To reblue or not reblue: 1921 Colt 1903

[blue32]

Yes, and I'd do it again.

 

[bersaguy]

Yes, and I'd do it again.

That's beautiful...who did the work?

 

[blue32]

Not sure. I sent it to Colt maybe 6 years ago for Royal Blue. Cost me $320. I called once while it was out to checkup on status and the woman told me they had sent it out to a specialist but wouldn't tell me who. I've shot it quite a but since then and have been impressed with the finish durability.

 

[WVsig]

Doug Turnbull is the ONLY ONE who can do a reblue on that gun and have it increase in value.

He is a documented Colt refurbisher

He has a shop in Westfield N.Y. and he has done AMAZING work for me..

I disagree with that. There are lots of people that can do it but Turnbull has a very good rep which goes a long way. In the end the finished product will speak for itself. A name like Turnbull will help with resale but there several people out there who could do the same level of work.

 

[larryh1108]

It's your gun.....
If every time you look at it you say "I wish it looked new"
then that's your answer.
If every time you look at it you say "What a beautiful gun"
then you have your answer.
If you never plan to sell it, resale value is not an issue.
Do what makes you smile when you hold it.

 

[ArchAngelCD]

Because it's a real Colt and it's old I personally feel there are 3 answers to the question of reblue or not.
1. No
2. No
3. No
In no particular order of course!

 

[roscoe]

No. You simply loose too much history, and that is what a gun like that is all about.

 

[Snowdog]

Well, I probably won't have it reblued. I received a reply from Turnbull as they seem to be the top dog in refinishing older firearms.
The quote was not anywhere near the ballpark I was hoping for. $2k and a year turn-around time. I was thinking more of a $300 bill and 2 month turn around.
I'm sure it would be some real beautiful work, but I wouldn't be able to break even if I did want to sell it... and I'd be afraid to shoot it.

So, though I'm still looking around for others that do comparable (in quality) work, I'm going to cool my jets for now.

I do plan on buying some repo wood grips to spare the existing original hard rubber grips, but that's about all I plan on doing.

Thanks for all the replies!

 

[Tallball]

When I bought mine it had just been refurbished: buffed, reblued, and new grips. I gave somewhere in the low $400's for it. It's pretty, but all of my guns are shooters and I don't care that much how they look.

Colt 1903

• Tallball
• Jan 7, 2018
• 1

 

[AlexanderA]

Yes, and I'd do it again.

IMO, that high degree of polish doesn't look right on that gun. They didn't look that way when they were new.

 

[Jim Watson]

Ford's has a good Internet Reputation. They do refinishing with no claim to "restoration" but their pictures look good.
There are others you might hear of. I think the key is to not go to high on the polish. I agree that blue32's gun is shinier than original but Tallball's looks close.

ETA
Saw a picture of a nice blue job from Glenrock. $275 for bead, brush, or factory level polish.

 

[tark]

Whatever you do, PUT NEW SPRINGS IN THE THING!

 

[Rock185]

Snowdog, Were it mine, and I wanted to refinish it, I would refinish it. Sure, keep a high condition gun, or one with some historical provenance, original. But an average old well worn pistol? People worry, worry, worry about resale, Especially if it's a Colt, in even the rattiest condition. I have an old Colt Pocket Hammer from 1914 that is 100% functional, but has a lot of finish wear. If I felt like refinishing it, I would not worry one bit about it's history or resale value. Now if I found out my old gun belonged to George Washington, that would be a Whole Nuther Thing