Need advice on 1951 colt navy

I have several antiques that I have not touched other than cleaning the dirt off with soap and water, and I won't go beyond that. But I also obtained an H.Aston that was a rusty piece of junk, worth maybe $200. A few places told me to clean it up, which I did, and now it's probably worth $500 plus, depending on the market. It's not a rare or unusual piece to begin with. I also bought a 50-70 Trapdoor that needed cleaning to be a shooter, which I did. Again, not a rare piece, but a great shooter. I have an engraved Remington-Beals that is worth quite a bit and I only cleaned it with soap and water. To say that cleaning an antique automatically devalues it might be a stretch - it depends on the gun, its rarity, condition, etc.
 
Careful cleaning doesn't automatically devalue, but removing patina by abrasives or harsh chemicals does.
The brass looked brighter in the After images than in the Before images.
Denis
 
I have an 1849 pocket which I believe is real. The serial number says it was made in 1863. It was among a lot of revolvers I bought at an auction. It is in what I would say is between poor, and almost fair, condition. Every thing turns and works as it should, but the cylinder is sloppy loose. I looked it over with a magnifying glass and it appears that all the parts have matching numbers. Since I don't think it is worth a whole lot, I mounted it in a shadow box, from Hobby Lobby, on a black background and hung it on the wall. Looks great and is a heck of a conversation piece. Good luck with the old gal.
 
I didn't polish the brass at at all...the outside patina was not effected...I just wiped on the wiped off...the only place I really clean-cleaned was in the cylinders and bore...I just wanted to get some oil on the surface rust, which I'm sure collector community doesn't like...
 
I love how this guy went from wanting to trade this for a sniper rifle to wanting a pair of navies. Black powder is dangerous stuff.....it gets in your blood and doesn't let go!
 
No doubt...I am really considering the uberti pair for 450...I'm dying to shoot black powder...is the stuff at stores the same as the old west besides being smokeless? Or does it have less potential energy?
 
Powder energy varied more in times gone by than today. I do not understand your comment about it being 'smokeless'. Black powder smokes!
 
Oh yea and I got that Mosin (a 1943 model unused) and a tin of 440 rounds all for $210...deal of the century...I was hitting 20 oz poP bottles from 200 yards with open sights, pretty impressive performance for the money!
 
Well doesn't the new stuff not smoke? Maybe I'm thinking of something different...shows my very limited black powder knowledge! Also wondering if I can put black powder in targets so they go boom when shot...those shockwaves are too expensive...I can't afford 8 bucks a boom lol
 
Modern black powder smokes & thoroughly.
There are black powder substitutes that produce less smoke.

Denis
 
devalue?

I'm new here, and don't want to ruffle any feathers so the following is submitted respectfully and with the best of intentions.

Cleaning devalued the revolver significantly. The cleaning advise given may be OK for a old repro but not for a antique.
Click to expand...

I read the following on the offical Colt Collector's Accociation's website Here:

http://www.coltcollectors.com/content/care.shtml

"Not all collectible guns are in pristine condition and may need some judicious conservation. We are talking about conservation – not refinishing a gun – to stop deterioration brought on by years of neglect. Some guns are badly rusted or the mechanisms are frozen. The first thing to do is disassemble it. If the screws are rusted tight, try using Break-free or Gibbs rust remover. If the screws still will not turn, then put the entire gun assembled, but minus the grips, into a high detergent motor oil and let soak for a week. High detergent motor oil is the best product for soaking completely through all parts of the gun and lifting rust. Monitor this process carefully."

I'd take it that if the Colt's official collector's association gives explicit direction on how (and why) to clean one up, then you have only helped conserve it and therefore improved it's value. That's my two cents. Enjoy your beautiful piece. FWIW I'd get a Colt archive letter for it. I bet you'll learn something about where it was shipped or issued.
 
Exactly. If it's not rare or valuable but it's rusting away, clean the rust up, free up the parts, and it'll be around longer than any of us.
The last time I checked, a Colt letter was $300.00.
 
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