I have a Colt Python with an odd blemish on the cylinder. It looks as if the bluing has been stripped to the base steel. The rest of the pistol is pristine. My question is can I just have the cylinder re-blued or will I have to do the entire pistol? If I just do the cylinder will the finishes match up? The weapon is a masterpiece in both form and function, as such I just want it's appearance to reflect this. Any information would be greatly appreciated.
Colt Python
- Thread starter Echo8366
- Start date
You'll likely get -MANY- replies with a similar sound to them...
In the world of firearms, the Python is a very valuable and collectible one. VERY. Also in the world of firearms, especially collectible or valuable ones, any sort of re-finish simply ATTACKS and destroys value. When it comes to valuable or collectible guns, this is always the case.
If it's finish is completely and monumentally DESTROYED, a re-finish may improve things. On a old gun that isn't particularly valuable, a re-finish might really make it look nice and return some manner of lost nostalgia.
But on anything collectible or valuable, any manner of a refinish just hammers the value as it will never again be "original."
Of course, this doesn't mean you shouldn't do it. If it belongs to you, you get to determine it's fate, and nobody else.
Colt is who you should contact with this question, and I believe it has been said here recently that may actually contact a 3rd party for the re-blue (Ford's?), but they would have your answer. It will cost a good bit of dough and the revolver will be *GONE* for a very long time. Months and months at the minimum, and MANY months is possible.
I'm sure we'd all love to see a picture!
In the world of firearms, the Python is a very valuable and collectible one. VERY. Also in the world of firearms, especially collectible or valuable ones, any sort of re-finish simply ATTACKS and destroys value. When it comes to valuable or collectible guns, this is always the case.
If it's finish is completely and monumentally DESTROYED, a re-finish may improve things. On a old gun that isn't particularly valuable, a re-finish might really make it look nice and return some manner of lost nostalgia.
But on anything collectible or valuable, any manner of a refinish just hammers the value as it will never again be "original."
Of course, this doesn't mean you shouldn't do it. If it belongs to you, you get to determine it's fate, and nobody else.
Colt is who you should contact with this question, and I believe it has been said here recently that may actually contact a 3rd party for the re-blue (Ford's?), but they would have your answer. It will cost a good bit of dough and the revolver will be *GONE* for a very long time. Months and months at the minimum, and MANY months is possible.
I'm sure we'd all love to see a picture!
Colt will reblue the cylinder only. They are busy and may have a back up wait though. I think cylinder only is around $90 dollars but currently they are not accepting orders. Colt is the only way to go on a Python for repair. http://www.coltsmfg.com/CustomerServices/RepairRefinish/FirearmRefinishing.aspx
oldgunsmith
New member
A common misconception about rebluing an old gun is that it diminishes the collector value of it. It isn't the new finish that does the damage. It's removing any remaining original finish in the process that hurts.
^^^
That really doesn't make much sense. If you reblue the gun, you are obviously removing the original finish. Collectors look for original finish, and when the original finish is altered, the value of the firearm goes down drastically.
In the OP's case, having just the cylinder reblued wouldn't necessarily take the value down too much, especially if it was done by Colt, and it matched the condition of the rest of the gun. If the cylinder were the only spot with a blemish, most people wouldn't even be able to tell it was refinished if the rest of the gun looked new.
That really doesn't make much sense. If you reblue the gun, you are obviously removing the original finish. Collectors look for original finish, and when the original finish is altered, the value of the firearm goes down drastically.
In the OP's case, having just the cylinder reblued wouldn't necessarily take the value down too much, especially if it was done by Colt, and it matched the condition of the rest of the gun. If the cylinder were the only spot with a blemish, most people wouldn't even be able to tell it was refinished if the rest of the gun looked new.
A friend of ours has a 4 inch Python with blemishes. He carries it in the deserts and mountains of Arizona. We gave him a Simply Rugged pancake for Christmas so he could put some proper holster wear on it. A cosmetic issue can liberate a gun, bust it out of lockdown in a MaxSec steel box. Let it roam free, let it breathe.
Of course any refinish greatly affects the value to collectors. But a spot of bare metal is unacceptable.
This 27-2 had a similar problem. A bad rust spot on the cylinder. S&W reblued just the cylinder and you would never know. Neither would a buyer if the seller chose to keep it to himself.
This 27-2 had a similar problem. A bad rust spot on the cylinder. S&W reblued just the cylinder and you would never know. Neither would a buyer if the seller chose to keep it to himself.