[bamaboy473]

Trading sharp edges for refinishing is a good trade, IMO. Hopefully, the After photos will show all of us any differences. He's only had it a week, and it is already in the bluing stripper, so I'm happy that he isn't so back-logged that it will be a months-long deal.

 

[bamaboy473]

Without going into detail, others will, you'd be surprised. Lots of sharp edges will unfortunately be gone.

Two questions:
first, is your observation true of any refinishing when the gun's finish is in bad shape to begin with?

secondly, what would one expect from a refinishing job charging under $600?

 

[pdbertb]

Two questions:
first, is your observation true of any refinishing when the gun's finish is in bad shape to begin with?

secondly, what would one expect from a refinishing job charging under $600?

I had to view your pictures this time from a desk top computer and honestly your's is the most challenged finish I've seen to date. Sharp edges would be the least of my worries. Hopefully your re-finisher can do something that will be to your satisfaction, but the depth of the pitting makes me think that it might not look like a Python when completed.. I admire your rescue attempt and I'm looking forward to seeing the finished result.

 

[dfariswheel]

Two questions:
first, is your observation true of any refinishing when the gun's finish is in bad shape to begin with?

secondly, what would one expect from a refinishing job charging under $600?

What you get is going to depend entirely on how good the polisher is and actually how bad the pitting is.
You can't really base this on the cost since different companies have different pricing and different skill levels.
Some areas may require some rounding off of sharp edges, some may not.

I'd recommend contacting some of the expert refinisher services I listed on the first page of this discussion.
They won't be able to tell you what to expect until they actually have the gun in hand to inspect how bad it is and what they think they can do.

The listed refinishers are known experts. Anyone else is a straight crap shoot. Local reputation is no indication of what you'd get.
The listed companies have national reputations for top quality work. They can do it as well as it can be done, and their "best effort" is as good as it gets.

 

[finchmeister08]

Cogan is "arguably" the best all around finisher in America. I'm not sure if they offer bright nickel.
Professional Gunsmith - Accurate Plating & Weaponry | Cogan Custom

...

The Custom Shop is NOT affiliated with the Colt Custom Shop or with Colt Firearms. Colt simply once listed them as a possible source of repairs and refinishing.
Pictures on the site and a few customer reviews seem to indicate they're good.
https://www.customshopinc.com/

i'm really surprised by this. when i called Colt to see if they could refinished a potential gun off gunbroker for me, the pointed me directly to the custom shop, inc. if accurate metal plating is the better company, i'd prefer go there. they're HALF THE PRICE of the custom shop. and it's basically within walking distance for me.

 

[bamaboy473]

i'm really surprised by this. when i called Colt to see if they could refinished a potential gun off gunbroker for me, the pointed me directly to the custom shop, inc. if accurate metal plating is the better company, i'd prefer go there. they're HALF THE PRICE of the custom shop. and it's basically within walking distance for me.

Are you talking about CMP Custom Shop in Anniston?

 

[finchmeister08]

Are you talking about CMP Custom Shop in Anniston?

nah, i'm talking about the cogan place in newville. Accurate Plating and Weaponry.

it's about 20 minutes north of Dothan.

https://www.apwcogan.com/

 

[azshot]

Thanks for posting the before pictures. I'm almost always in the "never refinish" camp but I agree this one looks awful. I'd have to decide if the huge gouges to white metal look more awful than a reblue job. Probably the reblue will look slightly better. Keep a picture of the "before" in your wallet though, to show people that will sadly shake their heads, saying 'too bad it was reblued...'

 

[feralmerril]

What could that finely checkered pattern below the chewed up area on the picture above be from? By laying on some acid soaked cloth or something? Not that it changes anything.

 

[dfariswheel]

i'm really surprised by this. when i called Colt to see if they could refinished a potential gun off gunbroker for me, the pointed me directly to the custom shop, inc. if accurate metal plating is the better company, i'd prefer go there. they're HALF THE PRICE of the custom shop. and it's basically within walking distance for me.

