Scratches on stainless steel Colt Anaconda

[4xfourfun]

Hey all, I did a little reading on how people have cleaned up some scratches on stainless steel guns.

I just purchased a nice Colt Anaconda that has a few very light scracthes. Most of which you can't even feel with your fingernail. Its not the highly polished finish just the standard semi-polished.

Has anyone ever contaced Colt to see what they would charge to polish the scrathes out of a gun? Maybe they could even give it the high polish look? Could I realistically clean it up myself? I keep thinking on leaving it alone because I would hate to hurt it in any way, but the scratches do bother me even though they were on it when I got it.

I have a Ruger MK II that has a couple scratches/wear on the barrel, maybe I should practice on it? Any ideas or comments would be appreciated.

Thanks!

 

[funnelcake]

You can try Flitz metal polish.

Funnel

 

[meh92]

Does your Anaconda have the matte/brushed finish or the high-polish? If you have the matte finish and use Flitz, the area you polish will be shinier than the matte parts.

I have used scotchbrite pads (the super-fine grit like white or gray if memory serves) to remove minor scratches from other SS guns, but not a Colt. Be caseful, go slow, and go with the factory-brushed grain, not against it. If you have a highly-polished finish (it was a factory option), Flitz works wonderfully for removing light scratches. Don't apply too much pressure and take your time. I have done both of these with no formal-training and gotten very respectable results.

Now, if you want to brightly polish a matte finish, I've read plenty of posts describing different techniques to accomplish that ends. Most of the people who seem to know what they're doing avoid any power tools whatsoever(read: Dremmel) and polish by hand, carefully.

 

[dfariswheel]

The Scotchbrite pads are what pros use to restore stainless gun finishes.
Buy them at most auto supply houses.

To use, pick one that's closest to the guns original satin grained finish.
Gently rub the scratched areas until they're gone, or at least less noticeable.
Finish by "stroking" the pad in the same direction the original factory grain finish runs.

Colt will also refinish your stainless Anaconda, OR they will convert it to a mirror-like bright polish.
For details, contact them:

http://www.coltsmfg.com/cmci/refinishing.asp

 

[4xfourfun]

Thanks for the replies and the website guys. I'll give Colt a call, I'm really wondering what kind of estimate they will give me! If its half the price of the gun I'll go the other route and try some Scothbrite pads myself. Has anyone out there used Colts services? Are they reasonable? I like the satin finish on it, but I think the "bright" finish as they call it is really sharp too. It's a play gun anyway, I already have a .44 designated for hunting.

 

[dfariswheel]

Colt offers excellent service, and the prices are very competitive.
Turn around is usually faster then other sources, typically running 30 days or less for most any work.

 

[MCMXI]

The satin finish on a Colt Anaconda or a Python isn't something you'll be able to reproduce with steel wool, 3M pads or anything else ... I've tried!! It's a very smooth, grainless finish unlike say a brushed stainless finish common on Ruger revolvers. I had some scratches on my Python so I ended up polishing it to a mirror-like finish and it looks great ... not original as I bought it ... but great. Python's were offered in bright polished stainless (for a premium). Some gun smiths and the like offer satin glass bead finishes similar to the finish on the S&W below, but again, this isn't the same as the Colt finish. Another thing about finishes, I like having finishes that I can repair myself because as careful as I am, stuff happens.

 

[dagger dog]

I had a 686, we were in love, but every time I cleaned her up I would notice a new SCRATCH. I got fed up and had her bead blasted. I know ya got a Colt there, and a Big Snake to boot, if you're into shooting it not collecting, and it ain't a safe queen, have the B#$CH bead blasted, it will look great and if you get some more shooting scars it's easy to have some one touch it up.

 

[4xfourfun]

Hey 1858,

Do you have any pictures of your Python? How did you polish it out and was it a big job? Any regrets?

 

[Hawk]

My Anaconda is supposed to have the factory high polish - can't tell for sure as the sticky is missing from the box and I'm disinclined to pay money to find out exactly how it left the factory.

But high polish is sure easy to care for - Mother's Mag polish takes care of wear and it doesn't seem possible to overpolish the thing.

 

[MCMXI]

Hey 1858,

Do you have any pictures of your Python? How did you polish it out and was it a big job? Any regrets?

I'll post some photos this weekend ... and no, I don't have any regrets ... it looks stunning all polished up.

 

[jetman]

I went through the same thing with my Anaconda when I bought mine. I used nothing but elbow grease and Mothers Mag Polish on mine. It took several evenings a little at a time watching TV to get it to where it is today. It really isn't that difficult. Here are just a couple pics. Click on any of the pics for more and bigger pics.



I liked the way it turned out so well I did the same thing to my Stainless Python

 

[scrat]

Mothers Mag and wheel For the win. Way better than Flitz

 

[4xfourfun]

Wow Jetman. That is sharp, I think I'm going to have to go that route now. Nothing but elbow greae and Mothers? I'm surprised it would polish it out that nice, I guess there really is more abrasive material in Mothers then I had figured.