Latest Rust Blue project: Ruger Speed Six

M

marklmurray

New member
Hi everyone. I just wanted to post up the results of my latest refinishing project.

This Speed Six was a gun I picked up on-line over a year and a half ago. The seller described the gun as having been owned by a security company. I can only imagine that it spent some time sliding around, unholstered, on the floorboard of the 'security vehicle'. The finish was pretty much beaten to hell, with about 50% of the bluing left. There were quite a few scratches and some pretty deep gouges and dents as well.

Mechanically, though, the thing was perfect - smooth as butter, in fact, so, when I got it, I knew I had wisely spent my $250.00.

I did my best with the dents and gouges,but I'm no professional. The rest of the metal prep was some sanding, then a bead blast (80 grit beads). I'm still amazed at the depth that Rust Bluing gives to even a bead blasted finish. There was no polishing beyond the bead blasting aside from the carding wheel and steel wool. I have got to start remembering to do some 'before' photos when I start these things!

Anyway, here are the results: The grips are just some no name walnuts I found on ebay a while back. I'm in the process of rehabbing the original grips as well - they were even more beat up than the gun. I've sanded the checkering smooth (it was almost gone already), and I'm doing a BLO + Tom's 1/3 mix finish on them. I may post photos with those grips once they are done.


2012-11-04_13-01-45_491 by marklmurray, on Flickr

2012-11-04_13-00-38_772 by marklmurray, on Flickr

2012-11-04_12-59-25_563 by marklmurray, on Flickr
 
Very nice! You did a good job.

I have a Security Six with a bead-blast bluing, but I paid someone to do mine.
 
Very nice! You did a good job.

I have a Security Six with a bead-blast bluing, but I paid someone to do mine.
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Thanks! The bead blasting does an excellent job of hiding all the scratches and gouges that I couldn't get out of the metal, they're still there, but you have to look really, really close, and in just the right light, to see them. If I had done any level of smooth polish on it, they would have stuck out like a sore thumb, I fear.
 
Judging from the accurate color reproduction on the Ballistol can... I'd say you did a great job. The color is excellent, as is the semi-matte finish. Very attractive.

Cheers,
C
 
I'm getting ready to try my hand at in with an old iver johnson. Is carding the fluted cylinder going to be as difficult as it looks?
 
I'm getting ready to try my hand at in with an old iver johnson. Is carding the fluted cylinder going to be as difficult as it looks?
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Actually, the cylinder is one of the easiest parts to card. Smaller nooks and crannies that are difficult to get a carding brush or a piece of balled-up 0000 steel wool were the most challenging for me.

The single most helpful accessory for the process, for me, was a carding wheel from Brownells. I chucked it in my drill press on the lowest speed and it really speeds things up. I still need to get into those nooks with the brushes or steel wool, but that's all you'll need the little ones for. The carding wheel got almost 100% of the cylinder each time, too.
 
a real business like look
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That there is a good descriptor in this instance... "business like". We have a winner.
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Thanks!

While in her early years, she may have been used for "business", in retirement, she can settle in for a nice life of care and leisure (but still look the part, of course).
 
Looks good to me.

Just as a car drives better after washing it, I think the bullets might go faster with the improved handgun appearrance.
 
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