Rebluing a Colt Royal Blue: anyone better than Colt?

[Monkeyleg]

I just received an email from someone looking to have his Royal Blue Colt reblued. I've seen some posts and photos here from people who've sent their guns back to Colt's custom shop for refinishing, and they looked great.

I'm just wondering if there's another outfit that does a better job than Colt.

 

[dfariswheel]

Someone like The Doug Turnbul company probably could, but since they are more restorers specializing in high end guns, the price would be HIGH.

For a Python blue, Colt is about as good as it gets, and the price and turnaround will be much better.
Colt has always been noted for their blue jobs.

 

[Standing Wolf]

It's my understanding Colt no longer does its own bluing.

 

[Monkeyleg]

dfariswheel: "Colt has always been noted for their blue jobs."

Thanks for the opportunity for a comeback that Art's grammaw would beat me to a pulp for.

I suggested to the guy that he send the gun to Colt.

 

[dfariswheel]

Colt is still doing it's own bluing.

They have to farm the nickel plating out due to EPA harassment, and they are sending some specialty work to Doug Turnbull.

It's this that started the rumor that Colt wasn't doing bluing anymore.

 

[blazer610]

I was informed by Bob Cogan that they did all of the Colt Custom Shop bluing.
Here is a link to APW/Cogan Custom in Safety Harbor, Florida. They did a fantastic high polished blue job on one of my T-series Hi-Powers.

http://www.apwcogan.com/



Larry

 

[C2Yardgun]

Is there a blue that is bluer than Colt Royal Blue?

 

[CraigC]

Is there a blue that is bluer than Colt Royal Blue?

Colt can put a bright polish on steel like anybody else. Problem is how well they keep the flats flat, the corners sharp and the edges even. Judging by the horrendous overpolishing present on a lot of 3rd generation SAA's, I wouldn't let Colt blue anything.

A properly done carbona blue such as that offered by Turnbull would be "nicer" than Colt Royal Blue. There's no magic here, just a properly done bright polish and a hot salt blue. I would expect any of our better custom gunsmiths who do hand polishing to produce a better result than Colt. I've seen some gorgeous rebluing jobs come out of the shops of Andy Horvath, Milt Morrison and Ford's.

IMHO, USFA does a better job than Colt's:

 

[Prosser]

Likewise JRH advanced gunsmithing: