Ruger "Plum" finish

[stevereno1]

A friend of mine is a serious ruger collector. he has over 100 rugers. He has a vaquero that has a purple finish. He says that they had a bad batch of blueing compound that caused the guns to come out purple. He states that these are now collectors items, and are worth a lot of $$$$. Anyone know about this revolver? Worth, story, etc...?

 

[dfariswheel]

A reddish or purple tinted blue job is a factory defect, usually related to bluing chemistry or improper operation of the tanks.

Ruger did occasionally have a reddish or purple color, and for some reason "some people" think they are worth more as a collectible.
I guess this is similar to a mis-stamped coin, or mis-printed stamp.

How MUCH MORE is a matter of opinion, but I don't think they're worth a LOT more.

 

[BillinNH]

It's interesting. I have a Dan Wesson 44 that has a distinctly plum colored frame but the attached metal parts (cylinder, barrel shroud, etc) are shiny black. The plum colored part retains a mirror glossy finish, just not black.

I also have a Beretta model 1935 (32 acp version of the model 1934) which has the same discoloration on the frame but not the slide. It was made in 1944. My question has always been -- is there a way to restore the normal "blued" finish? Any metallurgists out there who can advise me?

Thanks.

Bill

 

[rcmodel]

Not a metallurgist, but I did stay at a Holiday Inn Express once.

No, there is no way to change a purple blue job to a blue blue job, short of totally polishing & rebluing the gun.

And you probably don't want to do that on either gun mentioned.


rcmodel

 

[Dionysusigma]

What's wrong with purple, as long as it's not like an aluminum-anodized fuschia shade?

 

[steveno]

I think to a certain extent the purple tint comes from the fact that Ruger uses investment cast steels their makeup will do some strange things sometimes when they are blued

 

[KurtC]

Spot on. Cast steel blues differently than forged steel, and a match is very difficult. Just look at any Ruger rifle. The cast receiver seldom matches the forged barrel in color.

 

[clang]

I've got a Ruger Super Bearcat with plum frame and hammer. Cylinder and barrel are proper blue color. The plum parts are more brown than purple.

 

[Master Blaster]

my old super blackhawk .44 mag 1980 production has a beautiful high polish blue finish, except for trhe loading gate which is a brownish purple color.

I bought it used for $250 a few years ago, so I thought maybe the original owner had changed the loading gate, apparently not so.

 

[D.A.C.]

Sometimes variances in the silicon content of steel can cause the part to turn plum after bluing. This doesn't just happen with cast steel parts, but is more prevalent in cast steel.

 

[BillinNH]

<Not a metallurgist, but I did stay at a Holiday Inn Express once.
No, there is no way to change a purple blue job to a blue blue job, short of totally polishing & rebluing the gun.
And you probably don't want to do that on either gun mentioned.
rcmodel>


Well, rc, I guess you're right. Looks can just be part of the gun's character. I learned to accept the stock on my Hi Point Carbine so I guess I can live with my plum handguns . ;-)

Bill

 

[arizona98tj]

Over time, the bluing on my Start PD's alloy frame has gotten more and more "plum" colored. It was not like this when I bought it new, some 30 years ago.

Edit: I would post a photo of it but this being the revolver forum and all.....so click here to see it.