Reblued? How do you know?

[mick53]

hey,

been working the phone all day looking for an older python i can see before buying.

found one about 75 miles away. according to the serial# they gave me it was manu. in '61. the lady then says, "i think they had to have redid it" (her exact words). i asked why she thought that and she said, "it just looks perfect and i know it's pretty old."

she described as black at first and then said, "nope, it's blue really, not black."

so who knows what the hell it is? i have to go look at it.

to the question, how can i tell if a revolver (specifically a python) has been reblued without removing grips and so forth?

thanks,

mike

 

[Ohen Cepel]

A lot of times the edges are beveled some, and markings are not as clear. Lines that should be sharp aren't. This is due to the metal being stripped/buffed for the re-blue. Of course, the better the guy is the less noticable it will be.

Old Pythons would almost look black to a novice so it could be original. However, like you said, you'll have to go look.

I would ask to remove the grips if you think there is an issue. For what a Python runs and since it's a used gun that they don't seem sure about I don't think that would be out of line.

 

[dfariswheel]

The above advice on spotting re-blues is good.

If it was re-done at the factory, it can be almost impossible to spot.

A Python will be a dark, very shiny blue in color, NOT black, or a satin black.
An older Python's blue job will have a mirror-like shine, quite unlike anything you've ever seen before.

There will be no wavy flats, or rounded sharp corners.
The sides of the hammer will be bright polished bare steel.
The top strap of the frame and the top rib of the barrel will have a flat black bead blasted finish.
The inside of the forcing cone in the end of the barrel will be bare steel, NOT blued.

All lettering and the Colt pony on the side of the frame will be distinct.
The lettering will often have slight "ridges" around the letters from the compression of the roller engraved marks.

For what it's worth: In buying used guns, whenever the seller says "It MIGHT have been re-blued", in most cases they know damn well it WAS re-blued, but are being coy.
If you come back on them about it, they can claim they told you that it might be a re-blue.