Project Courier

1184 Views 15 Replies 9 Participants Last post by Malysh, Aug 15, 2013

wdkline

Discussion Starter · Aug 4, 2013

Rescue gun.

Courier in .32 NP

A previous owner attempted to remove the finish from the frame and cylinder. Stocks are rough, but medallions replaced. Go figure.

Mechanically sound. Should be interesting.

Bill

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smkummer

· #2 · Aug 4, 2013

Congrats, these are kind of fun little guns as far as shooting goes. At 11 oz., one can also carry it and forget you have it on you. You can search for pre-66 agent stocks that will be the same as courier stocks. Let us know what you think of it shooting qualities if you fire it.

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ssgunnip

· #3 · Aug 5, 2013

A nice reblue and some new stocks which are readily available for around $60-75 should fix it right up.

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wdkline

Discussion Starter · #4 · Aug 5, 2013

ssgunnip said:
A nice reblue and some new stocks which are readily available for around $60-75 should fix it right up.

Open to ideas on "re-blue" of alloy frame/cylinder. The Courier was Colts' only mass-produced revolver with alloy cylinder. (Air Crewman wasn't mass produced.)

Bill

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Colt75

· #5 · Aug 5, 2013

Could get the little gem Nickeled and ask Swamprat to restore the stocks. Or, Ford's does Anodizing. Not sure how fast or how good. Or, just leave it be and shoot the heck out of it. In any case that will be one fun little gun to own. Enjoy your Colt.

www.fordsguns.com

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bayouboy

· #6 · Aug 5, 2013

I have a Courier in 22 cal. with a similar problem with the anodizing on the frame. (the 22 has a steel cylinder) The rest of the gun is near perfect. From what I have seen, Colt had some real issues getting the finish right on these early alloy frames and consequently, very survived with a good finish. A lot of them, like mine, wind up with a kind of purple tint on the alloy frame.

I had thoughts of getting mine refinished by Ford's until one of the forum members posted photos of a Courier Ford's had refinished for him. The gun looked terrible- as if the frame had been spray painted. I don't know if that one gun is a fair representation of their work but it was enough to convince me not to send mine. I decided to leave mine as is, purplish finish and all.

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Malysh

· #7 · Aug 5, 2013

Wise words from Bayouboy.

I like this Courier just the way it is!

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JudgeColt

· #8 · Aug 5, 2013

The problem is that the alloy parts cannot be re-anodized if the steel parts are in place. Removing the barrel is very risky on an alloy-frame, due to the risk of cracking the frame and/or the frame threads coming out with the barrel.

You will have to live with it as is, or paint it. I have had some success with "Aluma-Black," but it will not "take" if any trace of the original anodizing exists. You have nothing to lose by trying it, except a few bucks to buy the product.

Too bad, since the .32NP Couriers are scarce.

(Apologies to anyone offended by my "delivery.")

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wdkline

Discussion Starter · #9 · Aug 15, 2013

Here's the "after" photo. Not satisfied with the sheen/texture on the frame cylinder. Tried to get to semi-gloss, but ended up with satin. Steel parts were cold blued with Oxpho. Re-checkered and re-finished the stocks. Not Swamprat quality, but have to start somewhere to learn the skill...

Here's the "before" photo

Bill

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Malysh

· #10 · Aug 15, 2013 (Edited)

I think you did a very credible job on the recheckering of the stocks. May I suggest next time you restore Colt stocks you use a dark or medium/dark Walnut stain? They will come out matte, which is how they should appear from the factory.

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824tsv

· #11 · Aug 15, 2013

Pardon my ignorance, but what did you use on the frame. The revolver looks very nice. The stocks look very nice, wish I could do that!!

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wdkline

Discussion Starter · #12 · Aug 15, 2013

Malysh said:
I think you did a very credible job on the recheckering of the stocks. May I suggest next time you restore Colt stocks you use a dark or medium/dark Walnut stain? They will come out matte, which is how they should appear from the factory.

Thanks for the suggestion. I'll try that next time. Used Minwax Olde Maple poly on this set.

Bill

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wdkline

Discussion Starter · #13 · Aug 15, 2013

824tsv said:
Pardon my ignorance, but what did you use on the frame. The revolver looks very nice. The stocks look very nice, wish I could do that!!

The frame is refinished with Duracoat. Two part lacquer from Lauer. Thought their gloss black was too glossy, but semi-gloss was too flat. Tried 50/50 since I had both on hand. I think that 75 gloss /25 HK semi-gloss may have been a better choice, but once Duracoat sets up, its tough to remove.

Bill

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ssgunnip

· #14 · Aug 15, 2013

I think it looks great considering. Good job on it.

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Cruiser RN

· #15 · Aug 15, 2013

I had only one question which was,"What is wrong with its original condition of the gun to begin with?" The after pics looks nice and you did a good job on the stocks too. Enjoy

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Malysh

· #16 · Aug 15, 2013

WDKline did a job that deserves compliments considering that he used a paint. I went on record stating I would have left the gun just as it was, but it is his choice. Nothing but a perfect factory anodizing would have been acceptable for me, and that simply isn't done at Colt and S&W anymore. But I try to respect what another person wants to do with his own property.

Collecting semantics aside, your finished product looks quite attractive. I hope you are pleased with it.

I can tell you he did a better job with paint than Ford's did reanodizing Bullstone's Courier, and he spent a lot more for that job than paint costs.

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