Fresh out of the bluing tank...

targa911S · 01-05-2010, 09:22 AM

Now the fun begins. How the hell do they go back together....hmmmm.

Now I'm looking for some mastodon ivory for grips.

dhoward · dhoward's Garage

Who's blueing are you using?

RPKESQ · 01-05-2010, 10:15 AM

targa911S,

I cannot tell 100% from the pictures, but it looks like you need to complete the job. By that I mean all parts restored to factory new finish. In some cases that is blueing or high polish bare metal or combination or case hardened. It really makes the total package stand out from the rest.

keep up the good work.

daepp · daepp's Garage

.380 or .45 Colt?

RPKESQ · 01-05-2010, 10:44 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by DAEpperson

.380 or .45 Colt?

Looks like .25 and .32 to me.

targa911S · 11:11 AM

Frenchy, thanks for the comps. yes fireblue on the backstrap, trigger and safety would be "proper".
I did not do the bluing, just the prep. I am not set up for hot blue, only slow rust blue. To be totally original they should be charcoal blue, but even Colt does not do that anymore. Pricey if you find someone who does.
Both these guns were total basket cases when I got them. I think they were suicide guns as they were pitted on one side only and under and in places that only liquid could penetrate. Blood eats metal quickly. I see it in these type all the time. The dates make them stock market crash era too.The .25 came to me in a tupperware container filled with motor oil. It was completely stripped.

The .380 was complete but in bad shape. I bought it as a project. I have a friend that was the master engraver at Colt for 38 years. He and I were talking one night and I asked him if he would do a 1908 .380 for me in 90% coverage. He told me if I did the prep he would "do me a favor" so I followed his instructions and prepped both of them while I was at it. Well it was soon clear that the pitting was so deep in some places that I would lose either type or good lines and it was set aside as a non candidate. So the short story is I just sent them out to a friend of mine that does hot blue. He has done a couple of M 37's for me and I think he does a nice job. These came out pretty good and now the .380 will be my carry.

I don't know what salts he uses. I can ask him if you like.

daepp · daepp's Garage

Can you take some close ups?

Also, if I sent you some photos of an old .380 with quite a few blemishes could you tell me how it might look with a little work?

TIA - David

BTW - does this do anything to the value?

targa911S · 01-05-2010, 01:06 PM

Sure pm me pics. It does effect the value, but if the one you have is 50% or less and you just want a good shooter, you may want to do what I did.

porsche4life · porsche4life's Garage

Quote:

Originally Posted by DAEpperson

BTW - does this do anything to the value?

Probably makes it worth more than it would be with blood pitting on it.....

targa911S · 01-05-2010, 01:16 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by porsche4life

Probably makes it worth more than it would be with blood pitting on it.....

Oh yeah believe me I doubled the value of these two. They were crap.

daepp · daepp's Garage

Quote:

Originally Posted by porsche4life

Probably makes it worth more than it would be with blood pitting on it.....

Good point

daepp · daepp's Garage

Quote:

Originally Posted by targa911S

Sure pm me pics. It does effect the value, but if the one you have is 50% or less and you just want a good shooter, you may want to do what I did.

Thank you I will.

BTW - I think it's way less than 50%. But it came from my grandfather with a good story attached.

targa911S · 01-05-2010, 07:21 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by DAEpperson

BTW - I think it's way less than 50%. But it came from my grandfather with a good story attached.

Then there is no question that it should stay original.

azasadny · azasadny's Garage

Wow! Nice work there! I have several guns that could use reblueing, but I'm leery of sending them anywhere...

targa911S · 01-06-2010, 05:10 AM

we really need to get together Art.

m21sniper · 01-06-2010, 10:42 AM

What part of Pa are you in again Targa? Maybe one of these days i'll take a road trip, bring my spoons...we can blast apart the local countryside.

targa911S · 01-06-2010, 10:53 AM

Tractorfordchevydodgetruckville.....I'm just 5 miles north of New Castle. Western PA. Think Youngstown Ohio. I'm 13 miles east of it. You are welcome any time. Make a summer or spring trip and we can go whack some ground hogs. Bring Seahawk with you. He knows the way. I have enough room to put you up so it don't have to be just a day trip.

Seahawk · 01-06-2010, 11:04 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by targa911S

Tractorfordchevydodgetruckville.....I'm just 5 miles north of New Castle. Western PA. Think Youngstown Ohio. I'm 13 miles east of it. You are welcome any time. Make a summer or spring trip and we can go whack some ground hogs. Bring Seahawk with you. He knows the way. I have enough room to put you up so it don't have to be just a day trip.

Let's do this...the Boy will be in tow

m21sniper · 01-06-2010, 11:10 AM

I'm completely down with it. I love the country.

When did you have in mind Seahawk?

targa911S · 01-06-2010, 11:30 AM

Poor Jack, he will get stuck with the couch. Any time guys. We can either go to to the sportsmans club and bust clay, or go to the rifle range (600 yrds.) which is part of the facilities. Like I said spring or summer we can go over to Mj's brother, Bob's farm and rid him of a few piggies. I shot 40 alone last year. Add Mike, Brian and Bob to the mix and that's a lot of hogs. Winter we are stuck with the club or going to Bob's and slingin' them ourselves.