to turn bad like this if you don't wipe a gun down thoroughly?

Any ideas on what caused this, how best to prevent it, and if I can possibly get the finish touched up? Thanks in advance.

 

[Old Fuff]

I suspect they may be what Uberti/Beretta call "charcoal blue." but is closer to "Nitre Blue" (also called "fire blue"). Both are pretty and sometimes used on commemorative guns intended for display. Unfortuately they are fragile and wear quickly.

I would contact Beretta and see if they might be willing to reblue the parts in question, but if they use the same process it will quickly wear again.

 

[ProtoformX]

It looks like a metallic steel blue instead of the black most blued firearms looks like. Does this sound like what you're talking about?

I intend to shoot and handle these guns a lot, so is there going to be a problem in regards to keeping these firearms maintained? Are they gonna corrode or fall apart on me if it is the kind of bluing you're talking about? Or is it purely going to be a cosmetic issue?

I can live with it if it's a cosmetic issue, but I don't want these puppies rusting away on me.

 

[Old Fuff]

Well on another thread there was some discussion about how EVERY gun is made to be shot, and it's WRONG to not shoot each and every one!!!

Well you have just met the exception. Commemoratives are generally made to be displayed and/or collected - not necessarily to be used and fired.

However you need not panic, as under the fancy finish the revolver is mechanically equal to the regular models. The issue you are up against is entirely cosmetic.

I doubt that you have to worry about rusting, and if it does come about the original blue won't be the cause.

You can protect the backstrap and trigger guard by giving them a good coat of automobile wax (not polish).

Or you can have the parts in question reblued using a regular hot-tank process, but the color won't match the rest of the gun, in particular the barrel, cylinder and ejector tube.

Then again, you could have the backstrap and trigger guard nickel plated for a more wear resistant finish and unique look.

 

[bruzer]

Get one of Rusty's Rags from the For Sale section on this very site.
http://www.thehighroad.org/showthread.php?t=543395
I just sent an email for mine. Let us know how it works out.
Mike

 

[ProtoformX]

Thanks for the info! I was hesitant to use these like normal guns at first... But I got them cheap enough, and I really can't resist shooting them. I'll talk to the guys at my local shop and see what they can come up with as well.

 

[Jim Watson]

I would keep it as clean as any other gun and not worry about normal wear.
Most commemoratives are of little significance and no lasting value even if not shot.
At one time you could buy a real Colt commemorative for less than a standard blue gun.

I see CDNN was blowing out Beretta single action commemoratives for $389 by breaking up pairs. You could get the pair for $779. That is well into plinking or CAS range no matter what the finish or inscription were.

 

[Old Fuff]

Most commemoratives are of little significance and no lasting value even if not shot. At one time you could buy a real Colt commemorative for less than a standard blue gun.

Very true, at least in most cases. But as this case illustrates "fancy finishes," that are often used more often then not don't hold up well to actual use. All of this represents nothing more then a cosmetic issue, but it's sometimes important that a buyer understand what's involved so they won't be disapointed later.

From another perspective, some CAS folks go to great lengths to make their guns look aged. Somewhere in this is a lesson....

 

[ProtoformX]

Haha! Very true, Old Fluff. I don't mind the aged look so long as lack of bluing doesn't mean my gun is gonna rust away on me. xP