If you're looking for bright nickel, Cogan is possibly the top source.
However, if this is a blued Python Cogan doesn't offer the bright polish Royal Blue type finish.
For that The Custom Shop or possibly even better Glenrock would be preferred.

Again, take a look at the recommendations I made on the first page. Sources that offer bright nickel may not offer Royal Blue and vise-versa.

 

[bamaboy473]

Well, when you take in a stray, you feed and water them, and try to normalize them. This stray has no history other than I know it was in water (grips had that black staining on half of them). How the bluing got done that way is a question that's out of my wheelhouse; I can't imagine fresh or salt water being so spotty. Any ideas?

 

[bamaboy473]

If the refinishing comes back less than perfect, then we all knew that it would....but it will be better than before, and that is a good thing, right?

 

[dfariswheel]

Yes.
People almost always recommend not having a gun, especially a Python refinished.
However at some indeterminate point you actually gain by having a refinish done, as long as it's a quality job.

This Python is WAY past the point of gaining by a good top quality refinish.

Your options are to have it reblued with a Royal Blue or possibly hard chromed. At this point a change in finish is not an issue so go with whatever you'd like.

 

[bamaboy473]

Yes.
People almost always recommend not having a gun, especially a Python refinished.
However at some indeterminate point you actually gain by having a refinish done, as long as it's a quality job.

This Python is WAY past the point of gaining by a good top quality refinish.

Your options are to have it reblued with a Royal Blue or possibly hard chromed. At this point a change in finish is not an issue so go with whatever you'd like.

These responses heighten my interest in what the refinisher is capable of doing, because he's been up-beat about the condition and the expectations. 25 years as a smith and a decent website suggest that he knows what he's doing...and we'll see soon enough.

There was absolutely NO plan to keep the gun as-is; not even a whim of a thought. While a refinish might not and will not produce a new-looking gun, it will be all the same finish, no rust, and the water-stained grips have been restored to very good condition, IMO. The black water stains are virtually gone; you can see them, but they now look like shadows in the grain, and ebony stain didn't turn the grips black. Perfect? no A lot better than they were? yep

 

[kimthurston]

Hope this question doesn't hi-jack the OP, but it is about refinishing possibilities. My son just bought a Python that needs cosmetic help. Seller showed him an estimate from a refinisher for $2,200, and decided to sell the gun cheap. Here are some questions:
1. A barrel that has been polished enough to remove pitting...is that where "butchering" comes in? Does polishing reduce the barrel's girth enough to be noticed? If so, a new barrel is best, right?
2. Same with a cylinder. Will a replacement cylinder fit our Pythons?
3. Choice. The gun is OEM blued. Is is possible or worthwhile to have the gun nickle-plated instead of re-blued?

An appraiser of guns told me, when I asked him about re-bluing. Do not re-blue or refinish a collectable gun because it will only de-value the gun even with the flaws or wear. Collectors buy guns, even with wear, because they are "original". If you re-finish the gun, it is no longer "original" so the collector value is gone. Now, knowing that, if you just want to have a prettier gun for your own enjoyment then of course go for it, but as long as it shoots fine then just take care of it and try to stop any further damage and it would probably be worth more money further down the line than if you refinish it.

 

[kimthurston]

Yes.
People almost always recommend not having a gun, especially a Python refinished.
However at some indeterminate point you actually gain by having a refinish done, as long as it's a quality job.

This Python is WAY past the point of gaining by a good top quality refinish.

Your options are to have it reblued with a Royal Blue or possibly hard chromed. At this point a change in finish is not an issue so go with whatever you'd like.

A colt royal blue cannot be done anymore because they can't use those chemicals anymore, according to a gunsmith. If it is refinished in any way the "Python" collector value is gone because your not getting an original python. Originality is where the value comes from, to a collector.

 

[Kingcobb]

Yes.
People almost always recommend not having a gun, especially a Python refinished.
However at some indeterminate point you actually gain by having a refinish done, as long as it's a quality job.

