Python Blueing Questions
- Thread starter PJR
- Start date
- Status
Standing Wolf
Member in memoriam
I think it's a myth. Only Old Fluff or Dfariswheel could tell us for sure, but it's my understanding all blued Pythons received the same treatment—with one exception. For awhile, at least, Colt offered Pythons with "fire bluing," its name for nitre bluing. I've never seen one, but have seen pictures.
The Python's blue was no different from anybody else's. The difference was in the polishing before bluing: once upon a time, Colt did it better than everybody else.
The Python's blue was no different from anybody else's. The difference was in the polishing before bluing: once upon a time, Colt did it better than everybody else.
dfariswheel
Member
- Joined
- Dec 26, 2002
- Messages
- 6,656
Colt never offered "fire bluing" on the Python.
The early Python's extraordinary blue finish was strictly the result of hand polishing by a Master polisher, with years on the job.
Colt always made their own wooden, leather covered polishing wheels, and when other makers guns were being blued, the Python was still being polished with finer and finer grit media.
Colt's final polish on the Python was with a media that had the consistancy of flour.
That's why the early guns have that super glossy, mirror-like SHINE to them.
They were just polished more.
The Pythons made in the 50's and 60's were polished better than later guns.
The cost of all that hand labor for the mirror-like blue was simply getting too expensive by the 70's, and Colt was faced with the choice of huge price increases, or cut the level of polishing "slightly" and hold the line as much as possible on price.
Even with the reduction in polish, the Python still had a better polish and blue than any other production revolver.
The difference is hard to explain, and no picture can capture the difference.
You have to see an early Python, and once you have, all other blue jobs look dull by comparison.
Over the years owners and factory advertising have used various terms for that blue.
Royal Blue, Midnight Blue, Ultimate Blue, and others have been used.
Inside the factory, that blue was and still is known as "The Python Blue".
The actual chemical process used is the same hot salts system as used by all modern gun makers.
The only difference between Ruger's somewhat flat black, and the Python's glossy blue is the polishing done before the actual bluing.
The early Python's extraordinary blue finish was strictly the result of hand polishing by a Master polisher, with years on the job.
Colt always made their own wooden, leather covered polishing wheels, and when other makers guns were being blued, the Python was still being polished with finer and finer grit media.
Colt's final polish on the Python was with a media that had the consistancy of flour.
That's why the early guns have that super glossy, mirror-like SHINE to them.
They were just polished more.
The Pythons made in the 50's and 60's were polished better than later guns.
The cost of all that hand labor for the mirror-like blue was simply getting too expensive by the 70's, and Colt was faced with the choice of huge price increases, or cut the level of polishing "slightly" and hold the line as much as possible on price.
Even with the reduction in polish, the Python still had a better polish and blue than any other production revolver.
The difference is hard to explain, and no picture can capture the difference.
You have to see an early Python, and once you have, all other blue jobs look dull by comparison.
Over the years owners and factory advertising have used various terms for that blue.
Royal Blue, Midnight Blue, Ultimate Blue, and others have been used.
Inside the factory, that blue was and still is known as "The Python Blue".
The actual chemical process used is the same hot salts system as used by all modern gun makers.
The only difference between Ruger's somewhat flat black, and the Python's glossy blue is the polishing done before the actual bluing.
BluesBear
member
Yeah ^ what he said. ^
It's truely ineffable.
The early Python finish has to be seen to be fully appreciated.
But then I imagine a brand new S&W New Century was a sight to behold as well.
It's truely ineffable.
The early Python finish has to be seen to be fully appreciated.
But then I imagine a brand new S&W New Century was a sight to behold as well.
It takes a skilled polisher to do the best job and that is getting harder to find !!! To give you an idea - the M27 and M28 S&W are the same guns except for the polish .The M27 cost 1/3 more than the M28 !! Even the earliest S&W 357s had a beautiful polish [1935] which was not matched later on.
dfariswheel
Member
- Joined
- Dec 26, 2002
- Messages
- 6,656
It's very possible your 70's Python was made during the big Colt strike.
Since all the top-level polishers were out, the replacement personnel were not capable of doing the usual level of work.
"Some" Pythons from that time have lesser grade blue jobs.
The Python's made after the late 60's did have generally lesss-well polished finishes than later guns, and the later guns tended to fluctuate.
Again, comparing an early 50's or 60's Python to a later production gun will be an eye-opener. The difference is amazing.
Since all the top-level polishers were out, the replacement personnel were not capable of doing the usual level of work.
"Some" Pythons from that time have lesser grade blue jobs.
The Python's made after the late 60's did have generally lesss-well polished finishes than later guns, and the later guns tended to fluctuate.
Again, comparing an early 50's or 60's Python to a later production gun will be an eye-opener. The difference is amazing.
The later gun has a slightly smoother trigger pull and doesn't stack as noticeable as the earlier gun. There are a some noticeable machine marks on the breech face of the newer gun but the blueing is definitely better. The newer gun appeared to have been test fired only and is in mint condition. The older gun was lighted used and in excellent condition when purchased. Both guns have passed the dfariswheel standards for action timing.
I'll have the chance to make a closer comparison between the two because I bought the 1981 gun today.
Pythons seems to be breeding in these parts.
Paul
I'll have the chance to make a closer comparison between the two because I bought the 1981 gun today.
Pythons seems to be breeding in these parts.
Paul
Standing Wolf
Member in memoriam
Yes, it did. The company may have gone out of house for it, but I saw it on the Colt web site in 1998 or 1999. I sent an E-mail to enquire about the price, but never received a reply.
Whether Colt ever actually delivered any fire-blued Pythons is another matter.
- Status
