2aHawaii
General Topics => General Discussion => Topic started by: kanaloa on January 06, 2014, 12:11:50 AM
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I need to have some surface rust professionally removed from my gun. What gunsmith on Oahu would you recommend? Any other suggestions?
Many thanks in advance!
Pictures:
http://i.imgur.com/Vva6B7m.jpg (http://i.imgur.com/Vva6B7m.jpg)
http://i.imgur.com/zSG54JZ.jpg (http://i.imgur.com/zSG54JZ.jpg)
http://i.imgur.com/Sg9wwlY.jpg (http://i.imgur.com/Sg9wwlY.jpg)
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I cried when I saw those pics. :( Don't know of any gunsmith that I can recommend. I would consider asking someone at a body shop to do it if you can't find a gunsmith with the right equipment since they are generally set up to sandblast metal parts to remove paint and rust. Use crushed walnut as the blasting media because its a "nonabrasive" abrasive. ;D
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Maybe mel chung
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I called Colt and they wont refinish anything they don't currently manufacture. The representative suggested that I get in contact with Turnbull Manufacturing or if I want to sell it that I visit ColtCollectors.com
He also said that if I was to sell it then I should leave the rust so as not to disturb the manufacture's original finish.
This thing just sits in a case, perhaps I'll post it on the classified section and see what kind of reaction I get.
Thanks for responding!
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Find someone that can bead or sandblast. Then dip it in rust killer.. You need to resurface the while pistol because the rust is in deep... It's saveable but it will take time. I would spend cash to restore a colt! :thumbsup:
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Thank God the same pistol my wife inherited from her mother was nickle plated, otherwise likely it would have looked the same.
I would say disassemble it and send frame and slide off to a mainland expert at refinishing.
Chances are you are going to have to learn how to do complete teardown and cleaning if you want to have a prayer at the gun ever functioning again. The wife's Hammerless was fairly well gunked up internally with ancient oil and such. I got it functioning, but it was a struggle and internets instruction search for how to put it back together.
Be warned: reassembly is a nightmare, even if you are fairly familiar with firearms. The Colt designers must have been sadists..............
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Generally, refinishing a pistol like yours ruins any collector value so you have to determine if it's a pistol that you want to keep and shoot (cost-benefit analysis). If you're planning on selling it, you'll probably get more for it than if you spent $$$ refinishing (sell for $$$$, deduct cost of refinishing $$$ = $, maybe sell it as is for $$).
Is the bore rusty as well? If so, don't waste your time or $$$ refinishing. Turnbull can work wonders on a pistol, but it'll cost fairly big bucks. Colt pocket autos aren't exactly plentiful, but at any major gun show you'll see more than a few for sale.
If you just want to scrub off the rust and keep it from rusting some more, try soaking it in a good gun oil for a day or so, then gently cleaning with one of those stainless steel wool balls.
If it has sentimental value, spend the $$$ if you want.
My $0.02
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You can also hammer the end of a rifle casing flat and use it to scrape away rust--brass is softer than steel. Go slow, wipe off the sludge frequently (the "ground up" rust can act as an abrasive and scratch up your pistol), and apply lots of oil.
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This guy here explains a steel wool technique which I think is what you're mentioning:
http://www.brownells.com/aspx/learn/learndetail.aspx?lid=10990 (http://www.brownells.com/aspx/learn/learndetail.aspx?lid=10990)
By using a very fine steel wool, oil and being really cautious do I run the risk of ruining this gun?
My objective is to keep it's value as much as possible.
Bore looks fine to me and so does the inside, here are some more pix:
http://i.imgur.com/iDP6KE1.jpg (http://i.imgur.com/iDP6KE1.jpg)
http://i.imgur.com/FbqU1IA.jpg (http://i.imgur.com/FbqU1IA.jpg)
http://i.imgur.com/9ilFfD2.jpg (http://i.imgur.com/9ilFfD2.jpg)
http://i.imgur.com/aDSZNQz.jpg (http://i.imgur.com/aDSZNQz.jpg)
http://i.imgur.com/wZkZJSr.jpg (http://i.imgur.com/wZkZJSr.jpg)
http://i.imgur.com/EBClQeS.jpg (http://i.imgur.com/EBClQeS.jpg)
http://i.imgur.com/7ZWsDjh.jpg (http://i.imgur.com/7ZWsDjh.jpg)
http://i.imgur.com/KEBykn1.jpg (http://i.imgur.com/KEBykn1.jpg)
http://i.imgur.com/Fhhwc9M.jpg (http://i.imgur.com/Fhhwc9M.jpg)
http://i.imgur.com/C4TSre4.jpg (http://i.imgur.com/C4TSre4.jpg)
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I used frontier steel wool to clean rust got it fron sec worked wonders
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I would not take any steel wool to it, or any other agressive cleaning!!! It will ruin any collector value it has!!! I'd just keep it as is and keep it well oiled and clean.
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I would not take any steel wool to it, or any other agressive cleaning!!! It will ruin any collector value it has!!! I'd just keep it as is and keep it well oiled and clean.
To heavies point I did this to a gun that had no real value. It was a rust bucket to begin with I made the gun usable.
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If you don't have a copy of the Blue Book of Gun Values, go to the gun shop of your choice and check out theirs (I like SEC). Compare the condition of your piece to the PCGS pictures at the front of the book and see how your piece rates, condition-wise, then look up the value. You can then decide if it's worth cleaning up or not.
By the way, your piece is a Colt Model 1908, Type II, manufactured from 1910 to 1926, serial number range from 6,252 to 92,893.
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The bore and internals look ok to me. That is why I say leave it as is. It can only increase in value if left with original patina. I believe, if this is a .380, it is of the more desired pistols.
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I would use something along the lines of this http://www.big45metalcleaner.com/ (http://www.big45metalcleaner.com/) and ATF(Transmission Fluid), I have used this combination to clean many guns with no damage to the remaining finish and with very good results.
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Proceed very carefully here. You can really destroy the value of that gun at this juncture. I would not use steel wool or anything aggressive on that gun.
That being said, here's what *I* would do. I would use CLP Breakfree. Its very mild. I'd let it soak for a bit, wipe and see how it looks. Beyond that, I would talk to people on this island who are very knowledgeable on this subject. Many are members of Hawaii Historic Arms.