This Python is WAY past the point of gaining by a good top quality refinish.

Your options are to have it reblued with a Royal Blue or possibly hard chromed. At this point a change in finish is not an issue so go with whatever you'd like.

A colt royal blue cannot be done anymore because they can't use those chemicals anymore, according to a gunsmith. If it is refinished in any way the "Python" collector value is gone because your not getting an original python. Originality is where the value comes from, to a collector.

Your friend is close but mistaken. Its the prewar colt blue that can't be done anymore. A royal blue finish is 90% polishing.

 

[kimthurston]

Your friend is close but mistaken. Its the prewar colt blue that can't be done anymore. A royal blue finish is 90% polishing.

He's a 50 year old licensed gunsmith for a local gunshop, I could only assume he knew what he was talking about.

 

[bamaboy473]

Both of you might have a point, but the guy finishing my Python definitely charges more for a Colt blue finish, because he has to spend more time polishing.

On a side note, as a non-collector I compared the finish of the Python (before sending it for re-finish) to that of a S&W Model 25 and couldn't really see a color difference. The (much newer) 25 was shinier, but the color depth seemed awfully close...so I learned something. If my Python comes back looking like the 25, I'll be satisfied.

 

[dfariswheel]

As above a refinished Colt usually is worth less, BUT... again when you have one that's rusted and pitted like this one you'd actually gain in value.
For a rusted and pitted Colt to lose value from a refinish is going to take about 100 years or more.
In that case we'd be talking about a Colt Dragoon or First Generation Single Action used by the 7th Cavalry.
In cases like that it's the rarity of the model that counts, not necessarily the fact of a refinish.

As for bluing..........
Pre-war Colt used a furnace heat system to blue their guns. The process is described in the book "Colt Revolvers" 1836 To 1940" by Haven and Beldan.
You can still buy reprints on big book sellers and ebay.

There's little that the EPA would be concerned about these days but the complicated process, danger, and high cost caused Colt to change to a modern hot salts chemical process during or after WWII.

It's the caustic chemicals and the disposal that the EPA has problems with.
Many older gunsmiths used to offer rebluing. They fire up the tanks one a month or so and do bluing. This is very expensive today because the bluing tanks have to be in a special room or done outside due to the highly corrosive fumes attacking plumbing and wiring.
Second, the process is DANGEROUS. A drop of moisture causes an explosive splattering of the hot chemical that cause major burns and lost eyes if the person is not careful.
Third, the price of the polishing equipment and the cost of the bluing system, combined with the amount of time to do it caused many small local gunsmiths to just send work out to professional companies who do bluing.
Last is the EPA and local regulations on the disposal of the caustic chemicals.
In the old days most locals just dumped it down the drain or poured in a alley behind the store. Do that today and you go to jail.
The result is that most all local gunsmiths just stopped doing re-bluing.

So, while you can still do the hot salts bluing Colt used since WWII and still uses, it's just not economical for a local to continue to do it.
Some local areas may have city ordinances on the use of these chemicals and most all have local and state laws on disposal in addition to the EPA.
That may be what a local gunsmith is referring to when he says "He can't use those chemicals any more".
Where he's located that may well be true, but all gun makers and all gun refinisher companies still use the same type of hot salts chemical as Colt used on the Python, and in fact, you can still buy it from Brownell's and other sources.

As for the famed Python Royal Blue, that was the result of Colt's extensive polishing.
The story was that while other gun makers guns were on the truck heading to a distributor the Python was still at Colt being polished.
Colt was always famous for their higher quality polishing and the Python was deliberately intended to be the best blue finish of any American firearm.
Colt used huge, wide wooden polishing wheels covered with walrus hide. Later they went to huge, wide metal wheels with a different covering.
The final polishing media Colt used had the consistency of flour it was so fine.
The fact is, Colt used the same type of bluing chemicals all other gunmakers used and still use.
It was the extensive hand polishing that made the Colt Royal Blue, which was known inside the factory as "The Python Blue".