CAS revolvers, why all the stainless?

[Josey]

I am noting a trend towards manufacturing single actions in stainless steel. What gives? Has bluing become a terrible environmental issue? I like nickel and blued revolvers. I think they are more period correct. Is stainless a step towards Scandium and Titanium for single actions? I guess we could say that a Titanium single action would find a following among tech folks. I simply cringe when I see a stainless steel single action with polymer grips. What next? Tiffany style pewter grips from Ajax? www.ajaxgrips.com

 

[Old Fuff]

Well all of the younger guys have been brought up on stainless, and when its polished it looks like nickel (or chrome) but it won't peel off. Ruger started it and now some of the rest are coming along. As for myself, case & blue is fine ......

What you REALLY need is a stainless cap & ball .....

 

[Kestrel]

I love color case-hardened blueing on a revolver. The problem with Rugers is, it isn't real color case-hardened blueing and wears off fast.

If it's on a Colt or USFA SAA, the blueing looks great, though.

Steve

 

[Old Fuff]

Yup, and I think this is another reason a lot of CAS folks are going for the stainless version. It's harder to shoot accurately in bright sunlight though.

 

[tc300mag1]

easyer to clean a stainless espically the cylinder face by using lead away and dont have to worry about wiping blueing off with it and dont rust as easy .. for me either or just depends whats is there when i got to buy but on that not 3 of my hand guns are stainless 3 are blued so i got the 50/50 mix

 

[Hutch]

Yep, easier to clean. Some silly old cowboys like to load cartridges with black powder, and stainless is much easier to deal with. I was stunned to hear the difference in reports between black powder and smokeless. I had (incorrectly!!!) assumed that black powder would produce a "kinder, gentler" report. Wrongo, cowboy. Much more unpleasant, to my ears. Stinks too.

 

[Dr.Rob]

Yep, shiny stainless looks like nickel, kinda.

Pretty too.

 

[Dave T]

I think they are more period correct.

You are under the mistaken belief that CAS has much interest in or reguard for history or the 19th Century West. CAS is about Hollywood. "Lonesome Dove" is it's bible and the VCR is its favorite tool of research.

 

[Smoke Rizen]

CAS revolvers

Yup, I like the stainless on my Ruger Bisley's. I can't say it's easier to clean,but the bright shiny surface makes it easier to tell when it's clean. I shoot all black powder,and substitutes,in Cas so it's important to know. I agree that the format of CAS shooting is more in tune to western movies, than in historical reinactment, but being an old Hopalong Cassidy fan that suits me. I also wish the report from a .45 loaded with black could be quieted,but you can't load down the black like they do with smokless powders. I have several blued pistols,about 3 to 1 over stainless, and I love the shine of a well done blue and color case-hardened revolver. You don't see many manufactured these days that have the amount of polishing done,before they're blued,to really make them shine. S.R.

 

[Brian D.]

Also, when you shoot CAS matches in climates that have something other than arid desert weather (in Ohio we call it rain, sleet, or snow) it's nice not to have to worry immediately about cleaning four or more guns before you get yourself clean and dried off. In my match director days the guns would have been wet for even longer, since I couldn't go home 'til all the props, targets, etc. had been put away...

 

[Grayrock]

Since I did not grow up in the period in question, my only exposure was thru the mass media. I grew up watching Roy Rogers, the Lone Ranger, Bonanza, the Rifleman, Gunsmoke, etc. I had my little Mattel single action cap guns (come to think of it, they were double action, but looked single action!) I also went to rodeos and watched the exhibition riders in their conchos and silver. The pistols I remember from "the period" were shiny engraved models. I can't yet justify the engraving financially, but I can get a shiny six-shooter and be content. Now I just need a palomino horse!