Brand new yet rusty Uberti.

[Savage.250]

I have decided last December on purchasing a Uberti 1873 Cattleman, Old Model, .45 Colt, Old West finish, 4 3/4 inch barrel.

I did find a dealer in the Twin Cities (Minnesota) who ordered one w/o obligation of purchase or down payment. Upon inspection this gun had rust on it; inside and out. I want the "Old West" finish so I am not concerned with a tiny bit of surface rust. My main concern is that this gun had rust IN the bore of the barrel and was extremely stiff in the operation of the action. The feed gate's initial opening required a prying effort with the thumb. The ejector rod Needless to say I chose not to spend $460 on a new yet rusty revolver.

I have seen a couple of these Ubertis with the "Old West finish" at gun shows w/o a bit of rust on them. Their operation and mechanics were smooth and sound with NO rust. I have been told by two different dealers that this is all an acceptable part of the antiquing process. I refuse to believe this is acceptable (or safe) and am afraid to special order one again. I have heard good things about the Uberti Cattleman and I'm not ready to give up. Has anyone heard of or had similar experience?

 

[McCall911]

I have decided last December on purchasing a Uberti 1873 Cattleman, Old Model, .45 Colt, Old West finish, 4 3/4 inch barrel.

I did find a dealer in the Twin Cities (Minnesota) who ordered one w/o obligation of purchase or down payment. Upon inspection this gun had rust on it; inside and out. I want the "Old West" finish so I am not concerned with a tiny bit of surface rust. My main concern is that this gun had rust IN the bore of the barrel and was extremely stiff in the operation of the action. The feed gate's initial opening required a prying effort with the thumb. The ejector rod Needless to say I chose not to spend $460 on a new yet rusty revolver.

I have seen a couple of these Ubertis with the "Old West finish" at gun shows w/o a bit of rust on them. Their operation and mechanics were smooth and sound with NO rust. I have been told by two different dealers that this is all an acceptable part of the antiquing process. I refuse to believe this is acceptable (or safe) and am afraid to special order one again. I have heard good things about the Uberti Cattleman and I'm not ready to give up. Has anyone heard of or had similar experience?

Hmm...don't suppose that MN dealer ordered that particular gun from NOLA, could he?

 

[Standing Wolf]

I have been told by two different dealers that this is all an acceptable part of the antiquing process.

I've been told by more politicians than that that we can't afford our civil liberties in these modern times, too.

In plain English: rust on firearms is never acceptable.

 

[Old Fuff]

I have never quite understood why collectors will pay tens of thousands, (sometimes hundred’s of thousands) of dollars to buy an original 19th century firearm in perfect “like new” condition, while a shooter pays extra to have the finish stripped off of his modern-day reproduction to make it look beat and worn out…

The ageing process used by some involvers a certain amount of rusting, and if the metal isn’t neutralized the rusting can come back and start again while it is being shipped from the maker to the distributor, then to the dealer, and finely the ultimate buyer.

Frankly, if I want an “Old West” finish I prefer to do it myself for some of the reasons you outlined. The bore and chambers should be protected, as should most of the lockwork.

I think there may be a presumption in some quarters that these guns will be used for display, and that internal rust isn’t consequential.

I can only suggest that you completely disassemble your gun (including the nipples) and soak the parts in a good penetrating oil for about a week. Then wipe off the access and reassemble the gun. Internal parts that don’t show should be polished first, as should the bore and chambers.

 

[ulflyer]

Old Fuff: you've caught me out...I like the looks of the "Old West" Uberti's and I'd like to pick up a used one and age it, but am not too sure of what process to use. Have had one person tell me he used a buffing wheel to wear down the bluing to the desired look, but not sure what ingredient he used on the wheel. Wonder if one of the browning solutions might work instead? Any ideas? I know this is a real crap shoot; prob wind up with a gun I can't give away....maybe I best cough up the money and get one already done.

 

[Old Fuff]

First you have to buy a pick-um-up truck and a chain to attach to the six-shooter...

Seriously, decide if you just want finish wear, or that "badly rusted but then cleaned" look.

Then go to a supermarket a buy a toilet bowl cleaner called “So-Bol” (my spelling may be off but it should be close). This stuff will strip blue if it gets anywhere near it so be careful not to touch anything that you don’t want to strip while using it, and wear rubble gloves.

After disassembling the gun set aside the internal parts that you don’t want to strip. Then wipe off the parts you do want to strip with a good degreaser.

Use a cotton ball to swab on the bowl cleaner, and the blue will disappear before you’re eyes! Uneven swabbing will help with the aged look. Of course avoid the bore and chambers. When done, flush everything with hot water, dry, and oil. If the metal looks too dull, hand rub it with a course cloth.

Practice on some scrap stuff first...

If you want a little rust, just grease the bore and chambers, and then degrease the rest. Then swab the surface with some salt-water and put it in a damp-warm place. Or you can use browning solution but not clean it off, just let it set. Again use the bowl cleaner to remove the “brown look” when you’re done. Rust you will get, so watch it.

For the battered look put the parts and some gravel that’s large enough so that it can’t get into the bore and chambers and put it and the gun parts (less small lockwork) into a HEAVY cloth bag that is sealed. Put all of this in to a clothes dryer and let it tumble at low speed. Frankly, I don’t go that far, but some do.

Remember that when these guns were being used during the 19th century they weren’t all that finish-worn. For the most part they were carried in full-flap holsters (you should study some old photographs) and while the finish might become worn, people – then as now – didn’t abuse their life insurance. It was after they became obsolete that they were neglected and became rusted or battered. I have handled many original revolvers where much of the finish was gone, and the varnish was worn off of the grips (you can use paint remover), but other then that there was no evidence of abuse or neglect.

None of this is particularly hard too do, nor is it expensive. Why pay someone else too do it, and get a poor job too boot.

 

[Onmilo]

I have ordered 'Old West' finished Uberti firearms for customers and they all had a small amount of surface rust as they came from the packaging.

The shop I work for will clean a firearm before transfer for a very nominal sum if requested and the guns you saw at the show probably had this done before being exhibited while your personal pistol was seen as it came from the packaging.

Clean the gun well with a good solvent, inside and out and lightly oil.
I like M-Pro 7 CLP or lubricating oil for this kind of work.
Don't worry too much about the rust in the bore, it probably wasn't there long enough to do any real damage.

 

[The Real Hawkeye]

I have an Uberti Cattleman that I bought in the late 1990s. I got it with the kind of bluing that is actually blue in color. According to them, there was such bluing and it looked authentic. This kind of blueing, however, comes off with hand sweat, and very quickly takes on a well worn look just from handling, shooting and cleaning it a few times. Mine looks like a well used old gun that was never abused. Unfortunatly, it shot way to the left. I should have had this professionally corrected, but I had read an article about bending the front sight as an adjustment, and that's what I did. Can't tell by looking at, unless you look real close, but I wish that I knew then that a smith can simply turn the barrel a little to adjust the sight. Anyway, have fun with the project.

 

[MinScout]

I bought a Uberti flattop last fall. What do you guys mean by "old west finish"? Could you show a pic? I'm planning on shooting black powder handloads in mine. It should look plenty "old west" after that.

 

[The Real Hawkeye]

I bought a Uberti flattop last fall. What do you guys mean by "old west finish"? Could you show a pic? I'm planning on shooting black powder handloads in mine. It should look plenty "old west" after that.

Go here to see. http://www.usfirearms.com/cat/custer-gun.asp