Remington 1858 New Model Police Revolver?

[maubrey]

Hi folks. New THR member here.

I recently posted a message to the Remington 1858 Club here:
http://www.thehighroad.org/showpost.php?p=9306554&postcount=1142

kBob suggested I might post here for suggestions on what to do with this gun. I don't want to destroy anything of historical value but I'd also rather not have a blob of metal rusting away slowly in a shoebox.

Any thoughts?

Thank you!

Maurice

 

[IROCZ]

Hi, If it were mine... I would oil it down well with Ballsitol and then get it appraised. The condition is not great but it is far from worthless! Don't take it to a local gun shop. Most auction sites should be able to tell you where to find a good appraisal service. As far as most collectors are concerned anything more than cleaning and oiling will take away from its value.

 

[Curator]

Either Balistol or automatic transmission fluid will stop the rust. Carefully remove the grips first if using ATF. A light scrubbing with bronze wool will take off the runs but not the patina. Don't sand or buff the surface with any abrasives as this will detract from the value.

 

[4v50 Gary]

One thing that bothers me about the images is the relative freshness of the grips compared to the rest of the Remington. There's no cracking or other signs of age on the grips.

That said, I'd scrub the gun with a brass wire brush and then with a nylon brush and Hoppe's (Hoppe's will remove any brass). Then I'd hit it with either Ballistol or Renaissance Wax.

 

[bubba15301]

that is a pocket remington not a police. take the grips off and soak in some kerosene

 

[BSA1]

I have seen pictures of a couple of guns that had the rust removed by electrolysis. In both cases the guns were in much worse condition and had so much rust they were worthless. It was interesting to watch the project which was time-consuming.

Your gun is not near that bad of condition. You don't mention what you intend to do with it. For resale the best advice has already been given...oil it to kill the active rust and leave it alone. If it is for display I would still just oil it and put it in a shadow box.

 

[Jaymo]

I'd clean/oil/shoot it.
But, that's me.
Curator gives excellent advice.
He should know.

 

[BowerR64]

One thing that bothers me about the images is the relative freshness of the grips compared to the rest of the Remington. There's no cracking or other signs of age on the grips.

That said, I'd scrub the gun with a brass wire brush and then with a nylon brush and Hoppe's (Hoppe's will remove any brass). Then I'd hit it with either Ballistol or Renaissance Wax.

Thats a good point, most others ive seen in better condition then that looks like they used the butt of the gun as a hammer in some cases the grips were chipped and cracked and in worse condition then the steel. This gun appears to have been left in a bucket of water for a few years or something.

 

[faustopph]

bubba15301, Look again. It has a full trigger guard.Screws insert from the right side of the frame. This is an original not a reproduction with just New Model stamped on it as Pietta and any others do.
Screws insert from the left on a pocket and have a spur trigger.

 

[Gaucho Gringo]

Wonder if this gun is a percussion only or one of the ones that had both the percussion and cartridge conversion cylinders new from the factory? I thought I read somewhere you could tell by the serial number.