Colt Python: What’s wrong with this cylinder latch?

I

Ignacio49

New member
This Python cylinder latch has a redish color (sorry for the low quality phone pic). Any idea what this could be? Could this be some sort of material or finish “degeneration”? As per s/n, date of birth of this Python is 1978

Only time I’ve seen something like this was in a beretta 84 – the disassembly latch had same color. If I remember correctly the color was black when new, and gradually turned into this redish tone as years passed.

Thanks



 
It's gone plum, a condition that sometimes develops as a result of the heat treatment & finish.

Nothing wrong with it, I have a Ruger rifle that's done the same with a couple parts.
Denis
 
The gun has been buffed and reblued. The latch is cast and is a different alloy than the frame, so it took on a plum color.

Jim
 
Heat blue or cold blue would probably work, but the latch gets a lot of wear, so anything like that might not last.

Jim
 
The plum doesn't necessarily mean that specific part has been re-blued.
The plums on my 1990s Ruger International certainly have not been. :)
Denis
 
Definitely a reblue. In the early 1980s I sent my 6" Python to an "authorized service center" to replace a barrel I bulged during an instructor's training course. I had them reblue it so the barrel and frame would match. The thumblatch came back just like that (exact same shade). The hammer was also completely blued and the internals were not what they were when it was sent in. All the shop did was remove the grips and dipped the gun as it was in hot blue. They did not bother with disassembling the internals. I did not use that Python until around 2004 when I had the funds to send it directly to Colt for a redo. When I got it back from Colt the thumblatch was perfect and the action was improved 100%, not quite perfect but very close. Now I carry that Python from time to time knowing it is ready to do its job with no problems.
Also the Colt Pachmayrs are incorrect for 1978. It should have the generation 3 wooden stocks. BTW both of my Pythons are from 1978.
 
It usually indicates that the part has a high nickel content. To properly blue it, it must be done as a flash blue at a higher than normal temperature that ruins the bluing salts.

Newer Winchester 94 receivers and some Beretta 1934 slides are a couple of common items that are famous for this.
 
That part will blue just fine- done many of them myself. The reason you see the plum color is due to bad temperature control.
 
The reason you see the plum color is due to bad temperature control.
Click to expand...

Probably not. Normal blue temperatures generally aren't high enough when you have a part with a high nickel content. As I said, it usually requires a "flash blue" at a higher temp that ruins that batch of bluing salts.
 
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