Messed up finish on a Colt

D

dralarms

New member
I have just purchased a Colt Mustang, tried for a long time to find on at a decent price, this is a stainless one, it has some "damage" on the slide. I have tried to polish this out with a dremel and some polishing compound and it still shows. Anyone have an idea on what might take this out? It appears to be from acid from paper, I'll post a picture when I can get a chance.
 
Ouch. :eek: I didn't think you could do that to a colt :rolleyes:. Isn't that going to ruin the finish?
 

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There really IS no "finish" since it's stainless steel.

While you do have to be careful not to thin the stamps, you can use the above mentioned sand cloth, or start out a little less vigorous by using Scotchbrite pads.

You can buy these at automotive supply housed in various "grits" where they are sold for use in painting cars.
Just buy several finer grits and use them to hand polish out the marrs.

Finish off by "stroking" the pads length-wise down the slide to reestablish the original satin grained appearance.

To use the sand cloth method, buy a thick slab of plate glass.
Lay the sand cloth on the glass, and push the slide across the surface, making sure to keep it flat.

As long as you don't start thinning the slide stamps, start abrading the slide grooves, or round off or polish unevenly, this works very well.

Whatever method you use, be careful not to make it look worse.
Remember, you can always send it in to Colt, and they will professionally re-polish it for you for a reasonable price.
 
Remember, you can always send it in to Colt, and they will professionally re-polish it for you for a reasonable price.
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I thought colt was out of the gun business for all intents and purposes. I bought this as a collector's piece, I have had the "pony" for a few years and when my local gun pusher came across this one in stainless to match my pony I just had to have it, and at less money than most blued finished ones I have come across.

Thanks for the heads up on clot, I may have to go that route, after all I would only have to send in the slide, right?
 
WAIT! Your picture shure looks like a nickel plated gun! Don't sand it!
I don't know if this gun was offered in nickel, or if they were stainless.
IF the gun is stainless, it can be polished with no problem. Scotchbrite pads will work well, but I prefer the block sanding as the pads will dish out the lettering.
 
It's stainless, I only own 1 nickle gun and it's an Iver Johnson 380 Pony :D, found it in a Western Auto around the first of the year NIB. :D
 
Thanks, Bill and Ken. I was just not aware you could take sandpaper to it.

After all I'm an alarm installer not a gunsmith:D,

Ken I noticed your location, you wouldn't be Wild West Guns would you?
 
You are welcome. But please have an expert look at your gun. Nickel plating is not always bright and shiny. I am, among other things, a plater.
 
But please have an expert look at your gun. Nickel plating is not always bright and shiny. I am, among other things, a plater
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Agreed, however it has the same finish as my Colt Pony which I have the box and paperwork for and it clearly states Stainless on the box. The picture probally looks like nickel because I can't take a picture worth a crap.:rolleyes:

Thanks for your help, I may work on it some more with the polishing compound when I get the time.
 
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